Manila Standard - 2023 October 12 - Thursday

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ISRAELI BRIEFING.

President Marcos walks with Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss in Malacañan Palace on Wednesday. The envoy briefed the President on the latest information from Israel following the attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza, while the Chief Executive assured the Jewish state that it will always stand with Israel. PCO Photo

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 239 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH plans Israel repatriation Maps out exit routes for OFWs

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

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HE government hoisted Alert Level 2 over Israel to halt new deployments as authorities began identifying exit routes for a possible repatriation or evacuation mission.

The administration on Wednesday also said there is still no need to order the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Israel, even as the fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas ter terrorists raged into a fifth day.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Alert Level 4, which calls for mandatory repatriation, is only “called when the country has broken down and the rule of law and everything about peace and order has broken down… throughout the country.”

“That is not the case in the state of Israel,” De Vega said.

He added that the fighting was intense on Saturday, the first day of the Hamas attack, but the situation had returned to a “certain sense of normalcy.”

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. also said mandatory repatriation is still not recommended, even as two Filipinos were listed as casualties in the fighting between Israel Next page

No confidential funds with House, PBBM mourns 2 dead Pinoys, 3rd casualty possible per COA; Rody seeks transparency

By Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives on Wednesday said it has no confidential and intelligence funds and that all its spending is aboveboard based on the report of the Commission on Audit.

This was as former President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the House to be transparent in its spending a day after lawmakers slashed the P650 million CIF of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

“All line items in our budget are subject to regular accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Our books are always open to the Commission on

Audit,” House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said.

“As per the latest COA report released only last October 2, the House of Representatives has no disallowances. No notice of suspension and no notice of charge. This means we passed the COA review,” he added.

Velasco belied allegations the House has P1.6 billion in confidential funds tucked under this year’s P5.268-trillion budget.

He added the House was “in agreement with former President Durerte that government expenditures should be transparent and fully auditable.”

House appropriations committee head Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co

TWO Filipinos were killed following the attack of Hamas terrorists on Israel, while a third fatality is being confirmed, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

President Marcos condemned the deaths as he mourned the overseas Filipino workers who died while working in the Jewish state and vowed to continue supporting his affected countrymen.

“My heart is heavy upon hearing confirmation of the deaths of two Filipinos in Israel. The Philippines condemns these killings and stands firmly against

the ongoing terror and violence,” the President said in a statement.

Legislators led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday also mourned the killing of Filipinos.

Mr. Marcos stressed that the Philippines will remain resolute in pursuing lasting peace in line with the Next page

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Survey: CIF must go to intelligence, surveillance, defense agencies only

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Darwin G. Amojelar A CLEAR majority of Filipinos believe confidential funds should be allocated only to government agencies that are directly involved in intelligence gathering, surveillance and in the development of defense capability of the Philippines.

In a third quarter survey by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER), some 52 percent said only

government agencies performing functions relevant to the country’s security should get confidential funds.

Only 21 percent said they were in favor of confidential funds finding its way to civilian offices of the government while 15 percent said they are moderately in favor.

Meanwhile, views among senators on the use of confidential funds will have to be reconciled before the Senate follows the House lead to redistribute them to agencies directly involved in Next page

SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE. Protesters take part in a rally to show their support for the Palestinian people in Quezon City on October

11. The death toll from five days of ferocious fighting between Hamas and Israel rose sharply overnight as Israel kept up its bombardment of Gaza, after recovering the dead from the last communities near the border where Palestinian militants had been holed up. AFP

LTFRB ‘whistleblower’ recants; Bautista denies graft allegations

1 in 3 Pinoys say life quality better than in ’22—SWS

By Rio N. Araja, Darwin Amojelar recantation affidavit “as a form of public apology” to Guadiz, DOTr Secreand Charles Dantes

By Vito Barcelo ONE in three adult Filipinos believe they have a better quality of life now compared to a year ago, a Social Weather Stations survey showed.

Some 22 percent said they experienced worsening conditions, while 45 percent reported no change from the previous year.

This resulted in a net gainer score of 11 percent which is “very high,” according to the SWS. It was also six points higher than the five percent net gainer score in March Next page

ALL SAINTS DAY PREP. A carver etches named on a tombstone for the recently departed at the Barangka Cemetery in Marikina City on Wednesday, in preparation for the coming All Saints Day. Manny Palmero

THE whistleblower who accused the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of having a “bribing system” yesterday recanted his claim that corruption went up as high as the Department of Transportation and Malacañang.

Jeff Tumbado, who claimed to be a former head executive assistant of suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III, said his earlier claim was “irrational thinking” on his part.

Tumbado, who complained Tuesday he was being red-tagged for blowing the lid off the corrupt practices in the LTFRB, said he issued the notarized

tary Jaime Bautista, and the Office of the President.

Earlier in the day, Mar Valbuena, head of the transport group Manibela, linked Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and two lawmakers to the LTFRB mess.

According to Valbuena, Tumbado claimed Guadiz delivered grease money to Bautista, while two members of the House of Representatives received P5 million each from transactions to open a new route or a franchise for public utility vehicles.

Tumbado was also quoted by Valbuena as having disclosed that each Next page

NEWS

A2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Panel okays OP funds in 21 mins.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE Office of the President (OP) breezed through committeelevel budget deliberations in the Senate on Wednesday, with no lawmaker asking the office represented by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin questions on its 2024 spending plan.

It took the Senate finance committee, headed by Senator Sonny Angara, only around 21 minutes to tackle the OP’s budget request for next year, like how the House appropriations panel terminated the hearing for the President’s office after half an hour.

The topic of confidential and intelligence funds, a hot-button issue that has hogged the headlines in the past month,

was not raised.

“There are no colleagues [here], meaning they have a vote of confidence in your budget, so we will favorably endorse your budget for plenary consideration,” said Angara.

He directed the OP and the Presidential Management Staff to present the slides they prepared.

Bersamin earlier requested for

LTFRB...

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LTFRB regional director must remit a monthly quota of P2 million, with a monthly collection of up to P30 million.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it was premature for the Palace to comment on the graft allegations.

“Nothing has been proven yet. They are still investigating,” Bersamin said.

In his affidavit, Tumbado said his allegations were “all unintentional and misguided.”

“All of the things said were borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, poor decision making and was encouraged by some individuals to make the statement which may have added to my confusion and affected my better judgment,” Tumbado added.

Bautista, for his part, vehemently denied the allegations of corruption, adding that he plans to file a case against those “maligning” his name.

“I am saddened by the baseless allegations being thrown at me that I’m involved in corruption. Please allow me to categorically say that I never accepted any money or favor since assuming the post of Transportation Secretary,” Bautista said in a videorecorded message sent to reporters.

“I intend to strongly defend the truth and my name, so I plan to file the appropriate complaint to whoever has been maligning me,” he added.

Two transport leaders also turned the tables on Tumbado, saying he was the one who demanded money from them.

Benjur Menor, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) director and leader of a transport cooperative in Muntinlupa City, accused Tumbado of demanding P300,000 in exchange for the franchise approval of their 15 UV units.

Zaldy Ping, Stop and Go national president, also accused Tumbado of charging P50,000 for an appointment to meet Guadiz.

and Hamas.

Laylo said the two fatalities happened during the day of the attack, and the Israeli Defense Forces have since regained control of areas overrun by the terrorists.

The Israeli government has prohibited the deployment of foreign workers to Israel—something the Philippines suspended when the war broke out on Saturday.

“We’re not going to deploy new workers, which is actually status quo anyway because we still have to negotiate…about caregivers and about the hotel workers by a government-to-government agreement. Right now, there is no deployment,” De Vega said.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the deployment of workers has been put on hold due to the closure of Ben Gurion International Airport.

DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac clarified that there is no deployment ban yet to Israel, saying that Alert Level 3 must be raised to hold deployment of workers in wartorn Israel.

“This decision, while necessary for the safety of potential migrant workers, has led to public misinterpretation as a total deployment ban,” Cacdac said.

He said the DMW is in close coordination with Israeli counterparts and said deployment will resume once the airport reopens.

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2023 but still below pre-pandemic level of 18 percent in December 2019.

SWS used the term “gainers” for those who believe their quality of life got better, “losers” for those who think their quality of life worsened, and “unchanged” for those who said it stayed the same.

The survey showed that compared to March 2023, net gainers rose from high to very high in Metro Manila, up by 16 points from +2 to +18.

Net gainers also rose sharply from mediocre to very high in the Visayas, up by 24 points from -14 to +10.

It stayed very high in Balance Luzon, hardly moving from +12 to +13, while it remained high in Mindanao, although down by four points from +6 to +2.

Meanwhile, net gainers among non-hungry families increased to 13 percent from five percent in March 2023, but net gainers in overall hungry families, moderately hungry families and severely hungry families all decreased, SWS said.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±4.0 percent in Balance Luzon, and ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Survey:...

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday announced that some civilian agencies—including the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture—would be stripped of their confidential funds.

But the Senate is far from reaching a similar agreement, Angara said.

“Each senator has his own opinion.

Some want to remove the confidential funds; others want them reduced. Still others want them to say, so we have to reach a consensus,” Angara said in a mix of Filipino and English at a briefing Tuesday.

He said such matters are usually discussed in caucus before they are brought to the plenary floor.

Angara said that discussion on confidential funds will have to be done “agency by agency” and that the Senate

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“The Philippines condemns the killing of two Filipino nationals and all other acts of terrorism and violence as a result of Hamas actions against Israel,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo added in a post on the social media platform X. “The Philippines is ready to work with other countries towards a longlasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with pertinent UN Security Council resolutions and the general principles of international law,” Manalo said.

The DFA said it is still confirming a possible third Filipino fatality in the ongoing war between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.

“There is a third possible death, and

PSA also reports data breach to privacy agency

P10,707,927,000 for the OP next year.

He said this represents 1% of the proposed total national budget next year.

“It will be enough for the President to meet exacting demands of being the head of state, the head of government, the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, the Commander-inchief as well as the Chief Executive especially during this challenging times of rebuilding the nation from the effects of a global pandemic of a significant scale,” he explained.

The lifting of the pandemic restrictions, he said, provides an avenue for the President to conduct in-person affairs of the state.

“There are more meetings being now conducted, more presidential public

engagements being held, the Cabinet is convened more often,” the former Chief Justice added.

According to Bersamin, they are seeking a “modest increase,” but at a rate that is within the norm of previous fiscal years.

The budget they were asking, he said, is higher by 17.78 percent or P1.6 billion compared to the P9.091 billion budget of the OP in the current year.

Based on the recommended budget of OP for next year, capital outlay got the highest increase which was 183.72 percent or P1.676 billion from P590.794 million for this year, mainly for the renovation and rehabilitation of facilities and the establishment of support facilities in Malacanang.

The current hold on deployment should not be mistaken as a total ban on deployment to Israel, the DMW added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan is working with its counterparts in Israel and Egypt to identify possible exit routes for Filipinos seeking repatriation from Gaza, which has been the target of repeated Israeli air attacks.

Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos said that as of Wednesday, 51 Filipinos in Gaza were requesting repatriation as “they feel their safety is at risk” amid ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and the Hamas terrorists.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) later raised the number of Filipinos seeking repatriation from Gaza to 71.

“The three embassies are actually coordinating to ensure the safety of our nationals out of Gaza,” Santos said.

“Since the start of this conflict, we have remained in touch to map out the preparations that we need for the safe passage of our nationals.”

Possible exit points are through Israel or Egypt, Santos said, noting that in either case, clearance will have to be obtained.

The ambassador said they were waiting for a “cessation of hostilities” before moving, since they cannot leave while clashes continue.

“We are just waiting for the proper time,” the ambassador said. “But of course, the best time is really as soon as possible.”

The DFA said the government is

ready to assist the Filipinos who want to be repatriated from Gaza.

De Vega said while there were no concrete exit plans as yet, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is ready to fly them home.

If the Filipinos are allowed to cross into Egypt, however, a commercial flight would be waiting for them, De Vega added.

Immediately following the outbreak of war in Israel, President Marcos ordered the Philippine Air Force to prepare its planes for any repatriation mission for Filipinos trapped in the affected region.

A C130 heavy lift aircraft and a C295 medium lift aircraft with complement aircrew, medical and security personnel are now ready to fly out as soon as directed by the AFP headquarters.

Thousands of foreigners have found themselves stuck in Israel and across the Palestinian territories, where a full-blown war has erupted since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Saturday.

With the violence having already killed thousands on both sides, several countries have launched operations to repatriate their citizens, while others plan to do so in the coming days.

Argentina, the Latin American country with the largest Jewish population, on Tuesday started evacuating more than 1,200 of its citizens from Israel.

Three air force flights a day will take the 1,246 Argentines who have asked to be evacuated to the Italian capital Rome, Defense Minister Jorge Taiana said. With AFP

must agree on standards it will use before granting them.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, assured the public that senators will ensure that the 2024 national budget will be a well-examined one.

“We will scrutinize everything to ensure that we are all proud of the national budget that we will pass before the end of the year,” Villanueva said.

“We will respect each other’s positions, hear their proposals and we [will] decide as an institution,” he said.

Senator JV Ejercito, meanwhile, said he would push for the retention — and even an increase — in the confidential funds for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The House small committee had cut the DICT’s confidential funds but retained the allocation for the DOJ, because the National Bureau of Investigation under it conducts surveillance in the course of its work.

Citing the threat of cybercrime, Ejer-

cito siad the DICT should have confidential funds as well—a stand that the department has also taken.

The department on Wednesday said it would ask the House of Representatives to reconsider its decision to scrap the agency’s proposed P300 million confidential funds next year to protect the country’s cyber assets from hackers.

“Definitely it’s going to be an appeal on our part because it sends a wrong signal to the rest of the world,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said in an interview with ANC. “While cyber threats and cyber criminals are increasing and becoming more sophisticated and they have more funds to do so, the Philippines — going against the tide of the rest of the world — is de-funding our cybersecurity and is actually announcing to the world that we’re not interested in protecting our cyber borders,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, meanwhile, said confidential funds for the Office of the President should be reduced and intelligence funds eliminated altogether.

said the P1.6 billion CIF claim was “fake news.”

“Congress has no confidential funds. The P1.6 billion that’s being mentioned are ‘extraordinary expenses,’” added Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chairperson of the House appropriations committee.

Quimbo said extraordinary funds are very different from confidential and intelligence funds.

“The extraordinary funds, which are fully auditable, are different from confidential funds, which Congress doesn’t have,” she said.

In July, COA said the House of Representatives even saw a budget surplus of P4.69 billion in its 2022 allocations.

The lower chamber reduced its spending for the acquisition of professional services and for the hiring of legislative consultants.

It also cut its spending on supplies and materials, utilities, communications, and professional services from P1.45 billion in 2021 to P1.13 billion in 2022.

there’s a DNA testing going on, to check if it is in fact one of the Filipinos missing,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a virtual briefing.

Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Mandap of the Philippine Embassy in Israel also said “there are two confirmed [dead] and one for confirmation.”

De Vega also said three more Filipinos remained unaccounted for.

The DFA earlier announced that two Filipinos had been killed in the raging conflict.

An official from the Philippine Embassy in Israel said the Filipinos were killed in a kibbutz on the first day of the attack when Hamas terrorists executed and abducted civilians.

Labor Attaché Rudy Gabasan said one of the fatalities—a caregiver--was gunned down along with her employer when Hamas terrorists forced open the door to their residence. The other fatality, he said, was among those abducted by Hamas.

The families have asked the govern-

ment not to disclose the identities of the victims.

Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. said President Marcos would talk to the grieving families of the victims today to send his sympathies.

“Last night in the most difficult phone call of my career, I spoke to the wife of the victims to inform her of this sad news and to convey our sympathies.

I promised her that the Embassy will provide all the necessary assistance she needs,” Laylo said.

“The President will also speak to her today to convey his personal condolences and offer additional assistance,” the ambassador added.

The embassy said the fatalities were a 33-year-old female from Pangasinan, who was working in Israel for six years, and a 42-year-old male from Pampanga.

The DFA earlier reported that six Filipinos remain missing.

Two Filipinos were also injured from the massive surprise attack and are now

recovering, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said.

Manalo said the government will continue to provide all possible assistance to distressed Filipinos in Israel and Palestine.

Israel is home to at least 30,000 workers from the Philippines, most of them caregivers, while 167 Filipinos are in the Gaza Strip.

The DFA has already proposed to President Marcos to place the Gaza Strip, which has been placed under a total siege by Israel in response to Hamas’ attack, under Alert Level 3, which means voluntary repatriation can begin.

On Saturday, Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years, firing rockets and deploying gunmen to several towns, prompting the Israeli government to declare war on Hamas.

Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on Gaza, with the death toll on both sides already in the hundreds and continuing to rise.

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) sent a breach notification to the National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday, two weeks after the NPC reported the data breach on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) servers.

The NPC said it cannot disclose any information yet on the PSA incident, as it will still need to verify the report and determine if it is indeed a data breach.

Meanwhile, on the leaked data from PhilHealth, the Privacy Commission advised all personal information controllers (PICs) and personal information processors (PIPs) of bank and non-bank financial institutions, public and private hospital and public telecommunication entities to keep of tight watch for questionable transactions where leaked personal details may be used.

The NPC issued the guidance Wednesday underscoring the urgent concern posed by the potential proliferation of counterfeit PhilHealth Identification Cards (IDs) in light of the recent incident.

The Commission advised all vulnerable institutions to exercise heightened vigilance in detecting and preventing the fraudulent use of counterfeit PhilHealth IDs during various transactions.

The guidance, issued Wednesday, noted several associated risk for banks and non-bank financial institutions such as identity theft, financial fraud and money laundering.

The Commission noted that fraudsters may exploit fake PhilHealth IDs to open fraudulent bank or financial accounts or conduct unauthorized financial transactions. This can lead to significant financial losses for both the bank and its customers.

Counterfeit IDs can also facilitate money laundering activities within the banking system, potentially exposing banks to legal and regulatory consequences.

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PBBM declares October 30 a holiday for brgy, SK elections

FIRE DANCE. A

member of the Oriental Fire Dancers performs during the Bicol leg of the Department of Tourism’s “Philippine Experience” project at Sumlang Lake in Daraga, Albay.

Norman Cruz

By Charles Dantes

China urges gov’t to take stronger stance vs. crimes involving POGOs

By Rey E. Requejo

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HINA on Wednesday urged the Philippines to take strong measures against crimes related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) amid reports that some Chinese nationals are involved in fraudulent activities.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines reiterated that all forms of gambling, whether online or overseas, are illegal for Chinese nationals.

Despite this, law enforcement agen-

cies from the Philippines and China have tracked the involvement Chinese nationals in illegal activities.

“It was discovered during the law enforcement cooperation that some illegal

offshore gaming employees abused Philippine judicial procedures by fabricating cases in the Philippines to avoid repatriation,” the statement said.

“Crimes induced by online gambling harm not only China’s interests and ChinaPhilippine relations, but also the interests of the Philippines,” the statement added.

Beijing said it is willing to further cooperate with Manila in dealing with such situations to ensure laws are enforced and justice served.

“China calls on the Philippines to take strong measures to crack down on crimes related to POGOs and root out the social

ills in a sweeping manner,” it said.

“The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Philippine government and law enforcement agencies in this regard, and jointly handle repatriation among other related issues,” it added.

So far, the embassy said, a total of three POGO parks were shut down, which led to the repatriation of some 400 Chinese nationals.

“Relevant agencies from both sides expressed satisfaction with the results of law enforcement cooperation,” the embassy stressed.

PBBM orders week-long celebration for community peacemakers

WEEKLY FORUM. (From left) Manila Hotel President Joey Lina, Mayor Agay Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Mayor Benjie Magalong of Baguio City; Mayor Eunice Babalcon of Paranas, Samar; and Dr. Alex Brillantes Jr., former Dean of the National College of Public Administration answer media questions during weekly ‘Kapihan sa Manila Hotel’ forum.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared Oct. 10-16 of every year as “Linggo ng Lupong Tagapamayapa” to raise public awareness of the village officials’ role in maintaining peace and order in the community.

Under Proclamation 358 inked by Marcos on Monday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is directed to take the lead in promoting the observance of the Linggo ng Lupong Tagapamayapa and identify programs, projects, and activities for its annual celebration.

“There is a need to increase public awareness on the functions of the Lupong Tagapamayapa and recognize the valuable contributions of the members thereof in the preservation and maintenance of peace and order in barangays,” read the proclamation, which

was made public on Wednesday.

The annual observance will coincide with the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines signed into law on Oct. 10, 1991.

Based on RA 7160, a “lupong tagapamayapa” is a body that exercises administrative supervision on matters relevant to the amicable settlement of village disputes.

The body, organized in every village, is chaired by a punong barangay and has 10 to 20 members.

The peacekeeping council is mandated to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among its members and the public on matters relevant to the amicable settlement of disputes, as well as to enable various conciliation panel members to share their observations and experiences in effecting the speedy resolution of disputes.

Gatchalian says Senate bill on tax to benefit local micro companies

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said it would be much easier for small businesses to pay taxes once Senate Bill 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes measure is passed into law.

Under the proposed measure, microtaxpayers will not be required to withhold taxes ranging from 1 percent to 15 percent for purchase of goods and services subject to expanded withholding tax (EWT), a process businesses need to comply with each month for every

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transaction subject to EWT that they enter into, Gatchalian explained.

Gatchalian, principal author of the measure and chairperson of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, also said he is confident this would help create more jobs and boost the country’s economy.”

“A reconciled version of the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act was recently ratified by the Senate, putting the measure an inch away from getting enacted into law,” he said.

Aside from eliminating the requirement to withhold taxes, the proposed

measure also provides for a reduction of penalties on micro and small enterprises.

These include a reduced rate of 10 percent for civil penalties as opposed to 25 percent civil penalties for failure or neglect to file the correct tax returns and/ or failure to pay the correct taxes or deficiencies.

This also includes a 50 percent reduction on the interest rate in cases when there are deficiencies or delinquencies in the tax due; a reduced fine of P500 as a penalty for failure to file certain information returns which originally

amounts to P1,000 for each failure; and a reduced compromise penalty rate of at least 50 percent for violations on invoicing requirements for VAT-registered persons, issuance of sales or commercial invoice, and printing of sales or commercial invoice.

“As it would eliminate the complexities associated with tax payments, we are confident that this measure will enhance tax compliance, leading to better tax collection and will encourage micro-businesses to register their respective businesses,” Gatchalian said.

Taguig City cops hailed for resisting bribe

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Southern Police District has commended members of the Taguig City Police for rejecting P30,000 bribe money offered by a Malaysian national who tried to negotiate the release of his friend from detention.

Jack Boo, 33, was placed under arrest for violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code after he offered money to officers inside Taguig City Police Substation 1 in Bonifacio Global City.

Investigation showed that Boo went to the substation and tried to bribe the arresting officers in exchange for the release of his friend identified only as alias Chong who was arrested earlier for alarm and scandal, unjust vexation, and oral defamation.

It stated that the police officers were conducting a routine patrol in the area of The Fort Strip

along 5th Avenue when they saw Chiong, apparently under the influence of alcohol and smoking in a no-smoking zone.

The officers approached and informed Chiong about the no-smoking policy. Instead of complying, the suspect insulted the officers. His disruptive behavior in the area led to his arrest.

SPD director Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano praised the exemplary conduct of the arresting officers who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to upholding the law.

“These commendable officers resisted attempts of bribery and steadfastly enforced the rightful laws, embodying the highest standards of professionalism,” he said.

Mariano also emphasized the importance of these actions in maintaining the public’s trust in law enforcement.

GIRL’S DAY. In Makati, young girls with their crayons and watercolors play outdoors. The United Nations celebrates October 11 as ‘International Day of the Girl Child’ which advocates children’s rights such as a safe, educated, and healthy life. Diana B. Noche

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos declared October 30 a non-working day to allow the public to participate in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 359 which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on October 9 and released to the public on Wednesday.

The declaration of a special nonworking day for the barangay and youth council elections is expected to boost voter turnout and ensure that all Filipinos have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier requested Malacañang to declare October 30, which falls on a Monday, as a holiday.

Comelec chair George Garcia said the request will be in the form of a resolution.

Garcia said that the poll body is 99 percent prepared for the BSKE. There are 91 million voters in the country, of which 25 million are Sangguniang Kabataan voters and 66 million are regular voters, Garcia said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Comelec meanwhile will work together to combat vote-buying and vote-selling in anticipation of the onset of the campaign period for the BSKE. DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Garcia signed an agreement to work together with other government agencies, citizens’ arms, and other stakeholders to ensure the honest and peaceful conduct of BSKE elections.

“We’re ready to support Comelec to safeguard the ballot. Let’s fight the buying and selling of votes, the worst cancer of society,” Abalos said. With Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez

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IN BRIEF

Taguig City opens center for the elderly TAGUIG City has opened its Center for the Elderly to senior citizens from “Embo” villages as part of the local government’s Transformative, Lively, and Caring program.

The center features a therapy pool, clinic, sauna and massage room, mini cinema theater, multi-purpose hall, recreational area, and rooftop garden.

It also houses the Taguig Geriatric Program, launched in partnership with St. Luke’s Medical Center, offering comprehensive health services, consultations, and evaluations by medical professionals.

Mayor Laarni Cayetano said senior citizens can have their memory, visual, and hearing skills assessed on Tuesdays, while informative lectures and forums on topics like depression, dementia, osteoporosis, and eating habits are held on Thursdays.

The center is also a space where senior citizens can experience a strong sense of community. Joel E. Zurbano

Sardines manufacturers not hiking prices SARDINES manufacturers will not press for additional price increases toward the end of the year despite increases in fuel costs, the Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines (CSAP) said.

CSAP executive director Bombit Buencamino said manufacturers have temporarily stopped operations ahead of the closed season for sardines fishing, due to bad catch and lack of sardines in the commercial fishing grounds.

“They (manufacturers) decided to sit this one out until the closed season is over.

We are already losing and the closed season will provide a reprieve to operation costs and other expenses. And it’s the wrong time for us to push for an increase because we do not know how much fuel will cost in December or in the next few months,” he said. Othel V. Campos

DOJ seeks law vs. ‘demanda me’ THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday urged Congress to enact a law against the so-called “demanda-me” scheme employed by overstaying foreigners to stop their deportation.

Under the scheme, overstaying or undesirable foreigners allow themselves to be sued before the prosecutors’ offices and in courts purportedly to stop or delay their deportation.

“A pending case in the prosecutor’s office or in court is a ground to prevent the deportation of a foreign national,” Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said.

“We respectfully seek the wisdom of Congress to pass a legislation to stop this abusive practice,” he added.

“The DOJ is willing to provide all the necessary statistics, case studies and other relevant information for consideration of the esteemed Congressmen and Senators,” the DOJ official said. Rey E. Requejo

NEWS A4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

IN BRIEF

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Apparent female trafficking victim intercepted at NAIA

JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE. The third day of the joint naval exercise called Samasama ’23 between the Philippines and the United States involved training on multiple

shipboard operations including communications check and maritime domain exercise prior to the conduct of a visit, board, search and seizure drill by a combined boarding force from Philippine Navy’s BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902) and the U.S. Navy. The BRP Antonio Luna FF151 - PF and USS Dewey (DDG 105) performed Replenishment at Sea Approaches with supply ship. USNS Wally Schirra

2024 Balikatan will be more naval N

By Vince Lopez

EXT year’s “Balikatan” exercises between Filipino and American forces will give more focused on maritime or naval drills, in contrast to past editions which are more land-based abd more intensive, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. Meanwhile, Brawner also said they have yet to monitor the possibility of additional structures being built by China in Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) off the province of Zambales. e, Owing to the more naval orientation of the 2024 episode, the strength of the

participating troops was estimated to be at 16,000 personnel, a bit lower than the 17,767 soldiers who saw action in this year’s exercise, Brawner told reporters.

“Dahil nag-shift tayo ng focus sa maritime, hindi na ‘yun manpower intensive. Dati kung Army, land-based, ang

daming tropa yan. Ngayon, pag shift ka ng maritime, yung barko hindi mo naman pwedeng dagdagagan ng tao, kung ano lang yung talagang crew nya, kailangan yun lang (Because we have shifted focus on maritime, manpower would not be that intensive. Unlike the landbased using the Army that requires a lot of troops. Now, if you shift to maritime, you cannot add additional personnel to the ships which have a definitive number of crewmen),” Brawner explained.

He said some of the possible maritime drills for next year’s “Balikatan” include naval gunnery, anti-submarine drills, resupply at sea, and helicopter landing drills or flight deck exercises.

This year’s “Balikatan” was held on

April 11 - 28, and was considered the biggest in the 38-year history of the joint exercises.

AFP assets used included the newlyacquired ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 105mm howitzers, S-70i “Black Hawk” helicopters, Embraer A-29 “Super Tucano” attack planes, FA-50 jet fighters, T-129 “Atak” helicopters, SF260 light bombers, AW-109, and MD520MG light attack helicopters, missile frigates, and landing docks.

Among the highlights of the exercise were the sinking of the decommissioned World War II BRP Pangasinan (PS-31) which was blasted by combined Filipino and American forces off Zambales last April 26.

PCG sacks 10 personnel for charging recruits with illegal fees THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it relieved 10 personnel of its regional training center for allegedly charging unauthorized fees to new recruits.

According to a message by PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, the rest of the staff of the regional training center has been reassigned to other units.

