Manila Standard - 2023 November 28 - Tuesday

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Engage China in WPS talks only if Beijing is sincere, says Teodoro

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vince Lopez THE Philippines should engage China in bilateral talks concerning the West Philippine Sea only if Beijing is sincere in doing so, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

“If there are going to be bilateral discussions, it must be based on fundamental principles and it must be based on sincerity, that it shall not be used merely as a weapon in order to constrain the Philippines,” Teodoro said.

“This is my personal belief that formal bilateral discussions should only be held when it is proven that they are sincere,” he added.

As this developed, Armed Forc-

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 286 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

‘Senate must OK PH rejoining ICC’

es of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military forces of the Philippines and Australia successfully concluded a joint patrol, despite the shadowing done by Chinese vessels.

Brawner said there were two instances of shadowing during the joint patrol.

On Saturday, Brawner said a Chinese vessel was seen shadowing Philippine and Australian vessels.

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Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro

Dela Rosa stresses ‘process’

WORKERS ASK FOR MORE PAY NEWS / A2

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE administration needs to secure the Senate’s approval before the country can rejoin the International Criminal Court, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said on Monday.

“If you want to rejoin, that has to go through the process. After the president’s ratification, it has to be concurred by the Senate by a twothirds vote. So that’s the process.

Back to zero, back to square one,” said Dela Rosa, a former police chief who led President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs that the ICC is investigating.

Vice President Sara Duterte, for her part, said she respects the President’s policy for the government to study a possible “return to the fold of the ICC.” “We all should respect the position of the President being the chief architect of foreign policy. That is the position we should all take,” she said.

She, however, said she will continue reaching out to the Department of Justice to make her position on the matter involving her father known.

LABORERS’ PROTEST. Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and various labor organizations demonstrate at the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Manila on Monday, designated a holiday in honor of the national hero, a protest mirrored by teachers who asked the government for more benefits in a press conference in Quezon City (inset). Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

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Another tanker with Pinoys seized off Yemen coast ANOTHER Israel-affiliated tanker with Filipino crew members was seized off Yemen Sunday by unidentified armed men, but a US defense official said American naval forces responded to the emergency aboard the ship and that “the crew of the M/V Central Park is currently safe.”

An American defense official said that US and coalition forces responded to the emergency aboard the tanker, which was in the Gulf of Aden, but it was not immediately clear if the crew remained aboard the vessel.

Its owner Zodiac Maritime said that among the 22 crew were Filipino, Rus-

sian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, and Georgian nationals, as well as a Turkish captain.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels had previously threatened to attack the tanker if it did not divert to the port of Hodeida, the maritime security firm Next page

Hamas willing to extend truce in Gaza with Israel PRICE MONITORING. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez visits a vegetable stall at the Farmers Market in Araneta City, Quezon City on Monday to monitor the prices and supplies of food and other basic commodities. Manny Palmero

Speaker visits Farmer’s Market, makes sure prices remain steady

By Maricel V. Cruz

especially food items, remain within the bounds of suggested retail prices (SRP).

Romualdez was accompanied by SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday visited the Farm- Deputy Majority Leader for Commuers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City to en- nications and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Next page sure that the costs of basic commodities,

Diesel, kerosene prices to go up; 4 weeks in a row of rollbacks cut

By Alena Mae S. Flores

liter, respectively, today while gasoline will not move effective 6 am as they DIESEL and kerosene prices will go reflect the movement of prices in the up by P0.30 per liter and P0.65 per Next page

THE truce between Israel and Hamas entered its final 24 hours Monday, with the militant group saying it was willing to extend the pause after it freed more hostages, including a 4-year-old orphaned by its attack.

The pause that began Friday has seen dozens of hostages freed, with over 100 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in return.

Attention now has turned to whether the truce will be extended before its scheduled end early on Tuesday morning.

“That’s my goal, that’s our goal, to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more Next page

FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. French actress Emmanuelle Beart (center, fifth from left) joins (second from left) SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Cameleon Association Founder Laurence Ligier, and Elizabeth Sy, President and Chairman of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., in greeting the Gala Night Dinner performers.

France, SM host gala for women THE Embassy of France in the Philippines and SM Supermalls recently hosted a Charity Gala Dinner at Lanson Place, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children.

The gala aimed to raise awareness and support for Cameleon Association’s work in protecting women and girls from violence over the last 26 years, and celebrated the resilience and courage of its members.

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NEWS

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t workers ask for higher pay S

EVERAL groups of government workers gathered together on Monday to press President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress for a pay hike next year, citing the rising cost of living.

Meanwhile, members of the Alliance of Genuine Labor Organization (AGLO) and the National Confederation of Labor (NCL) staged a protest march at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila at the beginning of commemorating the 160th birth anniversary of the national hero Andres Bonifacio and demanded an increase in fair wages.

The state employees urged the lawmakers to prioritize passage of the proposed Public Service Labor Relations Act, as well as bills on new salary rates for public workers and on protecting the right to security of tenure of nonregular government workers such as job

orders and contract of service.

The petitioners signed the joint statement embodying their demands.

They were the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), Public Service Labor Independent Coalition (PSLINK), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GOCCs at GFIs (KAMAGFI), Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association (PIPSEA), Kawani Laban sa Kontraktuwalisasyon (KALAKON), and the National Public Workers Con-

Engage...

From A1

‘Senate...

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On Sunday, two Chinese fighter jets were spotted circling around the flight route of the joint patrol for 15 minutes.

Brawner said such incidents are not unusual, as China has been doing the same to vessels and aircraft from other countries such as the United States and Japan.

The “maritime cooperative activity” between the Philippines and Australia came days after the United States held a similar exercise with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

In a joint statement, the Australian and Philippine defense chiefs said the three-day patrols showed their “shared commitment to exercising freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with international law.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines gained support from at least 15 of the 27 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) for its bid to secure a seat in the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday.

During the three-day APPF meeting held in Pasay City last week, Philippine lawmakers were able to lobby their counterparts to back the country’s UNSC bid, which comes amid growing aggressive behavior by China in the West Philippine Sea. “We secured firm and new commitments from the countries we have approached,” Zubiri said. “In fact, some of them even wrote to us to formalize their commitments.”

He added Speaker Martin Romualdez had informed him that another country would support the Philippine bid, bringing the number who backed Manila to 16.

“We will lay down the legal basis of our position with the DOJ,” she said.

Some 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug operations during Duterte’s term, official government figures show, but ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000

Speaker...

From A1 Erwin Tulfo in making the rounds of the stalls at Farmers Plaza, the hub for fresh goods for eastern Metro Manila.

“We want to make sure that traders do not take advantage of the holiday season to jack up prices of basic commodities. The Christmas season is meant to be a time of giving and compassion, and we want to make sure that prices of goods are affordable to a great majority of our people,” Romualdez said “We appeal to retailers to follow the SRP,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, added.

Romualdez said part of the oversight functions of the House of Representatives is to fight inflation and make sure that the prices of commodities are low.

“Our primary task here is to protect people’s welfare by providing them with the most affordable goods in the market,” he stressed, adding that people should be protected from hoarding, price manipulation, and unreasonable price increases.

“It is a reaffirmation of our commitment to ensuring fair pricing and protecting consumers’ interests by fighting hoarding and exorbitant prices,” Romualdez said.

He has encouraged suppliers to double the delivery of necessary items to retailers, small traders, and market stallholders until the end of the holiday season.

Another...

From A1 Ambrey said.

The boarding took place offshore from the Yemeni port city of Aden, with another vessel in the area reporting “an approach by eight persons on two skiffs wearing military uniforms,” Ambrey said.

The latest incident comes after a US defense official said an Israeliowned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected Iranian drone attack in the Indian Ocean on Friday, and a week after Huthis seized an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the southern Red Sea, the Galaxy Leader, with 17 Filipino crew members onboard.

The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the “axis of resistance” of Iranaffiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since the unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Israel has vowed to “crush” the Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants

Diesel...

From A1 world oil market.

“PTT Philippines to implement a P0.30 per liter increase on diesel price effective 6am Tuesday, November 28, 2023. No movement on gasoline prices,” PTT said in an advisory.

The latest oil price hike ends four consecutive weeks of price rollbacks

Hamas...

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gress (PUBLIK).

The groups also asked the Marcos Jr. administration to allocate enough funds in the national budget next year to support the pay increase of government workers.

“Government workers, like all our fellow workers and citizens, face harder times next year because of continuing rising inflation and longstanding unjust policies on salaries, benefits, and union rights especially for lowly paid state workers and hob order/contract of service workers in government,” the groups said.

The groups explained that the proposed P94-billion Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF) in the National Expenditure Program for 2024 was reduced by the House of Representatives to P24 billion.

“The MPBF is a standby fund for increases in salaries, benefits, and staff-

ing positions. The P70-billion budget cut reduces all the more the chances for government workers to have any salary increase next year,” the groups said.

The groups said that the majority of government workers earn less than the estimated family living wage of P1,100 per day or P33,000 per month.

“Napag-iiwanan na ang sweldo ng mga guro (The teachers’salary has been left behind),” said ACT chairperson Vlad Quetua.

The workers wore kamino chinos and touted hammers. They also carried a banner with the slogan: The struggle of Andres Bonifacio is a continuation of the struggle of the working class until now. They denounced the military intervention of the American nation in the Asia-Pacific region in response to China’s maritime expansion in the South China Sea, which could only lead to war eventually.

and 30,000.

Asked if the Senate would likely concur with the return to ICC, Dela Rosa said: “I don’t think so. The Senate is composed of 24 independent republics. Nobody can dictate these 24 independent republics.”

In 2019, the Philippines, under thenPresident Duterte, withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his drug war,

followed by the launch of a formal inquiry later that year.

The probe was suspended in November 2021 after the government said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations.

In January 2023, the ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry. In July, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the government’s petition against the resumption of the inquiry.

killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is coordinating with foreign governments to secure the release of 17 Filipino seafarers who are among the hostages in the cargo ship seized by Yemeni rebel group Huthi in the Red Sea. DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo CacDac described the ongoing negotiations as “delicate.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said the 17 Filipino hostages are “fine.”

“The good news is that we do know that our seafarers are fine and that the Huthi rebels have been indicating consistently that they do not intend to harm them,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.

De Vega pointed out that there have been instances before that Filipino seafarers were taken to Yemen and all of them were eventually released.

The Huthi rebels were saying that they will continue to hold the supposed Israeliowned ship as long as Israel keeps on occupying and attacking Gaza.

With the four-day truce between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas which started on Friday, De Vega said the Philippine government is optimistic that it will also lead to the release of the hostages in the ship.

On Monday, Senator Imee Marcos pressed the DFA and DMW for a longterm strategy to negotiate the release of abducted Filipino seafarers as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict expands beyond the Gaza Strip.

Filipino seafarers were again among the hostages in Sunday’s hijacking incident in the Middle East, just a week after Yemen’s Huthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the lives of Filipino seafarers now face higher risks as Israel’s attacks in Gaza could draw in more militant groups seeking to avenge the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

“There’s no end in sight to this conflict and more Filipino seafarers could become collateral damage. The ongoing truce to release hostages on both sides is temporary,” the senator said.

for diesel and kerosene, and a third straight week for gasoline.

Jetti Petroleum, Cleanfuel, Phoenix Petroleum, Flying V, and PetroGazz issued separate advisories of the latest price movement while other oil companies are expected to follow.

Department of Energy director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said the latest oil price movement is influenced by reports of further supply cuts in the Organization

of the Petroleum Exporting Counties and its allies (OPEC+) production to be announced in their output policy meeting late this month.

Romero also cited the increase and build-up in weekly US crude inventories which pushed prices upwards.

On Nov. 21, the oil companies implemented price rollbacks for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene by P0.75 per liter, P0.65 per liter, and P0.60 per liter, respectively.

been in captivity in Gaza City since the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen who killed 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducted more than 200 people, including Pacheco and at least one other Filipino.

At the time of the attack, Pacheco was taking care of an 80-year-old Israeli man who died at the hands of Hamas.

The DFA said Sunday that the OFW will spend Christmas in the Philippines.

the fact that some hostages are believed to be held by groups other than Hamas.

Israel faces enormous pressure from the families of hostages, as well as allies, to extend the truce to secure more releases.

“It would be good, helpful and necessary” to extend the truce until all hostages, who include French nationals, are freed, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told BFMTV on Sunday.

Three successive days of hostage releases have buoyed spirits in Israel, with tearful reunions weeks after Hamas militants poured across the border on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas, killing nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians and including thousands of children, according to Gaza’s Hamas government.

The third group of hostages released Sunday included a 4-year-old American citizen called Abigail whose parents were both murdered in the Hamas attacks.

“What a joy to see her with us. But on the other hand, what a pity that she returns to the reality of not having parents,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief into those in need in Gaza,” US President Joe Biden said Sunday.

He said he would like the fighting to be paused for “as long as prisoners keep coming out.”

