By Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
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CHINESE President
Xi Jinping has ordered the military to prepare for conflicts in the East and South China Seas as the Communist Party-led government is poised to adopt wideranging security laws in 2024 to "resolutely safeguard" its sovereignty.
Xi, according to a report by Kyodo News, also directed China’s military to enhance its strategic capabilities in emerging areas such as cyberspace and outer space.
In Manila, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said the military has adopted the new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to defend Philippine territory including its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"In plain language, we are developing our capability to protect and secure our entire territory and EEZ in order to ensure that our people and all the generations of Filipinos to come shall freely reap and enjoy the bounties of the natural resources that are rightfully ours within our domain," he said in a statement.
PNR HALTS TRAINS STARTING MARCH 28 MERALCO RATES UP A BIT IN MARCH NEWS / A4
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FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte has been appointed administrator of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the religious sect’s media arm Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) announced on social media yesterday.
KOJC’s counsel Dinah TolentinoFuentes said Duterte’s appointment will ensure continuous operations of the group, which she described as “beset on all sides by challenges.”
KOJC is led by its founder Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A California judge on Thursday ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his coaccused, bringing the case a step closer toward extraditing the pastor for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.
Duterte and Quiboloy have enjoyed close political and economic tiesfor decades. Both are known influential public figures, especially in Davao City and across Mindanao.
Quiboloy has publicly acknowledged his deep friendship with Duterte since his days as Davao City mayor, likening him to an older brother.
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By Maricel V. Cruz
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez expressed confidence Friday that the Senate would approve proposed amendments to the Con -
11 VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 27• 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 •
stitution’s restrictive economic provisions.
Senate,” Romualdez 6he standard the standard the standar
PCG spox trades barbs with Global Times on X NEWS / A2 Unemployment rises to 4.5% in Jan. NEWS / A2
By Rey Requejo
THE Supreme Court has upheld the Department of Labor and Employment’s order to PLDT Inc. to regularize its employees engaged in the installation, repair, and maintenance services of the telecommunication giant’s lines.
‘A SANCTUARY FOR HEALING AND HOPE’ #ANONGBALITA? 'Dragon Ball' creator Toriyama passes away, 68
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz
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SC upholds order on PLDT to regularize 7,344 workers Next page
In a decision written by
Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, the SC’s First Division dismissed the consolidated petitions for certiorari assailing the ruling of the Court of Appeals, which affirmed, with substantial modifications, the resolutions issued by then-Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, finding labor violations by PLDT and its contractor.
ELEVEN more Filipino seafarers on board the Iran-seized oil tanker ST Nikolas will return to the Philippines in the next few days, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the Filipino seafarers’ contracts have officially expired and their manning agency has already replaced them with foreign crewmembers.
Love is lovelier the 5th time for Murdoch at 92 For Pinoy fans, Taylor Swift is 'unpaid therapist' NEWS / A2 NEWS / A2 NEWS / A2
THE Philippines’ unemployment rate climbed to 4.5 percent in January 2024 from a record low of 3.1 percent in December 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.
Results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed, however, that on a yearon-year basis, the jobless rate improved from the 4.8 percent posted in January 2023.
“The Marcos administration remains
PRESIDENT Marcos on Friday hailed women's role in building a society that drives progress as the country observed International Women's Day.
“In an age marked by rapid growth and transformation, it is imperative for the global community to honor the incalculable worth of women'scontributions across all facets of society and sustain the gains thathave emerged from their countless struggles and sacrifices,” President Marcos said in his message. He stressed the need to confront gender discrimination andgenderbased violence to continue to engage in inclusion and empowerment.
"Yet, within our relentless pursuit of progress, we must confront theinequalities and disparities that still persist. By ending gender-based violence, discrimination, and biases that cast shadows over the realization of women's dreams, we actively engage in a mission that nurtures equity, inclusion, and empowerment," the President said.
President Marcos urged the public to help in achieving a more inclusive society, voicing out this year's theme of "Inspire Inclusion".
THE Philippine National Railways (PNR) will temporarily halt its Governor Pascual-Tutuban and TutubanAlabang operations starting March 28 to accelerate the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project in Metro Manila, it announced on Friday.
During the PNR suspension of operations in Metro Manila, the construction of the NSCR will be expedited by eight months and save the government at least P15.18 billion from the project, it said.
According to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, PNR services will be suspended to also ensure that passengers are safe while the construction of the NSCR is underway.
The Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board have arranged alternative bus routes to cater to passengers who will be affected during the PNR suspension, Bautista said.
THE X social media account of The Global Times, China’s national English-language tabloid run by the Chinese Communist Party, has traded barbs with the spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard over the recent collision of ships and water-cannon attacks in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela on Thursday night commented on a Global Times opinion post that the tabloid shared on its X account on March5. The op-ed piece said the Philippines was “unilaterally changing the status quo to serve the illegitimate interests of some politicians.”
Tarriela replied: “The current tension in the West Philippine Sea is caused by the People’s Republic of China unilaterally changing the status quo to serve the illegitimate interests of the Chinese Communist Party. In total disregard of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s highly unprofessional and irrational decisions and actions, which is an extremely dangerous brinkmanship of conflict.”
committed to creating a favorablebusiness environment to attract both local and foreign investments in the country, aiming to generate more high-quality employment opportunities,” the National Economic and Development Authority
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"I emphasize that this is a strategic action and will not need constant directives to carry out. I, thus, urge our commanders and units in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to exert all efforts to operationalize the CADC," Teodoro added.
Malacanang and the Department of Foreign Affairs have yet to react to Xi’s orders.
Xi, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, gave the instructions during this year’s National People’s Congress, or China’s parliament.
China has overlapping territorial claims with other countries in theEast and South China seas.
Earlier this week, maritime hostilities between the coast guards of China and the Philippines flared, prompting several governments to issue statements condemning Beijing for its actions.
The head of the Philippine military's Western Command and four crew mem-
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“He’s become an older brother to me. Whatever I have, he will also have. We have one chewing gum left, he would divide it into two and tell me, ‘Pastor, hating kapatid,” Quiboloy once said of Duterte in a Facebook post.
Fuentes said part of Duterte’s duties as administrator includepreserving, retaining, maintaining, and managing the properties of KOJC in the Philippines.
“Some might try to take over the properties. The kingdom will oppose that, and because of that they [KOJC] asked the help of former President Duterte,” she said in an interview over SMNI.
“Anytime any of them [Quiboloy or executive pastor Marlon Acobo] becomes incapacitated, former President Duterte can step in,” Fuente said.
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“We understand the challenges, but the Senate has always lived up to the challenge. We do have good senators and I know that they know what is good for our people,” he added.
The Lower Chamber is set to approve Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 on second reading next week and on third and final reading before the Holy Week break.
RBH No. 7 is identical to the Senate’s RBH No. 6 except for the manner of voting by Congress and which seeks to amend three restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
The proposed House and Senate changes were on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership of public utilities in Article 12, and ownership of basic educational facilities in Article 14, and advertising firms in Article 16.
RBH No. 6 is pushing for a separate vote of both chambers of Congress in approving the amendments.
Zubiri earlier said getting the needed 18 votes in the Senate for the economic amendment proposals “is a big challenge” but “it’s not impossible.”
The Senate leader earlier said he and his colleagues would approve the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution before the Holy Week break, but the timeline has since been moved to October.
SC...