“Only 10 personnel have been relieved pending investigation. The rest of the staff have been reassigned to other units,” Balilo said.

No information was given on the new assignments, but the PCG said the officials were placed into a “holding area.”

“They are in the holding area of the Coast Guard Education and Training Command pending investigation,” Balilo said in a text message to Manila Standard.

In an interview with GMA 7’s Dobol B TV, Balilo said that they talked to the victims who complained about the unauthorized charges amounting to as much as P150,000.

“When PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu learned about the irregu-

larity three weeks ago, all the staff of the regional training center were relieved and are currently the subject of investigation,” Balilo said.

He pointed out that the PCG training is free and the government already allotted P43,000 for each new recruit.

Citing information from one of the victims who posted such concern online, Balilo said new recruits were asked for contributions and to pay for “extra uniforms” that were overpriced.

The new recruits asserted that the government allocated P43,000 for training gear that can be used by a recruit for six months. But due to overpricing and the addition of unnecessary equipment, the training exceeded the funds.

The recruits cited as examples of the thin handkerchiefs that cost P350 and t-shirts that were only bought somewhere but they were still paid for when they should have been included in the P43,000 government allocation.

Due to the steep illegal fees, Balilo said some new recruits were forced to borrow money from lending institutions.Vince Lopez

By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippines and Australia have expressed hopes that AUKUS—a trilateral cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with other regional alliances, would bolster security in the Indo-Pacific region.

This sentiment arose after Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Aus-

MEGA JOB FAIR. San Juan City Mayor Zamora, leads the launch of Mega Job Fair at the newly opened Lifestyle Annex, Greenhills Mall, in San Juan City. A total of 62 companies from Greenhills Mall joined the event. Participating establishments include restaurants, retail stores, employment agencies, car accessories shops, jewelry stores, bookstores, banks, eyewear shops, and health and beauty clinics. The mega job fair also serves as a one-stop shop for job seekers since partner agencies from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Social Security System, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), PhilHealth, and PAG IBIG Fund will also have their booths to provide assistance to job hunters. Manny Palmero

on respect for all countries’ sovereignty and the international law.

“Australia and the Philippines committed to work in partnership to preserve and strengthen an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order, governed by international law,” the officials said in a joint statement.

“Ministers and Secretaries reaffirmed the need for all countries to promote open channels of communication and

practical measures to reduce risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation and prevent conflict in our region,” they added.

Manila and Canberra are counting on various alliances to achieve such aspirations. They include AUKUS; Quad, a strategic security dialogue among Australia, India, Japan and the US; and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

BI asking P4.24-b budget for 2024 to level up services, gear at NAIA

By Vito Barcelo

PAO COMMENDS SENATOR BONG GO. Senator Christopher Go cannot be happier as he receives another award as “Outstanding Senator,” this time from the rank and file of the Public Attorney’s Office who held their Fifth National Convention where PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acostas also presented a trophy for outstanding leadership and performance.

Solon: Review OFW medical aid program PARTY-list Rep. Marissa Magsino seeks a congressional review on the implementation of the ‘Inter-agency Medical Repatriation Assistance Program’ (IMRAP) for Overseas Filipinos (OFs).

Magsino of the OFW party-list group filed House Resolution 1373 urging the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the program, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and its complementary program -- the establishment of dedicated wards for OFWs by the Department of Health (DOH).

Magsino cited Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2017-0001, issued on June 16, 2017 which created the IMRAP with the objective of instituting an integrated system and process flow on medical repatriation of OFs and OFWs, to harmonize existing procedures, and to formalize inter-agency coordination and cooperation among participating government agencies.

In alignment with the One-Country-Team-Approach, the JMC 2017-001 included the following Member Agencies under IMRAP: Department of Health (DOH), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). Maricel V. Cruz

Lawmaker proposes probe on seized 323 kilos of shabu

PH, Australia eye stronger relations to bolster Indo-Pacific security tralian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farell met on Tuesday in Adelaide, Australia to build on the strengthened bilateral partnership.

Expressing commitment to achieve an “open, stable and prosperous” region, Philippines and Australia reaffirmed their stand to preserve peace by recognizing that the region’s stability depends

AN APPARENT trafficking victim was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after she presented a document with a fake signature of a Department of Justice (DOJ) executive.

The woman, a 30-year old prospective worker abroad, presented herself for primary inspection at the NAIA Terminal 1 in an attempt to depart via a Philippine Airlines flight to Singapore.

She initially claimed to be a DOJ employee working as an administrative and set to travel to Singapore as a delegate for an official travel, together with Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty. Ty serves as the undersecretary-in-charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). He is currently in Thailand attending a forum on people smuggling, trafficking in persons, and related transnational crime.

The passenger presented a travel authority purportedly signed by Ty. However, officers noted inconsistencies in the signature which prompted them to verify with the DOJ. It was later confirmed that the travel authority presented was fake, and that the passenger was actually recruited to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an entertainer.

She was allegedly charged 38,000 AED for her fake documents, which she will pay through salary deduction for two years. She admitted that her documents were just given to her in a fast food chain near the airport. Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is seeking a P4.24-billion budget to upgrade and modernize equipment, and to buy additional electronic gates to be installed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said he is hopeful for the approval of their proposed l2024 budget.

During a public hearing of the Committee on Finance headed by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara which discussed the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies last October 9, it was reported that the BI requested a P4.24-billion budget mainly to procure necessary technological upgrades for the agency.

DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the amount is part of the P34.487 billion budget request by the department. He emphasized that this amounts to only 0.60% of the total national budget.

Despite the “relatively small amount,” Tansingco said they are confident that they can deliver commitments, particularly in technological upgrades for the bureau.

Part of the budget, Tansingco said, would be used to procure additional electronic gates for both their arrival and departure operations of the NAIA. “The medium-term target is to replace 50 percent of our manual counters to electronic gates,” he said.

Currently, only 21 e-gates are distributed in major international airports.

CAVITE Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr on Wednesday sought a congressional investigation into the discovery by Customs agents of a shipment of beef jerky concealing 323 kilograms of suspected shabu at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last October 4.

In filing House Resolution 1374, Barzaga said he particularly wants to find out if there are customs personnel involved in the illegal activity, which happened right under the BOC’s nose, to combat drug trafficking “and protect the general public without compromising the promotion of international trade.”

“It appears that a review of the BOC (Bureau of Customs) operations should be made in order to prevent the inward flow of illicit drugs in the country,” Barzaga said.

Barzaga, a veteran legislator, cited the need for the House committee on dangerous drugs to investigate and determine “how to engage the participation of logistics operators, shipping companies, operators and managers, captains, officers, and crew members, port operators and personnel to effectively prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking through ships engaged in international maritime where it has been found that most drug confiscations happen by sea.” Maricel V. Cruz

‘Take alternate roads in areas affected by Skyway 3 project’

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised motorists to use alternative routes during a two-day temporary closure of some roads due to the ongoing Skyway Stage 3 Project works.

“To give way to the concrete pouring of coping beams as part of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project, a temporary full road closure shall be implemented on both Eastbound and Westbound starting 10 p.m. on October 21 until 7 p.m. of October 22,” the MMDA said in an advisory.

Areas affected covered Valenzuela Street corner Tomas Claudio Street facing westbound motorists (Valenzuela Street to Beata Street bound), Beata Street corner Tomas Claudio Street facing eastbound motorists (Beata Street to Valenzuela Street bound), Quirino Avenue corner Tomas Claudio Street facing eastbound motorists (Quirino Avenue to Beata and Valenzuela Streets bound), and Quirino Avenue corner Jesus Street facing eastbound motorists (Quirino Avenue to Beata and Valenzuela Streets bound).

“Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid inconvenience,” the MMDA stated.

OPINION

So who was the VIP? IT’S been a week since that maliciously spread fake news about VP Inday Sara causing traffic stoppage in Commonwealth Avenue came up.

The OVP came out immediately with a statement denying the supposed incident, by flatly informing the public that she was in Davao City on that day.

The QCPD head promptly relieved the lowly policeman manning the traffic flow from his duties because he was misled by the video-taker into mouthing “VP for VIP.” As the video became viral, the MMDA chair issued a statement “it is only normal to give courtesy for VIPs” when they passed our usually traffic-clogged streets.

But the damage was done, as the socmed manipulators came out with terrible memes condemning and ridiculing Inday Sara for her alleged sense of entitlement.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte later called on the QCPD to reinstate MSG Verdo Pantollano, the patsy who was manipulated by the video scammer and the mastermind/s of the fake news spread, as she felt that an injustice was done to a lowly policeman “who was simply doing his job.”

While a comparison might be odious at this point, remember how Hitler waved the Nazi flag after the economic recession brought about

by Germany’s defeat in the First World War? Fair enough.

But neither MMDA nor QCPD has come out as of this writing to identify who the VIP for whom “due courtesies” were given, such that an entire span of Commonwealth Avenue had to be closed.

Neither have the fake news manipulators demanded for the identity of the “VIP” so they could be fair to the VP who they unjustly accused.

Following the necessary identification of the VIP by officials in charge of traffic control, the MMDA, the Metro Manila Mayors Council led by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, the DILG and the PNP should forthwith draft proper protocols on such entitlements given to VIPs. They should review the violations made on a popular “no wang-wang” policy of former President Benigno S. Aquino III which had been thrashed since he left office.

Why for instance are senators and Cabinet officials escorted by motorcycle cops as they move throughout the metropolis, even if it is not SONA day?

Or the span of Roxas Boulevard fronting Rizal Park closed to traffic each time some foreign diplomat, not even a visiting head of state, offers a floral wreath before the monument of Rizal?

Of course this does not include wealthy contractor-congressmen who regularly attend sessions at the Batasan arriving in their own helicopters, such that ‘traffic’ in the air corridor of the legislature has to be monitored by the hapless sergeant-at-arms?

I repeat: Identify who that VIP was. *** The small committee of the HoR, composed of flip-flopping Stella Quimbo, megacontractor cum party-list appropriations chair Zaldy Co, majority leader Mannix Dalipe, and in-house minority leader Nonoy Libanan have scrapped VP and DepEd secretary Inday Sara’s CIF from the president’s submitted budget, without touching a centavo of the president’s CIF. Then, to show they are not targeting the VP alone, they added the DA (absolutely unnecessary as it has no police or investigative powers), the DFA (whose secretary already stated they didn’t need confidential funds), and the DICT (at a time cybersecurity is imperiled).

Unsheathed knives in the political theater of this nation benighted by politics have not

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

B1

Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Children suffer most from disasters

only been drawn, but made to cut and cut deeply.

Let’s see what the Senate does next. *** The mayhem inflicted by the Hamas against Israel has transfixed world attention on the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The barbarity of the assault and the hostage-taking of innocent civilians, including women, children and the elderly is completely unforgivable, and though it justifies retaliatory measures by Israel against the terrorists, the specter of violence expanding in what could be a long and drawn-out war is terrifying, even for those of us far removed from the theater of conflict.

As we write, the DFA has confirmed that two Filipinos have become casualties of the terrorist attack, and others are still missing.

The initial shock has roiled the stock markets and sent petroleum going up by $6 to $8 where it was on a corrective decline just before the conflict erupted.

With the Russia-Ukraine war still ongoing with no relief in sight, West African nations in pocket turmoil of their own, and the South China Sea conflicts still simmering, there is genuine cause for worry even for us Filipinos.

It is not just the plight of thousands of our brethren in the arena of violent conflict, or the escalated cost push on our supplyinduced inflation becoming worse than it already is, but something else that worries this writer.

What if China’s Xi Jinping takes advantage of the situation, where America’s military might is stretched thin by both the Ukraine and Israel problems?

This may sound alarmist, but it is always best to analyze the current world situation and see how, given least concern and worstcase scenarios it might impact upon our region.

First, Taiwan is in the midst of an important electoral campaign to choose their next president in January.

The surveys show that DPP’s Lai Ching-te is comfortably ahead of his rivals, both from the KMT and the TPP, as well as a nascent, though relatively weak, independent run of Terry Gou. That is a red flag for China’s ‘peaceful’ desire for re-unification, and as we see it, unless the opposition rivals unite behind one candidate, and a one-on-one contest materializes, the ruling DPP is off to another four years, well into Xi Jinping’s 2027 ‘re-proclamation’ for a fourth term, which observers say is also his self-imposed deadline to take Taiwan into the PRC’s wings.

Second, the US of A’s military might and resources are, as stated earlier, stretched thin.

Third, the supply bases the Philippines has granted to the US military, for clear potential use in case of a Taiwan Strait conflict, are still being constructed and equipped with more modern facilities.

Months ago, this writer has warned that those Cagayan and Isabela EDCA sites the president allowed might hasten Xi Jinping’s adventurism over Taiwan.

Fourth, China’s economy has spawned still simmering internal political troubles for Beijing, and if the trend continues, Xi might ‘wave the flag’ to unify the Chinese people’s resolve to take over Taiwan.

While a comparison might be odious at this point, remember how Hitler waved the Nazi flag after the economic recession brought about by Germany’s defeat in the First World War? China’s “century of humiliation” might be a distant memory in comparison, but a pledge to rejuvenate through ‘re-unification’ strikes a chord in Han and Manchu emotions.

President Marcos and his national security and foreign affairs advisers would do well to study all possible scenarios, and as the Boy Scouts say, “be prepared.”

W

E FILIPINOS take pride in our resilience or the ability to bounce back from disasters, whether natural or man-made.

But what we apparently don’t readily see is that our children are the ones who suffer the most from the impact of typhoons and other weather-related disasters.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Filipino children aged 18 and below are the most displaced children in the world due to disasters from 2016 to 2021 worsened by the climate crisis.

Here’s what it said: “The Philippines is at the epicenter of this crisis, bearing the highest absolute number of child displacements at 9.7 million.”

The UNICEF report noted that in terms of hazard, the Philippines ranked first for storms (8.3 million), and third for floods (1.3 million) in absolute numbers of children displaced.

The UNICEF report is the first global analysis of the number of children driven away from their homes between 2016 and 2021 due to floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires, and looks at projections for the next 30 years.

Based on the analysis, there were 43.1 million internal displacements of children linked to weather-related disasters over the last six years, or the of approximately 20,000 child displacements per day.

dangers involving their health and wellbeing.

The super typhoon damaged health, water, and sanitation facilities and disrupted services, increasing the risk of getting sick from many diseases.

The agency said lack of safe drinking water can lead to dehydration, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene can lead to the spread of water-borne diseases like diarrhea, a leading cause of death among children under five years of age.

That’s not all. The super typhoon halted many students’ progress in catching up with learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also displaced more than 12 million students for mainly two reasons – their classrooms were damaged or used as evacuation centers, preventing children from attending their classes and catching up on lost learning during the pandemic.

What should be done?