“I get a sense that all the players in the region are looking for a way to end this so the hostages are all released Extension and... Hamas is completely no longer in Hamas has signaled its willingness control of Gaza.” to extend the truce, with a source telling the Agence France-Presse the group Filipino ex-hostage told mediators they were open to proJimmy Pacheco, the overseas Filipino longing it by “two to four days”. worker (OFW) recently freed by Hamas, “The resistance believes it is possible has been discharged from a hospital in to ensure the release of 20 to 40 Israeli Israel, the Israeli embassy said Monday. prisoners” in that time, the source close “Jimmy Pacheco is released from the to the movement said. hospital. He is sent off with love,” the Under the truce, 50 hostages held by embassy said. the militants were to be freed over four Pacheco, who was released by Ha- days in exchange for 150 Palestinian mas on Nov. 24, was discharged from prisoners. A built-in mechanism exShamir Medical Center on Nov. 26. tends it if at least 10 Israeli captives are He was freed along with 10 Thai released each extra day. workers held by Hamas. They have One potential complicating factor is

LTO: 60 percent of PH vehicles not registered

By Rio N. Araja SOME 60 percent of the total number of vehicles nationwide are not registered with the Land Transportation Office, its top official said Monday.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said out of the 38 million vehicles, only 14 million have been registered.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has something to do with the nonregistration of many vehicles because of the restricted movement of people.

“Others have not registered their units for so long. I wouldn’t be surprised if some units, particularly motorcycles, have been scrapped and are no longer in running condition. So we will take that out of our numbers.

We will clean our data. For now, we will go after them,” he cited.

The government is losing P37 to P38 billion this year if the same number of vehicles remain not registered, he said.

“The target of LTO this year is P31 billion. So if we are successful, theoretically if we are successful to do this, it is another P37 billion,” he added.

According to Mendoza, they have to strictly implement checkpoints.

The LTO will be more strict in 2024 not only on motorbikes but also on four-wheeled vehicles.

“The checkpoints will get stricter.

You know, I want to focus on cars because I have no doubt that there are motorcycles that are no longer running for the longest time. Yes, there are many motorcycles but I have asked our regional directors to focus also on fourwheeled vehicles,” the LTO chief said.

The agency is planning to bring vehicle registration sites down to the barangay or at transport hubs, and studying to waive or partially lower the penalties to encourage registration of vehicles.

He said they would adopt a simpler way of vehicle registration through an online application.

Since the LTO compound on East Avenue, Quezon City is already overcrowded with impounded vehicles, he said they would encourage voluntary compliance rather than impound unregistered units.

France,...

From A1 Acclaimed French actress Emmanuelle Beart joined SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Cameleon Association Founder Laurence Ligier, and Elizabeth Sy, president and chairman of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., as they congratulated members of the Cirquera de Cameleon troupe after a moving performance at the Charity Gala Dinner.

Beart, renowned for her roles in French cinema, was in Manila to officially open the 26th French Film Festival and the premiere of her documentary, Un Silence Si Bruyant (Such a Resounding Silence).

Netanyahu said.

“She has no parents, but she has a whole nation that embraces her,” he added.

Also among those freed Sunday was an 84-year-old woman who was rushed to intensive care in critical condition “after serious neglect,” medical officials said.

Thirteen hostages were freed under the terms of the truce on Sunday in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, who have been received by rapturous crowds waving Palestinian and Hamas flags.

Hamas separately freed three Thai nationals and a Russian-Israeli citizen, Ron Krivoy, who the group said was released “in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin” and his “support of the Palestinian cause”.

Mounting pressure

Israel has faced mounting pressure to extend the pause mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, though its leaders have been keen to dismiss any suggestions of a lasting halt to the offensive.

“We continue until the end -- until victory,” Netanyahu said in Gaza on Sunday, on the first visit by an Israeli premier since 2005.

NEWS

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BELENISMO WINNERS. Vice

President Sara Duterte (third from right) is the guest of honor and speaker at the Belenismo sa Tarlac Awards Night on Sunday.

The Belenismo is an annual tradition showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity of the communities creating ‘belen’ (Nativity scenes) from Tarlac. With Duterte are Tarlac Heritage Foundation Inc. co-founder Dr. Isa Suntay Cojuangco (left), Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.— who receives the first prize (Grand NonMunicipal Category) for the AFP Belen —and officials of the Armored Division, of the Philippine Army, who won the Monumental Category.

Lino Santos

DOH monitors 200k flu-like disease cases across country

Guevarra: I handled De Lima drug cases only in accordance with law S

By Rey Requejo

OLICITOR General Menardo Guevarra on Monday said his handling of the drug cases against former Senator Leila de Lima, who was freed on bail this month, during his term as Justice Secretary was only in accordance with the law.

“I understand that the CA (Court of Appeals) merely remanded the case to the Office of the Ombudsman. So, let’s wait for what the Office of the Ombudsman will do,” Guevarra told reporters in a text message.

“In any event, I am ready to submit my comment of required. As Justice Secre-

tary (in the Duterte administration), all my acts had always been in accordance with the law,” he added.

De Lima had called on the Ombudsman to start its investigation to determine if Guevarra and former Department of Justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II had administrative liability over the use

of convicted felons to testify against her in the illegal drug cases.

De Lima’s call came after the Court of Appeals recently reversed and set aside the Ombudsman’s decision dismissing her complaint against Guevarra and Aguirre in relation to the government use of convicts to testify in her drug cases.

De Lima, who was also Justice Secretary in the Aquino III administration, said her two predecessors violated Section 10 of Republic Act 6981 or the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act when they used felons to witness against her.

According to the ex-senator, under RA 6981, individuals convicted of any crime

involving moral turpitude cannot be admitted to the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) and be made as prosecution’s witnesses.

Guevarra served as DOJ chief from 2018 to 2022 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aguirre, who was Justice chief in the first half of Duterte’s term, said he would just wait for the Ombudsman’s action on the CA ruling.

“I have not been furnished a copy of her complaint since its filing. This is the first time I have been informed of such. I will just await the order from the Ombudsman to answer or comment on the said complaint,” Aguirre, now an official of the National Police Commission, said.

‘Junior citizens’ should receive To spur AI industry, senator seeks health aid too

rules for artificial intelligence use

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

FOR PRISON HYGIENE. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos (third from left) and officials of Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC turn over P2 million worth of hygiene products for prisoners at the Manila City Jail Male Dormitory through the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology on Monday. Norman Cruz

FOR the benefit of employees using American Intelligence (AI) in their industry, Senator Mark Villar said it is about time for the country to have its own rules regulating use and development of AI. He commended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for initiating partnerships on AI with Silicon Valley companies. The senator is upbeat on the success of the partnership.

However, Villar emphasized that an up-to-date framework for AI is significant to level the playing field for Filipinos especially now that the country’s digital infrastructure remains underdeveloped and unsupervised.

Toward this end, Villar filed Senate Resolution No. 588 seeking a legislative inquiry the use of AI in different sectors

and industries.

The measure also cited the need to establish a framework pertinent to the adoption, promotion, development, and fair use of AI in the Philippines.

“As the Philippines embraces the use of AI in various day-to-day activities, a substantial part of this technology still remains unchartered,” Villar noted.

He admitted that the government still has no idea how to properly approach AI in terms of the regulation. “With this resolution, we are hoping that the Senate inquiry will bring light to information about AI that we can use to build a legal framework,” Villar said.

He also hinted at the possibility of looking into the impact of AI on the daily lives of Filipinos as he recognizes both the risks and opportunities brought by the AI technology.

Villar to push for more House measures to assist mothers, newborns LAS Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has vowed to push for the approval of proposed pieces of legislation at the House of Representatives that would ensure the well-being of expecting mothers and their new-born babies.

“You can rest assured that I personally will work conscientiously to advance laws and policies that will ensure quality nutrition and healthcare for infants, and uplift maternity and neonatal services to ensure an environment for child survival, safety, and protection,” Villar said in a statement.

Villar earlier filed House Bill 5684 seeking to prohibit any health institution, hospital, or maternity lying-in from refusing to admit or give assistance to expecting mothers who are about to give birth.

She has likewise been giving financial and medical assistance to poor pregnant women to help them during their pregnancy.

A mother of two, the lady lawmaker acknowledged that “from pregnancy to rearing their young, mothers face unimaginable risks such as maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, under nu-

trition and malnutrition of their offspring, among other socio-economic factors.”

She noted studies made by the DOH Field Health Service Information System in 2022 showing the government missing its targeted infant mortality rate (10.36 of 15 per 1,000 live births), maternal mortality rate (64.68 of 70 per 100,000 live births), and adolescent birth rate (24.36 of 37 per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years old).

The National Nutrition Commission has also said that “mothers with poor maternal health are more likely to give birth to a low

Malasakit Center beneficiaries reach 10 million SOME 10 million Filipinos have availed themselves of the medical assistance provided by the 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, a one-stop healthcare project of Senator Christopher Go. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health. cited the importance of Malasakit Centers in helping the poor access much-needed medical help.

He urged the Malasakit staff to prioritize assistance to the needy.

The Malasakit Centers integrate pro-peole programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in assisting impoverished patients..

This is an initiative he championed as principal author of Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit

THE Department of Health (DOH) warns the public against a surge of influenza-like diseases and respiratory ailments including COVID 19.

The DOH reported that it has monitored some 200,000 cases of the respiratory illnesses across the country which is more than double the usual 90,000 cases recorded during the season.

Undersecretary Eric Tayag, DOH chief information officer, said the spike came as health authorities were monitoring developments in China which is encountering significant increases in sicknesses akin to influenza and COVID. “Usually, the records would show only 90,000 during the season, but these were not all influenza. Some of them were COVID,” Tayag said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

Tayag admitted however, that the DOH has no inventory of the COVID vaccines and that at the moment, there are no plans by the government to procure the same.

“We have more COVID vaccines.

We are just waiting for some good Samaritans to donate them, Tayag said.

The DOH revealed earlier that some 49.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been wasted including 26.2 million doses that were donated and 23.5 million doses purchased by the government.

The DOH also bared that they would not be appropriating any funds for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines next year.

Chinese health authorities have reportedly warned of an increase in respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma pneumonia, COVID-19, and influenza as winter approaches.

With Agence France-Presse

Centers Act of 2019.

He emphasized his dedication to enhance the country’s healthcare system and vowed to “tirelessly work for the Filipino people,” underscoring his experience and commitment in uplifting the lives of the poor.

Go also underscored his role in the passage of RA 11959, known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act which he pushed as one of the authors in the Senate.

This legislation, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on August 24, mandates the creation of specialized centers within current DOH regional hospitals. The aim of this Act is to decentralize specialized medical services, making them more accessible to people across the regions and reducing the necessity for travel to Manila for such services. Macon Ramos-Araneta

birth-weight baby, with inadequate complementary feeding and breastfeeding, frequent infections, and inadequate food.”

Villar also recognized the crucial role of midwives in ensuring the well-being of expecting mothers and newborn infants, as well as in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the country as she lauded the Midwives Foundation of the Philippines “for elevating the standards of the midwifery profession and providing excellent healthcare services to your patients.” Maricel V. Cruz

By Maricel V. Cruz A LEGISLATOR from the Bicol Region pushes the passage of a bill granting financial aid to “junior citizens” in the form of free coverage under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte filed House Bill (HB) 8312 or proposed Junior Citizens Act. Once enacted, Villafuerte said the law will ensure government support for young Filipinos “especially during their formative years in order for them to grow up into fully-equipped adult citizens.”

The bill defines junior citizens as those newborn to 12 years old.

“Government support for our young citizens is imperative, especially during their formative years, in order for them to grow up into fully equipped adult citizens,” Villafuerte said. “This is especially important to children from disadvantaged areas, where access to healthcare services is low or limited to private institutions.”

In addition to mandatory PhilHealth coverage, “junior citizens” belonging to families with annual incomes of less than P250,000 are entitled under HB 8312 to more benefits, including free medical and dental services and laboratory fees in government health facilities, along with a 20 percent discount and Value Added Tax (VAT)-exemption on medical plus dental services, and laboratory and professional fees in private hospitals and clinics.

SIDEWALK PROTEST.

Photographers with the group ‘Bawal Mag Shoot Dito Only in the Philippines’ protest on the sidewalk on Monday near Manila’s Arroceros Park, after its management issued a ‘no permit, no shooting’ policy.

Norman Cruz

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READY TO REOPEN. Workers from the Engineering department of the Manila City Hall spruce up the pavement and the walls of the Lagusnilad underpass on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 ahead of its opening today after six months of rehabilitation. Danny Pata

Lagusnilad underpass to reopen today

By Vito Barcelo THE Lagusnilad underpass in front of the Manila City Hall will reopen to motorists today (Nov. 28) after a sixmonth rehabilitation period, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

The rehabilitation of the Lagusnilad passage started on May 2 and was supposed to be completed in September.

The DPWH, however, requested for a two-month extension due to some technical major repair works, including the flood control.

The repair of the overpass had a budget of P75 million, with P50 million coming from the city government and P25 million from the national government through the DPWH. Delays in the completion of the project caused daily heavy traffic in the area.

Meanwhile, the DPWH completed the construction of the P33.78 million flood control structure in Barangay Tigkan in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the new river wall spanning 20 meters was a necessary protective measure against flooding during heavy downpours.

According to Mindoro Oriental District Engineer Salvador Abad, the newly-constructed structure was designed to redirect the river flow safeguarding the riverbank, the urban and agricultural communities and other economically significant areas.

The DPWH official said that the project will protect farmlands and make the communities more resilient to climate change and its unpredictable consequences.

