Manila Standard - 2024 January 25 - Thursday

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PINOY SOLDIER KILLED IN GAZA NEWS / A2

GOV’T WONT IMPOSE NEW TAXES—RECTO BUSINESS / B4

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 345 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 •

PUVMP deadline extended

Marcos sets new April 30 limit, transport groups laud decision

By Maricel V. Cruz and Charles Dantes

P

RESIDENT Marcos has extended the deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles as part of the PUV modernization program by three months.

The Presidential Communications Office said that Mr. Marcos, upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, "granted an additional three months until April 30 for the consolidation of public utility vehicles."

"This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressedintention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off," the PCO added in a statement.

The announcement came hours after public jeepney, bus, and taxi drivers met with Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to air their concerns on the PUVMP, the initial deadline for which was looming on Jan. 31 or in a week’s time.

The transport groups PISTON and Manibela, whose members were among those who met with Romualdez at the House of Representatives, both welcomed the extension.

Next page

Bato: ICC probe supporters don’t love their country

DIALOGUE WITH TRANSPORT LEADERS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (in background, in white) raises the hands of transport leaders after a dialogue over their concerns over the government's modernization program and its adverse effect on their livelihood Wednesday at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

Battle lines drawn as people’s initiative gets enough signatures

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta ADVOCATES of a people’s initiative (PI) have already gathered more than enough signatures to push for a direct amendment of the Constitution, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Wednesday.

He added that the signature campaign has drawn the required support of at least 3 percent of voters in each congressional district and a minimum of 12 percent nationwide.

But senators said they would petition the Supreme Court to get the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop accepting signatures for the

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Charles Dantes SENATOR Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday said Filipinos who supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs did not love their country and were willing to surrender Philippine sovereignty to foreigners.

Dela Rosa, who led the bloody war on drugs when he served as Duterte’s national police chief from 2016 to 2018, has been protesting loudly following unverified reports that an ICC team has been in the country and that it had obtained enough evidence to file charges against him and Duterte.

“I don’t know why these bleeding hearts really want to surrender our sovereignty to foreign bodies. They don’t love their country. They want our courts to be disrespected,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino in an interview on ANC Headstart.

Next page

people’s initiative from “unknown sources.”

The Senate has also suspended its own Charter change move to amend three specific economic provisions of the Constitution through a constituent assembly with both houses voting separately.

The proposal, embodied in Resolu-

tion of Both Houses No. 6, has been put on hold because of the continuing campaign to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative, and because it appeared that certain lawmakers were behind the push to have both houses vote jointly, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said.

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Quiboloy dares ex-members to file charges, calls Senate probe ‘bogus’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

KHAN AT DOJ. Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, speaks at the Department of Justice office in Manila on Wednesday as part of her 10-day visit to meet with different government agencies, civil societies and the media to assess the country's human rights mechanisms.

Danny Pata

KINGDOM of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday dared certain former members of his sect to formally file their complaints against him instead of airing their sexual abuse charges in a Senate hearing.

In a video statement played over his sect’s Facebook page, Quiboloy stressed he will not submit himself to a “bogus” hearing of the SenateCommittee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

He also referred to "bogus witnesses" using aliases presented during the Senate hearing, slamming their testimonies

AFP ‘comprehensive archipelagic defense plan’ in the works— Gibo

By Vince Lopez and Rey Requejo

CHINESE NEW YEAR STAPLE. A staffer at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City carefully arranges boxes of ‘tikoy’ (glutinous rice cake) on Wednesday ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. has hailed the government’s decision to declare Feb. 9 a special non-working holiday for the Chinese New Year (see story on A2). Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines is embarking on what it called a "comprehensive archipelagic defense concept" meant to ensure that the country would benefit from the natural resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday night.

Addressing the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) forum at the Fairmont Makati Hotel, Teodoro said the new defense strategy was initially meant to allow the AFP to protect and guarantee

Filipinos, local corporations, and those authorized by the Philippine government the unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources within the country’s sovereign territories.

Teodoro said the new concept would also allow the Philippines to project its military’s defense capabilities in areas that must be protected and preserved as mandated by the Constitution.

"So other than a forward-looking concept, we are evolving into a defense concept which projects our power in our areas where we must, by Constitutional fiat and duty, protect and preserve our resources," the secretary said. Next page

“as mere fabrications, which destroyed his reputation being a founder and leader of an international religious group.”

The KOJC leader also challenged Hontiveros to help his supposed victims file charges in court, where “there is fair play.”

Quiboloy strongly denied all charges imputed against him before the Senate panel.

He said the rape charge was untruthful as it was already dismissed by a court in Davao City, and that the sexual abuses he supposedly perpetrated on two Ukrainian women “pastorals” were untrue.

Quiboloy decried being the subject of a demolition job. "My reputation is at stake here," he added.

Next page

Canned sardines lead approved price increases

By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Trade and Industry has approved an increase in the Suggested Retail Price this month of four kinds of sardines, powdered milk, and toilet soap, even as it revealed it may abolish the SRP scheme to allow other forms of price monitoring as a fairtrade policy, amid rising prices of raw materials.

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NEWS

A2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Digitalization to boost LGU incomes million in 2018 to 4.4 million in 2022, the official said.

Assuring a continued commitment to advancing digitalization, Abalos affirmed that the DILG will collaborate with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) as its technology partner.

The ongoing campaign encourages LGUs to embrace the E-Local Government Unit (eLGU) system, providing services such as business permit licensing, notice of violations, notification systems, community tax, health certificates, local civil registry, business tax,

and real property tax.

As of December last year, 921 LGUs, constituting 60 percent, have already embraced digitalization or automation of services. Among them, 799 LGUs utilize the eLGU system, while 122 localities have implemented their independent systems, marking positive strides toward a more digitally empowered local governance landscape.

On the other hand, the DICT vowed to expand its free Wi-Fi sites in the country to support the DILG's digitalization project.

for those who own PUVs that are not yet consolidated under a single cooperative or corporation, a requirement for securing a fresh franchise to ply the roads.

“Personally, I would beg the LTFRB to extend it if possible so that we can further study how the modernization program will affect the majority,” he said.

Earlier, Romualdez said he is opposed to a phase-out of traditional jeepneys as he met with the various transport groups following a congressional hearing on the implementation of the PUVMP. The House committee on transportation had adopted a draft resolution urging President Marcos to reconsider the lapsed Dec. 31, 2023 deadline for the PUV franchise consolidation measure.

This came after Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez moved for the approval of the resolution during the continuation of the committee's inquiry Wednesday on the government's PUVMP. The resolution appeals to the President and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to extend the franchise consolidation deadline until “the government can come up with a concrete plan to address the major issues in the implementation of the program."

At a news conference, Romualdez said: “I do not want the image of ourjeepney to disappear. The jeepney is the symbol of our country. It should never be out of the picture.”

“I support you on this, and we will preserve this [iconic traditionaljeepney].

There’s Sarao and Francisco Motors,” Romualdez added, referring to two prominent jeepney manufacturers.

“We will find solutions, cheaper op-

tions. We will support local manufacturers in this,” Romualdez said.

Prior to the President's announcement, Romualdez assured the transport groups that by Thursday, he would meet with President Marcos to tellhim of the sector’s plight of losing their livelihoods due to the modernization program.

“While the intention of the PUVMP is beyond question and considering that the modernization of public transportation is long overdue, the needed reforms must be done in accordance with law and due process to ensure the protection of the affected stakeholders and the riding public in general,” the House resolution read.

The franchise consolidation is a focal part of the PUV modernization program.

The LTFRB allows unconsolidated individual public utility vehicle operators to operate until Jan. 31, 2024 under certain conditions to ensure ample supply of public transportation next year.

Starting Feb. 1, PUVs with unconsolidated franchises will be considered illegal and may be apprehended by the Land Transportation Office and other deputized traffic personnel.

Based on the LTFRB data, 38,000 out of 150,867 PUVs didn't join the consolidation process.

During the hearing, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop then ordered the committee secretary to create a draft resolution so it may be considered in the next hearing.

Fernandez has voiced concerns on the alleged corruption in the PUV modernization program, as well as the need to preserve the iconic design of the Philippine jeepney in modern jeepneys.

Senators asked why congressmen were pushing two modes of Charger change—the people’s initiative and a constituent assembly—and said this was a sign of bad faith.

In Tuesday’s plenary session, Pimentel said there is no reason for the Comelec to accept the signatures because the Supreme Court itself has said the laws on a people’s initiative are insufficient.

He warned that the petition for people's initiative might lead to a revision or overhaul of the Constitution.

He noted that this could be the ultimate goal of the signature campaign,

which was contrary to the spirit and law on people's initiative, which is limited to simple amendments of the law.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Pimentel’s arguments can be a big help in the petition they will file with the Supreme Court.

But Salceda brushed aside these concerns.

“The Constitution is very much alive.

If they think that obtaining 12 percent [of signatures] is that difficult, there are districts, like in my district, [that got] 20 percent, there are other districts [that got] 30 percent. Because the issue now is what is good for the future of the Philippines,” he said in Filipino.

He said the petition to allow Congress to vote jointly on any proposed Charter

amendment is now being finalized and would soon be filed by the organizers of the people’s initiative. Senators are opposed to joint voting, insisting that each chamber vote separately—and have signed a manifesto to that effect.

Reacting to the manifesto, Salceda said it is the people who should prevail, not 24 senators.

He said seven senators opposed to a people’s initiative or constitutional change should not be allowed to “trump the voice of the 12 percent of the population.”

He said if senators are branding the effort a “politician’s initiative,” then they have a very low regard for the people who support the Charter reform petition.

Quiboloy...

Bato:..

ICC would be illegal, he also dared the investigators to look for evidence.

He praised President Marcos for his statement on protecting Philippine sovereignty.

"The President is a man of few words.

He is true to his word,” he said.

But still, he challenged the President and Malacanang to make their official stand publicly to end all speculation.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said the ICC has yet to communicate with the agency regarding its investigation of the country's drug war.

In a Palace briefing, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he has no idea about the ICC's probe.

"As far as our office is concerned, the DILG is, I have no knowledge about this, [and] there is no communication with them, nothing at all," Abalos said.

Abalos also reaffirmed the agency's alignment with President Marcos' stance of non-cooperation with the ICC.

By Charles Dantes

T

HE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said digitalization and streamlined services by local government units (LGUs) will boost the country's revenue collection.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos also said one of the notable impacts of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) reforms is the growth in revenues from local business taxes, fees, and charges, which

IN BRIEF DBM releases P47.5b to boost AICS funds THE Department of Budget and Management on Wednesday said it released P47.54 billion for the implementation of the Protective Services of Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances (PSIFDC) program in 2023.

“In times of crisis, our duty as public servants is to extend a helping hand to those who need it most,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

The PSIFDC program includes Assistance to Individuals in CrisisSituation (AICS), one of the key social welfare programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which provides medical, funeral, educational, transportation, food, and cash assistance.

The primary goal of the AICS program is to assist Filipinos who find themselves in dire circumstances whether due to illness, loss, or other challenges. Darwin Amojelar

E-cigarette group backs tax effort THE Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) is throwing its support to the Department of Finance’s efforts to boost tax collection and crack down on evaders, including within their ranks.

According to PECIA president Joey Dulay, the industry group is fully committed to compliance with Philippine government regulations, including the laws covering the socalled "sin" industries.

Dulay said PECIA members follow both Republic Act No. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and NonNicotine Products Regulation Act, and RA 11467, which further hiked sin tax rates yearly starting 2020 up to the present.

PECIA had been at the forefront of the push for RA 11900, the landmark law aimed at regulating the industry of making vapes and ecigarettes less attractive to minors.

Darwin Amojelar

El Niño Online Platform planned THE El Niño Online Platform shall be set up to provide the public with relevant and timely information to help them plan and respond accordingly to the onset of the weather system, the task force dedicated by the government to it said Wednesday.

Task Force El Niño (TFEN), which was reactivated and reconstituted under Executive Order No. 53, formally convened at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The meeting was presided over

by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. as chairperson of the said task force.

Under EO 53, the co-chairperson of the TFEN is Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. Other members are Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Vince Lopez

Canned...

From A1

Consumer Protection Group chief and Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles said the DTI has approved an updated SRP Bulletin on Jan. 17, raising the SRP on nine stock-keeping units— four SKUs of canned sardines and one each on powdered milk and toilet soap.

Following meetings with manufac-

increased from P50 billion in 2018 to P208 billion in 2022.

Another positive outcome of the EODB initiatives is the rise in the number of registered businesses, from 1.5

PUVMP...