The international agency said the Philippines and other countries vulnerable to climate change must “strengthen efforts to protect children at risk and support those already displaced.”

Easier said than done, but the government must take heed with concrete steps to protect our children from the adverse effects of climate change.

The government must take heed with concrete steps to protect our children from the adverse effects of climate change And what’s disturbing is that the Philippine figures comprised 22.5 percent—or more than a fifth—of the total number of displaced children worldwide.

“Children are among those who suffer the most when they are displaced in times of disaster. They experience stress, lose days in school, get sick, and become more prone to exploitation and abuse,” the UNICEF added.

The agency cited the adverse impact of the recent super typhoon Karding on Filipino children.

It said the weather disturbance led to

Intelligence and confidential funds

ALL the news about intelligence and confidential funds have really opened a can of worms.

It gives the impression that every instrument of government is involved in intelligence work.

It also seems to give credence to what some people are saying: Join the government and enjoy the perks of unaudited expenditure of government funds.

It reminds me of one posting from our senior Viber group saying “if joining politics becomes a lot more profitable than business, then something is terribly wrong with our country.”

This issue of intelligence funds became a hot topic because of the amount of money being mentioned and whether the offices getting them are entitled to it.

Since it is all over the news already, let us take that report about Davao City wherein about P2.697 billion was allegedly spent for intelligence work over six years.

If we do the math, that will come to about P1,231,506 million a day.

That is a staggering amount of money for intelligence however anybody tries to look at it.

And from what has been coming out in the papers, it is not only Davao City. It just so happened that it apparently spent the largest amount.

Intelligence and confidential funds, according to the Secretary of the DILG, is authorized by law but added that it should not be abused.

I tried to look for the specific law authorizing government agencies and local government units to have intelligence budgets but could not find it.

What I saw was the January 8, 2015 joint circular among COA, DILG, DBM, DND and other agencies on entitlements, how intelligence funds should be spent and the liquidation process.

This appears to be the basis for agencies to have intelligence and confidential funds.

From my own experience in government, however, this has been going on much earlier.

But back then, not all agencies in the executive branch were authorized intelligence and

confidential funds but local government units did have intelligence funds but the amounts were very much smaller than what is being mentioned today.

Although the report on the intelligence expenditure of Davao City and other big LGUs like Makati, Quezon City, Manila and others gave the public an idea of the kind of money going to intelligence, it did not paint the whole picture.

This is because we have 82 provinces, 149 chartered cities, and 1,487 municipalities not counting the other agencies of government in the executive branch that are also allocated intelligence budgets.

Based from media reports, the way the funds are spent gives the impression funds or a large part of it are not being spent as intended.

This is perhaps mainly due to that media report about the P125 million intelligence fund spent in just 11 days.

From what I know, spending intelligence funds starts with an approved intelligence project.

Without one, intelligence funds cannot be disbursed.

But if we read the media reports, intelligence funds are apparently being released in bulk and the only clearing instrument required is a certification from the head of office the funds were spent for intelligence purposes.

I do not think we the public have seen the last of this issue.

The question is what happens now to all the intelligence funds in the 2024 national budget amounting to P9.2 billion or, to be more precise, the Intelligence funds intended for the DepEd and the Office of the Vice President totaling about P650 million because that was where the controversy started. According to yesterday’s news, the House has realigned the OVP and DepEds intelligence and confidential to other agencies.

Could that be the end of it? Let’s wait and see.

Under normal circumstances, the intelligence funds for the OVP and DepEd totaling P650 million cannot or difficult to justify.

Still, Vice President Sarah Duterte mounted a spirited defense saying those who are criticizing do not like peace.

That is understandable considering that she is a Reserve Officer in the AFP, a graduate of the National Defense College and also cares deeply about national security.

Unfortunately, her two current job descriptions do not justify her office receiving intelligence and confidential funds.

The only way the allocations can be justified is if the VP will be given additional tasks by the President that has something to do with national security even if it is only in an advisory capacity.

But, who knows, anything is possible in this country.

Perhaps in a short while as it is often the case, this issue will be forgotten quickly and everything will again be business as usual.

With the action of the House, however, let’s hope we have seen the last of this sordid episode.

With the action of the House, however, let’s hope we have seen the last of this sordid episode The total amount if computed would, therefore, really be huge.

This being the case, it would be reasonable for the public to expect that with that money going to detecting those terrorist groups who are waging an insurgency war to overthrow our government these people would have been caught already and put behind bars.

But, as we can see, this is obviously not the case.

They are still very much around.

But how has this issue of intelligence and confidential funds become such a monster that, if no control is applied, will go out of control as it probably has already.

Just like anything else, this started small.

The Office of the President, for instance, started with about P500 million a year.

In 2016, however, this was suddenly increased to P2.5 billion by the Budget Secretary.

This created a little controversy but the Budget Secretary then, who is now the Secretary of Finance Ben Diokno, explained it was increased because he was asked and that was that.

End of the story.

Today, this has increased to P4.5 billion and it is safe to assume that so have the others.

Pakistan’s trans community fights hate, says bigots ‘afraid of joy’ KARACHI, Pakistan – Clad in a Barbie-pink shalwar kameez, influencer and doctor Mehrub Moiz Awan reels off endless examples of harassment she’s received since becoming the sharp-tongued figurehead of Pakistan’s queer community.

A growing and highly organized digital hate campaign driven by the religious right has put trans people at risk — both of losing their legal rights and their lives.

“It became quite vicious where there were death threats against me, there were attacks on me,” Awan told AFP from a fellow activist’s crowded apartment in Pakistan’s megacity of Karachi.

“I had to file FIRs (police complaints) and applications for police protection.”

The digital hate campaign started shortly after Awan was disinvited from a TedX panel at a private school in August last year following complaints from parents.

When she called out the decision, local celebrities — including a prominent fashion designer — accused her of promoting an LGBTQ agenda in a country where homosexuality has been criminalized since colonial times.

Since then, a variety of players from Pakistan’s religious right have converged into a mainstream anti-queer movement in the conservative Muslim country.

They include the leaders of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami political party, podcasters, influencers from a religious collective called the

Youth Club, and an online group known as Mothers for Pakistan.

Blasphemy allegations Tactics used by the campaign include hardline Islamic rhetoric, harassment, cyberbullying, and doxing in the form of leaks of personal data, including pre- and post-transition pictures of activists.

Outright accusations of blasphemy — allegations that can lead to mob killings in Pakistan — have also been used.

Although exact figures are not available due to severe underreporting, human rights groups such as Amnesty International say there has been a concerning rise in violence against trans people in Pakistan.

In February, Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, was shot at by two men and narrowly escaped.

Two weeks earlier, a transgender woman was found hanged in the city of Rawalpindi in a case police suspect to be murder.

“Our lives are in danger,” said Shahzadi Rai, a transgender activist and member of the municipal council of Karachi, Pakistan’s most populous city.

“I first used to use a rickshaw to travel, but within the span of one year that has changed. I have been attacked four times.”

Progressive act The Digital Rights Foundation, a non-profit which tracks online harassment, has recorded 74 cases against the trans community since the

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In recent years millennial and Gen Z queer people in Pakistan have carved out a vibrant digital space for themselves on TikTok, Instagram and X, where they showcase their activism and offer glimpses into their personal lives start of the hate campaign.

The landmark passing of a Transgender Rights Act in 2018 was regarded as highly progressive, lauded around the world for the protections it granted the community.

But four years later Jamaat-e-Islami led the charge against it — party chief Siraj-ul-Haq saying it was against Islamic law and “a conspiracy

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

to destroy our family system”.

The group — and others — claim the act is a means of normalizing same-sex marriage in Pakistan.

“Even people in the community started believing it and began denouncing (the act),” researcher Mehleb Shaikh, who helped draft the law, told AFP. “People were just so paranoid at the time that they will be seen as these figurative homosexuals... a boogie man created in our society in order to create more policing of gender.”

In May, the Islamabad Shariat Court — which gives Islamic oversight to secular laws — revoked the act. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court.

Closeted community Pakistan’s indigenous third gender, or “Khawajasira” community, has a rich, spiritual, cultural and political history that spans centuries in the Indian subcontinent.

But British colonization brought the criminalization of homosexuality and the imposition of strict gender binaries which have been reinforced with increasing Islamization.

As the queer community is forced to remain largely closeted, the brunt of this is experienced by Khawajasiras, many of whom are forced to resort to begging, dancing, or sex work for survival.

“I have never seen our community this distressed,” said Rai. In recent years millennial and Gen Z queer

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

people in Pakistan have carved out a vibrant digital space for themselves on TikTok, Instagram and X, where they showcase their activism and offer glimpses into their personal lives.

“The trans community’s content has been phenomenal, especially in terms of TikTok,” Aradhya Khan, a transgender rights activist and digital content creator, told AFP. “People love the content trans girls make; they are killing it right now.”

However, activists say the hate campaign has shrunk their digital footprint. Self-censorship and deactivation of social media accounts have become commonplace.

For the trans male community, which already lacks visibility, the trend is even more concerning.

“Trans men are treated as women and girls in Pakistan, where they live in very controlled, restricted and conservative environments,” transgender activist and freelance journalist Rayhan Muqadam told AFP from his home in Karachi.

But Awan says despite the ongoing onslaught of hate and disinformation, the trans community is determined to resist by centering on their own communal joy, resilience, and beauty.

“The biggest threat to patriarchal sanctimonious bigotry is joy. That’s what threatens them the most,” said Awan.

“They’re afraid of laughter. They’re afraid of joy, they’re afraid of love. And how we are resisting is by continuing to love.” AFP

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editor Managing Editor News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

B2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Ghosts of Bakhmut’: Ukraine’s elite snipers on eastern frontline DONETSK REGION, Ukraine— Kuzya, a sniper with a Ukrainian elite unit, selected one of a series of long rifles laid out on the living-room floor.

He was due to head out in several hours on a mission to the frontline in eastern Ukraine, just a few hundred meters from Russian troops.

His team of around 20 snipers are known as the “Ghosts of Bakhmut” because they have spent months battling Russian forces around the town destroyed by a year of fierce fighting.

Manila Russia’s invasion has morphed into Standard grindingTODAY conflict of long-range artillery duels and trench warfare, but Kuzya believes snipers are vital to helping Manila Ukrainian troops advance.

Standard He declined to say how many RusTODAY sian soldiers he has killed.

“I don’t count targets for myself— NOTICE Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate Notice is hereby given to the public that the intestate estate of the late Domenciano S. Macaibay has been extrajudicially settled among his surviving heirs as per Deed of Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate with Appointment of Property Administrator and Attorney-in-Fact entered in the Book of Consul Grace Ann G. Bulos as Doc. No. 119; Page No. 6; Book No. XLVIII, Series of 2022.

for me there’s no point,” he claims.

But the unit’s commander in a “Ghosts of Bakhmut” T-shirt gives the group’s total as 558.

Kuzya, a tall and broad 31-year-old with blue eyes, says he has no problem killing a man in his crosshairs.

“Hell, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the enemy! He came to my home. I didn’t go to his.”

He works in a close-knit team, formed from a prestigious presidential brigade.

Kuzya trained at Ukraine’s sniper school under experienced fighters, but said he was always learning on the job and praised his Russian counterparts.

“Let’s be honest, the best snipers train in America... and in Russia they’ve been fighting wars all their lives... in Afghanistan and in Chechnya,” he said. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WINTER HOMELESSNESS. Afghan residents walk past their makeshift shelters set-up after earthquake in Wardakha

village, Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on Tuesday. Rescue workers scrabbled through rubble for villagers buried in their homes by a series of earthquakes that killed more than 2,000 people in rural western Afghanistan, but hope of finding survivors was fading fast. AFP

Thousands of Afghans out in cold as magnitude 6.3 quake hits west

(MS-OCT. 12, 19 & 26, 2023)

NOTICE NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late is ROY JONATHAN been Notice hereby given that B. theALVAREZ intestate has estate of extrajudicially by andB.among his has heirsbeen by the late ROYsettled JONATHAN ALVAREZ way of a Deed settled of Extra-Judicial Settlement Estate extrajudicially by and among his of heirs by with Waiver of ofRights and Donation executed in way of a Deed Extra-Judicial Settlement of Estate counterparts Amelitaand J. Cruz and Joyce Winifred with Waiver byof(1)Rights Donation executed in C. Alvarez-Quimpo entered as Doc. No 370, Page No. counterparts by (1) Amelita J. Cruz and Joyce Winifred 75, Book No. 13, Series of 2023 in the notarial books C. Alvarez-Quimpo entered as Doc. No 370, Page No. of Rodrigo deSeries Real Jr. Notary Public for Makati 75,Atty Book No. 13, of a2023 in the notarial books City, Metro Manila; (2) Roy C. Alvarez Jr. of Atty Rodrigo de Real Jr. a Jonathan Notary Public for Makati entered in the notarial records of Joseph Rodriguez, City, Metro Manila; (2) Roy Jonathan C. Alvarez Jr. Notary the State of Texas dulyRodriguez, apostilled; ila enteredPublic in thefornotarial records of and Joseph (3) Faye C. Alvarez-Olympia entered in the notarial Notary Public for the State of Texas and duly apostilled; Sugawara,entered Notary in Public of the TODAYrecords (3) FayeofC.Bonnie Alvarez-Olympia the notarial State of California duly apostilled. records of Bonnie Sugawara, Notary Public of the (MS-OCT. 12, 19 & 26, 2023) State of California duly apostilled.

ndard

NOTICE Notice is hereby given to all concerned that AIDA GREATER ASIA PTE. LTD’s Board has decided to withdraw its Philippine Representative Office under the name of AIDA GREATER ASIA PTE LTD. PHIL REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE with SEC License No. FS201019793

N

AYEB RAFI, Afghanistan —Thousands of Afghans who survived a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people were bracing for a winter of homelessness on Tuesday, as rescuers made last-ditch efforts to find survivors.

Volunteers have worked with spades and pickaxes in Herat province since Saturday’s deadly magnitude 6.3 quake—followed by powerful aftershocks— while others dug graves instead.

The United Nations said more than 12,000 people,

Local and national officials have given conflicting from some 1,700 families, are estimated to have been counts of the number of dead and injured from the affected.

It said “100 percent” of homes were destroyed in previous earthquakes, but the disaster ministry has said 2,053 people died.

11 villages of Zenda Jan district.

“We can’t give exact numbers for dead and woundMeanwhile, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Afghanistan on Wednesday, hitting an area ed as it is in flux,” said disaster management ministry where more than 2,000 people were killed after a se- spokesman Mullah Janan Sayeq. ries of similar tremors on the weekend.

Zareen, in the village of Nayeb Rafi, where 11 of The quake occurred at a shallow depth at around his family members were killed in the crush of fall05:10 am local time, with its epicenter aboutCYAN 29 ki- MAGENTA ing masonry, said aidBLACK tents would not withstand the YELLOW lometers north of the city of Herat, the United States winter storms.