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The petitions were filed by Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon ng Pilipinas, PLDT, and Bello Ill in his capacity as then-DOLE secretary. Reacting to the ruling, PLDT Inc. confirmed in a statement to thePhilippine Stock Exchange that the Supreme Court upheld the CA decision setting aside the order of the DOLE under Bello III to regularize 7,344 workers of PLDT's service contractors.
said in a statement. The underemployment rate in January 2024 also eased to 13.9 percent 14.1 percent reported in the same month last year.
"The government sustains its push to attract more job-generating investments by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment. At the same time, linkages between industry, the academe and the public sector will be strengthened to address skill mismatches in the labor market,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Results of the just-released Jobstreet
bers were injured as two China Coast Guard vessels used water cannons against the civilian supply ship Unaiza May 4 near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday.
The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest over the two collisions, which President Marcos described as “dangerous maneuvers and dangerous actions.”
“We cannot view this in any way but in the most serious way,” the President said.
Top legislator Zhao Leji on Friday promised that lawmakers would "resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests" as he laid out the agenda for the National People's Congress for the coming year.
"To modernize China's system and capacity for national security," he said, Beijing will enact "an emergency management law, an energy law, an atomic energy law, and a hazardous chemicals safety law."
It will also revise "the National Defense Education Law and the Cybersecurity Law," Zhao said in his report.
The Department of Justice, for its part, said there is no request yet received from the United States government for the extradition of Quiboloy.
“There is no extradition request received yet by the DOJ from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said.
Clavano declined to comment on what would happen should Quiboloy's extradition be requested.
“It’s difficult, however, to speak about hypothetical situations,” he said.
DOJ prosecutors are set to file against Quiboloy charges for sexual abuse of a minor under Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, which he allegedly committed in 2011 against a female who was 17 years old then.
Quiboloy will also be charged along
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Nine will arrive in the Philippines on Sunday while the other two will fly next week, March 13, he added.
“For some piece of good news, more Filipino nationals are now returning so we have another batch of 11 who will be coming home,” he said in an interview Thursday.
There were originally 18 Filipinos aboard the oil tanker when it wasseized by Iranian authorities in January in the Gulf of Oman while in transit between the Iraqi port of Basra and Turkey. One was released by Iran in February.
Last year, the United States confiscated the oil ST Nikolas was carrying in a sanction enforcement operation. The Iranian Navy said the January seizure was in retaliation for this action.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the killings of two Filipino seafarers on board a ship crossing the Gulf of Aden on Thursday was a reason to ensure the immediate enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
Villanueva said this will guarantee Filipinos’ rights in situations like this.
Earlier, President Marcos backtracked in signing the measure into law on its supposed schedule last February, saying it was up for further review.
A Catholic prelate on Friday urged the faithful to pray for the victims of the March 6 attack of rebels at the Gulf of Aden where three crew members, two
"With regard to those workers performing installation, repair and maintenance functions, we clarify that the Supreme Court remanded the case to the DOLE regional director to determine whether or not regularization is appropriate," PLDT said. In its decision, the High Court explained that labor contracting—which means a non-employee of a company is contracted to work based on a specific rate and period—is not necessarily illegal. Article 106 of the Labor Code allows an employer to engage in legitimate labor
by SEEK 2024 hiring, compensation and benefits report show that the Philippine job market is expected to remain positive in the first half of 2024, driven by continued strong hiring activity and low unemployment.
“The current age of employment is here, and it is progressing exponentially day by day, and as we see it, 2024 is a very promising year for the job market. We hope this new report will be able to guide our hirers and candidates in navigating the ever-dynamic world of work,” said Jobstreet Philippines managing director Dannah Majarocon.
He did not offer more details about what the new laws would involve, nor when precisely they would be adopted.
"Military education and cybersecurity are clear priorities" for China's legislators, Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor and Chinese politics expert at Hong Kong University, told AFP.
"They want to strengthen the legal framework in these areas, which is part of Xi's own priorities," he said, adding it was "no surprise" that national security was highlighted in Zhao's report.
China last year approved a revised anti-espionage law thatdramatically expanded its definition of spying, giving Beijing more power than ever to punish what it deems threats to national security.
A state secrets law adopted last month added more categories of sensitive information, including "work secrets"—information not classified as state secrets but which could "impede the normal duties of (state) organs or work units" if leaked. Such leaks must be met with "necessary protective measures," the amended law says. Vince Lopez with AFP
with five other persons for other acts of child abuse, cruelty and exploitation as well as qualified human trafficking.
"The government’s goal is to attain justice in whatever form and through the best forum,” Clavano said.
“The decision to file the charges came as a result of almost a year of verifying the evidence on record as well as the identity of the alleged victim,” he added.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is open to Quiboloy testifying onlinebefore the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality which she chairs, Senator JV Ejercito said.
Ejercito said testifying online will be practical given Quiboloy’s concern for his security.
"I would think so for security reasons for him and the Senate as a whole… If we can avoid trouble, we should do it," he said.
of them Filipinos, were killed. "In this moment of war, chaos, and uncertainty, let us all turn to God for His divine intervention. Let us pray for peace in the Middle East, entrusting everything in His power and mercy...We are one and united with the families of the victims. We urge them to be strong and lift up everyone and everything to God," Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
"We call on the Huthis to stop all the attacks, aggression, and intrusion in the Red Sea. This incident underscores the danger to human life, property, and the marine environment in the area," the Catholic prelate added. The attack on MV True Confidence was the first fatal assault due to the tension at the Red Sea, one of the important trade routes from Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
"We also call on the agencies to look into repatriating our seafarers sailing through the Gulf of Aden to avoid a repeat of this horrific incident," Villanueva said, to which Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Imee Marcos and Sherwin Gatchalian agreed.
Party-list Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan also condemned the Yemen rebels behind the rocket attacks on ships.
“I strongly condemn the attack perpetrated by the Houthi rebels against a merchant vessel navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that led to the tragic death of two Filipino seafarers and injured several other crew members, including two Filipinos who sustained severe wounds,” he said.
contracting, the High Court said, adding that the DOLE implements this through its Department Order No. 18-A and 1742017. Although it contracted out specific jobs, PLDT had argued that this did not mean the contractors’ employees are direct employees of the telecommunications company. But the SC ruled that employees assigned in installation, repair, and maintenance services of PLDT lines perform work directly related to the company’s business, and thus should be regularized.
THE creator of Japan's hugely popular and influential "Dragon Ball" comics and anime cartoons, Akira Toriyama, has died aged 68, his production team said Friday.
First serialized in 1984, "Dragon Ball" is one of the best-sellingmanga franchises of all time and has spawned countless anime series, films and video games.
Toriyama died on March 1 because of a blood clot on the brain, a statement posted to the official "Dragon Ball" account on X (formerly Twitter) said.
"It's our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation," said the statement attributed to Toriyama's Bird Studio, which praised the artist's "great enthusiasm."
"He would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world," the statement added.
"We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come."
"Dragon Ball" features a boy named Son Goku who collects magical ballscontaining dragons to help him and his allies in a fight to protect the Earth from evil enemies. With AFP
MEDIA magnate Rupert Murdoch is not giving up on love – even at age 92.
Murdoch announced that he plans to wed his girlfriend, Elena Zhukova, in June, The New York Times reported. Murdoch has been married four times before. His roller-coaster personal life is often fodder for the tabloid newspaper industry that he helped create on three continents.
Last year, Murdoch announced his engagement to dentalhygienist-turnedconservative radio host Ann Lesley Smith, but called off the planned nuptials less than a month later.
Zhukova, who immigrated to the United States from Russia, is a retiredmolecular biologist who at 67 is a quarter century younger than Murdoch, The Times said. Her daughter, Dasha Zhukova, an arts patron and entrepreneur, was formerly married to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, The Times said.