From A1

On its Facebook page, PISTON, which stands for Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, said: “May Tagumpay sa sama-samang pagkilos! Deadline, inextend hanggang April 30! Panimulang tagumpay pa lamang ito. TULOY ANG LABAN HANGGANG MABASURA ANG NEGOSYO AT MAKADAYUHANG PUVMP!” [There is victory in a united movement! The deadline has been extendedto April 30! But this is just an initial victory. We will keep fighting until the pro-business, pro-foreigner PUVMP is abolished!]

Manibela’s FB page posted the words “Tagumpay!” (Victory) and “MayPanginoon tayo!” (There is a God) an hour after hearing the Palace pronouncement.

Romualdez said he welcomed President Marcos' approval of an additionalthree months for the consolidation of public utility vehicle franchises under the government modernization program.

“The LTFRB will adhere to President Marcos Jr.’s directive to extend the consolidation of public utility vehicles until April 30, 2024.

Operators and drivers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the President,” board chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement.The Speaker said he was set to personally ask the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board to extend the Jan. 31 deadline

Battle...

From A1

From A1

This developed as House assistant minority leader Arlene Brosas called on the Department of Justice to investigate the cases of sextrafficking, rape, and physical abuse of women and children filed against the pastor Quiboloy, also founder and alleged owner of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Hontiveros on Tuesday said she wants Quiboloy to be subpoenaed and grilled on charges of sexual abuse, including rape and other crimes. Quiboloy did not show up during Monday’s hearing of the Senate panel.

Quiboloy’s lawyers also dared several former members of his church to formally file their complaints against him instead of airing their sexual abuse allegations in a Senate hearing.

The complainants, including two Ukrainian women, told the Senate committee on Monday that Quiboloy and other members of their congregation had sexually abused them.

However, Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, questioned the intention of the Hontiveros-led Senate panel in mandating the KOJC leader to attend the next hearing. turers, price adjustments for canned sardines range from P2 to P3.59, for powdered milk is between P3.50 to P6, and for toilet soap, P1.50 to P4 per piece.

Over 40 more SKUs are also asking for price adjustments by March, Nograles added.

She said the DTI has yet to publish the second tranche of SRP adjustments on the DTI website as it would take time for manufacturers to adjust to new pricing.

From A1

The senator insisted that local courts are functioning and can prosecute those who are accused of violating human rights during the drug war—though neither he nor Duterte has been charged for the drug war in any Philippine court.

Dela Rosa added that pro-ICC Filipinos should be made to sing the national anthem "1,000 times" to signify their allegiance to the country.

The former police chief said he was afraid of being locked up because it would keep him from seeing his grandchildren.

"I'm scared to be detained because I will be far from my grandchildren.

That's my fear. I love my grandchildren very much and yet, they will grow up without a grandfather... How will I bring them to the Hague?” Dela Rosa said.

While he has insisted that any investigation in the Philippines by the

AFP...

From A1

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday filed a diplomatic protest against China in response to recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

DFA spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza said for this month alone, thedepartment has released a total of 4 note verbales to China for various incidents, including the latest one where the Chinese Coast Guard near the Bajo de Masinloc forcibly took fish and other catch from a group of fishermen from Zambales.

Aside from their loss, the Filipinos were prevented from fishing fur-

ther in the area.

Also, the National Security Council welcomed the latest survey result showing the views of Filipinos regarding the issues in the West Philippine Sea, primarily the aggression of the Chinese in the area.

"We welcome the findings of the Tugon ng Masa Fourth Quarter survey conducted by OCTA Research, which sheds light on the sentiments of the Filipino people regarding the WPS issue," National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement.

"We acknowledge the importance of understanding the public sentiment and values the democratic process that allows the Filipino people to express their views on matters of national significance," he added.

Fil-Chinese group lauds Lunar New Year holiday call THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) hailed the government’s decision to declare Feb. 9 a special non-working holiday.

President Marcos earlier issued Proclamation No. 453, declaring Feb. 9, which is the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, as a holiday.

In a statement, the FFCCCII said the declaration has a “positive economic impact” as it opens avenues to attract Chinese and Asian tourists to the country, capitalizing on China and East Asia's robust tourism markets.

This aligns with the national interest of promoting the Philippines as a prime tourist destination, the group said.

Diplomatically, this gesture serves “as a tangible expression of goodwill toward our traditional ally and largest trade partner, China, and it reaffirms the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the Chinese nation, rooted in a history spanning over a millennium,” the FFCCCII also said.

The declaration also resonates positively with other Asian nations like Korea, Vietnam and others which also celebrate this festival as their most important holiday, thus fostering regional harmony and cooperation, the group said.

Pinoy serving with Israel killed in Gaza attack

By Rey E. Requejo THE Israeli Embassy in the Philippines reported on Wednesday that a 23-year-old Filipino national serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was killed in a rocket grenade attack by Hamas militants in Gaza.

In a statement, the embassy said Sergeant First Class (Reserves) Cydrick Garin was one of the 21 IDF soldiers who died after the Palestinebased militants—tagged by various countries as terrorists—launched an anti-tank missile at a compound located around Al Moazi, about 600 meters from the Israeli border.

A report by Israel's Tazpit Press Service (TPS) said the anti-tank missile also hit the adjoining homes in the complex.

“As far as we know, at around 4 p.m., an RPG was fired by terrorists at a tank securing the forces, and simultaneously, an explosion occurred at two two-story buildings. The buildings collapsed due to this explosion, while most of the forces were inside and near them,” said IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, as quoted by the TPS. Consequently, the explosives being used by the Israeli forces to demolish the compound detonated and the two buildings collapsed.

Garin was slain together with the other soldiers during the said grenade attack which caused a Gaza compound being prepared for demolition to collapse upon the soldiers.

Garin was a combat sergeant in the 8208th battalion of the 261st brigade.

According to the embassy, Garin's mother is a native of Isabela. Garin lived in Tel Aviv with his mother, Imelda Garin.

Sara: I haven't discussed poll plans with Marcos VICE President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said she has not yet discussed her plans for the 2025 or 2028 elections with President Marcos.

Duterte made this statement in an ABS-CBN TV interview in response to Mr. Marcos' assumption, in a television interview Tuesday, that she is "testing the waters" regarding her political plans.

The Vice President earlier declared in an event in her hometown Davao City that she intends to run for office again, but did not specify what position she would run for.

She mentioned that her brothers, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, will not be running in the 2025 midterm elections.

When asked if this declaration had anything to do with her issues with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Duterte stated that she could not speculate about what the Speaker was thinking, adding that their friendship "is not deep enough" for her to do so.

Joel E. Zurbano

NEWS

A3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM

DILG chief won’t meet Khan but vows to be transparent

MODERN SCHOOL BUILDING. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna (center) and former mayor Isko Moreno (wearing a cap) lead the opening of the newly-built 10-story school building at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, Manila, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. The school building has 227 classrooms that are expected to accommodate almost 8,000 students, along with an auditorium, gymnasium, and other amenities. Norman Cruz

2 Pinoys nabbed in Tokyo over couple’s death in good condition TWO Filipinos arrested in Tokyo in connection with the deaths of a Japanese couple are in good condition, the Department of Affairs said.

“Based on our latest information, our two fellowmen are in good condition,” said DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryan Lao in a television interview.

The two were arrested after they were accused of not reporting to authorities the bodies of the couple.

CCTV footage taken in the vicinity of the deceased couple’s house on Jan. 16 showed the two Filipinos in the premises where the bodies were recovered.

Lao said personnel from the Philippine Embassy in Japan were able to visit Hazel Ann Baguisa Morales, one of the two arrested Filipinos, at the police station on Tuesday.

The Filipina, a former partner of the deceased couple’s son, has already secured a court-appointed lawyer.

Kyodo News identified the victims as Norihiro Takahashi, 55, and his wife Kimie, 52, residents of Tokyo’s Adachi Ward.

Officers discovered the bodies under a bathroom floor Thursday last week.

The Japanese media said both bodies were found with multiple stab wounds, with the man’s injuries indicating signs of a struggle. Rey E. Requejo

BI bars 3.3k undesirable aliens from entering PH

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration barred more than 3,300 foreigners who were deemed undesirable or not properly documented from entering the Philippines last year.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said some 3,359 foreigners of varying nationalities were excluded in 2023, most of whom arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Tansingco said except for those who were denied entry due to minor infractions, such as failure to secure entry visas or procure return tickets, the rest of the foreigners who were turned back were blacklisted and banned from entering the country for being undesirable aliens.

According to the BI chief, the bulk of the excluded aliens were refused admission after they were deemed as likely to become public charges if they are allowed to stay here.

In immigration parlance, a public charge pertains to an alien whose presence here poses a menace to society or a burden to the government from whom he could depend for subsistence or support while in the country.

“As gatekeepers of our country, our officers are duty-bound to see to it that only aliens with legitimate purpose of travel are accorded the privilege to visit the country. Illegal aliens and fugitives are not welcome in the Philippines,” Tansingco said.

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government vowed to be transparent to United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, who is in the Philippines to examine the state of rights to freedom of opinion and expression in the country.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, however, said he would not be able to meet Khan as he has prior appointments. ‘’I have sent our undersecretary to meet with her because I’ve got previous schedules,’’ Abalos said during a Palace press briefing.

“Well, we are not hiding anything.

We will be transparent as we are. We are a democratic country, we follow all the law here,” he added.

In a separate statement, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said it will collaborate with Khan, the UN rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, in improving its mechanism.

The NTF-ELCAC joined the dinner

with Khan hosted by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and other government agencies.

NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. presented to Khan the executive order which created the task force.

“We have 12 clusters in the NTFELCAC with a collective goal of safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting civic space, which are fundamental rights of utmost importance,” Torres said.

Khan is also set to have a meeting with the Department of Justice.

“She will be meeting with the DOJ to take up steps the government has taken to strengthen the justice system, freedom of expression and the rule of law in the country,” DOJ Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez said on Tuesday.

Khan will be in the Philippines until Feb. 2 She is the third UN Rapporteur to visit the Philippines under the administration of President Marcos.

Rey E. Requejo

Gov’t identifies ‘transition areas’ for Pasig River informal settlers T

By Charles Dantes

HE government has identified temporary relocation sites for informal settlers along the Pasig River who will be affected by the planned reconstruction projects around the area to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“There is a plan already. We have identified what we call ‘transition areas’ where we will set up temporary lodging for these settlers while their (permanent) housing are being constructed,” President Marcos said Tuesday evening in an interview with 24 Oras.

Mr. Marcos underscored the need for an effective public transportation system to lessen congestion on public roads and highways.

Part of the plan, he said, is to use the maritime highway of the Pasig River through its ferry service as an alternative mode of transportation.

Earlier, Mr. Marcos vowed to personally supervise the Pasig River rehabilitation program, along with his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Mr. Marcos said his commitment to ensuring the river’s survival is not just a passing campaign or a fleeting trend.

“This will be pursued relentlessly.

So, what sets this apart? You and your president, along with the real lead proponent, our First Lady, will focus on it,” he said.

The President said the “Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli” project aims to turn the tidal estuary into a vibrant watercourse with numerous advantages for the public.

His vision includes the establishment of safe walkways and bikeways along the riverbanks, a greener corridor, and a series of parks for nearby communities.

The chief executive also said part of the plan is to optimize the deployment of ferry boats and establish additional stations, aiming to encourage more commuters to utilize the maritime transportation system.

Mr. Marcos directed the local government units (LGUs) along Pasig River, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to submit quarterly and annual reports.

Highland farmers to enjoy guaranteed market—DA

By Othel V. Campos

NEW GOVERNANCE SLOGAN. Members of the Manila Police District gather during the pre-launch of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ campaign at their headquarters on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

HIGHLAND farmers are assured of guaranteed market for their produce as the Department of Agriculture facilitates farmer’s access through the Kadiwa’s Veggie Connect and other market linkage programs.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will extend market support to close to 100 farmers to prevent potential food wastage and provide consumers access to cheaper food.

“A total 163,189 kilograms [of vegetables] were sold and will be sold until Jan. 26, 2024, assisting 93 farmers from the provinces of Mt. Province, Benguet and Ifugao,” said DA-Cordillena Administrative Region officer-incharge Jennilyn Dawayan.

“We will continue to provide Kadiwa services to farmers as may

be needed,” she added.

Dawayan said the Kadiwa Veggie Connect started as a collaboration with the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives to help DA monitor vegetable supply and amount of unsold vegetables, particularly cabbages and Chinese cabbage whose prices have fallen due to a supply glut.

The national government offices in Baguio City and neighboring areas bought unsold vegetables from various trading posts totaling 11 tons between Jan. 5 and 6.