Geological Survey said.

“If the government doesn’t take us away or help us, Volunteers and rescuers have been working since we will be stuck here,” the man in his 70s told AFP. Saturday in what are now last-ditch attempts to find Providing shelter on a large scale will be a chalsurvivors from the earlier series of earthquakes, lenge for Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, who which levelled entire villages and affected more than seized power in August 2021, and have fractious re12,000 people, according to UN estimates. lations with international aid organisations. AFP

Chinese testers join Fukushima water review

This announcement will serve as a notice to all parties concerned of the withdrawal of the license 12, 19 & said 26, 2023) Representative and the closure (MS-OCT. of the Office.

Muntinlupa City, Philippines (MS-SEPT. 28/ OCT. 5 & 12, 2023)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION with office address at 2nd Floor, Centromall Cabuyao, Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a an Expanding Developer of Economic Housing Project (SONOMA RESIDENCES PHASE 4) with a capacity of 307 House and Lot units, under Tier I (Preferred Activities - Mass Housing) of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), with project site located at Brgy. Baka-bakahan, Pandi, Bulacan.

Shopkeepers take precautions by protecting store entrances with sandbags in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco State, Mexico on Wednesday (Manila time), ahead of the arrival of ‘extremely dangerous’ Hurricane Lidia to Mexico’s Pacific coast and headed toward beach resorts on Mexico’s Pacific coast, threatening to bring flooding and mudslides, forecasters said. AFP

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

(SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 12, 2023)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION with office address at 2nd Floor, Centromall Cabuyao, Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a an Expanding Developer of Economic Housing Project (VERDANZA HOMES) with a capacity of 224 House and Lot units, under Tier I (Preferred Activities - Mass Housing) of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), with project site located at Brgy. Pinagtipunan, Gen. Trias City, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

(SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 12, 2023)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION with office address at 2nd Floor, Centromall Cabuyao, Barangay Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic Housing Project (LA JOLLA PHASE 1) with a capacity of 850 House and Lot units, under Tier I (Preferred Activities - Mass Housing) of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), with project site located at Brgy. Burgos, Rodriguez, RizaL Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

(SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 12, 2023)

Hurricane Lidia leaves at least one dead in Mexico

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico— Hurricane Lidia slammed into Mexico’s Pacific coast as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), causing flooding, blocked roads, fallen trees and at least one death, officials said.

Ahead of its arrival, the government deployed around 6,000 members of the armed forces to help residents, according to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

“You must take refuge in safe places —stay away from low areas, streams,

rivers and hillsides,” he wrote on social media.

A man died when a tree fell on the car he was driving during strong winds in Bahia de Banderas in Nayarit state, authorities said.

Lidia came ashore near the popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, packing maximum sustained winds of around 140 miles (220 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm had quickly strengthened to the second-highest category on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale before

reaching land.

But by late Tuesday, maximum sustained winds had dropped to 105 miles per hour, making it a Category 2 storm, with further rapid weakening expected, the NHC said.

In Puerto Vallarta—a major destination for Mexican and foreign tourists—shopkeepers earlier boarded up windows and piled up sandbags in case of flooding.

Waves crashed ashore, heavy rain drenched the city and strong winds whipped palm trees. AFP

TOKYO—Chinese scientists will this month take part in extensive sampling of Fukushima’s coastal waters for the first time since the release of treated wastewater from its stricken nuclear plant began, Japanese officials said Wednesday.

Experts from China will join those from Canada, South Korea and the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in collecting samples of water, sediment and marine creatures from October 15 to 23.

The survey will also collect seafood samples from the region’s markets, the import of which has been banned by Beijing.

China has repeatedly criticised the release of water once used to cool the plant’s reactors.

“It’s important that we ensure the transparency of our monitoring process,” a Japanese official told reporters Wednesday, confirming it would be the first extensive involvement by Chinese experts since the release of water started in August.

Samples collected by the teams will be sent back to labs in their home countries for independent review, and the IAEA will evaluate and publish those results, the UN body said in a press release.

Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has said the decades-long process will involve some 1.34 million tonnes of treated wastewater from the plant, which suffered a meltdown following a devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. AFP

UK, northern European allies unveil new Ukraine military support package LONDON—Britain and other northern European allies announced a new £100 million ($123 million) military support package Wednesday for Ukraine, aimed at helping its armed forces clear minefields, maintain vehicles and protect key infrastructure.

The package, to be provided using money from the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), will provide equipment to help its soldiers cross minefields and bridge rivers and trenches, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said (MoD).

It will also comprise heavy duty plant vehicles to destroy Russian

non-explosive obstacles and help Ukraine build defensive positions to protect critical national infrastructure, it added.

The new support comes as Kyiv’s Western backers race to step up weapons deliveries ahead of winter after its summer offensive failed to muster the hoped-for gains on the battlefield.

It also coincides with the final contracts having been signed from a previously announced IFU package that will see more than £70 million of air defence capabilities AS WAR RAGES. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) shakes hands dispatched to Ukraine, according to with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu (right) at Victoria Palace, the Romanian the MoD. AFP Government headquarters in Bucharest on Tuesday. AFP

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

B3

extrastory2000@gmail.com

World Bank needs to get ‘bigger’—Banga M AFP

World Bank President Ajay Banga

a central issue at their annual meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco.

World Bank President Ajay Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard, laid out his plans to redefine the vision of the bank towards “eradicating poverty on a livable planet”.

Banga said challenges including poverty, pandemics and climate change were “almost like a perfect storm” that can no longer be treated separately.

He said balance sheet changes and contributions from countries could increase the lendReforming the World Bank and International er’s firepower by $150 billion over the next Monetary Fund to make them better equipped decade.

“It’s a substantial number, but it’s not going to to deal with climate change, debt and poverty is

ARRAKESH, Morocco —The World Bank could raise its lending capacity by $150 billion in the next decade, but it will need to become “bigger” to respond to global challenges, its president said Wednesday.

be enough for the kinds of challenges the world has,” he said at a press conference.

“There is no doubt that we need to be a bigger bank,” Banga said.

He cited an independent expert group commissioned by the G20, which recommended the tripling of financing of multilateral development banks.

“The G20 expert group has put out its own thinking on that. That has not yet been accepted by the G20,” Banga said.

“I’m definitely going to go back to our shareholders to seek a bigger bank because I believe that is what the world needs for the next coming decades,” he said. AFP

NGCP seeks gov’t support to hasten BIMP completion

Stocks end lower on expectations of new rate hike

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TRANSMISSION operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Thursday called for the government’s support to ensure the speedy completion of the P14.03-billion Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection Project (BMIP).

NGCP asked concerned national and local government agencies to support the implementation of the BMIP, originally scheduled for completion in September 2027, but was fast-tracked to December 2025 by the Department of Energy.

“December 2025. Even then that’s already tight. We will do our best. Is there a window for that? Yes, but it’s a sliver of a window, that’s assuming nothing goes wrong,” NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said in a briefing Wednesday.

Alabanza said NGCP is supporting the government’s green energy initiative, but noted that construction of transmission facilities takes 7 to 10 years in developed countries.

Alabanza said that even before the Energy Regulatory Commission’s provisional approval of the project in February, the company had started preconstruction work for BMIP. The company conducted the topographic survey of the submarine cable and cable terminal station sites, marine and hydrographic survey, and route survey for the 230kV and 69kV overhead transmission line portions.

“But even after having done those preconstruction work, our timeline really is 50 to 55 months, assuming that everything goes to plan,” Alabanza said.

Alabanza said the NGCP also started with the community engagement together with the other local government units (LGUs).

PHILIPPINE stocks finished lower Wednesday as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hinted of another interest rate hike in November.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index dipped 10.11 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 6,253.96, while the broader allshares index inched lost 1.82 points, or 0.05 percent, to settle at 3,384.45.

Regina Capital and Development Corp head of sales Luis Limlingan said the market edged lower ahead of the release of US inflation rate data coupled by the BSP’s statement not ruling out another 25-basis points rate hike next month.

The BSP raised interest rates by a total of 425 basis points to 6.25 percent to rein in inflation before pausing in the last four meetings.

Meanwhile, Asia extended a global markets rally Wednesday on a growing belief the Federal Reserve is finished with its interest rate hiking cycle, while optimism was also boosted by a report that China is considering a large burst of economic stimulus.

While uncertainty caused by the Israel-Hamas crisis is keeping nerves on edge, the mood on trading floors has improved after a healthy US jobs report last week and dovish comments from a number of top US monetary policymakers.

On Wednesday, Atlanta Fed boss Raphael Bostic said rates were already tight enough to bring inflation back down to officials’ two percent target, echoing some of his counterparts, who see a spike in Treasury yields as tempering the need to lift borrowing costs further.

The remarks were welcomed by many traders who feared that a series of hit readings on the US economy in recent weeks was putting pressure on the bank to announce one more increase before the end of the year. With AFP

ENERGY TOUR. More than 150 students from Barangays San Juan, Sta. Rita, Labne and Tibagan in San Miguel, Bulacan participate in BulacanSol’s Energy-Skwela (E-Skwela) at its solar power plant facility in San Miguel, Bulacan. BulacanSol—a 55-MWac solar power plant which provides clean energy to the Luzon Grid—is a joint venture between MGen Renewable Energy Inc. and PowerSource Energy Holdings Corp.

SM Prime to open newest mall in San Pedro, Laguna PROPERTY developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) announced Wednesday the opening of a new mall in San Pedro City, Laguna.

SMPH said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would open this Friday the three- level SM Center San Pedro which has 23,000 square meters of gross floor area.

“SM Center San Pedro is SM Prime’s 84th mall in the Philippines and is set to provide further opportunity for the company to expand its brand of service and convenience to more Filipinos in the south, specifically in Laguna and nearby towns of Cavite,” SMPH president Jeffrey Lim said.

Lim said given its ideal location, SM Center San Pedro aims to converge business, leisure and entertainment that will enhance economic and civic activities in the area.

The mall will be SMPH’s fourth mall in Laguna province. its first three malls in Laguna are located in Sta. Rosa, San Pablo and Calamba.

SM Center San Pedro will open with almost 90 percent of space lease awarded to various tenants.

SMPH also opened SM City Bataan with 46,000 sq. m. of gross floor area in May. Jenniffer B. Austria

SMPH president Jeffrey Lim

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC PAMTC trust operations to be transferred to ATRAM Trust Corporation Notice is hereby given to the clients, business partners, and creditors of Pru Life UK Investments, registered as Pru Life UK Asset Management and Trust Corporation (PAMTC), the investment subsidiary of Pru Life UK. Following the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the trust operations and entire fiduciary portfolio of PAMTC will be transferred to ATRAM Trust Corporation (ATRAM Trust) in November 2023. ATRAM Investment Management Partners Corp., an affiliate of ATRAM Trust, will acquire PAMTC as an entity by 2024, subject to certain regulatory conditions.

NUGGETS FACTORY. Food factory Cargill’s employees check the breaded chicken before package the product

inside the factory in Orleans, Central France, on October 9, 2023. Cargill, which employs 250 employees, provides 70% of the needs of the breaded chicken demand such as nuggets to the 1550 Mac Donald’s restaurants in France. AFP

DMCI expects to pay P19.1b in dividends in 2023

By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Holdings Inc., the listed holding company of the Consunji family, said Wednesday its board approved the declaration of P9.56 billion in special cash dividend following a hefty cash bonus from its coal and power subsidiary.

DMCI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange shareholders as of record Oct. 24, 2023 would receive special cash dividend of P0.72 per common share. The dividends will be distributed on Nov. 9, 2023.

It said with the latest dividend declaration, DMCI’s cumulative dividend payout for 2023 is at P1.44 per share, a 20-percent increase from P1.20 in 2022.

DMCI shareholders also received a total of P0.72 per

common share representing regular (P0.61) and special (P0.11) cash dividends in April.

DMCI said it would end the year with P19.1 billion in dividend payments to shareholders, its highest total payout on record.

The amount represents 61 percent of the company’s consolidated core net income in 2022.

The conglomerate has a dividend policy that commits to a dividend payout ratio of at least 25 percent of the preceding year’s consolidated core net income.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp., the coal and power subsidiary of DMCI, on Tuesday declared P14.88 billion in special cash dividends equivalent to P3.50 per share to eligible shareholders.

The terms & conditions set forth in the Transfer and Transition Plan have been approved by: (a) the Board of Directors of Pru Life UK and PAMTC; (b) the Board of Directors of ATRAM Group; and (c) the Monetary Board of the BSP. All are reminded to refer only to official communications and channels.

PAMTC thanks all its employees, clients, business partners, and creditors for their trust and partnership.

ATRAM

B4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 Roderick T. dela Cruz Cruz, Editor Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Gov’t bank asks for relief after remitting fund for Maharlika O

By Julito G. Rada

NE of the state-run banks which contributed funds to the Maharlika Investment Corp.

(MIC) is now seeking regulatory relief from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Governor Eli Remolona said Wednesday.

MIC is a corporate investment body that will manage the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Remolona did not identify the bank, but Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) earlier contributed P50 billion and P25 billion, respectively to the sovereign fund.

The BSP usually extends regulatory relief to financial institutions affected by calamities. Such relief can be in the form of relaxed regulations, lower fees or exemptions from specific requirements to help ease the cost burden of complying with regulations.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno was pushing for the merger of LandBank and DBP. “Yes [one of them asked for relief],” Remolona said, although he did not identify which of the two banks filed for regulatory relief.

Remolona also said the two staterun banks remained compliant in terms of capitalization.

“In principle, we can provide forbearance,” Remolona said.

MIC has an initial capitalization of P125 billion. LandBank and DBP already transferred their contribu-

tions, as the founding government financial institutions to the account of the Bureau of the Treasury.

LandBank deposited its share on Sept. 14, while DBP remitted its contribution on Sept. 15.

Diokno said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. might announce his appointees in MIC soon.

MIC has a nine-member board of directors which consists of the Secretary of Finance as the chairperson in an ex-officio capacity; president and CEO of MIC; president and CEO of the Land Bank of the Philippines; president and CEO of DBP; two regular directors appointed by the President for a term of three years; and three independent directors from the private sector, appointed by the President for a term of one year.

Diokno remained optimistic that the MIF would be fully operational by the end of 2023.

The remaining P50 billion of MIC’s initial capitalization will come from the national government. One of the sources is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas dividend remittance. The BSP already remitted P31.859 billion to the Treasury in 2023.

SCHOOL REBUILDING. Aboitiz Power Corp., in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of Laguna First District Rep. Ann Matibag, will help rebuild Langgam Elementary School at San Pedro, Laguna.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony for educational facility are (from left) DepEd school governance operations division chief Frederick Byrd , Langgam Elementary School principal Shella Perez, DepEd curriculum implementation division chief Erma Valenzuela, Laguna councilor Iryne Vierneza, Rep. Matibag, Aboitiz Power first vice president for external relations Jason Magnaye and Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan.