Murdoch's wedding will reportedly take place at his California vineyard and estate, Moraga.
Murdoch's last marriage was to model Jerry Hall, former long-term partner of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
Murdoch, who has six children, was first married to Patricia Booker, an Australian flight attendant, whom he divorced in the late 1960s.
He and his second wife, Anna Torv, a newspaper reporter, were together more than 30 years before divorcing in 1999. His third marriage to Wendi Deng ended in 2013.
The Australian Murdoch, whose media empire includes The Wall Street Journal, Fox News and other influential outlets, is worth more than $20 billion, according to Forbes. With AFP
For Pinoy fans, Taylor Swift is 'unpaid therapist'
ABOUT 300,000 Taylor Swift fans from Singapore and around the region were expected to flock to the city-state this week for the megastar's six sold-out concerts. As the only stop in Southeast Asia for Swift's blockbuster Eras world tour, Swifties splashed out on flights and hotels to see their idol.
Ahead of the last gig on Saturday, AFP spoke to six diehard fans, known as "Swifties," about their favorite Taylor Swift song and what she means to them.
"As a person, I feel she's the unpaid therapist of girls," said Lira, a freelance journalist from the Philippines.
"All the things that girls go through you can find a Taylor Swift song that you can relate with."
Renzo Gonzales, 26, said he liked Swift's message that people should be themselves.
"Regardless if you have a lot of insecurities, you just have to be whoyou are and be happy," said Gonzales, who is from the Philippines and works on an international oil tanker.
He said Swift became his role model because "you don't need to be like what everybody is telling you to become, you can be yourself."
Gonzales said his favorite song was "Daylight" because it taught him that "love can be a rainbow."
Searle Lira, 33, became a Taylor Swift fan in high school with the song "Teardrops on My Guitar." It helped her to get over her own heartbreak from unrequited love.
Lauren Fang, 23, first listened to Taylor Swift when she was in hospital receiving treatment for lupus. With AFP
DAR chief wants faster delivery of CARP land titles
By Rio N. ArajaAGRARIAN Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III on Friday ordered the speedy land distribution and support to beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“Let us be proactive in serving our farmers through land distribution and provision of much-needed support services,” Estrella told his subordinates..
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held on March 7 its 2023 yearend performance review and planning conference in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The activity was conducted to ensure that targets were met and the development thrusts of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were integrated into the programs and services of the agency.
The Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project under the agrarian reform program would cover more governmentowned agricultural lands for distribution to landless farmers, Estrella said. Foremost in his directive for the department is to increase the issuance of individual certificates of landownership award and to speed up giving various support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
PhilHealth now open 24/7 with more hotlines
By Macon Ramos-AranetaTHE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has installed new hotlines to make it accessible to members at any given time of the day.
Philhealth can now be reached by its members 24/7, according to the state-run corporation’s president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.
“Our new touch points can now be reached any time of the day at the convenience of our members, especially our overseas kababayans because they no longer need to wait for Philippine office hours to reach out to us,” Ledesma said.
Previously, PhilHealth’s hotlines were only available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ledesma said members may now contact PhilHealth at its new hotline (02) 8662-2588 and mobile numbers 0998-8572957, 0968-8654670, 09171275987 and 0917-1109812, all of which are “available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.”
By Vito BarceloBUREAU of
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE.
Women-activists force their way against policemen trying to stop their march along Morayta Street in Sampaloc, Manila, marking observance of the International Women’s Day on Friday to drum up support for their anti-Charter change advocacy.
Danny Pata
WITH a new law granting cash gifts to octogenarians and nonagenarians, a congressman seeks an updated database on the elderlies who have reached 80 years old and above.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte wants local government units (LGUs) to help the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) come up with a more comprehensive list of Filipinos aged 80 years old and beyond.
Citizens who turn 80, 85, 90 and 95 will receive a cash gift of P10,000 by the government under the new law.
Villafuerte said an accurate catalogu-
ing of Filipino citizens who are 60 years and above is “crucial for the government following President Marcos’ enactment of of Republic Act 11982, also called an “Act granting Benefits to Filipino Octogenarians and Nonagenarians.”
The new law grants a P10,000-cash award for all Filipinos when they reach the ages of 80, 85, 90 and 95, and the amendatory law, RA 11916, or “An Act Increasing the
Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens” of 2022 that doubled the monthly pension of indigent seniors to P1,000.”
“I am appealing to local officials to go the extra mile in helping the NCSC and three more agencies in setting up the Elderly Data Management System or list of elderly Filipinos entitled to the cash bonanza, along with the national database of all senior citizens,” said Villafuerte, one of the authors of both RA 11982 and RA 11916.
RA 11982 amended RA 10868, or the “Centenarians Act” of 2016, by granting a P10,000 cash gift to senior citizens when they reach 80, and every five years thereafter until they turn 95.
DON’T WEED OUT MARIJUANA. Richard Nixon Gomez, a scientist, inventor and general manager of Bauertek is apparently against totally eradicating marijuana which he said can be used for medical purposes. Gomez speaks during a forum on the ‘State of Philippine Medical Cannabis’ at the Quezon City Sports Club. Manny Palmero
Tansingco said the suspected recruiter and her victims tried to depart on board a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand.
The victims initially claimed to be a group going overseas for a vacation. However, a careful scrutiny of their documents revealed inconsistencies, prompting the Immigration officer to
remand them to secondary inspection.
During further investigation, the victims admitted to be bound for Laos where they were purportedly promised work as customer service representatives. They admitted they are set to fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand before traveling to Laos by boat.
They said they were offered a month-
ly salary of around P40,000. The victims said they received the job offer through Facebook and online messaging service Telegram. They admitted that fake identification cards and other documents were given to them by their escort right outside the airport before their flight.
On the other hand, RA 10868 provided for a P100,000-windfall for centenarians, along with a Letter of Felicitation from the President.
Villafuerte explained that RA 11982 tasks the NCSC, in coordination with local governments; the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to undertake an online registration senior citizens for entry into the comprehensive Elderly Data Management System which would contain all information about Filipinos eligible for the cash gifts.
Army launches two-day blood donation drive
By Vince LopezARMY chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido on Friday underscored the importance of a healthy lifestyle and strict discipline among soldiers in an inspirational speech during the command’s launch of a two-day blood donation project at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“Be reminded that our health is important not only today as active military personnel, but also after our military service,” Galido said.
Galido also emphasized the importance of discipline and a strong family “that will serve as the foundation for a strong soldier who will, in turn, form part of a strong Philippine Army.”
The two-day bloodletting drive was meant to ensure the Army has enough plasma as the exigency arises, as well as for emergency purposes for other sectors of the society. The Army targets to collect around 50,000 blood bags from donors, which included Army officers, enlisted personnel, reservists, and ROTC cadets, as well as civilians agencies and members of other uniformed services.
Caloocan offers free ultrasound service for pregnant moms
By Jun David
THE Caloocan City government now offers weekly free pelvic ultrasound for pregnant women every Thursday, courtesy of the city health department (CHD).
The womenfolk may avail themselves of this healthcare service through the barangay health centers in
the city. Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan thanked the CHD for continuously heeding his directive to provide more accessible health services for his constituents. He also acknowledged the timeliness of the program in light of the current observance of the National Women’s Month.
“Magda-dalawang taon na mula po ng tayo ay maging alkalde ng Lungsod ng Caloocan, at wala pa rin pong patid ang pagtutok natin sa pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan (It is now about two years since I became mayor of Caloocan, and we have sustained out health services for our people),” Malapitan said.