From Jan. 8 to 14, farmers sold 44 tons, followed by 105.6 tons a week later at prices ranging from P10 to P15 per kilo.

Some vegetable farmers in the Cordilleras usually opt to dump older inventory to prevent prices of vegetables from falling further when new harvests arrive at trading posts.

Human rights body backs DepEd measures vs. bullying

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday supported the Department of Education (DepEd) in its move to train teachers and parents on how to spot red flags of bullying among students and children.

“We commend DepEd’s initiative to

train teachers and parents in recognizing the indicators and signs of bullying among students. This demonstrates our proactive approach to prioritizing mental health as an essential component of each student’s overall development,” the CHR said.

The independent constitutional office said it remains committed to its

mandate of protecting the rights of everyone,particularly those who are victims of abuse.

“Bullying, harassment and other forms of abuse have no place in sanctuaries of learning. Furthermore, we reaffirm all Filipinos’ basic right to mental health, as well as the fundamental rights of those in need of mental health services,” the CHR said.

In November last year, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said DepEd received 1,709 reports of various forms of abuse against students through their learner’s telesafe contact center helpline.

CHR raised concern that mental health is now a major issue in schools and the community as a whole.

2.4m Filipinos hired thru DOLE program THE Department of Labor and Employment said over 2.4 million qualified applicants were employed by private employers through the facilitation of the DOLE’s Public Employment Service Offices in 2023.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said this translates to a 92 percent placement rate across the regions.

“The department’s employment assistance program is under the current administration’s mission in advancing its Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance focused on implementing its inclusive plan for economic and social transformation,” the labor chief said.

The department also said that last year, approximately 181,126 youth gained work experience through the Special Program for Employment Students, Government Internship Program, and

JobStart Philippines Program.

In addressing job-skills mismatch, the DOLE provided over 4.9 million individuals with timely and relevant information on future labor market conditions.

In terms of training and apprenticeship, more than 1.6 million individuals were enrolled in various technical-vocational education and training programs, and over 1.3 million of them graduated from their respective programs.

Approximately 3.036 million beneficiaries were provided emergency employment through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers Program, while over 153,000 workers were provided livelihood assistance under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program or Kabuhayan Program. Vito Barcelo

HIGHER SALES. Duty Free Philippines chief operating officer Vicente Angala presents a remarkable 53 percent increase in sales in 2023 compared to the previous year. Angala said last year’s sales increased at $102.9 million from $67.3 million in 2022. Danny Pata

B1

OPINION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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

So I See

Lito Banayo

EDITORIAL

Political will IF THE President wants to amend or even revise the Constitution, and I believe he wants to, he should come out forthrightly and endorse it.

He should place his immense political capital on the table, and not just let surrogates, whether in Congress or the so-called PI advocates, handle the undertaking.

Let me recall a failed attempt in 1998, when President Joseph Estrada, coming back from a trip to Thailand and seeing first-hand the massive foreign investments there, suddenly sought a Manila Hotel forum for an important announcement: Charter change, specifically on the economic provisions.

Without any pre-planning, Erap gambled his huge political capital.

That was August 1998. Since the president had declared a major policy decision, it was up to us in his Cabinet to defend it, and see it through.

The initial reading by the pollsters was unfavorable to Charter change, with the interventionist Cardinal Sin and former President Cory Aquino declaring their vehement opposition.

—“—

It is time we put sanity into our political system

Still, I convinced Erap to launch a major communications campaign to stem the tide of an initial 27 percent approval versus a 73 percent disapproval and uncertainty.

We assigned Cabinet members and undersecretaries to hold nationwide meetings with different sectors to explain the need for foreign capital.

The biggest opposition then, and even now, was on allowing foreigners to buy land. But many began to realize the need to open up utilities and natural resource exploitation to attract foreign capital.

Then USec Ronnie Puno of DILG (President Erap named himself DILG secretary, a feat similar to President Marcos Jr. initially being agriculture secretary) launched an advertising campaign in tri-media.

On Nov 26, 1998, Estrada even constituted a preparatory commission headed by retired Chief Justice Andres Narvasa to recommend Constitutional reforms, this despite the opposition to his declared initiative.

For four intensive campaign months from September till December of 1998, we saw the tide slowly turning. A dipstick on the issue of “Concord” or Constitutional Correction for Development before the holidays showed that opposition was getting neutralized.

Then in mid-January 1999, again without adequate consultation, President Es-

trada did an about face. He suddenly gave up on his “Concord.”

An evening after, I had a one-on-one talk with the president, and asked why he did a volte face. His simple explanation: too much opposition, especially from Cardinal Sin and the Catholic Church.

I told him the “opposition” led by the cardinal had “tasted blood” with his decision.

“Kaya pala nila kayong pa-atrasin,” I said, and added, “hindi kayo tatantanan ng mga iyan.”

The President who acted often impulsively, frowned and simply dismissed my warning.

Two years later, Edsa Dos transpired.

I hope it is not because of the memory of Erap’s failed attempt, as well as those of FVR and GMA, that the president prefers to let the House, which obviously fathered the people’s initiative, and now a compromising Senate, to take the onus of reforming the Constitution which has always the same vociferous defenders mouthing the same arguments.

Erap’s fall from the presidency was not because of the failed Concord but because of reasons I will no longer recount in this article.

Clearly, the forces who conspired against him and who from the very beginning disliked him saw he could so easily cavil to pressure and surrender his political will.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., after many years in government -- as congressman, governor, and senator – surely has realized that although he gained power under the system foisted by the 1987 Constitution, our prosperity and the welfare of the many now suffering from unequal opportunity requires systemic change.

Which is why, rather than being hounded

by Erap’s failed exercise of political will, he should show that he is made of sterner stuff.

In the case of former President Duterte, his economic team and other advisers warned that a shift to a federal system was financially disastrous for the nation.

So the present leadership should go back to the drawing board, marshal the proper arguments and propose sensible, easily understood revisions on why the present political system should not be allowed to continue.

It is time we put sanity into our political system.

The president has recognized this need for political reforms, but wants the economic provisions tackled first. I submit otherwise.

Politics is something the ordinary folk comprehend better than economics, and with a well-crafted communications plan, I submit the president should then go around the country as in an election campaign, and win the people towards reforming a confused, confusing and reactive fundamental law.

As we have written before, constitutional reform would be his greatest and most enduring legacy for the benighted land.

Citizen Barok

Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

MMDA’s apocalyptic nightmare In the ever-escalating saga of Metro Manila’s traffic chaos, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) seems to be orchestrating a symphony of incompetence. As the city earns the dubious honor of having the worst traffic globally, one can’t help but wonder if the MMDA is truly equipped to untangle this vehicular nightmare.

MMDA’s feeble attempts to tackle the issue, as articulated by acting Chairperson Don Artes, are reminiscent of a desperate gambler clutching at straws.

Deploying covers to discourage onlookers? Studying elevated walkways on EDSA? Recommending subways for future trains? These proposals resemble a patchwork quilt on a sinking ship rather than a well-thought-out strategy.

The MMDA’s apparent disdain for leveraging technology is as baffling as it is infuriating. While other cities across the globe embrace smart solutions to curb congestion, the MMDA appears trapped in a time warp. The mere mention of enhancing the Communications and Command Center and implementing the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is akin to offering a band-aid for a gunshot wound.

It’s 2024, and these should be basic components, not groundbreaking revelations.

Artes’ intention to consult the creators of the TomTom Traffic Index suggests a woeful lack of confidence in the agency’s own data and methodologies. If the MMDA is unsure of the accuracy of its traffic assessments, how can we trust its ability to devise effective interventions?

—“—

The MMDA’s apparent disdain for leveraging technology is as baffling as it is infuriating

The chief’s attempt to shift blame onto the citizens, stressing the need for “discipline on the roads,” is a cringe-worthy evasion of responsibility. The citizens, though not beyond reproach, are not the architects of Metro Manila’s traffic

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Clean and green communities

H

The barangays have been directed to provide seedlings to their constituents.

Funding for the project will come from the budgets of barangays rather than from the national government.

OW do you make our barangays – the country’s basic political unit—self-reliant communities?

—“—

For the Department of Interior and Local Government that exercises supervision over barangay affairs throughout the country, it is by empowering them to be self-sufficient in food, stay healthy, heighten their environmental awareness, and keep their surroundings clean.

In fact, as reported by the DILG Barangay Affairs bureau in a recent media forum, there are now 25,000 barangays with flourishing community gardens. Last year, there were only eight such community gardens.

The dramatic increase in the number of community gardens is the offshoot of the “Kalinisan Day” initiative of the Marcos administration.

This program encourages barangays to put up their own community gardens, which will be planted with the 18 vegetables enumerated in the Tagalog song “Bahay Kubo.” Planting such crops is considered economical and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

Community empowerment is a laudable objective that our local government units should strive for

Urban farming of vegetables and fruits, the DILG said, will help address food security issues, such as hunger, and alleviate poverty as well.

By encouraging barangay folk to start by maintaining cleanliness in community, they can then turn their attention to food production and food security, take steps to main health and sanitation, and launch environmental

Duty Calls

Florencio Fianza

protection and conservation efforts, among others.

The DILG wants to sustain the cleanup drive of the Marcos administration so that “Kalinisan Day” can bring about other changes that can strengthen community solidarity and empower them to take charge of their own future.

The national government has emphasized that community development encompasses not just cleanliness but also includes children’s welfare, crime prevention, climate change adaptation, capacitating institutions to resolve local disputes, community health and nutrition, commerce and trade.

Given this, the DILG wants the cleanup program to lead to other positive outcomes. It has expanded the reach of the program to the 42,000 barangays, 1,700 cities and 82 provinces throughout the country.

In fact, the DILG has commended the local government of Quezon City for putting up 1,200 vegetable growing sites and for encouraging every community to undertake similar initiatives in other parts of the city.

Community empowerment is a laudable objective that our local government units should strive for.

TomTom traffic survey

THE MMDA Chairman should have refrained from commenting extensively on the recent TomTom worldwide traffic survey wherein Metro Manila came out as the most congested Metro area in the world.

It just invited more scrutiny to the way traffic is being managed in the National Capital Region. Questioning the methodology used in the survey will not help either.

He should question the results only if a different methodology was used for the NCR. But since the same methodology was used in all the cities surveyed and Metro Manila still came out the way it did, he should just have left it at that.

The public also should not be so roiled because it is just one survey. It is not as if it is the gospel truth of all traffic studies.

The kind of public reaction displayed could probably have been avoided if MMDA has an in-house capability to come out with its own regular traffic studies.

Quarterly traffic bulletins, for instance, would be helpful.

Problem is, it does not have and relies mainly on the regular traffic surveys by Japan’s JICA. The Chairman, for example, alluded to the capacity of Edsa having been breached already.

According to him, 400,000 thousand vehicles are using the road versus the 300,000 capacity.

But how did MMDA arrive at the numbers 300,000 and 400,000?

And is the 300,000 figure the overall capacity for both North and South lanes?

Or just one lane?

My own capacity calculations for both lanes are different.

Maybe he should have explained how

he arrived at the figures for better understanding.

A reference was also made of the thousands of vehicles entering the Metro area but nothing was mentioned about the thousands of vehicles leaving the NCR. MMDA should have figures to indicate whether there are more vehicles coming in than those leaving if he wanted to convey the message that the vehicles coming in are also causing travel time to slow down.

The 10,000 kms of road in the NCR also needs clarification.

Per DPWH records, public roads in the Metro area the last time I checked which was not too long ago was something like 5,800 kms more or less.

What the Chairman must have meant, therefore, was including private roads which are restricted to residents only.

This is important because from these figures, the density or vehicle to road ratio can be calculated which can give us an idea whether the congestion figures of tom-tom are accurate.

A lot more were said by the Chairman to explain the current traffic situation in the NCR which were nothing new.

What the public would prefer, however, is action and results.

When I first came across the traffic study, I thought the 25-minute travel time per 10 kilometers was not really all that bad for the whole Metro area.

Unfortunately, it is the slowest among the Metro areas surveyed.

If it is any consolation, I do not believe the NCR is the most congested city in the world.

There are a few Metro areas more congested than the NCR. If MMDA does not accept the tom-tom survey findings, then I suggest it should conduct its own traffic study to disprove the findings.

It should be relatively easy to devise a simple study to find out the average travel time in the NCR. But can it do it without having to rely on JICA? As I have said in many previous articles, traffic management is a very dynamic activity.

It is also complicated even for technically trained traffic managers and personnel.

That is why it is important to have traffic managers who understand the relationship between transportation and land use because that is what traffic management is all about.