Ayala sells P5.7b worth of shares in Manila Water, keeps 22.5% stake

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Wednesday it will sell P5.7 billion worth of common and preferred shares in Manila Water Co Inc. (MWC) now led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr. Ayala said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange the conglomerate and wholly-owned subsidiary Philwater Holdings Company Inc. would sell 288.998 million MWC common shares and 436,243 MWC participating preferred share.

Ayala said that after the transaction, it would retain an effective 23.5-percent voting stake and effective 22.5-percent economic stake in MWC. It said the sale is in line with the group’s strategy to rationalize its portfolio and raise P50 billion in proceeds.

Ayala, which has been selling stake in non-core businesses, said it would use the proceeds to pare down debt and/or fund future investments.

MWC common shares were priced at P17.1647/share based on a 30-day

volume-weighted average price as of Oct. 10, 2023, less a 4-percent block discount, aligned with the standard deal structure of block sales.

Meanwhile, the preferred shares were priced on a negotiated basis at P1.7165 apiece, considering the participation features of such shares to dividends to common shares on a 1/10 basis.

Ayala ceded control over MWC to Razon-led Prime Metroline Holdings Inc. in 2020.

MWC provides water treatment, water distribution, sewerage and sanitation services to more than seven million people in the east zone of Metro Manila.

The east zone encompasses 24 cities and municipalities spanning a 1,400-square-kilometer area including key cities, towns and municipality in Metro Manila.

State-owned Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System extended in 2019 MWC’s concession by another 15 years from May 2022 to May 2037.

Uy steps down as chief executive of DITO Telecom

By Darwin G. Amojelar BUSINESSMAN Dennis Uy stepped down as chief executive of DITO Telecommunity Corp. but will remain chairman of the country’s third major mobile service provider.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the parent company of DITO Telecom, announced the movement of its executives to sustain the high-growth trajectory of its telecom unit.

The holding company of Uy said Eric Alberto would be reassigned to DITO Telecom as chief executive from his current position of DITO CME president.

Albert would replace Uy, while DITO CME chief operating officer Donald Patrick Lim was appointed as DITO CME president in an acting capacity.

“Eric’s wealth of experience in senior capacities in the banking and telecoms sectors spanning several decades, will be very valuable in his new role as DITO Tel CEO,” Uy said.

He said Alberto’s appointment comes at an opportune as the company embarks on a high-growth trajectory.

“With the recent equity infusions at the DITO CME level and DITO Tel’s signing of the $3.9-billion long-term project finance facility, we have further confidence in DITO CME and DITO Tel achieving their business plan targets at the soonest possible time,” Uy said.

The company said the proceeds would be used to extinguish short-term bridge loan facilities totaling $1.3 billion, with the balance to pay contractors and fund the continuing network rollout of DITO Tel. It said this would further improve the quality of access and user experience and accelerate the take-up of its FWA 5G and mobile postpaid product offerings.

CARBON-NEUTRAL. Tecon Suape, International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s business unit at the Suape Port and Industrial Complex in Brazil, is certified as a carbon-neutral company in accordance with Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) NBR ISO 14064-3:2007 Standards – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management and PAS 260. Tecon Suape amplified its efforts to decarbonize its daily operations, prioritizing the delicate balance between sustaining the terminal’s high productivity levels and upholding environmental conservation. To reduce its carbon footprint, the company implemented key measures that focus on enhancing energy efficiency. The terminal now has systems in place that effectively substitute conventional electricity use with renewable sources.

Remolona hints of interest rate hike in November THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, may raise the policy interest rate by 25 basis points in its November meeting, Governor Eli Remolona said Wednesday.

“I will not rule out [a 25-bps hike],” Remolona said in a press chat at the BSP headquarters in Manila.

“We are looking at the numbers— twice, three times…We are worried about transport fare hikes… And I would not say we are done with tightening. We are watching carefully,” Remolona said.

The BSP raised interest rates by a total of 425 basis points to 6.25 percent to rein in inflation before pausing in the last four meetings.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan earlier expressed worries over a further hike in interest rates because it might hurt economic growth.

Inflation peaked at 8.7 percent in January 2023 before easing in the next six months. But inflation in August picked up again to 5.3 percent and further to 6.1 percent in September.

This brought the average in the first nine months to 6.6 percent, above the 2023 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Balisacan said further raising interest rates would have long-term effects in the succeeding 12 months.

Remolona considered the spike in September headline inflation to 6.1 percent from 5.3 percent in August a “significant” increase, although the core number looked “encouraging.”

“The headline [inflation] could affect expectations… then we have to worry,” Remolona said.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said earlier he remained confident monetary authorities would consider all the latest relevant information before deciding on policy stance in the next meetings.

Diokno said in a briefing these information include the gross domestic product, inflation and labor market conditions.

Remolona also said in previous interviews that a rate hike in November 2023 might not be the last one in its tightening cycle, given the persistent elevated inflation.

SEC agrees to meet business groups on proposed increase in transaction fees

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Wednesday it will meet with various business groups to address concerns on the proposed higher fees and charges for companies.

“The meeting will seek to unite the viewpoints of the commission and its stakeholders toward ensuring that the new schedule of fees continues to advance the Marcos administration’s thrust of promoting business and capital formation in the country,” the SEC said in a statement Wednesday.

It also clarified that the revised schedule of fees and charges, which was released in August for public comments, has yet to be implemented.

It noted that proposed revised schedule of fees and charges was the result of a thorough and careful study by the commission.

The last time that SEC adjusted fees and charges was in 2017 based on a proposal from 2014. This means that the current rates are based on operational and administrative costs prevailing almost 10 years ago, it said.

It said the higher fees and charges would cover certain IT-related services mostly provided through the commission’s newly-launched digital systems such as the SEC Application Program Interface (SEC API) and the Electronic SEC Education, Analysis, Research Computing Hub (eSEARCH).

The adjusted fees and charges also take into account the historical and projected volumes of transactions and data requests to ensure that the collections of the SEC will be sufficient to recover the increasing operating and maintenance costs of the digital services in the coming years, it said.

LAZADA’S SUPPORT. Executives of e-commerce platform Lazada led by chief executive Carlos Barrera (third from left) meet with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual (fourth from left) to express the company’s unwavering commitment to the flourishing local creatives industry and support for the 2023 Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM). With them are Lazada head of legal Justine Campana, senior communications manager Rianna Garcia, senior government affairs manager Raenuka Fantong, DTI Undersecretary Ana Carolina Sanchez and DTI assistant secretary Agaton Uvero.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

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Riera U. Mallari, Editor Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

PSC knows about P10m funds, says Tolentino THE Philippine Olympic Committee reiterated on Wednesday that the Philippine Sports Commission had a hand in the Commission on Audit sending a demand letter asking the organization to liquidate a P10million financial assistance that was released 25 years ago.

POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said that an Affidavit of Undertaking for the release of funds for the recent 19th Asian Games had a provision for the POC to liquidate P13.2 million— including the P10 million for the Bangkok 10th Asian Games funds— in order to release the funds for the Hangzhou campaign.

“The Affidavit of Undertaking was sent to us weeks before the Asian Games started, or before the PSC and COA sent that demand letter late September 20,” Tolentino said. “Therefore, who’s telling the truth here?”

PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann told in his press conference on Tuesday that it’s the COA, and not the government sports agency, that asked the POC to liquidate P13.2 million within a five-day window.

“It’s very clear in that affidavit that indeed, the PSC knew it all along,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said over the weekend in Hangzhou that he and the POC advanced payments to airlines, particularly Cathay Pacific, because of the urgency to book flights for the close to 400-athlete delegation.

“Time was running out in booking the flights so I and the POC diligently took the logical initiative to advance payments in order to guarantee that our athletes are flying to Hangzhou,” he said. “We started booking flights in the absence of a clear guarantee from the PSC only 10 days before the Asian Games.”

Tolentino said the demand letter’s intent was “malicious and distractive” and that it was timed when Team Philippines was about to start competing in Hangzhou.

Olympian Eumir Marcial (right) is deUP’s Jan Felicilda splits the FEU defense and lays one in.

Maroons flog Tamaraws for 5th straight triumph

By Peter Atencio

A

N ERROR-PRONE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons banked on big baskets from CJ Cansino and Jan Felicilda to get away with an 80-76 overtime verdict over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Cansino and Felicilda found their marks with less than 15 seconds left and pushed the Fighting Maroons to their fifth straight win, giving them a firmer grip on the solo lead in the 86th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Felicilda, who banged in a gamehigh 17 points, scored the final basket for UP with seven seconds left off Cansino’s assist.

Cansino, who drilled in 14 points,

kept the Fighting Maroons out of range in the 13-second mark, with his split charity.

Assistant coach Christian Luanzon said many lessons have been learned going into the Fighting Maroons’ game against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Saturday.

“It (the win) was big for us as a team, even though we turned the ball over a lot of times in this game, this is the highest so far with 21. But I think it was just one of those games

Games Saturday (SM Mall of Asia Arena) 9 a.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Women) 11 a.m. – UP vs UST (Women) 2 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Men) 4 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men)

that we were fortunate that FEU was only able to convert 13 of them (to points),” said Luanzon.

Malick Diouf shone bright with another double-double, hitting 11 points and 20 rebounds.

Diouf’s jumper with 1:47 left finally allowed UP to gain some distance, 7773, in the extra time.

Francis Lopez added nine points and 11 rebounds, and his missed jumper with two ticks left in regulation sent the contest into an extra five minutes.

Jorick Bautista poured in 26 points for winless FEU, including the trey

that sent the game into overtime with 32 ticks to go.

It was a double celebration as UP staved off Far Eastern University, 6461, to maintain its faultless start in the Women’s Basketball Tournament.The Fighting Maroons have now improved their record to 4-0 to take a solo lead at the top of the standings. They have accrued an average winning margin of 13.75 in their past four games.

The Scores: UP 80 – Felicilda 17, Cansino 14, Diouf 11, Lopez 9, Alarcon 8, Torres 6, Torculas 6, Cagulangan 5, Alter 4, Pablo 0, Gonzales 0, Briones 0, Belmonte 0.

FEU 76 – Bautista 26, Gonzales 19, Torres 9, Ona 8, Sleat 7, Torres 4, Alforque 3, Faty 0, Bagunu 0, Buenaventura 0, Competente 0, Montemayor 0.

Quarterscores: 17-13, 35-38, 54-56, 68-68, 80-76

PH Aquatics wants lean team to Asian age-group meet Eugene Torre

7-in-1 Chess Festival set in Ozamis City HALL of Famer Eugene Torre and other grandmasters take the spotlight in the 1st Governor Henry S. Oaminal 7-in-1 Chess Festival set on Nov. 10 to 12 at the Ozamis City Auditorium in, Misamis Occidental.

Torre, Asia’s first Grandmaster, will be featured in the first of the seven events in the three-day chessfest as he plays simultaneous exhibition matches with 13-time PH Open champion Grandmaster Joey Antonio and other superstars on the opening day.

The country’s top and aspiring players will then take the center stage in the individual, team rapid and blitz tournaments where a total pot of ₱500,000 will be up for grabs in four categories.

The rapid tournament, which applies a 9-round Swiss system, also dangles a spot to the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) national championship for the winner, who will also bag ₱30,000 top prize.

Aside from the simul, individual and team tournaments, age group, executive and armageddon roundrobin events are also lined up for invited chess masters in the three-day tournament.

There will also be chess lectures from grandmasters and superstars for masters and students of the sport.

PUTTING premium on quality over quantity, the Philippine Aquatics is looking for a lean number of 44 swimmers to comprise the National Junior Team that will compete against the best of Asia as the country plays host to the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championship slated December 3 to 6 at the New Clark Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Only eight boys and eight girls will be selected in both the 12-14 and 15-17 age-group categories, while only six boys and six girls will comprise the 18-over class division, according to tournament director Chito Rivera.

The swimmers will be selected from the two national tryouts – the recent Dahunog Swim Fest (for the Visayas and Mindanao qualification) in Dipolog City and the Manila leg slated October 13 to15 at the Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex -- organized

by Philippine Aquatics, headed by president Miko Vargas and secretary general Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain.

The top two swimmers after the consolidation of registered times after the two tryouts will be considered to the Philippine team.

“The best way to select the best swimmers for the Philippine Team is through a national tryout. We did this during the SEA Age Group selection last August and the results were very satisfying. Our 18-man team won a total of 16 medals, including two golds, in that regional

tournament,” said Buhain, a swimming icon and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.

In the Mindanao leg, which concluded over the weekend, ‘provisionary status’ is already secured by the winning swimmers, who include SEA Age Group campaigners Jennuel Booh De Leon from Aklan and Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig from Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The 17-year-old De Leon, gold medalist in the boys’ 50m butterfly (25.40) during the SEA Age Jakarta edition, topped the boys’ 18 class 100m free (54.90), 50m back (26.94), while resetting his personal best in the 50m free (24.35) in bagging a bronze medal in Jakarta, with a vastly improved 23.66 seconds.

Talosig, 14, on the other hand, dominated the girls’ 15-17 class 50m freestyle (28.45), 800m freestyle (10:00.00), 200m free (2:16.14), 100m free (1:02.34), 1500-m free (19:04.97), 400-m free (4:48.09), and 200m back (2:20.66).

The country’s top junior swimmers Micaela Mojdeh and Jamesray Ajido, both holders of the national junior marks, are expected to lead the cast of participants in the three-day Manila leg tryouts starting on Friday (Oct.13).

Also expected to vie for slots for the national team are SEA age-group gold winner Arabella Taguinota (100m breast, 1:13.40), and fellow SEA medalists Estifano Ramos, Clark Ken Apuada, Jalil Taguinod, Ivo Enot, Mishka Sy, and Aishel Evangelista.

Secretary general Eric Buhain

Caluag’s sacrifice helped Coo bag Asiad bronze

By Randy Caluag

cent Hangzhou Asian Games without asking for anything in return, were told and recently made the STORIES of sacrifices by Gilas Pilipinas players, rounds on the internet.

But many athletes in other sports did the same. who were called to represent the country in the re-

Danny Caluag and Patrick Coo

And Filipino BMX rider Danny Caluag did more than that.

Racing in the final with a hurting rib that was broken in his training in the US, the veteran rider Fil-American rider played the “big brother’s” role to help teammate Patrick Coo bag the bronze medal in the BMX racing of cycling in the Asian Games.

“Nag-sakripisyo si Danny para kay Patrick,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who heads PhilCycling.

“Prinotektahan niya si Patrick sa mga kalaban.”

Caluag saw his younger teammate’s potential to win despite the latter crashing in the first moto of the 12-cyclist final, scraping the upper part of his right thigh.