LT. RONNIE Liang (Reserve), a reserve officer of the Philippine Army, paid a courtesy call to Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, on Wednesday afternoon, March 6.
Lt. Gen. Gonzales, together with Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Aldrin
Annani and Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs Capt. Edwin Ello received the distinguished visitor at the Commander’s Office at Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City. The WestMinCom Commander commended Lt. Liang for his dedicated ser-
vice as a reserve officer. Lt. Gen. Gonzales expressed his appreciation for Liang’s support to the organization through the content he creates and posts on social media platforms showcasing the transformations of the different battlestricken communities in the WestMinCom area of operation. Vince Lopez
Danny Pata
DFA: Marcos foreign trips justified
HE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday justified the foreign trips of President Marcos, saying these are part of the administration’s development goals.The President is expected to bolster the Philippines’ trade and investment opportunities in his upcoming trip to Germany and the Czech Republic next week, DFA Assistant Secretary Maria
Algabre said on Friday.
The President will leave for Europe on March 11 (Monday) and will return by March 15 (Friday), and will have visited five countries so far this year.
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez said the construction of the Philippine Cancer Center could prevent the deaths of thousands of Filipinos due to the disease, describing the soon-to-rise medical facility as a “sanctuary for healing and hope.”
Romualdez made the statement when he led the groundbreaking for the Cancer Center on Friday. He said the project is part of President Marcos’ mission to provide Filipinos with comprehensive, affordable, and accessible healthcare.
““Our aim is to transform cancer from a death sentence into a manageable condition that, when detected and treated
trade and possession charges against self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa. In a 12-page decision, the CA’s 12th Division through Associate Justice Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura “vacated and set aside” the August 14, 2020 decision and March 14, 2022 resolution rendered by the Manila City RTC Branch 26. This acquitted Espinosa of violation of Section 5 (illegal sale and distribution of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs) Article II of Republic
Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on the ground of the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The March 2022 resolution denied the prosecution’s motion reconsideration of the August 2020 decision on the ground that a judgement of acquittal cannot be reversed as this would violate Espinosa’s right against double jeopardy.
But the CA upheld the government’s claim that the prosecution was denied due process to fully present its evidence before issuing the ruling, which warranted the reversal of the trial court’s decision.
In its petition, the Office of the Solicitor General asserted that the trial court judges who handled the cases committed grave abuse of discretion in ruling in favor of Espinosa. Rey E. Requejo
early, can be overcome,” the Speaker said, noting that cancer is the second leading cause of death among Filipinos.
“We want to ensure strategic alignment with national cancer control plans, make treatment more equitable, affordable, and accessible, and improve the overall experience of cancer care for patients and their families,” he added.
The Cancer Center will be a 20-story, cutting-edge facility. It will complete the medical complexes built during the first Marcos administration, where specialty hospitals are close to each other: the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
“The President’s international engagement is, of course, in support of his development agenda, security, economic that will redound to the benefits of our countrymen,” Algabre told reporters.
“And for Germany and the Czech Republic, the visit will focus, as we have said earlier, in strengthening partnership with like-minded countries in Europe especially the promotion of a rules-based international order,” she added. In a pre-departure briefing held in Malacañang, Algabre said the President will attend business forums with various corporate executives aside from his scheduled meetings with respective leaders of both countries.
Sara pays tribute to women killed by NPA rebelsON INTERNATIONAL Women’s
Day, Vice President Sara Duterte turned her attention to the women who suffered violence at the hands of communist rebels, whom she blamed for the ongoing struggles and frustrations of women in marginalized communities.
In a message posted on her social media accounts, Duterte mentioned the story of Dr. Sharmaine Baroquillo, a physician working at the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital, who was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen last Feb. 3.
The Vice President also mentioned a lawyer working for the New People’s Army (NPA) who died in Bohol while fighting for “rotten ideologies.”
Duterte said this woman is among the many mothers and children who were fooled by the NPA to join an armed struggle that are now either dead or missing.
“Let us also not forget the mothers, wives, or sisters of policemen and soldiers, who risked their lives to ensure our safety,” Duterte said in Filipino.
The Vice President appealed for empathy for the victims and encouraged the public to support the groups who are truly defending the rights and welfare of women in our society, on top of promoting her MATATAG education agenda. With
Manolo Del Rio
PASAY JOB FAIR. Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano leads the Trabaho Para Kay Juana initiative on March 8 at the Astrodome, marking International Women’s Day. The job fair features 35 companies showcasing 6,000 job openings both locally and internationally, as well as various livelihood opportunities and a onestop-shop with government partner agencies.
Norman Cruz
Ombudsman blasts NFA for allowing suspended execs to go on leave
OMBUDSMAN
said
On
Those placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay were Administrator Roderico Bioco, Assistant Administrator for Operations John Robert Hermano, 12 regional managers, 27 branch managers, and 98 warehouse supervisors nationwide.
Martires even requested from the NFA a list of involved warehouses.
take a leave during the period of preventive suspension,” he insisted. Martires said he learned that an official had already filed a leave prior to the receipt of the preventive suspension. “That cannot be. If one has secured an approved leave before one’s suspension, that leave is deemed to have been terminated upon the receipt of the preventive suspension,” he said.
MINGLING IN MALABON. As part of the Malabon City Government’s initiatives for Malabueños, Mayor Jeannie Sandoval chats with applicants in a Mega Job Fair that offered 10,227 job vacancies from 81 local and overseas companies and recruitment agencies at the Malabon Amphitheater on Friday. Andrew Rabulan
THE Paranaque City government yesterday recognized the legitimacy of the 2019 board of directors of the Multinational Village Homeowners Association Inc. (MVHAI) following an earlier ruling of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (DHSUD).
“Considering this development, we wish to assure the 2029 elected board members of MVHAI headed by Arnel Gacutan recognize the legitimacy as the legitimate board of the association,” a letter from city administrator lawyer Voltaire de la Cruz, per the directive of Mayor Eric Olivarez, stated.
De la Cruz said they will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, which both nullified the 2022 election of MVHAI when businessman Julio Templonuevo was elected president.
In a three-page decision dated Feb. 29, 2024, lawyer Norman Jacinto Doral, DHSUD-NCR regional director, said the MVHAI election conducted last April 2022 is null and void.
Doral said the 2019 board members remained the sitting board of MVHAI in a hold-over capacity until today.
In his directive, Doral ordered Templonuevo and the board members who were elected during the 2022 elections to immediately turn over the association’s books, records, funds, properties, and other assets to Gacutan’s board within 15 days.
A LADY columnist of another major Philippine national newspaper wrote in a recent piece about the rumblings and sleepless nights of Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose “Babe” Romualdez.
Speaking before a gathered group of Consular Corps of the country, the ambassador poured his heart out, “There are rumblings going around now. As you know, we have a lot of exports to China, but all those exports can be at peril because occasionally, we hear negative things.
We’re hoping that our neighbor in the north will see the value of continuing our economic activity while trying to peacefully resolve the issues surrounding our territorial waters. We all know that there are challenging times that we face, on many fronts, as I said.”
Why can’t the resident beside the Pasig River pick up river stones to knock on his head? – to finally knock himself to sleep
Romualdez was referring to the recent resurgence of the “transparency initiative” pioneered and brainchild of exUS Air Force colonel, Raymond Powell, whom I wrote about in my recent column as the star of the South China Sea of the Philippines against China.
At the start of 2024, there was a lull in the “skirmishes,” as Romualdez puts it, between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy assets, but in March, this has surged apparently after the US convinced the Government of the Philippines to resume it.