It would also help if the MMDA is organized, trained, and equipped to perform its assigned mission and functions.

With all that or part of it fulfilled, the public will have the confidence that the MMDA can improve travel time even under very trying conditions because that is its very reason for being.

A professionally manned and competent MMDA, after all, is half the battle won.

apocalypse. This problem is a result of the MMDA’s historical inability to plan effectively, a point underscored by Metro Manila’s excessive vehicle load on a road network bursting at the seams.

Let’s dissect the intricacies of the MMDA’s traffic conundrum, as described by Artes. The revelation that Metro Manila has exceeded its vehicle capacity is not a newfound epiphany but an admission of gross mismanagement. With 3.6 million vehicles on a 5,000-kilometer road network, the MMDA is akin to a host welcoming more guests than the venue can accommodate.

The litany of contributing factors—vehicle volume, lane blockages, road repairs, and ongoing infrastructure projects— paints a picture of systemic failure. It’s a cacophony of incompetence where the MMDA is both conductor and lead violinist, orchestrating a traffic nightmare for Metro Manila’s beleaguered commuters.

The suspension of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) is an egregious misstep, contributing to the surge in traffic congestion. The increase in recorded apprehensions from 761 to thousands per month after the policy’s suspension should serve as a damning indictment of the MMDA’s ill-conceived decisions.

In the spirit of constructive criticism, let’s present comprehensive recommendations for the MMDA: 1. Embrace Technology: Implement state-of-the-art traffic management systems, leveraging real-time data and predictive analytics to anticipate and mitigate congestion.

2. International Collaboration: Learn from the experiences of other cities that have successfully tackled traffic issues.

Collaborate with experts and urban planners from around the globe.

3. Strategic Urban Planning: Develop a long-term, visionary plan for Metro

Manila’s urban infrastructure, considering population growth, technological advancements, and sustainable solutions.

4. Public Transportation Overhaul: Invest in a reliable, efficient, and extensive public transportation network to encourage citizens to leave their cars at home.

5. Community Engagement: Foster a sense of responsibility among citizens through educational campaigns, emphasizing the impact of individual actions on the collective traffic ecosystem.

It’s time for the MMDA to shed its complacency and embrace the gravity of the situation. Metro Manila’s traffic nightmare demands more than half-hearted interventions—it requires a radical overhaul rooted in strategic planning, technological innovation, and a genuine commitment to alleviating the suffering of its citizens.

The clock is ticking, and Metro Manila can’t afford to be stuck in traffic forever.

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

—“—

A professionally manned and competent MMDA, after all, is half the battle won

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

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

Associate Editor Managing Editor News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

B2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

N. Korea fires several cruise missiles – Seoul SEOUL—North Korea fired several cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea on Wednesday, Seoul’s military said, the latest in a series of tensionraising moves by the nuclear-armed state.

Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including tests of what it called an “underwater nuclear weapon system” and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.

“Our military detected several cruise missiles launched by North Korea towards the Yellow Sea at around 7:00 am today,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

“The detailed specifications are being closely analysed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities,” it added.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles tend to be jetpropelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

The latest launch comes as South Korea is conducting a 10-day special forces infiltration drill off its east coast, “in light of serious security situations” with the North, that runs until Thursday, according to the South’s navy.

“We will achieve our mission to infiltrate deep into the enemy’s territory and neutralize them completely under any circumstances,” the drill’s commander said in a statement.

Recent months have seen a sharp deterioration in ties between the two Koreas, with both sides jettisoning key tension-reducing agreements, ramping up frontier security, and conducting live-fire drills along the border. AFP

MIDDLE EAST SCENARIO.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan shows a picture of weapons allegedly found in Gaza by Israeli troops as he speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday. AFP

Israel strikes Gaza’s Khan Yunis as public mourns slain soldiers P ALESINIAN Territories—Israel kept up its heavy assault on the “encircled” Gazan city of Khan Yunis following an outpouring of grief over the army’s deadliest single day since ground operations in the territory began.

As the fighting raged, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that Israeli forces on Tuesday had issued fresh evacuation orders for a section of Khan Yunis housing an estimated half a million residents and displaced people.

The orders came as the World Food Program warned that Gazans were facing “catastrophic food insecurity,” and as the UN chief took Israel to task over its rejection of a two-state solution—seen by ally the United States as the only path to a durable peace.

Twenty-four Israeli troops were killed on Monday, 21 of them reservists slain “when a squad of terrorists surprised the force” with rocket-propelled grenade fire, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Tuesday.

“The price of the war is heavy and painful,” he added.

Mourners filed into funerals for the reservists on Tuesday, including some with no connection to the deceased.

Israela Oron, of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, said the mounting soldier deaths -- now at 221 -- would prompt the public to “demand clear answers about the purpose and the goal of this operation in Gaza”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an investigation had been launched into the “disaster.”

On the ground, fighting raged in Khan Yunis, Gaza’s main southern city, which the Israeli army said it had “encircled”.

OCHA said in a bulletin that Israeli forces on Tuesday had issued evacuation orders for a foursquare-kilometer segment of Khan Yunis currently home to around 513,000 people as well as the major Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals.

The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas decried the “dangerous demands” for residents to head south, and warned that Israel intended to “displace the Palestinian people from their homeland, thus leading to unforeseeable consequences”, according to official news agency Wafa.

The war in Gaza began with Hamas’s unprecedented Oct 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

In response, Israel has carried out a relentless offensive that has killed at least 25,490 people in Gaza, around 70 percent of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. AFP

Trump closes in on Biden rematch after New Hampshire primary win MANCHESTER—Donald Trump won the key New Hampshire primary Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), moving him ever closer to locking in the Republican presidential nomination and securing an extraordinary White House rematch with Joe Biden.

With votes around 60 percent counted, Trump’s winning margin hovered at around 11 percentage points, but his sole remaining challenger Nikki Haley vowed to fight on.

In a rambling victory speech Trump, 77, attacked Haley and said that when the primary contest reaches her home state of South Carolina, “we’re going to win easily.”

Trump’s address was loaded with

his trademark ominous warnings about immigration as he continued to lie about winning the 2020 election.

In Washington, DC, President Joe Biden won New Hampshire’s unofficial Democratic primary, despite not even appearing on the ballot.

After Biden and the Democratic Party scrapped New Hampshire’s role hosting the traditional first-in-thenation primary, following the Iowa caucuses, it is Democrats in South Carolina who will officially hold the first vote, on Feb 3.

But New Hampshire—whose motto is “Live Free or Die”—chose to buck the national party’s directive and continue with its poll anyway. AFP

Raisi expected in Turkey for delayed talks

VICTORY SPEECH. Republican presidential hopeful and former US President Donald Trump speaks during an Election Night Party in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Wednesday after he won the key New Hampshire primary the day before, moving him ever closer to locking in the Republican presidential nomination and securing an extraordinary White House rematch with Joe Biden. AFP

Turkey ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership after protracted delay ANKARA, Turkey—Turkey’s parliament has ratified Sweden’s NATO membership after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Lawmakers voted 287-55 in favor of the Nordic nation’s bid to become the 32nd member of the alliance after it won the public backing of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish leader is expected to sign Sweden’s ratification document and

conclude Ankara’s role in the protracted saga in the coming days.

“Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on social media after the vote.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey’s move and called on Hungary to do the same, urging Budapest to “complete its national ratification as soon as possible”.

The United States also applauded the

Turkish parliament’s vote, with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan saying on social media that Sweden’s addition to NATO will make the alliance “safer and stronger”.

Turkey’s green light leaves Budapest as the last holdout in an accession process that Sweden and Finland began in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Ankara forced the northern neighbors to split up their applications after find-

ing fault with Sweden and approving Finland after a few rounds of talks.

Finland’s membership last April doubled the length of NATO’s border with Russia and boosted the defenses of three tiny Baltic nations that joined the bloc following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

Sweden and Finland pursued a policy of military non-alignment during the Cold War era between the Soviet Union and the West. AFP

2 dead in US strikes against Iran-backed armed groups

MISSILE ATTACK. An explosives expert inspects a crater following a missile

attack in Kharkiv late on Tuesday. A wave of Russian missiles hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing 18 people and wounding more than 100, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed a forceful response. AFP

BAGHDAD, Iraq—US forces bombed sites used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq early Wednesday after a spate of attacks targeting US personnel, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said, killing two people, according to Iraqi officials.

The strikes came just days after US troops in western Iraq were targeted with ballistic missiles and rockets in an attack the Pentagon blamed on militants supported by Tehran.

According to Iraqi sources, the US strikes targeted the Hezbollah Brigades, a group affiliated with the Hashed alShaabi (Popular Mobilisation force), an alliance of Iran-backed former paramilitary groups now integrated in Iraq’s regular armed forces.

They hit sites in the Jurf al-Sakhr area,

south of Baghdad, as well as in the AlQaim area on the border with Syria.

Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments in the Al-Qaim sector, an interior ministry official and a former member of the Hashed al-Shaabi said.

The US strikes come against an already explosive regional backdrop, fuelled by the war in Gaza between Washington’s ally Israel and the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

In a statement, Austin said US forces had carried out “necessary and proportionate strikes” against “three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Ketaeb Hezbollah militia group (the Hezbollah Brigades) and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq”.AFP

ANKARA, Turkey—Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was expected to fly to Turkey on Wednesday for twice-delayed talks aimed at ironing out past differences and trying to halt the spread of the Israel-Hamas war.

Raisi’s visit to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comes with the war in Gaza starting to enflame tensions and escalate fighting across the Middle East.

The United States and Britain have stepped up joint air strikes against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes.

Israel has repeatedly targeted Tehran-linked figures in Syria and appears to be on the brink of launching a full-scale war against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Iran and Pakistan last week exchanged strikes against “militant” and “terrorist” targets and Turkey itself has stepped up attacks against Kurdish groups in Syria and Iran.

The rapid pace of the Middle East escalation forced Raisi to delay his visit to Ankara twice.

His planned talks in Ankara in early January were called off when twin blasts claimed by Islamic State group jihadists killed 89 people at the shrine of assassinated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general Qasem Soleimani.

A trip he had planned for November was cancelled because of conflicting schedules of diplomats involved in consultations over the Gaza war.

The turmoil engulfing the Middle East since Israel went to war in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 attack has added a new layer of complexity to Turkey’s close but uneasy relationship with Iran.

Erdogan depicts Iran-backed Hamas as legitimately elected “liberators” and not the “terrorist” organisation it has been proscribed as across the Western world.

He has compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler for pursuing an offensive that has killed more than 25,000 people—mostly women and children —in Gaza, according to the enclave’s Hamas-run health ministry. AFP

BUSINESS

B3 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

extrastory2000@gmail.com

A Brown secures SEC approval on P1.5-b preferred shares offering MINDANAO-BASED property developer A Brown Company Inc. (ABCI) said Wednesday it obtained the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval for its planned P1.5billion preferred shares offering.

ABCI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the corporate regulator approved its offering of up to 10 million preferred shares—Series B and C priced at P100 per share—with an oversubscription option for another 5 million preferred shares.

The preferred shares, which are cumulative, non-voting, non-participating, non-convertible and redeemable, will be issued as second tranche from the company’s shelf registration of 50 million preferred shares.

ABCI said it would use the net proceeds from the fund-raising activity to support the development of its pipeline residential projects in Mindanao and Luzon, land banking initiatives and

ONE VISAYAS. The vibrant and diverse culture of the Visayas region takes center stage as the first One Visayas Creative Expo opens its doors at SM City Iloilo on Jan. 22, 2024. With more than 50 exhibitors from Regions 6, 7 and 8, the week-long expo celebrates the best products, destinations, and festivals that the Visayan islands have to offer. The expo is a culmination of the One Visayas initiative led by the Visayas Regional Development Councils, supported by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas and the Buy Local, Go Lokal initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry.

other general corporate purposes.

The preferred shares offering is still subject to the Philippine Stock Exchange’s approval.

PNB Capital and Investment Corp. was tapped as the sole issue manager, lead underwriter and sole bookrunner for the transaction.

ABCI’s first preferred shares offering in 2021 was 1.33x oversubscribed and raised a total of P1.33 billion.

The group said its reservations sales steadily increased over the past three years, with 2022 sales reaching P2.62 billion as its land banking also expanded from 293 hectares to 552 hectares.

Its electron-beam and cold storage facility in Tanay, Rizal, which was partially funded by the proceeds from the 2021 offering, is set to be completed in March and would contribute significantly to earnings starting this year.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Strong foreign inflows lift PH stock market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

HE local bourse extended its gains Wednesday, boosted by strong foreign fund inflows.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index rallied by 58.08 points, or 0.88 percent, to close at 6,679.96, while the broader all-shares index climbed 17.88 points, or 0.51 percent, to finish at 3.511.44.