“The successful completion of this flood mitigation system underscores DPWH’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the people,” Abad added.

DepEd seeks justice for slain senior high teacher in Tacloban

Amnesty orders still need Congress approval–official C

ONGRESS still has to approve the amnesty proclamations of President Marcos, National Amnesty Commission commissioner Jamar Kulayan said in a radio interview yesterday.

Kulayan noted that during the Duterte administration, Congress only approved three of the four proclamations, with the Senate rejecting the amnesty for the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army.

Under Proclamations 403 to 406, President Marcos granted amnesty to the members of the following insurgent groups: Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas / Revolutionary Proletarian Army / Alex Boncayao Brigade; CPP-NPA-National Democratic

Front; Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Kulayan said some 100,000 former rebels may benefit from the proclamations, including 40,000 from the MILF. The National Amnesty Commission will scrutinize potential beneficiaries before they can actually avail of the amnesty.

Beneficiaries have two years to apply under the latest proclamations.

Kulayan, however, clarified that crimes committed outside the pursuit of political beliefs would not be covered by

ingful and enduring peace in the Bangsamoro, as this will form part of former combatants’ full transformation towards being productive and peace-loving Filipino citizens,” said Naguib Sinarimbo, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Government Minister.

“We call on our MILF and MNLF brothers and sisters to take this opportunity to gradually prepare for availment of amnesty,” he added.

Agusan del Norte Rep. Dale Corvera said the move “shows the sincerity of the government in wanting peace and in helping former rebels rebuild their lives in an atmosphere of healing and reconciliation and proceed to address other problems of the country that hinders growth.” Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez and Maricel Cruz

5 reported dead in massive flooding in Northern Samar

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN City – Top education officials in Eastern Visayas called for swift investigation and justice into the brutal killing of a 39-year-old senior high school teacher in Tacloban City.

The victim, Bernabe Basiano, was found dead with multiple stabbed wounds on his neck inside an empty housing unit on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25, 2023.

“It is with profound sadness and utmost condemnation that the Department of Education Division of Tacloban City, addresses the tragic and heinous killing of one of our esteemed educators, Mr. Bernabe Acosta Basiano. Mr. Basiano, a dedicated SST-II teacher at Antonio Balmes National High School, was ruthlessly murdered, shocking our entire educational community,” said Judella Lumpas, city schools division superintendent.

“As we mourn the loss of a cherished educator, let us unite in seeking justice and ensuring that such reprehensible acts are met with the full force of the law. Together, let us honor Mr. Bernabe Acosta Basiano’s memory by continuing to uphold the values of education, compassion, and justice,” the superintendent added.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the murder of the victim.

Dr. Evelyn Fetalvero, education regional director, also urged the community “to cooperate with the authorities and provide any information that may aid in the resolution of this case.”

the amnesty, which extinguishes criminal liability.

MNLF Deputy Speaker Abdulkarim Tan Misuari said the amnesty proclamation serves as a vehicle for peace and reconciliation.

“President Marcos has displayed his genuine desire to heal the wounds of the past and foster brotherhood,” Misuari said.

“By choosing amnesty, the President showcases his sincerity and foresight, recognizing that dialogue and negotiation are keys to resolving conflicts with those who once stood against the government,” he added.

The Bangsamoro government earlier expressed its “genuine gratitude” for the amnesty proclamation.

“This development is a significant milestone in the achievement of mean-

By Charles Dantes AT LEAST five people were reported dead in Northern Samar after a massive flood hit the region, the Northern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Monday.

During a Palace briefing, Northern Samar PDRRMO head Josh Echano said the five reported fatalities are still being validated.

“These are still in the process of being validated because we need official documents before we could declare that the death of these people are disaster-related. It takes time,” Echano said.

Several areas in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar were hit by heavy rain

NAVAL DRILLS. The Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao together with the city government of Mati and other maritime agencies showcase their capabilities during the Maritime Inter-Agency Exercise at the Mati City Seaport. Armed Forces of the Philippines photo

on Nov. 20 that resulted in massive flash floods that sank various municipalities in the region.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the heavy rains and flash floods were due to low pressure areas and shear lines.

NDRRMC said at least 282,938 families or 1,133,093 persons were affected by the flash floods while the estimated damage on agriculture rose to at least P120 million.

Echano said it would take at least one to three months before the province and its residents returned to normalcy.

However, in terms of infrastructure, Echano said it would take at least six months to one year to fully recover.

Pagcor gets 99.46% score in GCG performance evaluation THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation was recognized by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for achieving a score of 99.46 percent in its annual Performance Evaluation System (PES) for 2022.

The score is one of the highest in the history of Pagcor under the leadership of chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, who was appointed by President Marcos in August 2022.

Pagcor scored 98.08 percent in the 2021

PES and 91.38 percent in 2020.

Pagcor president and COO Juanito Sañosa said the award elevated the corporation to the ranks of the best performing GOCCs in the country.

“This is truly another proud moment for Pagcor. While this award serves as a validation of our efforts and hard work, it also inspires us to continuously exceed our past accomplishments – all in the service of our country,” he said.

The PES award is a recognition of the

unwavering dedication to the highest standards of accountability and efficiency among GOCCs. In the GCG report, Pagcor garnered perfect scores in the following categories: Increased Contribution to National Government Coffers and Nation-Building Efforts; Increased Gross Gaming Revenue of the Industry; and Increased Revenue of Pagcor, among others.

In his keynote speech during the awards ceremony, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin

said GOOCs contributed P48.68 billion in dividends in 2022, funding some of the most vital government socio-civic projects such as infrastructure, health, and education.

“It is beyond question that GOCCs are significant tools in adjuring inclusive economic growth and development for 2022,” Bersamin said.

Aside from Pagcor, twelve other GOCCs received awards for achieving the highest Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) ratings in 2022 while three bagged the CGS Hall of Fame.

QC Schools Division gets makeover from SM Foundation SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) refurbished the medical and dental clinic at the Quezon City Schools Division Office (QC-SDO) of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The refurbished clinic, nestled behind the Annex Building of SM North EDSA, features state-of-the-art equipment donated by SMFI. The clinic will serve as a platform for preventive healthcare, promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging regular check-ups.

SM Foundation Health and Medical Program Executive Director Connie Angeles, Mall Operations SAVP Jocelyn Clarino, and SM North EDSA

Mall Manager Miguel Gaspi joined the turnover.

During the turnover ceremony, Dr. Connie Gepanayao, Regional Medical Officer of DepEd National Capital Region, and SDO Superintendent Dr. Carleen Sedilla underscored the crucial role of health in enabling students to achieve their academic potential and aspirations.

Sedilla cited the critical need for school-based health services, especially amid recorded increases in cases of hand, foot, and mouth diseases (HFMD) among young students, along with the prevalence of other illnesses.

Gepanayao said the close relation-

ship between the SM group and the SDO played a pivotal role in this collaboration.

“A healthy student is a happy student,” Gepanayao said.

The donation marked the beginning of the entry of the Foundation into the renovation of existing clinics in public elementary and secondary schools within the jurisdiction of the DepEd. In the past, the Foundation renovated community health centers and medical health units of the military.

Aside from the renovation and refurbishing, the Foundation is committed to do maintenance work in the upkeep of the facility

HEALTH INVESTMENT. SM Foundation Inc. unveils the newly-refurbished medical and dental clinic at the Quezon City Schools Division Office of the Department of Education. The clinic features state-of-the-art equipment donated by SMFI. SM photo

OPINION

B1

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com HONOR BLANCO CABIE, Editor

EDITORIAL

Front line of disaster

DDR: Urgent and imperative ONCE again, with the successive earthquakes at Sarangani and nearby areas in Southern Mindanao, including Davao City, at a magnitude of 7.2 and in Eastern Samar with a magnitude of 5.2, I am reminded of my long advocacy for the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), to replace the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), an ad hoc body under the Civil Defense Office, which goes into action only when disaster or calamity occurs.

—“—

Perhaps the reason why the Philippines is a laggard in Asia is that we have too much politics and elections every three years

For a country like the Philippines, prone to disasters and calamities, not only to earthquakes, but to floods, storm surges, volcanic eruptions and landslides, it’s unfortunate that we don’t have a DDR, a permanent body dedicated to and focused on preparedness, and, more important, on aid and relief of victims.

Knowing the Philippines is within the “Ring of Fire,” with so many active volcanoes and earthquake faults, it’s sad to note we do not have a DDR. For this reason I must commend Senator Bong Go for pushing hard for the creation of a DDR. And once again, Go is calling for the creation of a DDR following the two successive earthquakes.

The casualties and damage to infrastructure may not be as big as when calamities and disasters hit highly urbanized regions and cities, but just the same, each life is precious. .

Can you imagine if the “Big One,” an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 (I hope and pray it will not happen) were to hit Metro Manila?

It would be cataclysmic.

As they say, the collapse of buildings could result in the immediate death of 34,000 and, following successive fires, 29,000.

No one can predict earthquakes but,

Santa Banana, there’s no substitute for preparedness.

This is where the need for a DDR is urgent and imperative, aware of the frequency of floods and earthquakes!

As for Metro Manila and the National Capital Region, don’t forget that the area lies at the West Valley Fault.

The need for a DDR cannot be overemphasized, as it can focus and dedicate itself in strategizing preparedness, especially on the recurrence of floods and storm surges and in particular, landslides.

I am not talking of loss of lives, but of infrastructure, livelihood and the need for aid.

Often they come late and worse, communication lines and power lines are cut off after a calamity or disaster.

It is here where we need a permanent body focused and dedicated to studies on preparedness.

Why Vietnam is ahead A friend who just arrived from Vietnam showed me photos of Ho Chi Minh City with all its skyscrapers and modern centers.

“Emil,” my friend said, Vietnam is now way ahead of the Philippines in development.

I was in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the 60s, and it was still suffering from the effects of war.

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Continental, a landmark hotel built in 1880, where we slept on an antique bed, and took a shower in an antique bathtub, Santa Banana, the only modern thing at that time was a floating hotel.

Saigon was a shopper’s paradise for antiquities.

Would you believe you couldn’t cross the street until there was a red sign because of the sheer number of motorcycles on the streets. It was said that at the time, there were more motorcycles than people in Vietnam.

When I asked my friend why Vietnam is so way ahead of the Philippines, he smiled and said: “The Vietnamese are just pretending to be communists.

“But frankly, the reason why Vietnam is way ahead of the Philippines is that they don’t have politics since they have no elections, and the ruling party is just one.

“Another reason is that its economy is open, having no restrictions.”

I said to myself, perhaps the reason why the Philippines is a laggard in Asia is that we have too much politics and elections every three years.

De Lima’s ‘political coronation’

by Padre Damaso

LAST Friday, a “thanksgiving mass” was held by some friars of the Catholic Church and friends of ex-Senator Leila de Lima at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City.

Many Filipinos consider that place as the political altar of the Church and its stooges in the disgraced Liberal Party.

It was called a “thanksgiving mass” because De Lima, detained for nearly seven years, was recently allowed to post bail in her pending anti-narcotics criminal case. For the record, the Supreme Court upheld her long incarceration.

The “thanksgiving mass” had all the trappings of a moro-moro (a Spanish colonial era stage play format influenced by the Catholic church, and where the inevitable defeat of non-Catholics is inevitable), and a nineteenth century zarzuela (an ostentatious display of needless pageantry in a stage show with a very thin plot).

From the start, the “thanksgiving mass” was expected to be a showcase of anti-Rodrigo Duterte and anti-Bongbong Marcos protestations.

True to expectations, De Lima delivered a speech of that sort, punctuated with instances inviting pity for herself.

That’s the moro-moro part.

Not surprisingly, several individuals identified with De Lima and her false crusade attended the mass.

They cheered and applauded de Lima during and after her speech, supposedly a no-no inside a church, according to the Vatican. Many photographs and videos were taken, amidst the beso-beso and the hugging.

Several politicized well-wishers displayed placards calling de Lima a victim of political persecution, without mentioning that, as stated earlier, her detention was upheld by the Supreme Court.

That’s the zarzuela part.

The climax of the de Lima political canonization spectacle staged at the EDSA Shrine’s political altar was the scene where De Lima was kneeling a few feet from the mensa (table top of the altar) with her back to the pews, with her eyes closed and head bowed supposedly in deep prayer, and with her hands clutched in the process.

Seven friars in a semi-circle and facing the pews surrounded the kneeling de Lima.

They stretched their hands toward her head and apparently prayed for her.

Like De Lima, some of the friars had their eyes closed while chanting something.

The partisan nature of the ceremony could not be ignored.

A least two of the friars present are rabid, biased critics of ex-President Duterte and President Marcos.

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HIS week, on Thursday, world leaders and environmental experts start a 13-day summit dubbed COP28 climate conference in Dubai, the first time a pontiff will be at the meeting since the annual conferences began in Berlin in 1995.

and start doing” on carbon emissions cuts, as rapidly rising temperatures in 2023 have put everyone on the front line of disaster.

We agree with Stiell that no country could think itself immune from catastrophe.

Climatologists have noted that global temperatures have broken records in recent months, making 2023 the hottest on record and menacingly close to the threshold of 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial levels that countries have agreed to hold to.