The problem with this newly dubbed “Transparency strategy 2.0” is China’s patience running out and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs had reported to the palace beside the Pasig River that they felt the heat in the last Wang Yi-Enrique Manalo phone talks and the 8th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meet.
The last time this happened during the late Noynoy Aquino’s time, the Philippine banana industry lost P 1-billion just for starters.
So, Ambassador Babe Romualdez is sleepless because the fellow beside the Pasig River has been calling him at 2
a.m. and other wee hours of the morning, fretting about the dire consequences if the heat becomes incendiary and all hell breaks loose on the $ 80-billion trade between the two countries.
The Philippines exports billions to China and imports billions more than the country cannot do without, due to China’s mastery of the supply and production chain that offer cheap goods at best quality.
But why did they get into this mess anyway, the previous president, Rodrigo R. Duterte, never complained of sleepless nights.
In fact, he left the legacy of that booming trade with China, a long laundry list of multi-billion infrastructure project done and to be done ranging from the Chico River Irrigation Pump Dam to the 600-million liter per day Kaliwa Dam for Metro Manila water supply, and on to dozens of bridges and rail projects in Luzon and Mindanao to facilitate growth and development.
The only sleepless guys during Duterte’s term were those Americans in Washington anxious and wondering as they go to bed if their US military bases in the Philippines, which they desperately need for what the great late Australian journalist, John Pilger, immortalized in the documentary “The Coming War on China,” will still be around when they wake up.
The resident beside the Pasig River was heir to this Duterte legacy but in February of 2023 allowed expansion of the US bases and his sleepless nights began.
The resident beside the Pasig River admits he has another cause for sleepless night – inflation.
Three in every four Filipinos in a December 2023 OCTA survey said they are dissatisfied with the government’s efforts to control the rising cost of basic commodities.
A record high 75 percent of respondents saying they were dissatisfied with the government’s performance in managing inflation.
Only six percent were satisfied, while 19 percent were undecided. Rice inflation contributes a major part of it.
In June 2023, seeing the rice crisis in the Philippines and the need to boost production in the country, China donated 20,000 MT or 400,000 bags of urea fertilizer to the resident beside the Pasig River.
There’s more where that came from.
But now, the resident beside the Pasig River is saying the Philippines is a frontline state against the northern neighbor.
Why can’t the resident beside the Pasig River pick up river stones to knock on his head? – to finally knock himself to sleep.
rpkapunan@gmail.com
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has laid down the Philippine card when he expressed support this week for Australia’s possible inclusion in the largely economic bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The President was responding to newsmen’s questions on the idea of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ebrahim to allow Australia, which hosted the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit this week, which became ASEAN’s dialogue partner in 1974, to become a member state.
The current ASEAN countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Timor-Leste, which applied to be a member in 2011, was admitted “in principle” in 2022 as the regional bloc’s 11th member but its full membership remains pending.
Australia considers ASEAN, founded on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). as its key trading partner, expecting its two-way trade with the regional bloc to reach US$400 billion by 2040, an increase from the US$178 billion posted in 2022.
President Marcos said: “Well, I cannot
see why that would not be a good idea. Australia has already been a very active part of ASEAN. And for all intents and purposes, really, in all but name, they are already members of ASEAN. “
We join President Marcos in acknowledging Australia’s consistent support for all ASEANled mechanisms, noticeable in the 50 years of its dialogue partnership with the region
We join President Marcos in acknowledging Australia’s consistent support for all ASEAN-led mechanisms, noticeable in the 50 years of its dialogue partnership with the region.
“We appreciate the evolution of Australia’s strategic approach towards the region from the mere confines of the Asia-Pacific to our now wider common interests in the Indo-Pacific,” President Marcos told Australia and the ASEAN leaders.
“We thus encourage Australia to con-
tinue its active engagement both bilaterally and through ASEAN to ensure the primacy of peace and stability through confidence building, preventive diplomacy, and conflict resolution in the region,” he added.
We note Australia has consistently supported the rule of law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral Award to the Philippines through statements of support and capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.
President Marcos and Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year signed an agreement, elevating the bilateral relationship, born on July 4, 1946, from comprehensive to strategic partnership during Albanese’s visit to the Philippines in September last year leading to the two countries’ conduct of the first bilateral maritime exercises over the West Philippine Sea in November last year. We also note Australia serves as the second home to around 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent. Strategic policy observers have noted, and we agree with them as we rally behind President Marcos’ own declaration, that Australia, with a population of 25.69 million, would be a “game changer” for the 10-nation economic alliance, considering the geopolitical and security this bloc of nearly 690 million people is facing. Undoubtedly, that huge market, with its growing strength as an economic powerhouse, would likewise boost the Australian economy.
JV Ejercito’s integrity shines amidst Quiboloy’s situation
about their commitment to justice.
—“—
By United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
THE fight for women’s rights over the past 50 years years is a story of progress.
Women and girls have demolished barriers, dismantled stereotypes and driven progress towards a more just and equal world.
Women’s rights were finally recognized as fundamental and universal human rights. Hundreds of millions more girls are in classrooms around the world.
And pioneering leaders have smashed glass ceilings across the globe. But progress is under threat. And full equality remains light years away.
Billions of women and girls face marginalization, injustice and discrimination, as millennia of male domination continue to shape societies.
The persistent epidemic of genderbased violence disgraces humanity.
Over four million girls are estimated to be at risk of female genital mutilation each year. Discrimination against women and girls remains perfectly legal in much of the world. In some places, that makes it difficult for women to own property, in others, it allows men to rape
their wives with impunity. Meanwhile, global crises are hitting women and girls hardest. Wherever there’s conflict, climate disaster, poverty or hunger, women and girls suffer most. In every region of the world, more women than men go hungry.
IN THE realm of Philippine politics, where ethical standards often seem elusive, Senator JV Ejercito has shown a commendable display of integrity by withdrawing his objection to the issuance of an arrest warrant against Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” facing allegations. Ejercito’s decision, although delayed, demonstrates a commitment to fairness and due process. His acknowledgment of the seriousness of the allegations against Quiboloy, alongside his principled stance, merits recognition. In a landscape where self-interest often prevails, Ejercito’s actions are a reminder of the importance of conscience.
However, despite Ejercito’s positive step, some senators, such as Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla, have shown reluctance to hold Quiboloy accountable.
Marcos’ efforts to overturn the Senate panel’s ruling and Padilla’s attempts to block accountability raise concerns
New technologies – which have such potential to dismantle inequalities – too often make matters worse.
That can be because of unequal access, algorithms with baked-in bias, or misogynistic violence – from deep fakes to targeted harassment of specific women.
At our current speed, full legal equality for women is some 300 years away; so is the end of child marriage.
This rate of change is frankly insulting.
Half of humanity can’t wait centuries for their rights.
We need equality now.
That means accelerating the pace of progress.
And that relies on political ambition, and on investment – the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
We need public and private investment in programs to end violence against women, ensure decent work, and drive women’s inclusion and leadership in digital technologies, peace-building, climate action, and across all sectors of the economy.
In both developed and developing countries, a backlash against women’s rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights, is stalling and even reversing progress.
We must also urgently support women’s rights organizations fighting against stereotypes, battling to make women’s and girls’ voices heard, and challenging traditions and cultural norms.
May the pursuit of truth and accountability guide us forward, and may those who seek to undermine justice face the consequences of their actions
The actions of these senators are disappointing, as they undermine the principles of democracy and rule of
Currently they receive a paltry 0.1 percent of international development spending. That must change. Investment may sound far removed from women’s everyday lives.