But instead of going for a better finish, the 2014 Asian Games’ gold medalist protected his younger teammate from pursuers that included two Chinese riders.

Caluag, 36, was in the thick of the race, but was shoved to sixth place in the final.

SPORTS

C2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

Games Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. – Gerflor vs Nxled 5 p.m. – PLDT vs Cignal 7 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Creamline

T

HE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is guaranteeing a conference to remember as it stages the Second All-Filipino Conference on Sunday at the Smart Arena Coliseum in the biggest gathering of volley talents spread out among 12 teams.

The record field only underscores the tremendous growth the league has gained the last few years with the organizing Sports Vision vowing to carry out the mission of providing the fans action-packed and highlycharged duels.

“We are incredibly proud to present the biggest PVL tournament yet, featuring 12 teams,” said PVL and Sports Vision president Ricky Palou. “This season’s All-Filipino Conference is a testament to the league’s continuous growth and the unwavering support of our fans. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of volleyball competition in the country and this tournament will undoubtedly deliver on that promise.”

And there could be no better way to launch a conference that putting up an explosive three-game bill to be highlighted by two of the league’s top crowd-drawers’—Creamline-Choco Mucho—clash at 7 p.m.

New teams Galeries and Nxled kick off hostilities at 3 p.m. with each side ready and eager to showcase their

Golf bid Biggest PVL All-Filipino LIVfor ranking tourney unwraps Sunday points rejected

by official body

Shown here are (seated, from left) PVL chairman Tony Liao, competition director Sherwin Malonzo, FVP/head, Channel Management and Programming Sienna Olaso, and Carissa Guilas, head, Channel Management and Programming pose with the skippers of the 12 teams seeing action in the Second PVL All-Filipino Conference.

worth and at the same time build confidence and momentum for the tough grind ahead.

Cignal and PLDT slug it out next at 5 p.m. with odds just about even between one of three sister-teams vying in the season-ending conference of the league backed by Mikasa, BingoPlus, ArenaP-

lus, SMART, Rebisco, Milcu, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar.

Meanwhile, Pilipinas Live will air the games live, bringing the much-hyped and anticipated action to Filipinos and audiences abroad.

The platform will provide fans with an immersive and convenient way to

follow their teams and volley stars throughout the conference, giving everyone additional content on top of what they usually see in the usual broadcast of the games.

The games will also be telecast on PVL.ph, One Sports, One Sports+, and SMART Livestream app.

Pacio talks differences between Mansur, Brooks FORMER ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio attested to the toughness of #5-ranked Mansur Malachiev after being taken into deep waters in their threeround clash at ONE Fight Night 15: Le vs. Freymanov inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Pacio needed the full 15 minutes to beat Malachiev, as he survived being controlled by the Dagestani wrestler for most of the bout.

He did almost finish Malachiev with a deep guillotine choke early in the third round, but the Russian’s toughness and grit showed.

“I heard him struggling. But, you know, for us, Mansur and I, this is our shot for a title. So we gave it our all,” he said about their 7 October meeting.

“He was very hard to get. He’s unde- Joshua Pacio feated for a reason.”

While he was impressed with Mala- reigning ONE Strawweight MMA pino believes that Brooks presents the chiev’s skills, Pacio said that the gold World Champion Jarred Brooks. tougher challenge, especially with his standard of the division remains to be Comparing the two wrestlers, the Fili- pressure and top control.

Adiwang, Miado face off in much-awaited rematch Lito Adiwang

LITO “Thunder Kid” Adiwang takes on Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado in their much awaited rematch at ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty vs. Andrade at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand this November 4.

It’s a fight that is 20 months in the making, a rare all-Filipino bout with both hungry to prove their worth in the strawweight division.

For Thunder Kid, this one’s personal.

“I really wanted this rematch. When we first met, honestly, I wasn’t that excited because I knew I was facing a fellow Filipino and he wasn’t in the top five, so there really wasn’t any fire at all. But I’m now truly excited,” he said.

It was in their last tussle at the historic ONE X card in March 2022 when Adiwang suffered a devastating ACL tear.

Adding insult to injury was how he saw Miado’s corner celebrated at the conclusion of the match. That certainly left a bad taste in Thunder Kid’s mouth that he’s determined to show that he’s really the superior fighter between them.

“I’m on fire for this rematch and it’s because of him and his cornermen,” he stated. “Honestly, I was hurt with the way they celebrated when I got injured. He wasn’t even winning that fight and they were celebrating like that.”

Now representing HIIT Studio, Adiwang immediately showed that there was no ring rust after his injury, knocking out Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis in just 23 seconds in his highly anticipated comeback fight at ONE Friday Fights 34.

And what better way to continue his road to redemption than earning one against Miado.

“In this rematch, I’m coming with my A game. I’m not going to hold back. Let’s finish this, and may the best man win,” he said.

For his part, Miado has also been active as he scored a huge third round technical knockout victory over strawweight kickboxing contender Danial “Mini T” Williams at ONE Fight Night 3: Lineker vs Andrade before submitting to Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs Menshikov last June.

The Marrok Force standout is determined to bounce back after that defeat which makes this match all the more exciting as they both look to settle the score once and for all.

The fact that Brooks was able to control him in a cage instead of the ring also speaks a lot about the American’s technique.

“Jarred Brooks is more of a pressure wrestler, and I think they’re not the same. And, this fight was in the ring. When I fought Jarred Brooks, we fought in the cage. So, it’s different,” he said.

“And [in] the ring, it’s like you’re free, it’s wide. Even if you go ringside, he can tuck his arms together. But in the cage, you can’t tuck your arms. It’s hard because it’s a cage. It’s very different.”

While a rematch with Brooks is certainly on the horizon for Pacio, he knows he can’t show up against “The Monkey God” with the same performance.

“I think so,” Pacio said when asked if he feels like he deserves another shot at his old foe.

“But honestly, I’m not impressed with my performance right now. I need to go to the gym again and work harder.”

LOS ANGELES—LIV Golf’s bid to be recognized by the sport’s global rankings body has been rejected, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) organisation confirmed on Tuesday.

OWGR said it had turned down LIV’s request due to the circuit’s 54hole no-cut format and limited access for players to join the venture.

OWGR president Peter Dawson informed LIV chief executive Greg Norman of the decision in an open letter sent on Tuesday.

“The Board Committee met recently to again review your OWGR submission in light of your latest responses to the Committee’s questions and concerns,” Dawson wrote in the letter.

“At the meeting, the Board Committee unanimously determined that at this time the LIV Tour will not be recognized as an Eligible Golf Tour in the OWGR system.”

Dawson said there was no “fair and equitable” way of including LIV Golf’s players in OWGR’s rankings.

The issue of whether LIV players should be granted rankings points has been a thorny subject of debate since the lavishly funded Saudi Arabiabacked circuit plunged golf into an acrimonious civil war last year.

Rankings points were seen as a crucial step in LIV’s developments, giving its players the chance to secure qualification for major championships.

Dawson told US media outlets that OWGR’s decision was not aimed at punishing players who had joined LIV. “This is entirely technical. OWGR has no hostility toward LIV whatsoever,” Dawson was quoted as saying.

“The important point is this is not about the players. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked; there is no doubt about that.

“This is about, should a tour whose formats are so different and whose qualification criteria are so different, can they be ranked equitably with other tours who conform to the OWGR norm and have more competition to them than perhaps the closed shop that is LIV?” In a statement issued later Tuesday, LIV Golf slammed the OWGR ruling.

“OWGR’s sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today’s communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective,” the circuit said.

Batangas, GenSan trip MPBL foes in playoffs BATANGAS and Gensan cruised to victories on Tuesday and moved closer to the semifinal round of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season playoffs at the Batangas City Coliseum.

The Batangas City Embassy Chill Athletics pounded the Imus SV Squad, 78-71, while the GenSan Warriors subdued the Muntinlupa Cagers, 79-70, in the South divi-

Jong Baloria of Batangas.

sion quarterfinals.

The final scores did not reflect how the games really went as Batangas and GenSan dictated the tempo and had their lowerranked opponents in check throughout.

The Athletics, powered by Jong Baloria, Levi Hernandez and Jeckster Apinan, led from the start and pulled away by 21 points (44-23) before halftime.

The Warriors, on the other hand, stormed ahead by 28 points (54-28) behind Jervy Cruz, John Wilson and Nico Elorde, in the third quarter.

Baloria chalked 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists and 1 block to earn best player honors over Hernandez, who had 13 points and 2 rebounds, and Apinan, who posted 11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals for Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva.

Cruz tallied 16 points and 5 assists and was chosen best player ahead of Wilson, who registered 13 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Elorde contributed 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists for GenSan Coach Rich Alvarez.

To the credit of Imus and Muntinlupa, they never surrendered until the final buzzer.

With Val Acuna bunching 3 charities and a triple, Muntinlupa narrowed the gap, 76-70, with 26 seconds left, before Elorde canned three of four free throws to seal the outcome.

Although Batangas moved out of reach, 7660, Imus, behind Carlo Lastimosa dropped a closing 11-2 run to avoid a double-digit deficit.

Villanueva said for the Athletics to cut short the best-of-three series, they must step up defensively, work on their offensive rebounding and execute their plays down the stretch.

ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

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Nickie Wang, Editor Angelica Villanueva , Writer E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Donny Pangilinan finds joy working with mom Maricel Laxa From left: Hannah Pangilinan, Donny Pangilinan, Maricel Laxa- Pangilinan, and Anthony Pangilinan

By Angelica Villanueva YOUNG actor Donny Pangilinan expressed his happiness working with his mother, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, on a project for the first time in GG (Good Game): The Movie.

During the press conference, the Kapamilya actor dropped more details about the upcoming movie, saying that it is a rare opportunity for them to work on a big project together.

“I’ve been doing a lot of projects, as well, that I wouldn’t really get to see

Mom and Dad a lot. So, it’s nice on set that I would get to see my mom and dad every day,” Pangilinan said.

The young actor also said that the movie had become a sort of reunion for them.

“Actually, this is the longest time I’ve seen them, because of this movie. So, it was really nice that this project served as our reunion of some sort,” he added.

Pangilinan will be portraying the role of Seth, a gamer, while Laxa-Pangilinan is Iya, Donny’s estranged mother in the film.

When asked about the lessons he learned from his mother, Pangilinan said he learned a lot from her feedback on the script and her help in analyzing and internalizing the character.

“The biggest one is to be able to put aside what we have behind the character, in order to portray what we will show for our characters needed,” the actor said.

On the other hand, Laxa-Pangilinan admitted that there were moments when she would be amazed by her son’s acting.

“Well, actually, I would admit that there were many moments when I would realize, I had to stop in a scene with him because I would be amazed at him. This is my son and I’m so proud of him,” she said.

The movie, which was co-written by Pangilinan’s sister, Hannah Pangilinan, discusses esports, its community, the struggles it faces, and how it affects the lives of the players and their families.

Laxa-Pangilinan also revealed that her son had put so much effort into working on GG (Good Game): The Movie as he invested his time and money in it.

“This is the first time I’m also gonna be not just an actor, but a producer in a film, an investor, and really behind the scenes. As in ‘yung level na sit down on edits, like really be hands-on. So, this is the first time I’m actually gonna able to participate like that in a film,” Pangilinan said.

GG (Good Game): The Movie also marks Pangilinan’s first movie outside his love team with actress Belle Mariano.

“You will see a different side of me,” he said. “I love working with Belle.

I love working in a love team. But it’s also nice to do projects like this because it also helps with growth especially [since] I’m doing it with my mom. It’s something a first time for me. So, it’s nice that I get to do this project.”

When asked what projects he wanted to do with his mom in the future, Pangilinan immediately answered, “I want us to do action. I guess that’s okay.

Actually, she already had done action.

Her action scenes in Iron Heart were really great.”

Rock band Dilaw

back with new single ‘Orasa’

I

T’S BEEN a great year for the rock band Dilaw and their music. With the success of their debut hit in 2022 with “Uhaw,” the six-piece collective from Baguio is undoubtedly enjoying its time in the limelight.

The band is back with the release of a new single titled “Orasa” under Warner Music Philippines. With its raw sound and empathetic lyrics, it’s a piece that even casual fans will love at first listen.

Before “Orasa” was published on digital streaming platforms, the band had already performed the song in live gigs. In fact, many fans have already memorized the song and continue to rack up streams on digital platforms.

“Our fans are great, and they support any new music we perform or introduce. ‘Orasa’ has a chanty and catchy chorus, and I loved seeing the fans catch the melody and sing-along even without the song being released,” lead guitarist Leon Altomonte shares.

Recently, Orasa’s official music video has been released and has garnered impressive reactions from YouTube viewers. With vivid colors that can be seen through the band’s funky sense of fashion, the personality OPM rock band Dilaw of each member shines throughout the drops ‘Orasa,’ a single video. We can also see a couple slowly that tackles fading love entering a museum-like room with symbols representing something in their relationship.

To recall, Dilaw – an indie rock band formed in Baguio – reached their commercial breakthrough with the hit “Uhaw” and its re-released version “Uhaw (Tayong Lahat)” culled from the eclectic debut EP titled Sansinukob.

Impressively, the latter gained the record on Spotify for the biggest single-day streams for an OPM song, peaked at #1 on the Viral-50 Philippines playlist, and made it to the #5 Global Viral playlist in March 2023. Not only that, the song was able to top the Billboard Philippines Songs for three consecutive weeks.

A testament to Filipinos and our love for music, it was easy for us to relate to “Uhaw” and have such passionate feelings for someone. Moreover, the two versions that have been released seem to have different appeals that people can’t get enough of. Inspired and influenced by blues and funky tunes, Dilaw’s musicality is something familiar yet fresh to our ears. Notably, they have also been included on the NME 100 as “one of the most essential emerging artists worldwide” in 2023.

Excitingly, the band’s latest single has the same theme — love.

Although, “Orasa” focuses more on how bittersweet it is. It has a repetitive sound and steady rhythm, but the choir chants account for the fullness of the song.

“Tungkol siya sa mga na-witness kong nadededz na pag-ibig, yung malapit na mag-break,” vocalist and songwriter Dilaw Obero explains. On why the song is titled that way, he adds, “Kapag andun ka kasi sa sitwasyon na yun, pakiramdam mo lahat paulit-ulit lang — parang binabali-baliktad lang na orasa bawat araw.”

From left: ‘Minx’ stars Idara Victor, Elizabeth Perkins, Jake Johnson, Ophelia Lovibond, Jessica Lowe, and Oscar Montoya

Actress Ophelia Lovibond on fashion storytelling in ‘Minx’ comedy series

Rhythm guitarist and composer Vie Dela Rosa also notes that the song is reminiscent of a toxic relationship. “Yung kahit ganun, gusto mo pa rin na andun ka.” Despite frustrations, the song carries a resilient hope or desire for someone’s return that perseveres through life’s twists and turns.