—“—

The 86-year-old head of the Catholic Church, expected to be in Dubai from The Dubai summit Dec. 1 to 3, is anticipated to drive home his recent appeal for action to curb presents a critical global warming during the tense talks opportunity to put to tackle the crisis.

As he did earlier this year, Pope the world on a more Francis has called for the abandonment sustainable path of fossil fuels, and has acknowledged that major corporations are unlikely to change out of the goodness of their hearts.

Temperatures are now heading for a The United Nations top climate official Simon Stiell, who will oversee “hellish” 3 degrees C increase unless the summit proceedings, himself said urgent and drastic action is taken the world leaders must “stop dawdling while greenhouse gas emissions have

continued to rise.

But Stiell holds there is the possibility that greenhouse emissions could be cut, enough to stay within the crucial limit, stressing however that added delay would be dangerous.

His words: “Every year of the baby steps we’ve been taking up to this point means we need to be taking...bigger leaps with each following year if we are to stay in this race.”

COP28 indeed comes at a decisive moment for international climate action.

Temperature records are being repeatedly broken and climate impacts felt in unprecedented wildfires, floods, storms and droughts worldwide.

The UN’s global stocktake or GST, the main mechanism through which progress under the Paris Agreement is assessed, shows much more must be done to meet the goals of the landmark Paris Agreement.

The Dubai summit presents a critical opportunity to put the world on a more sustainable path.

We join experts in their hope that governments at COP28 will come up with a road map to accelerate climate action.

Why it’s good to rejoin the ICC —“— The Marcos government should honor arrest warrants issued in the course of these investigations and cooperate to bring those charged to The Hague for trial

LATELY, the issue of whether the Philippines should rejoin the International Court of Justice is again being resurrected and resume the ICC’s probe of the murderous drug war initiated by the Duterte Administration.

This follows the supposed falling out between Vice President Sarah Duterte and the incumbent administration of President Bongbong Marcos.

As could be expected, the allies of Duterte are crying foul over the prospect of the country’s plan to rejoin the ICC, claiming if it does the ICC will encroach on our sovereignty.

The ICC raises questions about the sovereignty of states.

It intervenes when a state doesn’t or can’t handle crimes against humanity through its national criminal justice system, thus posing a challenge to the absolute authority of sovereign states.

Despite this, the ICC, when exercising its international judicial jurisdiction, isn’t classified as a foreign criminal jurisdiction.

The issue of re-joining the International Criminal Court has been viewed as a matter of sovereignty by some in the Philippines.

For instance, the Philippine police accused the ICC of violating the country’s sovereignty by reopening its investigation into the government’s war on drugs.

They argued the ICC should respect the judicial processes in the Philippines as it is a sovereign country.

We recall the decision of the Supreme Court made it unmistakably clear the Philippines remains obliged to cooperate in criminal proceedings of

the International Criminal Court even if it has withdrawn from it.

But the Philippines remains obliged to cooperate with the ICC despite its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

The SC cited the Rome Statute’s provision the exit does not affect criminal proceedings pertaining to acts that occurred when a country was still a state party.

The contrary ruling cannot be justified.

Mass murderers and state sponsored human rights violators will escape accountability with the simple expedient of withdrawing from the treaty if the noose is tightening over the guilty who wield power.

Measures by the Marcos government to facilitate the reentry of the Philippines in the ICC are good for the country.

It will allow for the continuation of the investigation by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor with the expectation the suspects and charges will be determined, towards issuance of arrest warrants that can result in a trial and conviction of officials of the Philippines who instigated and encouraged the massive and systematic killings as well as torture, and even sexual violence.

In our nation’s history, there has been a notable scarcity of sanctions imposed on high-ranking individuals for their crimes.

Many have managed to evade the domestic criminal justice system, allowing them to enjoy their gains or return to power without remorse, despite clear evidence of wrongdoing.

Their impunity is bolstered by misin-

formation and false narratives.

The Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law state the statutes of limitations shall not apply to gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law which constitute crimes under international law.

Here, untold number of victims of injustice have suffered in silence over the years.

In the interest of justice, the Marcos government should now take corrective and adequate measures to step up criminal investigations on all the willful killings in the war on drugs and bring to the courts the direct perpetrators and their superiors using relevant laws of the country.

The ICC is a friend, not the foe.

It does not bring harm to the people but instead complements the Philippines judicial system in efforts for justice.

Let’s welcome the ICC investigators to this country, provide them the usual diplomatic courtesies, and make them do their work without obstruction.

And it so warrants, the Marcos government should honor arrest warrants issued in the course of these investigations and cooperate to bring those charged – be it the former president or a sitting president – to The Hague for trial.

Let justice prevail in our land!

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—“—

The politicized speech delivered by de Lima, the applause, placards and fanfare that went with it, and the extra-ordinarily special attention the friars gave to de Lima are not supposed to take place inside a church.

Why Padre Damaso allowed a religious ceremony to descend to the level of a partisan political rally needs to be explained.

In sum, the event was a political coronation ceremony of de Lima, trying to pass itself off as a “thanksgiving mass.”

Nobody was surprised because Catholic masses in the past decades have become partisan political rallies masquerading as solemn religious ceremonies.

Many analysts share my opinion that de Lima was exhilirated by the pompous attention given to her, and that she enjoyed every minute of it.

For me and for many, de Lima’s Church-sponsored political coronation indicates the politicized Padre Damasos of today are building up de Lima as the

leader of the political opposition.

Padre Damaso badly yearns for the return of the times when the Church wielded immense political influence in Malacañang, particularly during the lackluster administrations of Presidents Corazon Aquino and Noynoy Aquino.

After the embarrassing defeat of Leni Robredo, the Church-supported candidate for president in May 2022, Padre Damaso has apparently decided to place his tax-exempt chips behind de Lima, for now at least, in the casino of Philippine elections.

That will be quite a gamble, indeed, for Padre Damaso because as I will point out in another essay, de Lima is a political opportunist and a phony idealist, and one who is absolutely unfit to lead the remnants of the political opposition, much less hold public office.

Instead of meddling in politics, the Church should rid its ranks of pedophiles and sexual predators.

For many, de Lima’s Church-sponsored political coronation indicates the politicized Padre Damasos of today are building up de Lima as the leader of the political opposition

De Lima and the friars were aware the scene will surely generate a lot of free political publicity, considering the presence of the media and the numerous mobile phones recording the activity for dissemination online.

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WORLD

B2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RESCUE OPERATION.

Policemen stand guard Monday at the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of India’s Uttarakhand state. Indian military engineers were preparing to dig by hand to reach 41 workers trapped in the collapsed road tunnel for 15 days, a rescue operation hit by repeated setbacks. AFP

North Korea sends troops to rebuild border posts SEOUL—North Korea has sent troops to its southern border to restore guard posts taken down under a 2018 agreement with South Korea, Seoul’s military said Monday, after Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite stoked tensions on the peninsula.

In response to the launch last week, Seoul partially suspended the agreement that was aimed at easing border hostilities, prompting Pyongyang to scrap the pact entirely and warn it would “never be bound” by the deal again.

A South Korean military official told AFP on Monday that Pyongyang had recently sent armed personnel and equipment to restore the guard posts.

Yonhap news agency reported that North Korean soldiers were “seen rebuilding the guard posts from Friday”, according to a military official, and that all 11 posts withdrawn under the fiveyear-old deal were expected to be restored.

One photo released by South Korea’s military shows four North Korean soldiers rebuilding a wooden guard post in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two countries.

North Korea’s accelerated development of its weapons programmes has alarmed Seoul.

South Korea deployed “surveillance and reconnaissance assets” to the border after the satellite launch, in what its military said was an “essential measure” to defend against North Korea’s growing threats.

In response, Pyongyang said it would “deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line” between the two Koreas.

Nuclear-armed North Korea is barred by successive rounds of UN resolutions from tests using ballistic technology, and analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and the development of ballistic missiles.

Last week’s launch of the “Malligyong-1” was Pyongyang’s third attempt at securing a military eye in the sky after two failures in May and August. AFP

Indian army engineers dig by hand to free 41 trapped tunnel workers S ILKYARA TUNNEL, India—Indian military engineers were preparing to dig by hand Monday to reach 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for 16 days, a rescue operation hit by repeated setbacks.

Soldiers plan to use a so-called “rathole mining” technique, digging by hand to clear the rocks and rubble over the remaining nine meters, with temperatures plummeting in the remote mountain location in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

Last week, engineers working to drive a metal pipe horizontally through 57 meters of rock and concrete ran into

metal girders and construction vehicles buried in the earth, snapping a giant earth-boring augur machine.

“The broken parts of the auger (drilling) machine stuck inside the tunnel have been removed,” senior local civil servant Abhishek Ruhela told AFP on Monday, after a specialized superheated plasma cutter was brought in to clear the metal.

“Preparations are being made to start

manual drilling work,” he added. “Indian Army engineering battalion personnel, along with other rescue officers, are preparing to do rat-hole mining”.

Engineers in the bitterly cold conditions will use manual drills to clear the route, a tough task in the narrow pipe, just wide enough for a man to crawl through.

In a separate effort, vertical drilling has reached more than a quarter of the 89 metres down to the men, a risky route in an area that has already suffered a collapse.

A drilling machine was brought up to the forested hill above the tunnel on a specially-constructed track.

“Vertical drilling is going on at a fast

‘10,000 arrested in Bangladesh crackdown on opposition’

PREJUDICE VS. JEWS.

Protesters holding placards take part in a demonstration in central London Sunday in protest against antisemitism.

AFP

DHAKA, Bangladesh—Bangladesh has launched a sweeping and violent crackdown on opposition parties to “eliminate competition” ahead of general elections, including arresting almost 10,000 activists, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

As well as the thousands arrested, many from the key Bangladesh Nationalist Party, a staggering number also face charges.

According to the BNP, about half of its five million members “face politically motivated prosecution”, HRW said.

“The arrests, they are not leaving anyone behind, from senior level to the ground level,” one activist told HRW. Prisons are now at more than double their capacity, the rights group said.

The South Asian nation of around 170 million people holds a general elecwrapped up in winter coats, were keen tion on January 7, with Prime Minister to talk to journalists.

Sheikh Hasina eyeing her fourth conJiang Hui, whose mother was on flight secutive term in power.

MH370, said Monday the opening of the The BNP and other parties have held hearing was “very comforting, and it is a mass protests calling on Hasina to quit turning point”. power and let a neutral government run “The survival of the relatives during the polls, demands the government has these ten years, the deterioration of their said are unconstitutional. living conditions... This really makes us “Bangladesh authorities are carryvery sad. So I hope that the legal relief ing out mass arrests of political oppocan be realized as soon as possible. It is sition in a clear attempt to quash the not difficult,” he said. AFP opposition and eliminate competition ahead of the general elections”, HRW said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK HRW, who called it New York-based a “violent autocratic crackdown”, said at least 16 people have been killed since protests escalated in October, including two police officers.

More than 5,500 people have been wounded.

There was no immediate response by the government to the HRW report, but authorities say that those arrested should face justice for a range of violent crimes.

The police, who have not said how many people they have arrested, accuse the opposition of torching nearly 290 vehicles, mostly buses, during nationwide strikes and transport blockades since October 29.

Police said at least six people had been killed in the violence. AFP

Beijing court begins compensation hearings for MH370 crash victims BEIJING—A Beijing court on Monday began hearing compensation cases filed by the families of dozens of Chinese people who died on board a Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared almost 10 years ago.

The MH370 jet vanished on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people -- mostly from China -- en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

More than 40 families have filed lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines, the air-

craft manufacturer Boeing, engine maker Rolls Royce and Allianz insurance group, state broadcaster CCTV said.

The families’ litigation requests focus on compensation and finding the truth behind the flight’s disappearance, according to Zhang Qihuai, a lawyer quoted by CCTV. It was unclear what jurisdiction the Chinese court has to enforce the claims for compensation against the defendants.

10 Taiwanese soldiers charged andard with spying for neighbor China

Manila

TODAY

TAIPEI—Ten former and current Taiwanese military officers were indicted Monday for allegedly spying for Beijing, including two who made a video pledging to “surrender” to the Chinese military, prosecutors said.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has NOTICE OF DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL ramped up military and political pressures on the island SETTLEMENT OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE in recent years.

OF EDUARDO R. BUSTILLO The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war and have WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS been spying on each other ever since.

Notice is hereby given to the public that the Deed of Extra Judicial Three of the defendants were accused of recruiting Settlement of the Intestate Estate of Eduardo R. Bustillo With Waiver active-duty servicemen to collect military information to of Rights has been executed by and among his heirs, namely: “develop a network for China”, the Taiwan High ProsecuBeatriz S. Bustillo and Edmundo tors’ Office said in a statement.

S. Bustillo in favor of Ma. Fe C. Siscar, as per Doc. No. 147; Page Four officers they enlisted were also charged with handNo. 30; Book No. XLVI; Series of 2023 of the Notarial Register/Book ing over “multiple items of military secrets” to Beijing in of Atty. Donato C. Manguiat, Notary Public for Quezon City. exchange for money, it said without elaborating on the type of secrets. AFP (MS-NOV. 14/21/28, 2023)

pace,” with teams having reached 19 meters by late Sunday, said Mahmood Ahmed, a top official in the national roads ministry.

Work is ongoing at “full speed but with caution,” he added.