But it takes investment to give schoolgirls the same opportunities as schoolboys. It takes investment to provide digital education and develop skills. It takes investment to provide the childcare that enables caregivers, who are mainly mothers, to do paid work outside the home. And it takes investment to build inclusive communities and societies with the full participation of women and girls of all backgrounds. Putting money behind equality is the right thing to do, but it also makes financial sense. Supporting women to enter formal labour markets grows economies, boosts tax revenues and expands opportunities for all. Securing the investment we need in women and girls requires three things.
First, increasing the availability of affordable, long-term finance for sustainable development, and tackling the debt crisis strangling many developing economies. Otherwise, countries simply won’t have the funds to invest in women and girls. We need immediate action to provide
law. Instead of upholding justice, they appear to prioritize personal interests over the welfare of the Filipino people.
As the Philippine National Police prepares to enforce the arrest warrant against Quiboloy, it is crucial for all Filipinos to demand accountability from those in power.
We must not tolerate attempts to subvert justice and must stand united against corruption and impunity.
In the words of Albert Einstein, “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”
Let us heed his words and strive for a society where justice prevails over personal agendas.
May the pursuit of truth and accountability guide us forward, and may those who seek to undermine justice face the consequences of their actions.
breathing space for countries with unbearable debt repayments looming, and to encourage multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at affordable costs.
Over the long term, we must reform the international financial architecture and make it far more responsive to the needs of developing countries.
Second, countries must prioritise equality for women and girls – recognizing that equality is not only a matter of rights but the bedrock of peaceful, prosperous societies.
That means governments actively addressing discrimination, spending on programmes to support women and girls, and ensuring policies, budgets and investments respond to their needs.
Third, we need to increase the number of women in leadership positions. Having women in positions of power can help to drive investment in policies and programmes that respond to women and girls’ realities. I am particularly proud that since early in my tenure – and for the first time in history – we have equal numbers of women and men in senior management across the entire United Nations system. Equality is overdue. Ending the patriarchy requires money on the table – it’s time to cough up.
SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a large-scale live-fire artillery drill involving a unit Pyongyang says is capable of striking the South Korean capital, the North’s state media said Friday.
So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its “principal enemy”, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over “even 0.001 mm” of territorial infringement.
Pyongyang’s latest announcement came after Washington and Seoul started their annual spring military exercises Monday with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023.
The North’s live-fire drills on Thursday involved border units “that put the enemy’s capital in their striking range,” Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said, referring to Seoul.
Kim urged his soldiers to “vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilization” to “take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes” in the event of an “actual war,” according to KCNA.
Seoul’s military also confirmed the North had carried out live-fire artillery drills involving rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers. AFP
WASHINGTON, DC – He didn’t mention Donald Trump by name in his State of the Union address but there was no mistaking President Joe Biden’s target as he tore into his predecessor from the outset as an enemy of democracy and the liberal world order.
Trump’s heavily-promoted live “play-by-play” response to an extended barrage of criticism turned out to be a damp squib -- beset by technical gremlins and Trump’s odd reluctance to hit back with the same passion.
In his final address before his anticipated November rematch with Trump, the president mentioned “my predecessor” 13 times -- dinging the Republican on his antiNATO statements and campaign of false election fraud claims that inspired the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
“My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that,” Biden thundered.
“This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s the simple truth: You can’t love your country only when you win.” AFP
Activists from the ‘Standing Together’ movement fill a truck with food aid at the parking lot of a shopping center of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, before driving in a convoy toward the border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, in a symbolic show of support for Palestinians. Bearing food aid and wearing Don’t Starve Gaza! t-shirts, dozens of Israeli activists drove towards the border of the besieged territory and got within three kms of the Kerem Shalom border crossing before police turned them back. AFP
‘Don’t use Gaza aid as ‘bargain chip,’ Israel told
PALESTINIAN Territories – US
President Joe Biden warned Israel on Thursday (Friday in Manila) it cannot use aid as a “bargaining chip” in its fight against Hamas and called for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza, where fears of a looming famine have multiplied.
Using his annual State of the Union address to deliver some of his strongest comments yet about the fivemonth-long war, Biden also ordered the US military to lead “an emergency mission” to build a temporary pier off Gaza to facilitate more aid deliveries.
His address was delivered to Congress as hopes dimmed for a new truce before the start of Ramadan after Hamas negotiators left talks with mediators in Egypt to consult with the movement’s leadership in Qatar.
“To the leadership of Israel I say this -- humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Biden said. AFP
WASHINGTON, DC – President
Joe Biden launched a scorching attack on his “dangerous” election rival Donald Trump in Thursday’s (Frday in Manila) State of the Union address, delivering a barnstorming performance to make his case for four more years.
Biden, 81, let the punches fly from the opening moments, accusing the Republican of “bowing down” to Russian
President Vladimir Putin and lashing him on everything from abortion to the economy.
“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War, have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” he said.
“What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at both at home and overseas.”
In one of the most direct attacks in memory by a president on an election challenger during the State of the Union, Biden never said Trump’s name but instead blasted him 13 times as merely “my predecessor.”
Trump’s recent comments calling the US commitment to NATO into doubt were “bowing down to a Russian leader” he said, before vowing to
Sweden finally joins NATO bloc, ending non-alignment, in Ukraine war shadow
WASHINGTON, DC – Sweden on Thursday (Friday in Manila) became the 32nd member of NATO, turning the page on two centuries of nonalignment and capping two years of tortuous diplomacy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered new fears.
Days after Hungary followed key holdout Turkey and became the last NATO member to sign off, Sweden ceremonially handed over accession documents to the United States, the leading force of the transatlantic alliance that promises joint security for all. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
late Thursday attended as a guest at the annual State of the Union address of President Joe Biden, whose rival Donald Trump has disparaged NATO as unfairly burdening the United States.
“Mr Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen,” Biden said as he recognized Kristersson, who sat in the gallery next to First Lady Jill Biden.
Biden urged the House leadership of the Republican Party to move on billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, saying, in a dig at Trump, that “I will not bow down” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not,” Biden said. AFP
cheers from Democrats: “I will not bow down.”
The annual set-piece presidential speech was a unique chance for Biden to pitch his reelection message in front of his closest political allies and foes -- and a national TV audience of millions of voters -- ahead of November’s election.
At just over an hour long, it was also a high-stakes test of his ability as the oldest ever US president to think -- and stay -- on his feet.
Republicans frequently booed and heckled Biden but he shot back each time, sprinkling a vigorous delivery with jokes that mocked his opponents.
Democrats feted him with chants of “four more years” and Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly rose to her
feet to applaud Biden from her seat behind him, while Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson shook his head.
Trump, 77, has a narrow lead over Biden in opinion polls. However, he faces multiple criminal charges linked to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and refusal to give back boxes of top-secret documents after grudgingly leaving the White House.
Trump had promised retorts throughout the speech posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, but only offered a lukewarm and glitchy response as the website repeatedly crashed. “He looks so angry when he’s talking, which is a trait of people who know they are ‘losing it.’ The anger and shouting is not helpful to bringing our Country back together!” Trump posted. AFP
END OF NON-ALIGNMENT. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken receives the NATO ratification documents from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a ceremony at the US State Department, as Sweden formally joins the North Atlantic alliance, in Washington, DC, on Friday. Kristersson hailed his country’s entry into NATO as a ‘victory for freedom,’ as it turned the page on two centuries of non-alignment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The accession ‘is a victory for freedom today. Sweden has made a free, democratic, sovereign and united choice to join NATO,’ he said at the ceremony. AFP
India raids ‘trafficking’ network sending citizens to fight for Russia; dozens of drones shot down
NEW DELHI, India – Indian authorities said they had detained members of a “trafficking” network sending citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine after raiding several travel agents.