Except for mining and oil index which dropped 0.84 percent, all sectoral indices ended in the green led by financials (up 1.49 percent), property (0.84 percent) and holding firms (0.74 percent).

Philstocks Financial Inc. research analyst Claire Alviar said the market

was lifted by foreign investors, which registered a net inflow of P341.1 million.

Alviar said the positive outlook on overseas remittances, which are targeted to grow by 3 percent this year, also boosted investor sentiment.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets rose Wednesday, with Hong Kong leading the pack for a second day following reports that Alibaba’s co-founders had bought huge stakes in the firm, while China announced fresh measures to

boost bank lending.

The gains followed another record for the S&P 500 on Wall Street that came on the back of optimism over the US economic outlook and a positive run of earnings.

That has helped offset fading expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates several times this year starting in March.

Hong Kong piled on more than three percent Wednesday, building on the previous day’s gains of more than two percent—a much-needed advance after tanking around 10 percent from the start of the year to Monday.

The Hang Seng’s rise was fueled by a 7.3 percent surge in Alibaba on news that Jack Ma and Joseph Tsai had bought

about $200 million worth of shares between them, which Bloomberg said was seen as a positive signal to investors in the e-commerce titan.

Other Hong Kong-listed tech firms rallied, including Tencent, JD.com and Netease.

Alibaba’s New York-listed stock piled on nearly eight percent.

The firm remains down more than 70 percent from its record high seen in 2020, when Beijing began a clampdown on China’s tech sector that saw the cancellation of a planned IPO by subsidiary Ant Group worth $34 billion —a record at the time.

Traders were given an extra boost later Wednesday after the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) said it would next month

lower the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve as it looks to ramp up lending to help kick-start the stuttering economy.

The 0.5 percentage point cut in the reserve requirement ratio would pump an extra $140 billion into financial markets, the PBoC said.

News of the reduction came a day after Bloomberg reported that Premier Li Qiang had called for more “forceful” measures to support China’s battered stocks, giving a shot in the arm to investor confidence.

Authorities were said to be looking at a raft of initiatives, and policymakers were seeking to mobilize nearly $280 billion, mainly from the offshore accounts of state-owned enterprises. With AFP

Big Calamba-Clark railway project is the quantum leap that PH needs —“— Out in the Open Ray S. Eñano

IT IS a game changer that the government must pursue at all costs. This 147-kilometer, $12-billion railway project that will extend from Calamba, Laguna province to Clark, Pampanga is what a modern economy needs.

The North South Commuter Rail (NSCR) project will act as the major link to the LRT/MRT-lines in Metro Manila and to the planned Metro Manila Subway. It is designed to improve connectivity by providing direct train services for passengers traveling from Calamba and Pampanga to Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas and Quezon City along the Metro Manila Subway.

It is expected to reduce travel time from Calamba, Laguna to Clark, Pampanga from the current 4.5 hours to just less than two hours, and serve 600,000 passengers daily on full operations.

Slated for partial operations by 2025 and full operation

by March 2029, the NSCR project will give the Filipino riding public the same experience as the commuters of Hong Kong and Singapore.

The railway project will need a strong team to carry it to the finish line. At the helm of the project are Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary and former Philippine Airlines chief executive Jaime Bautista and Undersecretary Jeremy Regino.

They will need critical support from all sectors of the government to overcome challenges and make the ambitious NSCR project a reality. The project, which had several descriptions under previous administrations, had been shelved a number of times because of various issues.

For a while, it looked like the project would never take off the ground. But Bautista gained public attention when he boldly announced that the project was pushing through under the Marcos administration, and that his rail transportation team was determined to finish the project on time.

It’s all-systems-go now. Philippine National Railways (PNR), a DOTr-attached agency previously headed by Regino, has already stopped the operations of its aging Calamba-Alabang train service to give way to the start of construction work.

PNR has informed the public that its service in the National Capital Region will come to a temporary halt starting this month as construction work in the portion of the PNR line begins.

But the NSCR project will not be smooth sailing as in any major infrastructure jobs. Informal settlers and vested interests are posing serious roadblocks. The

Failure to deliver the ROWs to the contractor on time will change the equation of the project.

informal settlers will have to be relocated for two urgent reasons―they have built structures that have encroached on the railway and they will be exposed to risks if they stay along the railways once the construction goes into full gear.

They are the biggest hurdle to the speedy resolution of the acquisition of the rights-of-way (ROW) for the NSCR. Mr. Bautista is tasked with the responsibility to hand over the ROWs to the contractors of the project soonest. I have learned that close to 9,000 structures in the National Capital Region portion of the project alone— many of them illegal―may have to be demolished to give way to the project.

Most of these structures have housed informal settlers for decades. Many of them have been turned into business and commercial establishments. We can only imagine the resistance the project faces in such areas.

Failure to deliver the ROWs to the contractor on time will change the equation of the project. The government will face the specter of losing billions of pesos due to the huge costs of delays in the implementation of the NSCR project and payments to contractors.

Mr. Bautista will need the whole-of-government approach to untangle the knot. Other line departments and his fellow Cabinet members like Department of Interior and Local Government Benhur Abalos, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan must lend a hand to resolve the issue.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stressed this kind of collaboration. At a contract signing for the NSCR project, the President urged “all concerned agencies to address the potential challenges concerning the project’s right-of-way, such as the need for land acquisition and the relocation of utility poles along the area.”

The collaboration of other agencies, he says, is necessary “so that the affected properties are cleared in time for the start of the civil works” for the NSCR project.

The burden of ensuring this project is completed on time does not rest on Bautista’s shoulders alone. All concerned parties must do their share. The railway project is our shot at real economic progress.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

AQUAVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY. Moorfields Capital Pte. Ltd. chief executive Hee Meng Chia (right) introduces aquavoltaic solution to transform aquaculture at The Everything Energy Forum organized by the Philippine National Oil Company and attended by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Pampanga local government unit representatives on Jan. 18, 2024. Aquavoltaics show promise for local fish farmers and investors supporting environmental projects. Compared to traditional on-ground solar PVs, aquavoltaics cover only 40 percent of water area, preserving 100 percent of valuable land.

RFM’s net income rises 14% to P1.2b on higher margins, low material costs RFM Corp., the food and beverage company of the Concepcion family, said Wednesday its net income rose 14 percent in 2023 to P1.2 billion from P1.07 billion in 2022 on the back of higher margins.

The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that based on preliminary unaudited figures, full-year 2023 revenues also went up by 7 percent to P20.7 billion.

RFM president and chief executive Jose Ma. Concepcion III said higher sales growth in milk, pasta, flour, ice cream and bread segments boosted the 2023 performance of the company.

He said the significant jump in raw material prices in 2022 and early 2023 reversed through the year and helped the company’s margins to recover even as inflation dampened consumer demand.

Concepcion said the group was expected to sustain its growth momentum in 2024 amid continued easing of raw material prices.

“RFM’s outlook for 2024 is continued growth in topline and single-digit growth in income. There is greater competition in the ice cream sector, but improvement in margins is seen on most business segments with the softer prices of raw materials coming in 2024 compared to early 2023,” Concepcion said.

“Our Selecta Milk brand is also seeing sustained growth over the years and we are supporting this with new capex and innovations, like what we are also doing with our new Fiesta carbonara sauce. Our flour business is relatively strong and stable, and continues to support the vertically integrated model of our bread and pasta businesses,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

PNOC meets developers to build new building

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-RUN Philippine National Oil Co, (PNOC) held a market sounding forum and consultative meeting to mark the start of the proposed mixed-use office and commercial building development within the Energy Center in in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Representatives of property developers Filinvest Development Corp., Century Peak and Zillion Holdings Corp. attended the event.

PNOC said in an earlier advisory the redevelopment would involved the construction of a mixed-use office and commercial building catering to government agencies, instrumentalities and corporations engaged

in energy development and other private companies and individuals.

“This groundbreaking initiative is strategically designed to harness the power of a public-private partnership, aligning seamlessly with the newly established PPP Code,” PNOC said in a statement.

PNOC said its commitment to governance and compliance is exemplified through this venture, which aims to set new benchmarks for responsible and transparent business practices.

It appointed lawyer Alberto Agra, a renowned PPP advocate to lead compliance efforts, ensuring that the project remains at the forefront of legal and regulatory standards.

BUSINESS

B4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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

AirAsia PH to reactivate entire fleet by third quarter AIRASIA Philippines will reactivate its entire fleet by the third quarter of 2024 with the reopening of more domestic and international flights, its top executive said Wednesday.

“We want to go back to 2019 levels by the third quarter of the year,” AirAsia Philippines chief executive Ricky Isla told reporters.

AirAsia Philippines now operates 16 aircraft, down from 24 aircraft during pre-pandemic.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we have 24 to 25 aircraft operating,” Isla said.

Isla said the company would reopen more domestic and international flights towards the end of the year.

“We are going to open Dumaguete

towards the fourth quarter, and Zamboanga is a candidate for reopening,” he said.

Isla said that for international routes, the airline would add flights to Taipei, Japan, Macau and Hong Kong.

“By first quarter of next year, we are also looking at Australia,” Isla said.

AirAsia Philippines said it was looking to fly more foreign guests from other ASEAN countries, especially with the scheduled merger of AirAsia X and AirAsia Philippines.

Seen to materialize in the months to come, the move is expected to consolidate all medium and long-haul flights which could create more opportunities for foreign travelers to explore the country. Darwin G. Amojelar

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto orders the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to work together as a team to strengthen tax and customs administration to hit the government’s 2024 revenue collection target of P4.3 trillion. Darwin G. Amojelar

Gov’t won’t impose new taxes—Recto PH luxury car T sales climbed

By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Department of Finance (DOF) said Wednesday it is recalibrating its tax proposals and would no longer impose new taxes in the face of inflationary headwinds.

“We will continue to pursue the tax proposals of the Department of Finance. But we will refine them. In fact, we’ve put in a lot of work in the last few days refining these proposals already,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in

a news briefing.

“We’re tweaking them because I think now that the inflationary environment is a bit high, sometimes you impose additional taxes, it’s inflationary as well. So, the fine-tuning will be on what

is fairer, number one. What is easy to collect, number two. What is practical, that’s how we’re looking at it,” he said.

Recto said the revised tax proposals would be presented to Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) “soon” and to the Senate next week.

Recto also said, “frankly speaking, there are no plans of imposing additional new taxes.”

He said the government also scrapped the plans to impose higher taxes on junk food and sweetened beverages.

Go wants power of gov’t investment agencies restored SECRETARY Frederick Go, the presidential adviser on investment and economic affairs, wanted the power of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) restored to resolve issues stemming from the implementation of laws such as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act. “I have put this on top of our to do list. We are working with Congress and the Senate to bring back certainty to our laws providing confidence to investors [and] have predictability and firm implementation of policies that protect their investments,” Go said in his first economic briefing organized by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Wednesday.

Go said one important measure he is looking at is the restoration of the powers of IPAs to facilitate big-ticket investments, a function that was stripped off from them and relegated to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB).

This may involve the processing of investments beyond the P1-billion mark, which was assigned to the FIRB as the strategic office for investments.

“We want to give back their power over locators in their respective economic zones. This will enable IPAS to protect companies from regulatory inconsistencies and ambiguities, as well as excessive bureaucracy and red tape,” Go said. Othel V. Campos

“My understanding is that they did not pursue this anymore. And I’m not considering it. Like I said, that number one, inflation is high. When you impose taxes, that is also inflationary. So I don’t think that now is the time to impose,” he said.

The government targets an inflation rate of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2024 until 2028. Inflation averaged 6 percent in 2023, faster than 5.8 percent in 2022.

Recto said that high inflation is “most urgent concern for Filipinos and should be tamed and kept at bay.”

Secretary Frederick Go (right), the Presidential Special Assistant for Investment and Economic Affairs, speaks during the Economic and Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Briefing attended by members of the diplomatic corps and business leaders held at the Manila Hotel on Jan. 24, 2024. With him is Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) director-general Ernesto Perez.

Joseph Muego

Power producers fined P60m over outages

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said Wednesday it imposed around P60 million in penalties against generation companies (gencos) for alleged violation of the Reliability Index.

It said it was closely watching energy security and issued 65 notices of non-compliance with order to explain (NNCOE) on Dec. 29, 2023 against various gencos nationwide with facilities/ units that exceeded the allowable number of unplanned outages.

The regulator said that if the genera-

tion companies served with NNCOEs were to be found non-compliant, it would also impose appropriate sanctions and penalties against them in accordance with the rules.