Digging, blasting and drilling have also begun from the far side of the road tunnel, a much longer third route estimated to be around 480 meters.

The 41 construction workers have been trapped in the Silkyara road tunnel since November 12.

Efforts have been painfully slow, complicated by falling debris and repeated breakdowns of drilling machines. AFP

Malaysia’s transport ministry and Malaysia Airlines both declined to comment on the hearings.

Hardly any trace of the plane was found in a 120,000-square kilometer Indian Ocean search zone, with only some pieces of debris picked up.

The Australian-led operation, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017.

Despite freezing temperatures in Beijing, several relatives of missing people,

EARLY RELEASE.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother speaks to media at the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in Pretoria last weekend.

South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was granted early release – Reeva is not convinced he has been rehabilitated – from prison on parole on Friday, a decade after he killed his girlfriend, in a crime that gripped the world, prison authorities said. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B3

Manila

Standard

TODAY

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Improved economic outlook to lift stock trading this week P

By Jenniffer B. Austria

land dropped by 29 percent to 30 percent, while Philippines dropped by 16 percent to 17 percent. But having said that, it is not a justification. So we are coming out with several programs,” Monzon said.

The PSEi added 53 points, or 0.93 percent, last week to close at 6,269.50 on Friday, while the broader all-shares index climbed 0.71 percent to 3,348.22.

Foreign investors were net buyers by nearly P1 billion last week. Average daily turnover reached P3.3 billion, down from the previous week’s average of P3.5 billion.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

TWO of the country’s largest power firms expect a tight supply next year amid an anticipated growth in demand of 600 megawatts (MW) to 700 MW. Meralco chairman Manuel Pangsentiments in the past trading days. ilinan said no new large power genera“All eyes are now on drivers for tion plants would come in next year.

2024, and when not broader market “It’s still gonna be tight, because forces will follow the beat of the same there is no new power plant except drum as in the late 2022 up to 2023,” maybe the Excellent plant of San 2TradeAsia.com said.

Miguel that’s scheduled to be completIt said if the upcoming data releases ed by the end of next year. Its entry is in 2025,” Pangilinan said.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-owned Excellent Energy Resources Inc. is building a 1,700-megawatt combined cycle power plant project in Ilijan, Batangas City.

“It’s always good to have surplus power because this puts permanent Many Filipinos are unexplainably pressure on prices, downward. if you don’t have surplus capacity, you will talented but need more opportunities to face bouts of tightness which we don’t show their skills. want to see as a distributor. We want to see good margins of supply to deFilipinos about India’s illustrious history able to bring life to the characters first and As someone who has been participative mand,” Pangilinan said. and legendary tales. It encourages cross- foremost before we even think about the in various community engagement activiMeralco’s peak demand is expected cultural exchange and improves mutual singing.” ties, I see a future where the children will to increase by 2.9 percent in 2023 from understanding between the two countries.

In the Rama, Hari play, the testimony be able to remember the culture of the the 2022 peak of 8,111.02 MW. The Filipino people cherish the values of one of the play’s organizers shows Philippines and develop both culturally “This 2023, peak demand in Meralmentioned above. how the actors have put significant effort and socially. To end this blog, I would like co’s system is expected to increase Relating to what I have learned in class, into bringing the characters to life. As I to share one of the notable bible verses by 2.9 percent. As economic activity I can say that cultural and social develop- watched the play, I could see how mag- that I love. normalizes, peak demand is expected ment are inextricably interwoven. While nificent the actors’ performance was, and “After these things, I looked, and beto grow annually by an average of 4.3 economic development is the vehicle I could attest to how they did well in the hold, a great multitude which no one could percent per year from 2022 to 2032,” through which societies evolve, social and performance. I then realized how amazing count, from every nation and all tribes and cultural components are required for sus- it is that people can show their God-given peoples and tongues, standing before the the company said. tainable and long-term growth. talents and use them to inspire others. throne and before the Lamb, clothed in Aboitiz Power Corp. president EmConcerning the learnings I have in In this sense, I commit myself to help- white robesand palm branches were in manuel Rubio also expects higher dechurch, I can say that God also want us to ing the community remember their cul- their hands” – Revelation 7:9 mand this year that may result in a posdiscover the innate drive to help the com- ture. I also vow, of course, with the Lord’s sible tightness in supply. munity. As reflected in the Rami Hari play, providence, to host a community project The author is an MBA student at the “The forecast is El Nino. It is still many Filipinos are unexplainably talent- related to the previous social work I vol- Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Busigoing to be tight especially during ed but need more opportunities to show unteered for. ness of De La Salle University. He wrote summer, but I think we will have amtheir skills because of poverty and lack I want the children of communities who this reflection paper for his class on Inple supply,” he said. of financial capacity to pursue arts. Well, lack financial resources to pursue their tegral Human Development. He can be He said some diesel plants might it can also be related to the fact that the God-given talents to showcase how amaz- reached at anthony_alfaro@dlsu.edu. pursuit of art, cinema and media produc- ing God-creation is. For example, this up- ph. have to run to meet the increased detion courses has been associated with only coming Christmas season, children will be The views expressed above are theCYAN au- MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK mand, but the 1,200-MW Ilijan natural those who can afford art. able to showcase their talents in singing thor’s and do not necessarily reflect the ofgas plant helped boost supply. Diesel “What we’ll bring to the plate this time Christmas songs and doing Christmas- ficial position of DLSU, its faculty, and its plants are more expensive to operate.

HILIPPINE stocks are expected move sideways with an upward trend in this shortened trading week on improving economic outlook.

Financial markets were closed Monday, which was declared a holiday in honor of Andres Bonifacio.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia. com said the recent positive macro-economic headlines, slowing inflation and pause in interest rates boosted market

in December would track market expectations, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index may retest the 6,500 level by year-end.

“Volume remains less than ideal, however, which warrants some caution in the near-term, as the strength of technical signals are skewed by this anemic participation,” it said.

Meanwhile, PSE president Ramon Monzon said the low trading volume in the market was happening not only in the Philippines but also in other Asian countries.

“We are third in Asia in terms of trading volume drop. Unbelievably, Thai-

Power firms predict tight supply in 2024

Rama, Hari: Renaissance of Filipino culture and talents —“— SOCIAL and cultural development are essential aspects of our lives. I remember the moment we could participate in various community development activities when I was still volunteering for Gawad Kalinga.

I was able to meet people and children from different cultural backgrounds. I remember those days when I joined community engagement activities, and I was able to interact with community heads and talented individuals who, despite poverty and lack of other necessary resources, still brought bright smiles to their faces. At the same time, I realized that we must look into every community’s different cultural and social aspects. I am aware that there are a lot of aspects of the Filipino community that are distinct and competitive as compared to other countries.

As I watched the play, Rama Hari, I became amazed at the national artistry reflected in the performances. There were also moments when I was mesmerized by the different tales of love, duty and loyalty,Manila and they resonate with the Filipino people, irrespective of gender and age. I Standard can still TODAY remember the “wow” moments, especially as I can testify to Filipino artists’ amazing talents. Rama, Hari informs

around, where musical theater actors are primarily actors who sing for this staging, is to being

LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS CORPORATION 7th Floor Peaksun Building Princeton cor. Shaw Boulevard, Wack-Wack Mandaluyong City NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

Please be informed that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Lodestar Investment Holdings Corporation (“Lodestar”) shall be held and conducted virtually via secure online meeting platform on Friday, 15 December 2023, at 2:00 P.M., for the following purposes: AGENDA

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Call to Order.

Determination of Quorum.

Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Stockholders Annual Meeting of December 16, 2022.

Approval of the 2022 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statement.

Ratification of the Acts, Resolutions and Proceeding of the Board of Directors, Corporate Officers, and Management from December 16, 2022 to December 14, 2023.

Election of the Board of Directors and Independent Directors.

Appointment of Independent Auditors.

Other business as may properly be brought the meeting and open forum.

Adjournment.

The record date for stockholders entitled to notice and vote at the Annual Stockholders Meeting was set on September 29, 2023.

For the safety and convenience of participants, the 2023 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Lodestar will be conducted virtually. Stockholders of Record may attend/participate via proxy, remote communication, or vote in absentia. For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit https://www.lodestarholdings.com.ph and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy.”

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to ilodestar@yahoo.com on or before December 8, 2023. Validated stockholders will be provided access to the live streaming of the meeting and can cast their votes in absentia on or before December 9, 2022 through Lodestar’s secure online voting facility. All votes cast shall be subject to validation.

Lodestar is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the Agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to ilodestar@yahoo.com, not later than December 8, 2023.

Stockholders of Record may send their inquiries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to ilodestar@yahoo.com on or before December 8, 2023.

The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance/voting (via remote Manila

communication) and election procedures, along with the Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Management Standard Report, SEC Form 17-A, and other information related to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting can be

TODAY

accessed at https://www.lodestarholdings.com.ph Atty. Arlene M. Wilkerson Corporate Secretary

(MS-NOV. 28 & 29, 2023)

DIZON COPPER-SILVER MINES, INC. ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Dizon CopperSilver Mines, Inc. (DCSMI) will be conducted virtually via ZOOM Platform and, if circumstances allow, will be held at the 7th Floor, Peaksun Building, 1505 Princeton Street, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila on December 15, 2023 (Friday) at 10:00 AM with the following: AGENDA 1.

2.

3.

Call to Order.

Determination of Quorum.

Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Stockholders’ Annual Meeting of December 16, 2022.

4. Annual Report and Approval of 2022 Audited Financial Statement.

5. Ratification of the Acts, Resolutions and Proceeding of the Board of Directors, Corporate Officers and Management from December 16, 2022 to December 14, 2023.

6. Approval of the sale of a property in Subic, Zambales 7. Election of the Board of Directors and Independent Directors.

8. Appointment of External Auditor.

9. Other business as may properly be brought the meeting and open forum.

10. Adjournment.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 2023 are entitled to notice and vote at this meeting. The meeting will be held online due to the on-going quarantine via Zoom platform. Those stockholders interested to join the meeting must send their email to our the Company’s email address: dcsmines@yahoo.com or the Corporate Secretary’s email address: fvgustilo@yahoo.com no later than December 8, 2023 to receive the confirmation of their registration, Zoom ID and password.

If a physical meeting will be allowed, the stockholders must bring some form of identification such as passport, driver’s license, or company I.D. in order to facilitate registration which will start at 9:00 AM. Any stockholder who does not expect to attend the meeting in person and desires to be represented may send your duly accomplished proxy form to the Corporate Secretary, 7th Floor, Peaksun Building, 1505 Princeton Street, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila for validation on or before December 8, 2023. Only proxy forms submitted on time will be validated.

Only those registered stockholders and confirmed at the above-mentioned email address shall be allowed into the online meeting.

A copy of the Annual Report of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 containing the Information and Financial Statements for the year 2022 and the Interim Financial Statements as of September 30, 2023 accompanies this notice. The Information Statement; Management Reports (SEC Form 17-A) and other pertinent documents can be found on our website: https://dizminings. com/ and PSE EDGE portal via https://edge.pse.com.ph.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

(MS-NOV. 28 & 29, 2023)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

Please be informed that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of NiHAO Mineral Resources International, Inc. (“NiHAO”) shall be held and conducted virtually via secure online meeting platform on Thursday, 14 December 2023, at 10:00 a.m., for the following purposes: AGENDA1 1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 15 December 2022 4. Management Report 5. Approval of Parent Company and Consolidated Audited Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 2022 6. Ratification of all legal acts, resolutions and proceedings of the Board of Directors and of Management, done in the ordinary course of business from 15 December 2023 up to 14 December 2023 7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditors 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment The record date for stockholders entitled to notice and vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting is set on 27 October 2023.

The 2023 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of NiHAO will be conducted virtually. Stockholders of Record may attend/participate via proxy, remote communication, or vote in absentia. For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit https://www.nihaominerals.com and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy.”

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to nihao.8888@yahoo.com on or before 24 November 2023. Validated stockholders will be provided access to the live streaming of the meeting and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 1 December 2023 through NiHAO’s secure online voting facility. All votes cast shall be subject to validation.

NiHAO is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the Agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to nihao.8888@yahoo.com, not later than 4 December 2023.

Stockholders of Record may send their inquiries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to nihao.8888@yahoo.com on or before 4 December 2023.

The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance/ voting (via remote communication) and election procedures, along with the Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Management Report, SEC Form 17-A, and other information related to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting can be accessed at http://www.nihaominerals.com and at the disclosure made through the Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology of the Philippine Stock Exchange (“PSE Edge”).

For more information, contact the Corporate Secretary at Tel. No. 8856-2011.

ATTY. FRANCIS V. GUSTILO Corporate Secretary

administrators.

TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS:

TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS:

1.

2.

3.

related performances.

(MS NOV. 28 & 29, 2023)

TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS: Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of GEOGRACE RESOURCES PHILIPPINES, INC. (“GEOGRACE”) shall be held on Thursday, 14 December 2023, at 2:00 p.m. and conducted through remote communication via secure online meeting platform for the following purposes: 1.

2.

3.

AG E N D A

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 15 December 2022 4.

Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation and By Laws 4.1. Change of Principal Office Address to 1505 Princeton Street corner Shaw Boulevard, Barangay Wack-Wack, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City 5.

Management Report 6.

Approval of the Parent Company and Consolidated Audited Financial Statements as of 31 December 2022 7.