Two years since Russia’s invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and
DRONES DOWNED.
This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on Thursday shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (4th left) attending a meeting with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps (2nd right) in Kyiv. Later Russia and Ukraine said they downed dozens of drones overnight, as both launched overnight attacks on each other’s targets behind the stretched frontlines. AFP
Moscow is on a global quest for more troops.
At least two Indian soldiers have been killed in the conflict, with several recruits telling AFP they were shipped to the frontlines under false pretences.
Investigators from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids across 13 locations on Thursday and detained
“certain suspects” for questioning, according to a statement issued late that evening.
“These traffickers have been operating as an organized network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like Youtube etc. and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia,” the statement said. AFP
Over 230m female genital mutilation survivors worldwide, reports UNICEF
UNITED NATIONS, New York – The number of female genital mutilation survivors tops 230 million worldwide, UNICEF said in a new report Thursday, an increase of 15 percent since 2016 despite progress against the practice in some countries.
“It is indeed bad news. This is a huge number, a number that is bigger than ever before,” said Claudia Coppa, lead author of the report released to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Female genital mutilation, known as FGM, can include partial or total removal of the clitoris as well as the labia minora, and suturing of the vaginal opening to narrow it.
FGM, which can cause fatal bleeding or infections, can also have long-term consequences such as fertility problems, childbirth complications, stillbirth and painful sexual intercourse. Africa is home to the most number of FGM survivors with more than 144 million, ahead of Asia (80 million) and the Middle East (six million), according to the survey of 31 countries where the practice is common. AFP
ment Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said.
Limlingan said investors also focused on corporate earnings reports as the impact of higher February inflation rate was factored in.
points, or 1.53 percent, to close at 6,942.21, while the broader all-shares index added 34.92 points, or 0.98 percent, to finish at 3,602.81.
“Philippine shares finally broke the losing streak and bounced back ahead of anticipated release of February’s jobs data,” Regina Capital Develop-
Ayala’s auto arm AC Motors now called ACMobility
CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. rebranded its automotive arm AC Motors to ACMobility to reflect its expanded strategies and direction.
Ayala said in a statement Friday ACMobility would become an endto-end mobility provider that encompasses services, infrastructure and eventually digital platforms from being a multi-brand motor vehicle distributor and retailer.
“At ACMobility, we aspire to be the leading mobility provider for all by the end of this decade. By calling ourselves a mobility provider, we seek to go beyond simply selling vehicles. Our goal is to provide value in the whole ecosystem, which includes building a new electric vehicle platform and providing people with different options that enable their mobility in life,” ACMobility chief executive Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said.
The Ayala Group has been investing in the development of electric vehicle charging stations since 2023. These charging stations have since been consolidated under the helm of ACMobility, which will continue to roll out new stations to support the transition of the automotive industry towards electric mobility.
ACMobility manages a network of 33 charging stations in 16 Ayala Land-operated locations. It plans to add 100 more charging stations in at least 40 locations within 2024. Jenniffer B. Austria
Meanwhile, Asian markets on Friday tracked a record-breaking day in New York and Europe as traders grew increasingly optimistic about a series of US interest rate cuts this year, with attention now on crucial jobs data due later in the day.
Expectations for a first reduction in June have ramped up after Federal
The Aboitiz Group is elected as member of the board of trustees of the United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP) for the third consecutive year, during its general assembly on March 5, 2024. The newly-elected members GCNP board of trustees are (from left) International Care
HontiverosMalvar, Ayala Corp. group risk management and sustainability head Ma.
Victoria Tan, Philippine Marketing Association former president Maria Luz Javier and Manila Doctors Hospital director Dr. Hian Ho
Reserve boss Jerome Powell this week told lawmakers that while the battle against inflation was ongoing, the economy remained resilient and he saw a more dovish tilt coming soon.
He said the Fed “can and will” begin lowering rates if the economy remains strong, inflation keeps falling and the jobs market softens.
His remarks were echoed by Cleveland Fed chief Loretta Mester, who was also keen to make sure the bank continued to rein in prices.
The European Central Bank added to the upbeat mood in trading floors,
with its president Christine Lagarde suggesting reductions could start in June. Traders seized on the soft pivot on both sides of the Atlantic, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq chalking up records on Wall Street, while Paris and Frankfurt also closed at all-time highs.
Asian investors picked up the baton happily Friday, with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Wellington, Manila, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta well up. With AFP
Gatchalian asks ECs to lower power costs, pushes RE use
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian urged electric cooperatives (ECs) to find ways to lower power costs for the benefit of consumers as he pushed for the development of renewable energy (RE) in Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) or far-flung areas.
Gatchalian, in a statement, cited the case of Romblon Electric Cooperative (Romelco) which successfully generated savings for its consumers by adopting a hybrid system for providing electricity.
Romelco expanded its hybrid system with a grant from Germany aimed at developing hybrid systems for off-grid areas.
Romelco’s energy mix is comprised
FCB Manila appoints Nadong as new chief creative officer to boost talents
ADVERTISING and marketing solutions
firm FCB Manila announced the appointment of multi-awarded Jenny Nadong as its new chief creative officer beginning Jan. 4, 2024.
Nadong brings with her decades of experience, leading campaigns for top brands in FMCG, telco, real estate, travel and banking industries.
Nadong joined FCB Manila to reinforce the agency’s pool of creative talents with a strategic point of view to sharpen creative output, beginning with streamlining processes, internal dynamics and relationships that will lead them to fortune, culture and fame.
“It will be a year of reboot and refresh for FCB Manila’s creative team -- spiritwise, work-wise, anchored on true integrated marketing thinking and discipline and guided by our ‘never finished’ mantra,” Nadong said.
Nadong intends to lead the FCB creative team with eyes wide open to current situations that affect the advertising industry.
“Geopolitics and a growing search for meaning and purpose impact marketing and communication. We are duty-bound to get involved in discussions about sustainability, peace, diversity, equality and inclusion and other pressing matters,” Nadong said.
of 73-percent diesel and 27-percent solar. The cooperative initiated a project to further increase the share of renewable energy (RE) to 90 percent, with diesel accounting for only 10 percent.
“We want to encourage small power utilities group areas to adopt the exemplary practices demonstrated by Romelco and pursue the use of renewable energy,” said Gatchalian, who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Energy.
The senator made these remarks in a recent public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Services in relation to the granting of franchises to certain electric cooperatives.
Gatchalian said beyond the goal of achieving 100-percent electrification in their service areas, cooperatives should strategize on lowering energy prices.
“I know it’s very challenging to reduce electricity rates in our country because we practice true cost, but cooperatives should continue to work on bringing down the cost of electricity,” Gatchalian said.
Romelco general manager Rene Fajilagutan said the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in the case of solar in 2023 was P3.80 per kilowatt-hour, lower than the true generation cost of up to P28 per kWh for diesel on some of Romblon’s small islands. Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Friday the proposed motorcycle taxi law being finalized by the House of Representative will not impose caps on the number of motorcycle taxi franchises and their units.
Land Transportation Office chief and assistant secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the law should not specify caps on the number of motorcycle taxis which should be based on data and evidence.
“To put a cap at this early stage would be premature considering that there are so many factors of consideration in determining demand. Population is one, the need in a certain area is one––and all this is a matter of evidence that has to be proven,” Mendoza said. Transportation Committee chairperson and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said it would be unwise to set caps in the proposed motorcycle taxi law as this would be addressed by competition among players in the motorcycle taxi industry.