“The ERC’s performance of its mandate aligns with the recent call of government leaders, policymakers and various sectors to ensure accountability among power industry stakeholders for the steady power supply and, in particular, prevention of service interruptions, such as the recent four-day outage in Panay Island,” the agency said.

It set the maximum days of planned

and unplanned outages per year and per generating plant technology under ERC Resolution No. 10 series of 2020 which adopted the interim reliability performance indices and equivalent outage days per year of generating units.

The ERC said the resolution was pursuant to the Philippine Grid Code that requires a system of recording and reporting of grid reliability determined through a set of indicators.

Gencos are required to submit an event report to the ERC for planned and unplanned outages of generating facilities/units within 48 hours from the occurrence of the event.

Healthway signs P500-m LandBank loan to support cancer care hospital

TOP-OFF CEREMONY. Century Properties Group (CPG) completes the first block of NULIV Townvillas at Acqua, marking a milestone for Century Nuliv, its premium, in-city brand in Mandaluyong City. Attending the ceremony are (from left) CPG vice president for project management group Larry Reyes, design manager Jennifer Maglaqui, president and CEO Marco Antonio, managing director Carlo Antonio, vice chairman John Victor Antonio and assistant vice president for materials management group Ferdinand Capati.

STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines granted a P500-million loan to the newly-inaugurated Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) in Arca South, Taguig City.

HCCH is under AC Health’s hospitals and clinics arm, the Healthway Medical Network (HMN), and is the first dedicated comprehensive cancer hospital in the Philippines.

The loan will fund the hospital’s general corporate requirements, which includes acquisition of essential medical equipment to enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide the best care to patients battling cancer.

“Healthcare is a very important pillar to us at LandBank. This P500-million transaction to boost the operations of Healthway Cancer Care Hospital will go a long way towards providing responsive and accessible cancer care.

We hope that this is the start of a fruitful and meaningful partnership that

will span many years,” said LandBank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz.

Ortiz and AC Health and HCCH chairman Paolo Maximo Borromeo signed the loan agreement on Jan. 10, 2024 in Taguig City.

HCCH offers a range of treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and diagnostics catering to a broad base of patients.

“The involvement of LandBank underscores the power of partnerships in creating a sustainable model that addresses the immediate challenges of cancer care while contributing to the larger mission of improving the overall health landscape in the Philippines — allowing us to sustain our facility, to deliver world-class cancer care and implement innovative solutions that drive down costs. LandBank’s support is an endorsement of our vision of transformative, inclusive healthcare,” said AC Health and Borromeo.

37% in 2023

By Othel V. Campos LUXURY car sales in the Philippines expanded by 37 percent to 4,396 in 2023 from 3,208 units in 2022, with Toyota brand Lexus accounting for the biggest share of 42 percent.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) chief executive Alfred Ty noted the growing popularity of luxury cars in line with the economic growth.

“What this tells me is that the Filipinos are on their way to a higher quality of life and standard of living, in line with the government’s goal of making the Philippines an upper middle-income society,” Ty said during a media event Tuesday night at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig City.

TMP sold 1,846 units of Lexus variants from January to December 2023.

Lexus Manila chairman Vicente Socco earlier said sales went up following the introduction of the first full battery electric model, the RZ 450e, in May 2023.

Meanwhile, Ty said TMP was ramping up production of the new Tamaraw for commercialization by the third quarter.

“This is very much aligned with the program of government to expand manufacturing activity in the Philippines. It will create jobs, support local parts makers and provide MSME’s with a viable and sustainable mobility solution for their business,” he said.

PhilPlans gets new slogan as part of rebrand PHILPLANS, a pre-need company, unveiled its revamped brand with the new slogan “Tomorrow Starts Today”.

“This reaffirms the company’s commitment as the nation’s trusted partner in securing a prosperous tomorrow for all. Recognizing the dynamic aspirations of modern Filipinos, PhilPlans is also embracing digitalization, championing proactive planning and stepping into a future where tomorrow starts immediately,” the company said in a statement.

“We are not just selling pre-need plans,” said PhilPlans chief sales and marketing officer Ronald Bautista .

“We are partners in planning for a secure and peaceful tomorrow. Our digital transformation, product innovation, and brand evolution are all fueled by this core purpose. We are excited to embark on this journey with our clients, hand-in-hand, as we build a future where tomorrow starts today,” he said.

He said “Tomorrow Starts Today” is a frefinement of PhilPlans’ previous slogan “Think Ahead” that had served the brand for many years. The new mantra is also an invitation to the public to act for a better tomorrow without delay, he said.

“We’ve been empowering Filipinos to write their own tomorrows for 35 years, and now, with this new slogan as our guide, we’re ready to step further, hand-in-hand,” Bautista said.

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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

President Marcos is shown during the 34th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Sports Commission and awarding ceremony of the medalists of the 4th Asian Para Games on Wednesday in Malacanang.

Also in photo are Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann.

Revoli Cortez

Yulo to train in Korea, UK, Australia for Olympic stint

By Peter Atencio

Marcos to PSC, stakeholders: Continue breaking barriers, promoting inclusivity

By Charles Dantes

P

RESIDENT Marcos urged the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) and various sports stakeholders to keep breaking barriers and promoting inclusivity.

“I call on the PSC, as well as every sports association and community in the country to continue breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, building a nation where sports serve as an inclusive and unifying force,” President Marcos said.

The President expressed this call during an award ceremony at Malacañang, where Para athletes who excelled in China last year were honored.

Addressing the PSC, sports associations, and communities nationwide, President Marcos emphasized the need to challenge stereotypes and foster inclusiv-

ity through sports.

He urged them to contribute to the creation of a new Philippines, or “Bagong Pilipinas,” characterized by industry, integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to greatness and excellence.

“A good sports program goes beyond trophy collecting. It should harness our collective strengths to realize the common good,” President Marcos said.

“So, we must train. We must fund and nurture our national sporting elite that is able to compete with the world’s best, so they can bring us pride and glory and inspiration,” he added.

In congratulating the Para athletes, President Marcos conveyed that the incentives presented to them symbolize the nation’s love and admiration for their sacrifices.

“As we hand these to you, remember that these are not merely monetary tokens. They are symbols of the love of your countrymen and their admiration for all the sacrifices that you have made for your country,”

Mr. Marcos told them.

Under Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, monetary benefits are granted to national athletes who excel in international competitions.

The athletes from the 4th Asian Para Games will receive P1 million for a gold medal, P500,000 for silver, and P200,000 for bronze in individual events.

Teams with fewer than five participants per team will equally share the cash incentives for individual medal winners.

Coaches will receive half of the athlete’s cash incentive. In total, the PSC will provide P19.5-million.

In addition to the incentives mandated by RA 10699, President Marcos awarded P13.45-million in monetary awards to the para-athletes.

Their impressive performance, bringing home 19 medals, elevated the Philippines to the 9th position among 44 highly competitive participating countries in the 4th Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China, last October.

PSA to honor Tabuena stays in control despite wind-blown 76 sports legends posthumously A TWO-TIME Olympian, a former PBA Rookie of the Year, one of the most accomplished collegiate coaches in the country, a one-time college star who surprisingly never got to play in the PBA, and a cage icon who’s well-loved by Filipino basketball fans.

They are some of the great names who will be remembered posthumously during the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night this coming Monday at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.

FIBA World Cup bronze medalist Antonio ‘Tony’ Genato, 1994 top PBA rookie Emmanuel ‘Boybits’ Victoria, champion coach Loreto ‘Ato’ Tolentino, Letran legend Fernando ‘Dong’ Libed, and beloved cage legend Avelino ‘Samboy’ Lim are among those whose memories will be remembered during the formal proceedings on Jan. 29.

The country’s sportswriting fraternity headed by its president. Nelson Beltran, editor of The Philippine Star will give a brief tribute and offer a short prayer to 21 sports personalities who sadly passed away in 2023.

ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment gateway in the country, presents the traditional awards night, together with major sponsors the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Cignal, MILO, and PLDT/ Smart. Also backing the event are the Philippine Basketball Association, Premier Volleyball League, Rain or Shine, and 1-Pacman Partylist Rep, Mikee Romero.

Also to be honored posthumously are PBA players Terry Saldana, Ricky Mariano, Rudy Enterina, and Manuel ‘Molet’ Pineda, former PBA chairman Rey Gamboa, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ed Picson, former sports commissioner and national player Tisha Abundo, and father of youth baseball in the country and former congressman Rodolfo Tingzon

STA. ROSA, Laguna—In the windswept terrain of The Country Club, Miguel Tabuena faced the tempest head-on and remained in command despite a 76 as his rivals also came in ruffled by the winds halfway through the TCC Invitational here on Wednesday.

Following his impressive eight-under 64 Tuesday in hot but calm conditions Tuesday, Tabuena and the rest of the elite cast encountered a relentless barrage of gusts throughout the day, leading to soaring scores and turning the competition into a true test of the players’ mettle and resilience.

Despite the 12-shot turnaround, however, the twotime Philippine Open champion stayed in control at four-under 140, four strokes clear of Tony Lascuña, who also struggled in the windy backside with a 38 for a 74 and a 144.

“Today (yesterday) was tough for myself and I believe for everyone,” said Tabuena, who gunned down nine birdies against a birdie in setting a new course record in the first round.

“But it’s also a regular day at TCC at this time of the year.”

“I did get off to a shaky start.

It wasn’t easy at all, I didn’t hit as many greens as I wanted to. But I’m pretty happy with the way I fought, pretty happy with my score. I’m in a good spot coming into the last 2 rounds,” added Tabuena, who had a birdie-less 39-37 card marred by six bogeys but marked by an eagle-blast on No. 10.

“Grabe ang kondisyon, ang hirap. Pero pipilitin natin,” said Lascuña, who is also seeking redemption after yielding the ICTSI TCC Match Play crown to Tabuena last November.

Clyde Mondilla actually fought back strong from an initial struggle of three bogeys after seven holes, birdying Nos. 8, 10 and 13 to draw level par and tie Lascuña at second even-par overall. But the 2019 Philippine Open champion bogeyed the par-3 17th but still posted one of the day’s two best 73s. He slipped to third at 145.

“Galit na galit ang course. Kailangan mag-click ang recovery shots, Miguel Tabuena

dapat maganda ang putting at ang pitch, dapat maibalik para maka-save par,” said Mondilla.

Rupert Zaragosa also blew an even-par card with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 as he carded a 74 for fourth at 147 while PGT Order of Merit titleholder Jhonnel Ababa and Rico Depilo also squandered a pair of even-par cards with wavering finishes to drop to joint fifth at 148.

As majority grappled with challenging club selections in the demanding conditions, Ababa endured a roller-coaster stint after 10 holes that featured four birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey. But the Mimosa Plus Championship winner faltered at the finish, bogeying No. 13 and finishing with a double-bogeybogey skid to end up with a 76.

Depilo, on the other hand, made a quadruple bogey on the par-5 No. 10 after going out-of-bounds following a mishit from the bunker, leading to a 77.

A MONTHLONG training camp in South Korea will keep Carlos Yulo in shape for his stint in 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 23-year-old Yulo left on Monday for Seoul with coach Aldrin Castaneda and his physical therapist Hazel Calawod to be with members of the Korean national team.

Yulo’s new coach, 68-year-old Tomoharu Sano is not around yet, but is helping him out with online instructions.

“We are doing everything possible for him to win an Olympic medal. I just hope he gets it,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion.

Yulo has earlier informed Carrion that he does not need a coach at the moment, after he parted ways last year with Munehiro Kugimiya.

With Kugimiya gone, Yulo is sticking it out with Castaneda, who has been coaching him before he went to Japan many years ago.

“His coach (Aldrin) is getting much better,” added Carrion.

Training camps in Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia have also been mapped out for Yulo before he goes to Paris.

In the first camp, Yulo wil get ready to go to Baku, Azerbaijan, to see action in one of the legs of the 2024 Apparatus World Cup Series on March 3 to March 10.

Fil-Am pole vaulter Cole vows to jump higher this year FIL-AMERICAN pole vaulter Elijah Cole is confident that he will be in a better shape this year.

The 25-year-old Cole said this after his best effort saw him getting a silver medal over the weekend in the Carolina Challenge at the South Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex in Columbia, South Carolina.

Cole leapt to a height of 5.26 meters, behind Keon Howe, who won the gold in 5.46 meters, ahead of Parker Samuelson (4.76 meters).

“It was a good start. Just happened to have a lot things lineup between my (training) run and my new poles,” said Cole in an interview with the Manila Standard.