Ratification of all legal acts, resolutions, and proceedings of the Board of Directors and of Management, CYAN done in the ordinary course of business MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK from 15 December 2022 to 14 December 2023 8.

Election of Directors 9.

Appointment of External Auditor 10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment The Board of Directors of GEOGRACE has fixed the RECORD DATE for stockholders entitled to vote at this annual meeting to be on 27 October 2023.

The 2023 Annual Stockholders‘ Meeting of GEOGRACE will be conducted virtually. Stockholders of Record may attend/participate via proxy, remote communication or vote in absentia. For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit https://geograceholdings.com/ and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy”.

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting through remote communication and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to g.geograce@yahoo.com on or before 6 December 2023. Validated stockholders will be provided access to the live streaming of the meeting and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 13 December 2023 through GEOGRACE’s secure online voting facility. All votes cast shall be subject to validation.

GEOGRACE is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to g.geograce@ yahoo.com, not later than 13 December 2023.

Stockholders of Record may send their queries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to g.geograce@ yahoo.com on or before 13 December 2023.

The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance/voting (through remote communication) and election procedures, along with the Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Management Report, SEC Form 17-A, and other information related to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting can be accessed at https://geograceholdings.com/.

Very truly yours,

Very truly yours,

(SGD) ARSENIO C. CABRERA, JR. Corporate Secretary

Original signed ARSENIO C. CABRERA, JR. Corporate Secretary (MS NOV. 28 & 29, 2023)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

B4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

INVESTORS NIGHT.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual underscores the significance of economic zones in positioning the country as an attractive investment destination during the 28th Anniversary and Annual Investors’ Recognition Night at the World Trade Center on Nov. 22, 2023. Pascual recognized the topperforming economic zone developer and locator companies as a significant driving force in advancing the country’s economic growth and a key player in the global economic stage.

Megaworld welcomes lifting of court order against assets

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. on Monday welcomed a local court’s order lifting of the writ of preliminary attachment against the company in relation to the case filed by contractor DATEM Inc. “The court’s order lifting the writ of preliminary attachment in favor of Megaworld paves the way for the unravelling of the truth,” Megaworld said in statement.

A writ of preliminary attachment is a court order against the company and its assets while the legal proceedings are ongoing.

Megaworld said DATEM would now have the burden to justify its “ridiculous claims.”

“Megaworld is confident that in due time and with a fair trial, justice will prevail in its favor. This is just a start

of our victory in defending our integrity,” the developer said.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 105 presiding Judge Rochelle Yvette Galano, in an order dated Nov. 24, 2023, lifted the WPA issued against Megaworld.

It lifted the WPA after Megaworld posted P873.3 million in counterbond.

DATEM said the counterbond would act as a safety net for the company in case the court decides in its favor.

Megaworld earlier said it had not evaded any substantial claims from DATEM despite the latter’s alleged “gross negligence” and “repeated failure” to fulfill its obligations with the property firm.

It said DATEM’s demand for a huge amount of claims and adjustments was unreasonable considering “its poor performance” as a project contractor.

BPO industry expected to grow 7% in 2024 A

By Othel V. Campos

N INDUSTRY group expects the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to post a 7-percent growth in terms of revenues to $37.87 billion in 2024 from the projected $35.4 billion in 2023.

Manila Standard TODAY Information Technology-Business Process Management Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Jack Madrid said the sector’s growth would have a massive contribution to job generation.

“I’ll be happy with 7 percent

[growth]. We continue to add jobs, and that’s what matters,” Madrid said.

Madrid said the healthcare segment of the IT-BPM industry would continue its sterling performance through 2024.

Employment in the sector is seen reaching 1.7 million full-time em-

ployees by end-2013, representing an addition of 130,00 workers from a year ago.

The industry group was expecting an addition of 1.1 million employees between 2022 and 2028.

“November and December are high growth months. Because of the Christmas season, people hire more. We already hit 300,000 of our 1.1 million target, so it’ll be 800,000 [employees] more,” Madrid said.

The group said among the factors propelling the growth of the Philippine IT-BPM industry in 2023 are the United

States’ preference for the Philippines as ued to dominate the industry at 60-perhub for high-quality IT-BPM services cent share, but demand for more hires and preferred source of talent by North is a challenge that the group was trying American companies. to address.

Foreign companies also find it atHe said the industry is committed to tractive that the Philippine govern- sustaining the trajectory following the CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK ment plays a crucial role in the indus- unveiling of the Philippine IT-BPM try’s growth by instituting supportive Roadmap 2028 with the goal of achievremote and hybrid work policies, Ma- ing 2.5 million jobs and $59 billion revdrid said. enue by 2028.

IBPAP said these policies did not Countryside growth continues to only help companies adapt to the chang- draw the interest of IT-BPM players in ing work landscape but also attracted locations outside Metro Manila such as foreign investments.

Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Clark and Cagayan Madrid said contact centers contin- de Oro, Madrid said.

QR PAYMENTS. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas regional director Tomas Cariño, Jr. (third from left) leads the launching of Paleng-Qr Ph Plus in Calamba City with (from left) Calamba City Barangay 5 chairman Matthew Rizal, executive assistant to the city mayor Rhyan Francia; councilor Maria Kathrina Silva; city administrator Johnny Pamuspusan and councilors Joselito Catindig, Saturnino Lajara and Johnny Lazaro. A joint initiative of the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Paleng-QR Ph Plus promotes digital payments in public markets, transport hubs and other business establishments using quick response or QR payments.

LTO tech experts push full transition to German-installed digital systems

By Darwin G. Amojelar OFFICIALS of the Land Transportation Office’s Management Information Division (MID) pushed for the 100-percent utilization of the Land Transport Management Systems (LTMS).

They said in a briefing memorandum to LTO assistant secretary Vigor Mendoza II on Nov. 22 that a full transition and utilization of the LTMS which was installed by German-led joint venture group DermalogHoly Family Printing would enable the LTO to have full control of their IT systems and secure their independence from private IT systems suppliers and contractors.

“LTMS, being a government-owned system, presents several advantages over the previous LTO IT system, which was owned

by a private company, and has been in use since 1998,” the LTO-MID officers said in the briefing memo.

“By transitioning to LTMS, we regain control and independence over our system, ensuring greater data security, privacy, and flexibility in managing our operations,” the LTO IT experts added.

“The government ownership of LTMS aligns perfectly with our commitment to public accountability and transparency,” they said.

The four-page briefing memo was signed

by LTO-MID acting chief Joseph Paul Petilla; Carlos Nicholas Vasquez, chief of the LTO’s client care and technical support section; Rodinio Ramos, chief of the records section; and Claudio Bonsol Jr., chief of the computer section.

AMRO forecasts PH growth of 5.6% in 2023

By Julito G. Rada

THE ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said Monday the Philippines’ tightened macro policies and infrastructure investment would address high inflation and structural challenges.

AMRO’s assessments were contained in the 2023 Annual Consultation Report on the Philippines published Monday. The report was based on AMRO’s annual consultation visit to the Philippines from Aug. 29 to Sept.

8, 2023, with data and information available up to Nov. 9, 2023.

AMRO said in the short term, the impact of high inflation on the economy remained the key concern.

“Growth is forecasted to moderate to 5.6 percent in 2023 from a multi-decade high of 7.6 percent in 2022, and to pick up to 6.3 percent in 2024 as external demand recovers. Headline inflation is expected to rise from 5.8 percent in 2022 to 6.0 percent in 2023 and then moderate to 3.6 percent in 2024, within the 2–4 percent inflation target,” it said.

Inflation remained high in 2023, driven by buoyant demand and supply shocks.

AMRO said the high core inflation reflected elevated inflationary pressure due to a positive output gap and the second-round effects from increases in the minimum wages and persistently high inflation expectations.

C1

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Jannik Sinner AFP

Sinner: Special feeling to win Davis Cup crown for Italy HALL OF FAME TOURNEY.

Chess players from all over the country participated in the 1st Hall of Fame Chess Tournament at the Farmers Plaza Activity Center in Cubao Quezon City. Manny Marcelo

Pampanga shoots for 2-0 lead over Bacoor in National Finals B

OLSTERED by the return of Letran star Kurt Reyson, the North Division champion Giant Lanterns trounced the South Division titlist Strikers, 71-58, in Game 1 of the best-of-five series and are favored for a repeat at their homecourt where they have gone unbeaten in 15 games.

Having ended his stint with the Knights in the NCAA, Reyson suited up and fired a game-high 22 points for the Giant Lanterns, who yielded the game’s first two points but controlled the rest of the way to frustrate the Strikers.

Reyson compounded the problems of the Strikers, who already have to contend with Justine Baltazar, the runaway MVP race pacesetter, and the likes of Encho Serrano, John Lloyd Clemente, JV Bahio, MJ Garcia and Archie Concepcion.

The Strikers are determined to bounce back, but they can only do so if their defense holds, they don’t get clobbered un-

derneath, and their chief gunners--Jhan Nermal and James Kwekuteye--find their range.

Led by Baltazar’s 16 rebounds, the taller Giant Lanterns ruled the boards, 54-41, paving the way for 34 points inside the paint and 19 more from fastbreaks.

Although Nermal persevered to tally 16 points on 4 of 12 shooting, Kwekuteye settled for 2 points after flubbing 11 tries. Jhaymo Eguilos exceeded expectations with 16 points, but could only pull down 5 rebounds for Bacoor, whose starting guard Aaron Jeruta finished with 4 points. Veterans Mark

ONE Friday Fights 43 feature Alvarez, Bangguigui CARLOS “Limitless” Alvarez guns for his fourth straight victory while Dave “Kintas” Bangguigui shoots for a bounce back win at ONE Friday Fights 43 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Alvarez will be taking on Nachyn Sat in a featherweight showdown, while Bangguigui collides with Ryosuke Honda in a strawweight match.

Continued ascension is the biggest goal in mind for the Team Lakay stud who needed only 57 seconds to tap “Majin” Title Chai at ONE Friday Fights 36.

It sustained Alvarez’ hot streak as he looks to finally secure a contract with The Home of Martial Arts.

But standing in his way is Sat, a Mongolian who has trained in Russia and is shaping up to be a tough draw for the Filipino.

For Bangguigui, it’s all about getting back to his winning ways.

The ONE Warrior Series stud ran straight to a brick wall when he lost via a third round technical knockout to Sanzhar “Uzbek Tiger” Zakirov at ONE Friday Fights 28.

Yet Honda won’t be any easier foe, with the Japanese striker looking to make a strong statement in his promotional debut.

ONE Friday Fights 43 will feature a Muay Thai clash between Kongsuk Fairtex and Pettonglor Sitluangpeenumfon in a heavy hitting main event.

Carlos ‘Limitless’ Alvarez

Yee and Chito Jaime and bigs Jammer Jamito and Michael Canete, who both wound up scoreless, should also contribute for Bacoor to tie the series.

The Giant Lanterns even showed more cohesion with 19 assists, 6 by Baltazar, against only 10 for the Strikers.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, also the Giant Lanterns’ head coach, said they would continue with their running game, control Bacoor’s guards, and stay focused for Game 2.

MPBL awards best performers Meanwhile, the MPBL will award this year’s best performers before Game 2 on Tuesday.

To be feted are the Fifth Season’s MVP, the mythical team members, the rookie of the year, the top homegrown player, the best defensive player, the most improved, and the impact player of the year. A sportsmanship award will also be given.

Also to be honored is the Executive of the Year among the team owners and managers of the 29 teams that competed.

Justine Baltazar is Pampanga’s tower of power.

MALAGA, Spain—Italy’s Davis Cup hero Jannik Sinner said it was a “special feeling” to end his team’s 47-year drought in the competition on Sunday in Malaga.

Sinner beat Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the second singles rubber after Matteo Arnaldi scraped past Alexei Popyrin to earn his country their second trophy with a 2-0 win over Australia.

Sinner, ranked fourth, played a key role, winning all five of his rubbers, including two against world number one Novak Djokovic and Serbia on Saturday.

The 22-year-old said he would like to take Italy to further success in the competition if he can, but that winning it for the first time was wonderful.

“We are all very young, we are really hungry to try to win it one more time in our life, but in another way, you know, having this feeling at least once, it is a really special feeling,” Sinner told reporters.

The Italian said his team triumphed because the group pushed each other on in search of their country’s first Davis Cup since 1976.

Sinner arrived after losing the ATP Finals title to Djokovic last Sunday.

“I played coming from Turin, I gave 100 percent, all I had,” added Sinner.

“I think the whole team, they pushed each other on, and this is maybe our key, why we are standing here with this trophy.”

Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt was disappointed after finishing runners-up for a second consecutive year but hailed the superb Sinner.

“Jannik, he’s played awesome all week, the last few weeks, to be honest, the last few months,” said Hewitt.

“So he showed why he’s a top three or four player in the world at the moment. AFP

Road cycling championships up February in Tagaytay THE PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2024 will be staged at an earlier schedule from February 5 to 9 with Tagaytay City as the main hub anew.

This was announced on Monday by PhilCycling and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who added qualifiers for the Nationals will be based on major domestic and sanctioned races in 2023.