Now being received by the general public with its release on all digital streaming platforms, the band members of Dilaw want to share their thoughts on “Orasa” and their message to its listeners.

Dilaw was originally an alternative hip-hop duo consisting of singer-songwriter Dilaw Obero (vocals) and guitarist-instrumentalist Vie Dela Rosa. Eventually, the group expanded into a full indie rock collective with the addition of Wayne Dela Rosa (bass guitar), Leon Altomonte (guitar), En Altomonte (keyboards, synths), and Tobi Samson (drums).

On October 3, Dilaw and the band’s home label, Warner Music Philippines, will hold an intimate and exclusive “Di Ilaw Sa Gabing Mapanglaw” to celebrate the release with stripped-down performances with a string quartet.

THE vibrant costumes in the comedy series Minx transport viewers straight into the heart of the 1970s. Conceived and penned by Ellen Rapoport, the show revolves around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), a young and ardent feminist who teams up with a budget-conscious publisher (Jake Johnson) to launch the first-ever erotic magazine for women.

In the series, the clothing choices are more than just wardrobe; they are essential storytelling tools, portraying the era’s essence.

In discussing the show, Lovibond, the lead actress, emphasized the pivotal role that fashion plays, asserting, “Costume’s a massive character it’s a huge part of the show. It’s definitely something that our viewers have enjoyed digesting... You see Joyce quite buttoned up, and towards the end of Season 1, she starts to kind of release the pussybow.”

Despite her evolving style, Joyce remains clad in three-piece suits, using her attire as a form of armor. Lovibond pointed out that Joyce’s newfound confidence, stemming from fame and financial success, is mirrored in her wardrobe choices.

Lovibond elaborated, “She’s been frightened of looking too much like a woman for fear of being undermined and not taken seriously. But now that she has a solid footing in the business world, she feels comfortable not having to adopt a more masculine dress code to earn respect.”

Minx newest season is streaming exclusively in the Philippines on Lionsgate powered by PLDT Home.

Elizabeth Perkins (left) and Ophelia Lovibond in a scene from ‘Minx’

‘Unang Hirit’ debuts new set to give viewers dynamic, cutting-edge experience to a household morning show that is Unang Hirit.

Unang Hirit (UH), the Philippines’ longest-running morning show, “This studio marks a milestone for Unang Hirit. With its redefines the way viewers and netizens start their day. UH Barkada moved world-class technology and thoughtful design, we are set to into their new home – their new studio set that was revealed to viewers on elevate our presentation of news, information, and public service.

October 2.

Each area is intentionally crafted to provide a more dynamic The new studio set seamlessly blends innovation, technology, and morning viewing experience. Para mas lalong gaganda ang aesthetics while remaining deeply committed to the values of public gising kasama ang Unang Hirit,” shared Carnay. service.

While Unang Hirit’s studio set undergoes a transformation, The show’s ‘new home’ mirrors its vibrant personality, combining the show’s core values remain the same. aesthetics and function with innovative elements. These include a The brand of public service journalism that Unang Hirit is 360-degree rotating platform, LED video walls, and differently-oriented known for continues to be at the forefront of everything. Unang plasma displays, including an interactive monitor.

Hirit has become part of Filipinos’ lives for more than 23 years In addition, the new set enables Unang Hirit to effectively illustrate already, and mornings are incomplete without the UH Barkada. content through the use of RedSpy, an optical tracking system that allows Anchors Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, immersive graphics executions. and Mariz Umali remain dedicated to bringing stories that The new UH studio set was designed by the U.S.-based company FX matter, ensuring viewers are well-informed to kickstart their day.

Design Group, renowned for its use of cutting-edge technology in projects Suzi Abrera and Lyn Ching provide practical tips for for some of the world’s top broadcasters. FX has claimed numerous Emmy every household, while Matteo Guidicelli introduces inspiring awards for its set and lighting designs, along with several PromaxBDA awards stories of ordinary Filipinos in his interviews. Keeping viewers for broadcast design and four Newscast Studio Set of the Year awards. updated on the latest food trends and business ideas is Chef JR Kevin Vicker of FX Design Group shared his inspiration behind the ‘Love Before Sunrise’ stars Sid Lucero (leftmost), Andrea Torres (second from right), and Dennis Royol, while Attorney Gaby Concepcion’s “Kapuso sa Batas” set, “My inspiration for the studio is really the GMA team. They are a Trillo (rightmost) visits the ‘Unang Hirit’ set continues to empower the public by helping them understand world-class team, so I knew FX should give them a world-class studio…

I think what makes it unique is the combination of both beauty and function – it’s a beautiful set, very colorful, bright, their rights. Further, Weather Presenter Anjo Pertierra keeps everyone updated with the latest weather conditions.

Bringing an extra dose of morning cheer and surprises are “Morning Sunshine” Shaira Diaz and “Morning Oppa” modern; it really reflects the personality of the studio and the people in the Philippines,” he added.

The new set was constructed with the help of Script2010, the in-house construction arm of GMA Network, and GMA’s Kaloy Tingcungco.

Start your day off right with Unang Hirit Barkada in their brand-new home.

Engineering Department, which has been responsible for the creation of GMA’s studios over the years.

Unang Hirit airs weekdays at 5:30 a.m. on GMA and its official Facebook page.

GMA Public Affairs Vice President Arlene Carnay underscored the importance of constantly infusing new offerings

LIFE

C4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 Nickie Wang, Editor Angelica Villanueva , Writer E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Queens from Arab world promote halal, wellness tourism RECENTLY crowned Miss Universe Queens Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 Lujane Yacoub, Miss Universe Pakistan 2023 Erica Robin, and Miss Universe Egypt 2023 Mohra Tantawy demonstrate their commitment to promoting halal and wellness travel in the Philippines, following the country’s win of the Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination Award earlier this year.

In support of the recent campaign by the Philippine Department of Tourism aimed at attracting and boosting Wellness and Halal Tourism among discerning travelers to the country, The Farm at San Benito and XPEDITION Magazine Middle East have come together to extend an invitation to three beauty queens representing Muslim countries to promote this endeavor.

With the Muslim travel market forecast to reach $225 billion by 2028, the Philippine government announced that boosting foreign arrivals from the Middle East and Muslim-majority nations was among its priority goals.

The Farm’s Halal-certified ALIVE! Restaurant serves high-nutrition, organic dishes. Fresh and flavorful ingredients used by the restaurant are handpicked from the property’s very own organic gardens.

The award-winning vegan restaurant’s menu showcases a harmonious collection of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds; offering a Filipino menu incorporating our wellness cuisine. Following meticulous, mindful food preparation in the kitchens, every dish is presented as a vegan feast— planted by farmers’ hands, rooted in our rich soil, nourished by earth’s rain and sun. And finally, loving prepared as a celebration of The Farm’s healing positive energy. More than a gustatory experience, wellness cuisine at the ALIVE! is made to heal.

“We are delighted to initiate this alliance with the beauty queens representing Arab and Muslim countries to further spread awareness of our country’s offerings. It brings a

High-efficiency products for healthier home Acerpure Clean Series offers convenience and power features perfect in doing quick cleaning tasks

From left: DOT-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, XPEDITION Magazine owner and EIC Josh Yugen, Miss Universe Bahrain 2023 Lujane Yacoub, Miss Universe Pakistan 2023 Erica Robin, DOT Usec. Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Director – Office of Product & Market Devt. Paulo Benito Tugbang, MD, and The Farm at San Benito & CG Hospitality Global Head of Sales, Marketing & Communications Jennifer Sanvictores “Miss Universes trip to the Philippines would be a big boost for our country that would hopefully influence the global Muslim community to visit the archipelago nation, which is home to white sand beaches, famous diving spots, lively entertainment, diverse cultural heritage, and distinctive wildlife,” says Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar.

Eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort The Farm at San Benito is at the forefront in showcasing halal experiences for global travelers.

For the past two decades, The Farm has been championing a way of life that prioritizes self-care, holistic healing, and cultural inclusivity, while promoting the country’s serene beauty and the heartfelt Filipino service and care.

The Farm is also a pioneer in the “Filipino Brand of Wellness” incorporating traditional Philippine Healing Art that is carefully designed by integrative medicine doctors combined with the nurturing touch and healing hands of Filipino therapists using farm-to-skin concept.

The Farm uses Virgin Coconut Oil and locally sourced medicinal herbs for its spa treatments. As for luxury accommodation, The Farm’s suites & villas follow the Filipino aesthetic and themes, featuring local artisan handicrafts showcasing Filipino creativity and culture.

greater opportunity to attract travelers, not only from the Gulf but also from the ASEAN region, including our local Muslim community, to come to The Farm at San Benito or any destination in the Philippines that has Halal certification,” says Jennifer Sanvictores, Global Head of Sales, Marketing & Communications – The Farm at San Benito & CG Hospitality.

Speaking about the new campaign, Josh Yugen said, “We are extremely grateful to the Philippine Department of Tourism and The Farm at San Benito for this wonderful opportunity to promote my country to the Arab, Middle East, and Muslim countries.”

“As someone who has lived in Dubai for more than half of my life, I sincerely believe that it is high time to elevate our Filipino welcome to the Middle East, and focus on the key factors attracting travelers to visit, such as providing options for halal certified establishments and worldclass wellness programs. With the Miss Universe queens’ involvement as new advocates for this campaign, I am certain that these messages will be sent to all our target audiences successfully,” Yugen adds.

Miss Universe Bahrain, Pakistan, and Egypt will be staying in the Philippines for a few more weeks to start their training for the imminent Miss Universe competition and confirmed that a full Filipino team will be preparing them for the competition.

H

By Nickie Wang

IGH-EFFICIENCY technological lifestyle products can assist in creating a healthier home and life in various ways. From air purifiers and smart thermostats to water filters and smart home devices, many products are available to enhance indoor air quality, save energy, reduce water consumption, and enhance home comfort and convenience.

To meet the increasing demand for healthy home products, Acer, a global leader in tech and innovation, is expanding its portfolio by introducing Acerpure, an integrated solution offering high-efficiency technological lifestyle products.

Acerpure products are designed to promote a healthier home environment by eliminating pollutants from the air and water, as well as enhancing home comfort and convenience. Acerpure enables easier breathing, cleaner water consumption, and increased comfort, all while reducing environmental impact.

Acerpure products are also designed to be easy to use and integrate with your existing smart home devices. This makes it simple to create a healthier home environment for yourself and your family.

“Acerpure’s mission is to provide technological

It is fine to acknowledge your discomfort at times to help in developing yourself

A solid foundation contributes in improving yourself THE human condition naturally desires growth. There is a constant wish and pressure to be more and do more.

Resiliency and wellness scholar and speaker Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, Ed.D., the author of Calm Within the Storm, explained that people tend to feel dissatisfied, unfulfilled, and even unhappy if they are not learning. “To be able to function in a world that is constantly evolving, we need to be able to adapt,” she stated.

She likewise recognized that despite the variety of materials on topics such as healthy eating, fitness, relationship repair, stress, and emotion regulation, organization, and time management, one might still find it hard to figure out where to start. “Change is complex and there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” she admitted.

“We know that knowing better does not equal doing better.”

Hanley-Dafoe, an award-winning instructor and adjunct professor at Trent University in Canada, emphasized that one must trust the process in their pursuit to reach their truest potential.

“It is important to prepare yourself for

the journey ahead – and all its messiness and beauty – by building the proper foundation on which to base your change,” she expounded. She also underlined the significance of self-compassion and grace.

“Instead of drowning in all the things you are told you should be doing and could be doing, my invitation is for you to pause and reflect,” she recommended.

“Take inventory of all the things you are already doing right.”

To guide the general public in this venture, the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) shared the expert’s methodology towards self-growth.

Here are the 10 ideas as published on PsychologyToday.com, one of the world’s largest publishing enterprises exclusively dedicated to mental health and behavioral science: 1. Make room for your past.

Trust that you handled your life the best you could with the tools you had. You have not only gone through hard times, you have also grown through them too.

innovations that can resolve various consumer concerns. We want to create an Acerpure home ecosystem for consumers to live with ease and comfort,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines General Manager.

All products feature Integrated Technology, ensuring all homes are dirt-free, the air is breathable, and the water is pure. Smart Integration showcases app capabilities for easy control and monitoring via smartphones and other devices.

Acerpure products are also eco-friendly and engineered with the environment in mind for energy-efficient operations and minimal waste generation.

The official launch introduced Acerpure’s Air Purifier Series: Acerpure Cozy, with 3D Airflow Technology for efficient air circulation and energy savings, and Acerpure Cool, featuring a 4-in-1 HEPA filter for clean and fresh air. In the Clean Series, Acerpure Clean V1 offers convenience and power with a lightweight, cordless design and various cleaning modes, while Acerpure Clean V1 Lite is compact, lightweight, and versatile for quick cleaning tasks. These innovative products promise a healthier and cleaner home environment.

As part of the launch in the Philippines, international superstar Sandara Park joins Acerpure as its brand ambassador, perfectly representing its wholesome and clean qualities. SB19 and Team Payaman are also launching a web series for fans to enjoy.

“We are also very excited to launch the Mahangin Challenge featuring SB19 and Team Payaman, who will put Acerpure products to the test,” said Princess Laosantos, Acer Philippines Senior Marketing Manager.

For more details about Acerpure products and the Mahangin Challenge, visit Acerpure’s official Facebook page (@AcerpurePH) or the official website, www.acer.com.

10 ideas to support personal growth 2. Prioritize yourself.

Genuine personal development comes from looking inward.

Know and look after yourself. It is not selfish, it is science.

3. Become aware using a holistic approach.

Hanley-Dafoe shares that personal growth requires a person the ability to adapt at things

Reflect on how you can get closer to the person you want to become physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, environmentally, financially, occupationally, and spiritually.

Trust yourself that you handled your life the best you could with the tools and resources you had

Know that true allies will help you to become the better version of yourself

4. Limit social comparison.

Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It is valuable to be inspired by others. But be mindful that the trajectory forward will not be the same for everyone.

5.

Establish healthy habits consistently.

Commit to one activity that will bring you closer to your goal. Do it every day. This will maintain your drive and give you a sense of fulfillment.

6. Embrace the discomfort.

Being comfortable does not help you develop. If it does not challenge you, it will not transform you.

7. Notice your allies.

Some people may not agree with your choices. Do not let them deter you. Real allies want to see you living your best life.

8. Build the team to support the dream.

There are guaranteed roadblocks, times of low motivation, and other curveballs. When your foundation is solid, you create the space needed to improve.

9. Take it slow.

Give yourself permission to rest along the way. After all, growth is a lifelong quest – not a destination.

10. Celebrate your progress.

Can you handle or approach situations better today than you would have just a year ago? Acknowledge even the smallest wins.