Cole is set to join a series of indoor meets in the East Coast in the next three months of the US indoor season, before joining outdoor meets to get IAAF points that will set him to a path towards Olympic qualification. And this include the Philippine National Open.

Cole, who holds the US NCAA East records in indoor and outdoor meets, is getting out of a slump and his worst year (2023), when he was far from his record best of 5.28 meters in the 2020 US Indoor Championships.

He is also trying to get back into his usual form after achieving an NCAA East Preliminaries record of 5.35 meters back in 2021.

“I just need to be technically consistent. My PB (personal best) is 5.41,” said Cole, referring to the mark he made at the High Point Meet of Champions Invitationals back in 2022.

Last year, Cole made an effort to make it to the Cambodian Southeast Asian Games after winning the gold in the National Open in Ilagan, Isabela with a 5.05-meter leap.

Cole, who hopes to see action again in the ‘Open’ this May and have a better showing, finished college at University of North Carolina in Charlottesville.

He admitted that he had a difficult time transitioning out of college life at the time and he needed a certain period to get adjusted.

“This year, I just plan on jumping as high as I can and as soon as I can,” added Cole, adding that the journey of Ernest John “EJ” Obiena as one of the world’s top pole vaulters has inspired him as his successes have rubbed off on him. Peter Atencio

C2

SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Perpetual beach volley tossers grab early lead

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev celebrates victory against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz after their men’s singles quarterfinal match on Day 11 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Medvedev joins qualifier Yastremska in semifinals M

ELBOURNE—Two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev battled past big-serving Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday to set up a potential Australian Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz as Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska’s dream run continued.

Former US Open champion Medvedev came through a gruelling five-setter in sweaty conditions on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and will face either second seed Alcaraz or sixth seed Alexander Zverev in the last four.

The Russian world number three was twice pegged back by Polish ninth seed Hurkacz after going a set up but produced the crucial break in the decider to get over the line.

The 27-year-old, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final and Rafael

Nadal the following year, said he felt “destroyed” after the contest, which lasted nearly four hours.

“I honestly was feeling it physically at the end of the second set already and I said to stay tough,” he said.

“Fourth set I’m just no more concentration and I have to try my best to do whatever I can.”

In the opening match on centre court, 93rd-ranked Yastremska cruised past unseeded Czech Linda Noskova to become just the second women’s qualifier in the Open Era to

get so far at the Australian Open.

She broke three times to win 6-3, 6-4 in 78 minutes and set up a clash against unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya or Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen for a place in the final.

Yastremska is the first women’s qualifier to reach the last four at the seasonopening Grand Slam since Australia’s Christine Matison in 1978.

“It’s nice to make history, because at that time I wasn’t even born,” she said.

The 23-year-old wrote a message of support for Ukrainian fighters involved in the war against Russia on a TV camera lens after her win.

“I’m very proud of them,” she said.

“They really deserve huge respect. I always try to write something for Ukraine, about Ukraine.

“I think it’s my mission here. If I do well, I can get—tough to express. I’m

just trying to give the signal to Ukraine that I’m really proud of it.”

Yastremska faced a tough battle to reach the main draw at Melbourne Park, being taken the distance in all three of her qualifying matches.

But she has since moved up a gear, eliminating Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and twotime champion Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.

Alcaraz eyes No. 1 Alcaraz, who headlines the evening session, is on a mission to win his third Grand Slam and wrest the number one ranking from the hands of 10-time champion Djokovic.

He is aiming to become the third man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slams before the age of 21, after Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander. AFP

Phoenix top gunner Perkins is PBA’s Best Player of Week JASON Perkins has already assumed the mantle of leadership at Phoenix, and the veteran forward is proving he’s up to the task.

The former Rookie of the Year out of La Salle stepped up his game a notch higher come the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs and guided the Fuel Masters to their first semifinal stint in four years by surviving a hardfighting Meralco Bolts side, 88-84, in their do-or-die encounter at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 31-year-old Perkins submitted double-double numbers of 19 points and 13 rebounds as the fourth seeded Fuel Masters arranged a best-of-five series against no. 1 seed Magnolia Hotshots.

Perkins’ heroics came days after he finished with 20 points and four rebounds before leg cramps got the better of him in a 116-107 triple overtime heartbreaker for Phoenix that paved the way for their sudden-death game against the Bolts.

His solid numbers and consistent showing in the Fuel Masters’ two quarterfinal outings earned him the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week honor for the period Jan. 17 to 21.

Jason Perkins against two defenders

The 6-foot-4 Fil-Am averaged 19.5 points on 54 percent shooting from the field, while adding 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists to emerge the unanimous choice for the weekly award given out by the men and women who cover the PBA beat.

Perkins became the second player this conference to be conferred twice with the special citation along with Arvin Tolentino of Northport.

Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin referred to Perkins as Phoenix’s ‘franchise player.’

“We all know Jason is a really hardworking and very talented player. But the things that you don’t see about him, he’s an inspiration not only to our team, but to the general public, especially to the young ones,” said the Fuel Masters’ mentor.

This will be the team’s first semis stint in an import-flavored conference and the first since the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark, Pampanga.

Perkins along with veterans RJ Jazul and RR Garcia are the remaining players from that batch of Fuel Masters who took TNT Tropang Giga all the way to a deciding Game 5 before losing out, 91-81.

Jarin just joined the franchise back then as deputy to coach Topex Robinson.

Young Koronadal footballers out to seize spotlight in Singapore tilt YOUNG footballers from Koronadal City are out to seize the biggest moment yet in their budding careers as they see action in the JSSL 7’s 2024 Tournament slated March 28 to 31 in Singapore.

Getting the rare opportunity to fly the country’s colors, 12 exciting players comprise the Koronadal City Football Club (KCFC) that is going to strut its wares against over 400 teams across 17 nations in the 7-aside football tilt considered as Asia’s largest youth tournament.

These players have been toughened by years of playing together in various events in the region – not to mention the camaraderie they have forged and enhanced since becoming teammates and friends since 2013.

Marco Jaime Lorico, Ferlan Carl Mahusay, Skylar Eris Wagas, Holden Isaiah

Dormitorio, Josef Adeien Tagolino, Harry Kenzo Ho and Zoie Kieffer Moreno are part of the crew to be handled by Ricardo Pusoc Jr. and team manager Edelyn Bayona in the under-11 category.

Completing the team are Chaz Dumanig, Eezekiel Cielo Luis Lecena, Chrisdom Lou Pelaez, Rainer Albert Suganob and John Daniel Capitan – excited to embrace the limelight in the international stage.

While playing in such a world class event that boasts top notch competition is already an achievement, KCFC is looking to turn heads and compete in the best way possible to instill the winning culture among its young and aspiring players.

KCFC is proud owner of 18 titles in 21 tournaments so far.

Members of the Koronadal City Football Club pose prior to a practice.

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help’s Mary Rhose Dapol and Krisha Cordero turned back Jose Rizal University’s Karyla Rafaela Jasareno and Czarina Nina Ramos, 21-12, 19-21, 15-13, on Wednesday to seize the early share of the lead with three others at the start of the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball in Subic Bay. It was a win that jumpstarted the Lady Altas’ bid of snaring their first title since capturing a spectacular fourpeat feat 11 years ago.

Also hurdling their opening round assignments in the women’s division were San Beda, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Arellano University.

SBU’s Angel Habacon and Reyanna Caneta smashed Lyceum of the Philippines U’s Christina Cañares and Baby Mar Nichole Collado, 21-13, 21-8; EAC’s Cathrine Almazan and Christine Joy Cordial edged Mapua’s Raina Airyl Verginio and Nadine Angeli Berces, 14-21, 21-16, 15-8; and AU’s Alona Nichole Caguicla and Harem Ceballos trounced St. Benilde’s Angelika Mondejar and Doreen Baguio, 21-15, 21-17.

The Lady Blazers bounced back from the defeat after they downed San Sebastian’s Kat Santos and Juna May Gonzales, 21-12, 21-12, to claim their first win and stay in the medal hunt.

In men’s action, JRU’s Windel Laurenciana and Matthew Miguel shocked defending champion UPHSD’s Louie Ramirez and Jefferson Marapoc, 2220, 18-21, 15-11, to set in motion its own championship aspirations.

Other results saw AU’s Adrian Villados and Arman Clarence Guinto surviving CSB’s Leonard Van Jaboli and Arnel Christian Aguilar, 24-26, 21-17, 15-8; Mapua’s Kenneth Eslapor and Saint Marlowe Jamisola fending off EAC’s Bhim Lawrence Diones and Ervin Patrick Osabel, 21-19, 9-21, 15-10; San Beda’s Aidjien Josh Rus and Mohammad Shaif Ali Tahiluddin flattening LPU’s Janse Palad and Josue Velasco III, 21-18, 21-14; and CSB’s Arnel Christian Aguilar and James Harold Marasigan besting Kyle Angelo Villamor and Jezreel Franz Marcos, 12-21, 21-19, 15-13.

Valle Verde PPS junior tennis meet gets going JUNIOR tennis returns to the Big City on Thursday as the Valle Verde National Tennis Championships unwraps in Pasig with close to 300 entries vying for top honors and ranking points across nine agegroup categories.

Leading the charge in the girls’ 18-and-under category are standout players Chloe Mercado, Sandra Bautista, Joy Ansay and Ronielle Oliveros banner the girls’ 18-andunder field while Ethan Cablitas, Ivan Manila, Ariel Cabaral and Frank Dilao slug it out in the boys’ side of the premier division of the Group 2 tournament at the Valle Verde Country Club courts.

Except for the girls’ 18-and-U play, the eight other age-group classes present 32-player draws, indicating the overwhelming response to this week-long tournament held under the Palawan Pawnshop junior program.

Notably, the event follows the lifting of the two-year suspension imposed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Philippine Olympic Committee Abraham Tolentino has expressed the significance of Philta’s return to active ITF tournaments, emphasizing the motivation of the ITF to support Philtam now under the leadership of president and Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez.

The reinstatement is considered a crucial moment for tennis not only in the country but also in the Asian region.

Despite the ITF suspension, the Palawan Pawnshop circuit, spearheaded by president/CEO Bobby Castro, continued to foster the sport’s development through yearlong tournaments, including various Open championships, featuring top-tier players.

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SHOWBIZ

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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

OPM icons Odette Quesada (left) and Ogie Alcasid share the stage at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Feb. 13 and 14

Ogie Alcasid, Odette Quesada team up on stage for Valentine concert Very Wang

Nickie Wang

W

HAT do Ogie Alcasid and Odette Quesada have in common? They’re both accomplished singers and songwriters who have established illustrious careers on the local music scene. Alcasid is celebrating his 35th year, and Quesada, her 40th.

And the Oscar classics go to...

‘Over The Rainbow,’ sung by Judy Garland in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939), won the Academy Award for Best Original Song

Touchbass

Yugel Losorata

THE nominees for this year’s Academy Awards had just been announced with Oppenheimer, a movie about the atomic bomb crafted by Christopher Nolan, getting the most nods, including one for its score.

Barbie, the other half of the cultural phenomenon “Barbenheimer,” has two songs in the Best Original Song category: “I’m Just Ken” and “What Was I Made For,” with the latter, which won the Golden Globe and Hollywood Music in Media Awards, being the strongest contender to take home an Oscar statuette in March.

It’s one thing to win the Oscar for Best Original Song or Score, it’s quite another for these musical triumphs to seep into the consciousness of the listening, watching public.

Last year’s winning score for “All Quiet on the Western Front” deserved to win as that three-note hook on Volker Bertelmann’s “Remains” grippingly captured the senselessness of war, while some Beatles fans may not know that in the 1970 Oscars, the soundtrack for the documentary “Let It Be”, which contains most of the songs to be featured on the group’s subsequent final album release, was given the award.

Through the years, some Best Original

Song winners became pop classics partly because they came from huge hit movies or the tracks simply possess unforgettable recall and unmistakably universal appeal.

Here are 30 of them, still a small chunk (around 35 percent of the pool) since the category was first awarded in the 1934 edition of the Oscars.

1. “Over The Rainbow” (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg) - The Wizard Of Oz (1939); musical fantasy film starring Judy Garland 2. “When You Wish Upon A Star” (Leigh Harline, Ned Washington) Pinnochio (1940); Walt Disney musical 3.

“White Christmas” (Irving Irving Berlin) - Holiday Inn (1942); featuring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire

“She’s a singer and a songwriter. So, we have a kind of kindred spirit. I can identify with what she has done. She said she was excited to do a concert with me. And of course, I am beyond thrilled,” Alcasid says.