“The early schedule is to provide our national coaches more window to prepare for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and the 2026 Asian Games, which, for the first time, will be setting up qualifying events not only for cycling but all sports,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino also stressed that the PhilCycling will strengthen the national track team for men and women as the federation looks forward to an indoor 250-meter velodrome that would soon rise in Tagaytay City.

The results of the Philippine National Games (PNG) and Batang Pinoy next month also in

POC chief Abraham Tolentino

Tagaytay City are part of the criteria for qualification for the National Championships.

Competitions will again be in Criterium, Individual Time Trial and Individual Road Race for Men and Women in Youth (under 16), Juniors (1718), Under 23 and Elite categories.

The top 10 finishers in each of the events in the 2023 Nationals are seeded to next year’s Road championships as well as the top 25 in December’s PNG-Batang Pinoy races.

The top 25 riders in the sanctioned races in 2023 will also be accorded ranking points for consideration for the National Championships which will set a maximum of 90 riders in the Individual Road Race and 60 cyclists each in ITT and Criterium for all categories.

The list of qualifiers will be announced i m med iately after the PNG and Batang Pinoy.

Luisita, Southwoods tied for lead in Fil-Am Seniors BAGUIO—With Jun Plana leading the way, defending champion Manila Southwoods finished with 136 points to catch Luisita at the helm with identical 266 after two rounds in the centerpiece Fil-Championship of the 73rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational held at the Camp John Hay Golf Club.

Plana, who joined the Southwoods’ senior team last year, turned back the hands of time with a splendid performance of a bogey-free, five-under 64 for 41 points. Bong Brobio contributed 35 and Theody Pascural added 32. The 28 of either Raul Miñoza or Manfred Guangko counted as the fourth score.

“I felt good when I birdied the first

hole at No. 10. My plan is to hit the green to have an opportunity to make a birdie. It worked,” said Plana, who hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation at the par-69 CJH layout.

Luisita, whose last championship crown was in 2018, was paced by former Canlubang member Abe Rosal with 39 points. Benjie Sumulong, golf director of Alabang Country Club, had 33 and Dan Cruz accounted for 30. Rodel Mangulabnan tallied a 29 for the Tarlac-based team’s 131 output.

“As I predicted, the championship will be decided in the last two days at Baguio Country Club,” noted Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova as the competition heads to

the shorter but tougher BCC’s par61 course.

Greenwater Seniors was not too far behind with 259. Ferdie Barbosa was top man with 38 points and was backed up by the 30s of Wan Soo Kim and Roland Punzalan and 29 of Tommy Manotoc.Forest Hills (241) and Mamala Bay (213) completed the top five.

In the Am-Championship played at BCC, Southwoods’ Team 2 slowed down with a 91 but was still in command with 187, 14 points up on second-running Riviera (92-173).

Srixon-IMG, last year’s runner up, occupied third spot with 93-166 followed by Leeward 69-149 and former winner Megafiber 74-146.

Jun Plana: I felt good.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Cardinals, Pirates try to arrange title duel Games Tuesday

(MOA Arena) 1:30 p.m.- Mapua vs CSB 3:30 p.m.- LPU vs San Beda

MAPUA and Lyceum of the Philippines University seek to arrange a title duel as they face off with College of St. Benilde and San Beda, respectively, in Tuesday’s start of the NCAA Season 99 Final Four at the MOA Arena.

Thanks to the twice-to-beat incentives they earned for finishing in the top two after the doubleround elimination, the No. 1 Cardinals tackle the No. 4 Blazers at 1:30 p.m. while the No. 2 Pirates tangle with the No. 3 Lions at 3:30 p.m. needing just a win to arrange a best-of-three duel unfurling next week.

Mapua will set out eyeing nothing less than making the finals for the second time in the last three seasons and ending a 32-year title drought and handing the school its seventh seniors championship overall.

The Cardinals’ last crown came in 1991, which incidentally has current Mapua coach Randy Alcantara as a vital cog in that glorious feat.

For LPU, it is searching for a third finals appearance since making it that far in 2017 and 2018 under then mentor Topex Robinson and another shot at a historic crown.

Alcantara, however, isn’t looking that far just yet.

“Sa Final Four kami naka focus, ito ang pinakaimportante sa amin sa ngayon,” said Alcantara.

Same with LPU mentor Gilbert Malabanan.

“Concentrate muna kami sa game na ito, ayaw namin mag isip muna ng kahit ano,” said Malabanan.

For sure, San Beda and CSB aren’t just going to just fade into the night and should go for nothing but a triumph and force a deciding game on Friday also at MOA where anything can happen.

“Of course, I’m expecting it to be tougher, especially galing sila sa talo sa amin,” said San Beda mentor Yuri Escueta referring to the Lions’ 74-56 decimation of the Pirates a week ago.

Wushu official, national team to appear in PSA Forum WUSHU Federation Philippines secretary-general Julian Camacho and members of the national team which competed in the recent 16th World Wushu Championships will be gracing the Philippine Sportswriters Association weekly Forum as special guest on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Camacho, vice president of Wushu Federation of Asia and recently reelected member of the International Wushu Federation, will talk about the team’s last campaign in Fort Worth, Texas that saw the Filipinos win a gold, four silvers, and a bronze medal.

The gold was courtesy of the duilian men’s trio of Mark Lester Ragay, Mark Anthony Polo, and Vincent Ventura.

The 10:30 a.m. session is presented

by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also shares it on its official Facebook page.

Teams arrive for PNVF 30-nation World Beach Pro Tour Challenge P LAYERS from 17 of the more than 30 countries seeing action in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge have arrived on Monday—three days ahead of the elite beach volleyball competition set on five brand new world-class sand courts in Nuvali in Santa Rosa City.

They are Japan, Canada, USA, China, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Austria and Poland and the men’s squads from Turkiye, England, Australia, Ukraine, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal and Finland, according to host Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

“It’s world-class beach volleyball

action all of four days,” said Suzara, who thanked Ayala Land for partnering with the PNVF through the five competition and one warmup courts in sprawling Nuvali.

Tickets are available at vw.ticketmax.ph pegged at P100 for morning sessions and P200 for afternoon sessions. Tickets will also be

available onsite starting Thursday.

The qualification matches for men and women are set from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, while the main draw on Friday starts at 9 a.m. with the final match at 9 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday are for the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the tournament that caps the PNVF’s busy 2023 calendar and supported by gold sponsors Ayala Land, Mikasa, Senoh, Philippine Sports Commission, Pinay In Action and Smart as gold sponsors and PLDT, Gatorade, Maynilad, Rebisco, Ayala Malls, Department of Tourism, CBPI, Club Laiya, Foton as bronze sponsors.

The Philippines, under Brazilian

coach Joao Luciano Kiodai and Mayi Molit-Pochina, has Ran Abdilla and Jaron Requinton, James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, and Alche Gupiteo and Anthony Arbasto competing in the men’s contest and Gen Eslapor and Dij Rodriguez and newbie Sofia Pagara and Khylem Progella in the women’s division.

There are 16 teams in each of the men’s and women’s main draw while 32 teams are vying in the qualification round also for each gender.

Also expected are elite beach volleyball players from The Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Oman, Thailand, Latvia, New Zealand, Israel, Gambia, Morocco, Malaysia and Slovakia.

The UST girls display their UAAP athletics’ medals and championship trophy.

Adamson boys, Santo Tomas girls keep high school athletics crowns ADAMSON University and University of Santo Tomas completed their respective bids for back-to-back championships in the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the close of the UAAP Season 85 High School Athletics Championships on Sunday at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City.

The Baby Falcons put up a massive 503.5 points to capture the school’s first title of the season to go with the second-place finish in Boys’ table tennis, way ahead of runner-up University of Santo Tomas Junior Male Tracksters’ 390.

“Naging pressure sa ‘kin as head coach and sa mga kasama kong coaches (referring to inf lux of walk-ins). So, pinag-usapan namin kung ano ‘yung kailangan namin,” said Adamson head coach Ronald Corot. “’Yung happiness hindi naman mawawala. Hindi mo man makita sa ‘kin physically pero deep inside, alam ko ‘yung saya ko na makuha namin ‘yung cham-

pionship,” added the now-two time champion mentor.

On the other hand, the UST Junior Female Tracksters’ huge lead at the start of the day held off a lategasp fight from the University of the East Junior Lady Warriors, 488 points to 444, and bagged the side’s second straight championship.

This is the school’s third title this season following the table tennis golden double.

“Masaya ko kasi maganda ‘yung support nung mga bagong recuits. Kumbaga kahit sinong ilagay mo diyan pwede. Kita mo naman nag-wa-1-2-3,” UST head coach Manny Calipes said.

With the departure of Kent Jardin, the Baby Falcons found its new top-class student-athlete Hussein Loraña, who succeeded the former as the league MVP. The 19-year-old standout from Baguio City finished with six gold medals and a bronze medal, with the last title coming from the final day’s 4x400-meter relay.

Adamson closed out its rousing romp with the said

relay gold as Loraña finished the job done by Janzen Dela Cruz, Matthew Angeles, and Emanuel Morales in record fashion with 3:22.09 -- a new UAAP record.

UST took the silver with 3:33.43, while UE collected the bronze with 3:39.97.

The Junior Female Tracksters, meanwhile, bagged the gold in the girls’ side of the relay with 4:07.80 minutes with Ashley Tabad, Lea Ordinario, Iza Pangilinan, and Jamaica Salivan to put the exclamation point in the back-to-back plum.

UE leaned on eventual MVP Jyzel Gabriel to claim silver behind the UST quartet with 4:15.85, while Adamson completed the podium with 4:22.64.

Gabriel, won the 800, 1500, and 3000 meters titles, to go with that relay silver and the bronze in the 4x400-meter mixed relay.

Adamson’s Marjorie Ragudos was the Rookie of the Year on the girls’ side with the high jump gold and the silver in the 4x100-meter relay.

SEA Games medalist wins Dayrit Cup foil gold

By Peter Atencio

Wilhelmina Lozada

SOUTHEAST Asian Games medallist Wilhelmina Lozada showed that she is still in good shape when she dominated the women’s foil action of the 2023 Francisco Dayrit Cup Memorial Fencing Tournament at the Philsports Fencing Hall in Pasig City.

The 27-year-old Lozada, who has turned to coaching younger athletes since her last stint as a national athlete in the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, prevailed over national team member Janna Catantan, 15-8.

“I didn’t have much preparation. But I still did well. I have been concentrating on coaching younger players this year,” said Lozada, who bagged a team bronze medal during her last stint with Team Philippines two years ago.

The Philippine Fencing Association held its fifth and final leg called the Francisco Dayrit Cup for the cadet and senior players, and is the ranking tournament for participating athletes.

Lozada, who handles young fencers at

Club Canlas Fencing, reached the finals against Catantan after she breezed past Eytria Olarte, 15-6, in the semifinals, and Hannah Dominique Belarmino, 15-9.

National team members Eigran Ergina, Jylyn Nicanor, Hanniel Abella, Nathaniel Perez and Eunice Villanueva all breezed through their respective divisions with flying colors.

Ergina won over Lorenzo Miguel Malvar, 15-12, for the men’s epee gold, while Nicanor took the top honors in the women’s sabre after she beat national teammate Allain Cortey, 15-6.

Perez fashioned out a 15-10 stopping of Louis Shoemaker in taking the men’s foil honors, while Villanueva outplayed CJ Concepcion, 15-6, for the men’s saber crown.

He made it to the finals after Perez upset SEA Games individual silver medallist Sam Tranquillan, 15-6, in the semis, and Marcus Manuel, 15-3, in the quarterfinals.

The tournament will also evaluate the competitiveness of members of the national team.

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SHOWBIZ

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

Best in Philippine Cinema honored at 6th Eddys

T

HE Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) celebrated the best in Filipino filmmaking at the glittering 6th Eddys or Entertainment Editors’ Choice, held at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City on November 26. The event recognized the outstanding achievements of individuals and productions that have enriched Philippine cinema over the past year.

Blue Room and Family Matters emerged as the top winners of the evening, each taking home the coveted Best Film award. Nuel Crisostomo Naval’s masterful direction of Family Matters earned him the Best Director award, while Max Eigenmann and Janine Gutierrez shared the Best Actress accolade for their compelling performances in 12 Weeks and Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin?, respectively.

Elijah Canlas’ captivating portrayal in Blue Room garnered him the Best Actor award.

The supporting categories also saw notable recognition, with Nikki Valdez and Mon Confiado receiving Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor awards for their standout performances in Family Matters and Nanahimik ang Gabi, respectively.

Creative excellence was also celebrated at the Eddys. Mel

Mendoza del Rosario’s captivating screenplay for Family Matters was awarded Best Screenplay, while Moises Zee’s masterful cinematography in Nanahimik ang Gabi earned him the Best Cinematography award. Marxie Maolen Fadul’s intricate production design for Blue Room received the Best Production Design award, and Vanessa de Leon’s seamless editing in the same film was recognized with the Best Editing award.

The musical talents behind the films were also applauded. Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso’s captivating score for Blue Room won Best Musical Score, while Andrea Teresa Idioma and Emilio Bien Sparks’ exceptional sound design in Nanahimik ang Gabi garnered the Best Sound award.

Carl Regis Abuel, Tricia Bernasor, and Geraldine Co won Best Visual Effects for LiveScream.