The OPM (Original Pinoy Music) admits that he is a fan of Quesada. He shared that back when he was still a student and a member of Kundirana (a High School Music Ministry from La Salle Green Hills), Quesada was one of the music artists he admired, alongside

4. “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955); American romance drama 5. “Que Sera, Sera” (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) - The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956): Alfred Hitchcock-directed film with Doris Day singing 6. “Moon River” (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) - Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961): adapted from Truman Capote’s novella starring Audrey Hepburn 7. “The Windmills of Your Mind” (Michel Legrand, Alan and Marilyn Bergman) - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968); heist film starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway 8. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); western buddy movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford 9. “The Way We Were” (Marvin Hamlisch, Alan and Marilyn Bergman) -The Way We Were (1973); starring Barbra Streisand 10. “Evergreen” (Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams) - A Star is Born (1976); featuring Streisand and Kris Kristofferson 11. “You Light Up My Life” (Joseph Brooks) - You Light Up My Life (1977); romantic drama 12. “Fame” (Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford) - Fame (1980); teen musical featuring singers Irene Cara and Paul McCrane (Is It Okay If I Call You Mine) 13. “Best That You Can Do” (Peter Allen, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross, Carole Bayer Sager) - Arthur (1981); lone movie directed by Steve Gordon who died at 44 14. “Up Where We Belong” (Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Will Jennings) - An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); featuring Richard Gere and Louis Gossett, Jr. 15. “Flashdance … What a Feeling” (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara, Keith Forsey) - Flashdance (1983); directed

by Adrian Lyne. Read full list on manilastandard.com ‘I’m Just Ken’ performed by actor Ryan Gosling is one of the top contenders in this year’s Best Original Song category

Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, ZsaZsa Padilla, and Rico Puno.

“Her music is part of my childhood.

So, to do something like that, a show with her, is super exciting,” the 56-yearold artist adds.

Alcasid is sharing the concert stage with Quesada in the Valentine’s show dubbed Love, Q&A at the NUSTAR Convention Center on Feb. 13, and Newport Performing Arts Theater on Feb. 14 and 15.

“I couldn’t contain my excitement

when concert producer Nancy Yang approached me about the idea of performing together with Miss Odette.

And During the pictorial, I got to talk to her, I realized that I had actually been a guest at her concert before,” says Alcasid.

“She’s so simple about what she says. Pinoy na Pinoy. So when she was writing her songs, she was in her 20s.

She’s a genius. I’m just honored to be sharing the same stage with one of my music heroes. We also paid tribute to her on ASAP, and I sang ‘Give Me A Chance,’” he adds.

Part of their concert repertoire includes songs that have become anthems for hopeless romantics, such as “Till I Met You,” “Kailangan Kita,” “Don’t Know What to Say (Don’t Know What to Do),” “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka,” “Farewell,” “Pangako,” “Growing Up,” and “Mahal Kita Wala Ng Iba,” just to name a few.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime collaboration live on Feb.14 and 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater stage. Get your tickets now at SM Tickets, TicketWorld, or contact the following: Paulo San Jose – 0917 810 5031; James Rodriguez – 0917 829 2173; JhayR Dela Cruz – 0917 818 9847; and Raf Sangco – 0917 807 9387.

Love, Q & A is presented by Newport Resort Casino and NY Entourage Productions.

Filipina actress Ruby Ruiz (left) and Nicole Kidman in a scene from ‘Expats’

Ruby Ruiz makes Hollywood debut in Nicole Kidman starrer ‘Expats’ SEASONED actress Ruby Ruiz, a main cast member of the hit series Linlang, brought pride to the country as she took on New York City for the premiere night of the Amazon Prime Video series Expats, co-starring with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman.

“What an incredible experience I will always remember,” Ruiz said in an Instagram post.

The premiere took place at The Museum of Modern Art and was attended by other Expats stars Ji-young Yoo and Sarayu Blue. Fil-Am and Miss Universe 2022 R. Bonney Gabriel also graced the red carpet as a special guest.

The show unfolds a family tragedy across multiple timelines in six episodes, exploring the lives of women within Hong Kong’s diverse expatriate community. Ruiz plays the role of Margaret’s (Kidman) helper.

Prime Video describes Expats as a series depicting a “multifaceted group of women after a single encounter sets off a chain of life-altering events that leaves everyone navigating the intricate balance between blame and accountability.”

Based on the Janice Y. K. Lee novel The Expatriates, Expats the series is directed by Lulu Wang and premieres on Prime Video on Jan. 26. Nickie Wang

Ruby Ruiz (leftmost) poses with Nicole Kidman (second to the left) at the premiere of ‘Expats’ in New York

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LIFE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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

Janine Gutierrez begins her skincare journey as Bioten’s newest ambassador

Janine Gutierrez’s

ultimate skincare essential

By Angelica Villanueva

J

ANINE Gutierrez believes hydration is essential for maintaining healthy and beautiful skin. Using gentle products ensures that the skin is cared for without causing unnecessary stress or irritation.

Incorporating a well-balanced skincare routine that includes hydrating products is a key step in promoting overall skin health and radiance.

The 34-year-old celebrity, known for her undeniable radiant skin, has partnered with Bioten, a skincare brand known for its hydration, to share her personal tips for achieving a healthy glow using gentle and effective products.

“I’ve been keeping this secret for a while because we shot this campaign in August last year. So, I’ve been looking forward to this day for such a long time and I’m so excited to finally be here with all of you and really to be part of [the] Bioten family officially,” says Janine.

Just in time for her onboarding, the brand also drops its newest skincare line that promises longlasting hydration and instant moisture, the Hydro X-Cell.

Consisting of Eye Gel Cream, Moisturising & Soothing Cream, Gel Cream, Micellar Water, Supercharged Serum, and Wash Gel, the latest line aims to provide effective solutions for common skin concerns such as dryness, dullness, and loss of skin elasticity.

It’s the perfect synergy of hydration and moisturization that combats the warm and tropical climate. It delivers a nourishing result that goes beyond traditional skincare boundaries and offers a transformative solution for revitalized skin.

Bioten Hydro X-Cell Eye Gel Cream aims to minimize puffiness around the eye area and reduce dark circles.

Perfect to lessen the redness and dryness of Janine emphasizes the importance of having a daily skincare routine the skin, especially for sensitive, dry skin, Bioten Hydro X-Cell Moisturizing & Soothing Cream is your go-to skincare essential. Bioten Hydro X-Cell combination skin.

Containing natural spirulina cellular water, Gel Cream provides a 57 percent instant hydration increase and is recommended for use on normal/ hyaluronic acid, and phytoceramide, Bioten Hydro

This premium skin whitening line has everything you need AS WE roll into 2024, your skin’s still feeling the aftermath of a wild yearend: the holiday rush, backto-back parties, and hectic school/ work deadlines. With your skin still recovering, now’s the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate and give your skin the glow-up it deserves.

Beauty experts predict this year will see tried-and-tested rockstar ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide take center stage thanks to benefits such as antioxidant activity, skin tone evening, and skin barrier improvement. It’s no wonder Korean superstar Jisoo of Blackpink, celebrity makeup artist Lei Ponce, and supermodels like Kaia Gerber swear by them.

So, how can you boost your glowup with these proven ingredients?

Enter leading Japanese skincare brand Hada Labo, which makes it a breeze to reveal your inner glowing mochimochi skin. Whether it’s smoothing out your skin tone or fading away dark spots, every product in its Premium Whitening line packs the undeniable benefits of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Check out Hada Labo Premium Whitening Face Lotion which harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and draws moisture from the environment to keep your skin moisturized. This reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and contributes to a smoother complexion.

Complement all these hydration powers with the Hada Labo Premium Whitening moisturizers that help brighten skin using niacinamide, which works by The skincare brand aims to reveal one’s inner glowing mochi-mochi skin

building up the skin’s natural protective barrier to defend against harmful pollutants, toxins, and sunlight. These moisturizers also feature other skinfriendly ingredients like alpha-arbutin to address and prevent dark spots, and vitamin C to stimulate collagen production, combat free radicals, and boost overall skin radiance.

It comes in two options for your skin needs. Premium Whitening Water Cream combines all the classic ingredients and brightening effect of the Face Lotion with a light, burdenless texture that effortlessly absorbs into the skin, leaving it feeling revitalized without any heavy residue.

Premium Whitening Water Gel is great for those with oily/combination skin, thanks to its mix of natural royal jelly extract, hamamelis extract, and herbal fermented factors that revitalize while controlling oil.

Ready for your new and improved skincare era? Start revealing that inner glowing mochi-mochi skin today with Hada Labo Premium Whitening line, visit your nearby Watsons or hit up The Mentholatum Company’s official stores on Shopee or Lazada.

X-Cell Micellar Water effectively cleanses the skin and can even remove waterproof makeup, available for all skin types.

On the other hand, Bioten Hydro X-Cell Supercharged Serum gives up to 13 percent elasticity increase and strengthens your skin’s barrier, available for all skin types.

Lastly, Bioten Hydro X-Cell Wash Gel also has natural spirulina cellular water, hyaluronic acid, and phytoceramides that effectively cleanse and refresh your skin, available for all skin types.

With her natural beauty that resonates perfectly with Hydro X-Cell’s focus on nurturing skin, Janine, meanwhile, talks about her favorite products in the line.

“It was hard to answer because I really love all the specific products in the line. But, I guessed if I

have to choose one then it would be the product that I start every skincare session with and that would be the Hydro X-Cell Wash Gel,” Janine shares.

“For me, it’s so important to start with a clean face especially when you’re gonna do your skincare. So, it has to be the wash gel and the Micellar Cleanser,” adds Janine.

The Hydro X-Cell collection has a breakthrough formula that comprises natural ingredients of Cellular Water from Spirulina, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytoceramides, Tetrapeptide, and Caffeine. This unique blend ensures the skin receives not only the essential hydration it needs but also forms a protective shield to lock in moisture for up to 72 hours.

Bioten’s Hydro X-Cell is now available at Watsons and SM Beauty sections nationwide.

2024 makeup trends A mix of glam and natural look achieve this, applying serum follow the shape of the brows and fill foundation and creamy in any sparse areas. She advised not concealer is advisable to to over-tweeze or trim to achieve the correct any blemishes. This unfinished quality.

She suggested that a pop of tint can produces a comfortablelooking soft and blurred be a statement on the eyes or lips. She furthered that it can top off the barelytouch.

Paired with the glowing there base with dashing lashes, a graphic complexion, the eyes are eyeliner, or a classic red lip.

She added that monochromatic likewise highlighted this 2024. The season’s go-to makeup, which is all about the use of evening feature is a metallic, the same materials and pigment on eyes, shimmery white, silver, gray, lips, and cheeks, also stays this 2024 and taupe shadow swiped because it is easy to recreate and the components are accessible. across the lid.

The young creative explained that A diverse range of cooltoned eyeshadows in famous makeup strategies on the videocream, powder, and liquid sharing application TikTok, such as formulations was Natural eyebrows is foreseen to prevail this 2024 recently launched by local and international companies AS THE rituals of beauty have improved to seamlessly align with euphoriaand transformed throughout the ages, inspired appearance – in a subtle the year 2024 introduces makeup trends manner.

A lot of muted nudes and that incorporate glam and natural styles warmer blushes also prevail, into the aesthetic scene.

Professional makeup artist Yra which replace the saturated bright Mantaring shared many brands pink flush that became popular in released skincare-infused cosmetics, as 2023.

The shades of desaturated the main focus this year is to achieve peach and neutral sides are wellethereal and healthy-looking skin.

A graduate of the Makeup admired to create a delicate and Artistry Program at the Center for smooth mark.

For strategic color placement, Aesthetic Studies, she affirmed underscored that that consumers need to Mantaring purchase fewer items instead vibrant hues are still around even of getting separate ones, a though the approach this year leans to minimalism. sustainable move.

With the introduction of new To guide the general public, the industry game-changers, the fad is shifting Monochromatic makeup remains a trend practitioner, who specializes towards fluffier, more relaxed, and with its accessible components in editorial makeup for undone eyebrows, which leaves digital campaigns, imparted the overly manicured, defined, Douyin, a famous Chinese makeup products, top techniques, and and laminated structure in 2023. method, are well-favored this year.

The homegrown talent from the tips, and imparted up-to-date Named after the Chinese term for De La Salle College of Saint Benilde looks for 2024.

Cloud skin, a gentle matte (DLS-CSB) Fashion Design and TikTok, Douyin imitates doll-like Program likewise features that emphasize plenty of texture that fixates on creating a fresh Merchandising effect, continues to rise this year. To recommended using a brow gel to sparkles and shimmers in the eyes.