SPEEd president Eugene Asis, together with the members, thanks the attendees and celebrities for gracing the 6th Entertainment Editors’ Choice

The 6th Eddys hosts Piolo Pascual (left) and Iza Calzado

Beautéderm CEO Rei Anicoche Tan (left) with SPEEd founding member Nestor Cuartero

Darren Espanto treats attendees with an electrifying performance

P-pop girl group Calista

G-Force transforms its traditional workshop into a competitive showcase featuring eight teams mentored by eight G-Forcetrained celebrity choreographers

From left: Niño Muhlach, Snooky Serna, and Aga Muhlach (not pictured) receive the Movie Icon Award, with Andres accepting it on Aga’s behalf

The Eddys also paid tribute to the individuals who have made significant contributions to Philippine cinema. Aga Muhlach, Niño Muhlach, and Snooky Serna were honored with the Movie Icon award for their enduring impact on the industry.

Herbert Bautista, Coco Martin, and Piolo Pascual were recognized with the Isah V. Red Award for their unwavering support and inspiration to fellow Filipinos.

Veteran entertainment columnist, former

TV host, and content creator Aster Amoyo Marketing Philippines as producer, The received the Joe Quirino Award for her 6th Eddys will have a delayed telecast on invaluable contributions to the entertainment December 2 on A2Z. industry.

Renowned writer Ed de Leon was honored with the Manny Pichel Award for his exceptional work in the field.

Viva Films was named Producer of the Year, while MavX Productions was recognized as the Rising Producer of the Year.

The awards night was directed by Erik Quizon and hosted by Piolo Pascual and Iza Calzado. The event witnessed performances

by Pops Fernandez, Darren Espanto, Erik Santos, Jaime Rivera, and P-pop group Calista The event was supported

by Beautederm, Globe Telecom, Shopee, Tough Mama, and SMAC. The auditing firm of Juancho Robles, Chan Robles & Company, CPAs, serves as vote auditor.

From left: The Eddys’ presenters Carren Eistrup and Alonzo Presented by SPEED Actresses Lotlot De Leon (left) and Max Muhlach with auditor Juancho Robles in partnership with Airtime Eigenmann

Sharing the gift of dance

By Angelica Villanueva

Teacher Georcelle shares that GForce doesn’t just teach steps and choreography but goes beyond just dancing

G-FORCE’S dance workshop is more than just teaching dance steps; it’s a transformative experience that instills valuable life lessons in its participants.

While the workshop undoubtedly hones their dancing skills, it also cultivates essential qualities that extend far beyond the dance floor.

The group’s inaugural workshop competition, G-Force Project 2023 The Competition, was a resounding success, captivating the audience with electrifying performances gracing the Samsung Performing Arts Theater stage recently.

This year’s event marked a significant milestone for G-Force as it transformed the traditional workshop into a competitive showcase, featuring eight teams mentored by eight G-Forcetrained celebrity choreographers.

Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy, the visionary behind G-Force, expressed her pride in the event’s success, highlighting its evolution over the years.

“The G-Force Project is our way of

sharing happiness, sharing the gift of dance, and we started it in 2008. So, it’s been 15 years, and we keep on doing it, and it has also evolved,” she shared.

The seasoned choreographer also emphasized how the competition could help in intensifying the group’s commitment to go beyond just dancing.

“It’s really growth for our students. The competition gives you an opportunity to build new skills and how you work with pressure, and that’s where resilience comes in, teamwork, discipline, those are the values that we teach here in G-Force,” explained Teacher Georcelle.

“That’s why we call it more than just dancing because students here when they get out from this workshop, they transform completely. They become a different person. We don’t just teach steps, choreography, it’s really beyond dancing,” she added.

The competition format added an exciting twist to this year’s event, with the winning team walking away with a prize of P150,000. The event’s opendoor policy welcomed participants of

all ages, from young aspiring dancers to enthusiastic moms, ensuring that the joy of dance transcended boundaries.

Meanwhile, Teacher Georcelle clarified that G-Force’s original dance creations are protected under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL). She likened the copyright process for dance steps to that of music, stating that just as certain music tracks are freely available on TikTok, so are some of G-Force’s dance steps.

“You know, when you’re writing songs, right? You have created [it] and of course, when someone wants to use it, you need to pay for the royalty fee.

Similar with songwriters…probably because ngayon lang talaga narinig ang dance. [But] it has been there for a long time already,” explained Teacher Georcelle.

Emphasizing openness, she encouraged people to freely engage with their creativity by using and participating in posted dance challenges with readily available music tracks on social media.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

Macau’s Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Enjoy the challenge of ‘TeamLab SuperNature’ three-dimensional spaces located at the Macau Venetian

LIFE The water show at Performance Lake at Wynn Palace

A

S I sat on the weathered steps of the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, I was mesmerized by the rich cultural blend that is Macau. Our guide, Joao Sales from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), got my attention when he pointed out the Na Tcha Temple, a small sanctuary nestled among the ancient stones behind the cathedral.

“Macau is a city of contrasts,” Joao explained.

“Old and new coexist here in harmony.”

I couldn’t help but agree as I looked around at the bustling cityscape before me. On one side, the towering skyscrapers of the Cotai Strip glittered under the midday sun. On the other, the charming streets of Old Macau exuded a timeless elegance.

“You know, Macau is not just about gambling, it’s fast becoming an entertainment and gastronomical destination, too,” Joao added.

Macau has transcended its reputation as a gambling haven, emerging as a multifaceted destination that tantalizes the senses. From worldclass shows to a culinary landscape that excites taste buds, Macau redefines itself as a hub for entertainment enthusiasts and epicurean adventurers.

Our journey began upon arrival at the Macau International Airport, where we were warmly welcomed by Joao. It was almost 10:00 p.m. We proceeded directly to Galaxy Resorts for a traditional Chinese supper.

After our satisfying meal, we checked into our luxurious home for four days, the Andaz Hotel.

The hotel’s elegant ambiance and impeccable service provided the perfect prelude to our Macau escapades.

The morning unfolded with a walking tour of Old Macau, starting at the Lou Lim Iok Garden and ending at Senado Square. Along the way, we ventured into the St. Lazaro Quarters, Se Cathedral, and Lau Kao Mansion, each steeped in architectural splendor and cultural significance.

Senado Square, a vibrant hub of activity, beckoned us with its historic buildings, art galleries, museums, and spiritual sanctuaries. We took time to wander through this colorful plaza, absorbing its unique charm.

Lunchtime brought us to Portocal Restaurant at Senado Square, where we savored a delectable set lunch. Our afternoon continued with a pleasant walk to St. Joseph’s Church, where we admired the sacred relic bone of the arm of Saint Francis Xavier.

Ascending the Macau Tower, we encountered HJ Hackett and his team of extreme sports enthusiasts. The braver souls from our group,

Parisian Eiffel Tower’s Panoramic Terrace offers unparalleled, breathtaking views Macau’s breathtaking skyline with the iconic Macau Tower in the foreground

Dreamy Macau

Where old and new coexist in perfect balance

seeking an adrenaline rush, tested their limits with the Sky Walk - an exhilarating activity that involves walking around the tower’s observatory, 233 meters high, offering breathtaking views of the city below.

As the sun began to set, we embarked on a magical walk from Monte Fort to the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The highlight of the evening was a delightful dinner at Vic’s Restaurant, where Chef Martinho Moniz, a culinary ambassador of traditional Portuguese cuisine, delighted us with his authentic creations.

Our third day started with a visit to the Lisboa Palace Hotel, where we marveled at the Secret Garden and the fashionable Karl Lagerfeld Hotel – the only hotel in the world that was wholly designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld. It boasts an awe-inspiring design that seamlessly marries Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The room’s décor seamlessly blended Lagerfeld’s signature style with a touch of Macau’s rich heritage.

Next, we ventured to the Macau Airborne Center at Lisboeta Hotel, which boasts a vertical wind tunnel for aspiring skydivers. Under the watchful eyes of experienced instructors, participants can learn the fundamentals of bodyflight, mimicking the exhilarating maneuvers of skydiving in a safe and controlled environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned skydiver seeking to refine your skills or a curious novice eager to experience the thrill of flight, the Macau Airborne Center offers an unforgettable experience that will leave you soaring with newfound confidence and an insatiable desire to conquer the skies.

Litoral Restaurant on Taipa Island awaited us for lunch, where we reveled in the flavors of Macanese cuisine. Born from the fusion of Media members get an exclusive preview of the unique Chinese and Portuguese culinary influences, experiences awaiting tourists in Macau

Alviera presents a unique and festive holiday celebration in Pampanga

“Macanese cuisine is a testament to Macau’s unique cultural heritage,” according to Joao.

Taipa Village, with its charming ambiance and blend of Chinese and European characteristics, was our next quick stop. And as dusk approached, we made our way to Coloane Village, a tranquil fishing village.

Our dinner at Ng Tim’s “Dai Pai Dong” Restaurant in Coloane Island introduced us to Cantonese cuisine authentic comfort food such as winter Clay Pot Rice, Black pepper deep-fried beef noodles, “Drunken Sauna Shrimps,” and the king of roasted meats, the mouthwatering “Roasted Goose.”

Our final day commenced with a visit to the Macau Grand Prix Museum, tracing the history of the longest nonstop-running Grand Prix in the world.

The museum pays tribute to racing legends including Arsenio “Dodjie” Hidalgo Laurel, a Filipino racing star who left an indelible mark on the Macau Grand Prix.

The next pit stop was the Macau Parisian Hotel, where the Parisian Eiffel Tower’s Panoramic Terrace beckons with breathtaking views. We then delved into the interactive world of “TeamLab SuperNature” at the Macau Venetian, where three-dimensional spaces challenge our perceptions and ignite our imaginations.

We then proceeded to MGM Cotai to immerse ourselves in the Qin Dynasty Imperial Carpet Exhibition, followed by the mesmerizing Sea Odyssey Show. Lunch at Hao Guo Chinese restaurant at MGM introduced us to Cantonese Dim Sum, a culinary tradition that has graced Chinese tables for centuries.

The day concluded with a cable car ride following a dinner co-hosted by Wynn Palace at Fontana Restaurant, known for its fine dining and international buffet.

From its rich cultural heritage to its vibrant entertainment scene, Macau has truly captivated our senses and left us yearning for more. And with Cebu Pacific offering daily flights to Macau, we knew that returning to this vibrant destination was just two hours away.

The author tries GoAirborne Indoor Skydiving for the first time

Skywalk X is a walking tour around the outer rim of the Macau Tower

Macau Grand Prix Museum pays tribute to racing legends like Filipino racer Arsenio ‘Dodjie’ Hidalgo Laurel

Attendees can take a quick break from doing festive activities rest at Alviera Country Club

AYALA Land Alviera recently unveiled the and eventually the first of our Northern Floats Festival, a 4-week event commercial and retail offers, beginning November 25 until December 17, 2023. we hope to build a community The festival is set to brighten up the skies of Porac, and space for all to create Pampanga, and bring together live entertainment, memorable adventures.” exciting games and activities, great food, and a touch of Christmas magic.

Present to officially light up the skies of Porac were Hon. Mayor Jing Capil and Alviera Estate Project Development Head Melanie Eugenio-Trivino flanked

by Nuevocentro, Inc. Treasurer Regina Magbitang, Nuevocentro, Inc. Chairman Clarissa Leonio-Asuncion, Department of Tourism Region 3 supervising officer Chriselle Yambao, Ayala Land Estates, Corporate and Malls Brand and Communications head Chrissy Roa, Porac Vice Mayor Francis Laurence Tamayo and Councilor Hilario Dimalanta Mayor Capil expressed his gratitude Bring out the adventurous in you with Alviera’s Aerial Walk for the event, stating, “We are grateful Media and special guests were given a that Alviera has brought life to our town with activities and projects which have improved preview of what’s in store for the festival with tourism. This month, our town will be celebrating a walkthrough and hands-on experience of the many festivals with the upcoming Binulu Festival, game booths, food stalls, LED night kite display, the Balas Festival, and now the Northern Floats and an official lighting ceremony.

At the heart of the festival are stunning, Festival. Now, with Alviera, we look forward to sharing the natural beauty of Porac, Pampanga larger-than-life floats to introduce Alviera’s very own Christmas characters: Alvie, Sandy, Christoff, with all.”

Eugenio-Trivino added, “With the full campus Sparkles, Fin, and the Jingle Belles. There will operations of Miriam College, the beginning of the also be carnival-themed activities, as well as live development of the La Salle botanical gardens, the music and food stalls. In collaboration with the new facility we are building for golf enthusiasts, Kite Association of the Philippines, the festival

Madison Event’s in-house choir serenades attendees of Alviera’s Christmas Lighting

will also be featuring giant LED night kites, the first-ever in the Philippines. Festival goers can also enjoy special access to adventure destination SandBox, bike trails, and the exclusive Alviera Country Club.

“We hope to inspire kids and kids-at-heart to discover new places and to share new adventures

with their family and loved ones, especially during the Christmas season,” shared EugenioTrivino. “In the coming years, we look forward to offering more experiences for our community.”

Just a few hours from Metro Manila, Alviera is strategically located and is easily accessible via major expressway networks, the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway (TPLEX). This joint development by Ayala Land Inc. and Leonio Land Holdings Inc. is an integrated mixed-use estate surrounded by the scenic terrain of Porac, Pampanga.