Acop said the Department of the Interior and Local Government allows local government units (LGUs) determine the caps on the number of tricycles in their respective jurisdictions.
1-RIDER Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said the members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) assigned to finalize the provisions of the motorcycle taxi bill were unanimous that limits should be determined by LGUs, and “will stand by not having hard caps on the proposed bill.”
Concerns were earlier raised regarding the number of motorcycle taxis that would be allowed to ply Philippine roads during the public hearing at Congress.
Ronald Gustilo of Digital Pinoys said his group was pushing for caps in the law due to the dangers of the oversupply of motorcycle taxis. Gutierrez assuaged concerns on the oversupply of motorcycle taxis and emphasized that under the bill hammered out by the TWG, “determining the number of franchises to be issued, the LTFRB shall take into consideration the LPTRP (Local Public Transport Route Plan).”
“The LTFRB shall approve the routes and number of units that may be allowed ... there is no question on the fact on whether or not there will be limits, because there will be limits,” said Gutierrez.
GOKONGWEI-LED Robinsons
Land Corp. (RLC), saw its net income increase by 24 percent in 2023 to P12.06 billion versus a year ago level, driven by the continued recovery of its malls and hotel businesses.
Excluding the impact of the China profit from the previous year, the core net income attributable to the parent for 2023 surged 45 percent year-on-year.
RLC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday, consolidated revenues declined by 8 percent year-on-year to P42 billion as last year revenues were boosted by sales from China’s residential development project.
“We are delighted with the outstanding performance demonstrated across our real estate businesses which propelled us to reach record breaking heights. These achievements underscore our steadfast dedication to delivering excellence through timely execution, strategic initiatives, and an unwavering commitment to delivering quality and value to all our stakeholders,” said RLC chairman, president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said.
The group’s investment portfolio, which includes malls, hotels, and office businesses, contributed 69 percent of total consolidated revenues, amounting P28.82 billion.
RLC’s mall business posted 24 percent increase in year-on-year revenues to P16.21 billion driven by sustained growth in consumer spending and retail sales.
THE government expects to sign several businessto-business (B2B) agreements with US companies during the two-day Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines on March 11 to 12, 2024.
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a briefing Friday that 22 US companies would join the trade mission to be led by US Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
“This was organized precisely to present the Philippine [trade and investment] opportunities to US companies,” he said.
Pascual said the Philippines would host a mix of US companies that are already present in the country and new companies that are keen to invest in the Philippines.
Several companies in the delegation are also seeking to expand their operations in the Philippines, Pascual said.
The US trade and investment mission will include 22 companies, according to the latest announcement from the White House.
These include GreenFire Energy Inc., Google Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch Corp., Visa Inc.-Asia Pacific, President’s Export Council, EchoStar/ DISH, InnovationForce; United Airlines, United Parcel Service (UPS),
Foreign reserves fell to $102.7b in February—BSP
By Jenniffer B. AustriaTHE Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) fell to $102.7 billion as of end-February 2024 from $103.3 billion in January, based on preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. GIR is a measure of the country’s ability to settle import payments and service foreign debt.
The BSP said in a statement the country’s latest GIR represented a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.
It was also about six times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.9 times based on residual maturity.
“The month-on-month decrease in the GIR level reflected mainly the national government’s (NG) payments of its foreign currency debt obligations,” the BSP said.
The net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets and reserve liabilities (short-term foreign debt and credit and loans from the International Monetary Fund), slightly decreased to $102.66 billion as of end-February from $102.68 billion in the previous month.
Boston Consulting Group, KKR Asia Pacific, Marquis, Sol-Go, Capital One Philippines, US-ASEAN Business Council, Bechtel Corporation, Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, FedEx, Mastercard, Microsoft Corp., UltraPass ID and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.
The high-level US Presidential Trade Mission fulfills the commitment of President Joseph Biden during the official visits of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the US.
The US remains the second largest foreign investor in the Philippine economic zones accounting for 14.16 percent of registered business enterprises (RBEs) which include longterm investors like Texas Instruments, Collins Aerospace, Analog Devices, Concentrix, MOOG, Teradyne, JP Morgan Chase Bank, among others.
There are about 355 US locators in the economic zones generating employment for 365,257 Filipinos.
LOAN FACILITY. Silangan Mindanao Mining Co. Inc. (SMMCI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philex Mining Corp., one of the oldest and largest gold and copper producers in Southeast Asia, signs a deed of accession for additional $70 million, with additional lenders who syndicated the credit facility, in simple ceremonies in Makati City. Attending the signing of the deed of accession are (from left) Philippine Bank of Communications president and CEO Patricia May Siy, Security Bank Corp. senior vice president John Cary Ong, Silangan Mindanao president and CEO Eulalio Austin Jr., chairman Manuel Pangilinan, CFO and treasurer Romeo Bachoco, Philippine National Bank president and CEO Florido Casuela and Marvin Matias of SB Capital Investment Corp. The signing completes the total loan facility of $170 million needed to bring the Silangan project into commercial operation by the first quarter of 2025.
Flores
CONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co.
(Meralco) will experience a minimal increase in March electricity rates of P0.0229 per kilowatt-hour on higher ancillary charges.
“Our earlier projection of a lower generation charge would have resulted in lower overall rates. However, the steep upward adjustment in the transmission charge effectively wiped out the reduction in generation charges, causing a slight uptick in overall rates,” said Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga.
Meralco said in a statement this brought the overall rate for a typical household to P11.9397 per kWh this month from P11.9168 per kWh in February.
with bigger power consumption will experience higher increase, it said.
“Driving this month’s overall rate increase is the P0.3976 per kWh increase in the transmission charge for residential customers due to higher ancillary service charges, which more than tripled this month and now account for around 52 percent of total transmission costs,” the company said.
51 percent. Charges from Meralco’s independent power producers (IPPs) also went down by P0.1443 per kWh, reflecting deductions of natural gas costs for First Gas Power Corp.–Sta. Rita under its new gas sale and purchase agreement (GSPA), as directed by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
These were equivalent to generation charge reductions of P0.0447 per kWh and P0.0866 per kWh for the January and February 2024 supply months, respectively.
Charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) also went down by P0.1131 per kWh as the supply situation improved.
Meralco said the average capacity on outage in the Luzon grid decreased by more than 300 megawatts.
Bilateral trade between the Philippines and the US reached $36.1 billion in 2022, with Philippine exports amounting $23.3 billion. KFC
It said residential customers consuming 200 kWh would see an increase of less than P5 in their monthly electricity bill. However, consumers
Meralco said ancillary charge increase was tempered by a P0.3518 per kWh reduction in the generation charge. Charges from Meralco’s power supply agreements (PSAs) went down by P0.3045 per kWh on lower energy payments for South Premier Power Corp. (SPPC) emergency PSAs and the resumption of operations of the San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL) power plant after undergoing scheduled maintenance. Meralco sourced bulk of its power requirement for the February supply month from the PSAs, accounting for
Meralco procured 27 percent and 22 percent from the IPPs and the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, respective, of its total energy requirement for the period.
year.
Meralco and SPPC jointly filed an application with the Energy Regulatory Commission for approval of the deal that is estimated to result in P15.33-billion savings.
SPPC, which owns and operates the 1,200- MW combined-cycle power generating facility in Barangay Ilijan, Batangas City, won the best bid during Meralco’s competitive selection process last year. Meralco declared SPPC as the winning bidder and awarded a PSA for its offer of P7.0718 per kilowatt-hour (total delivered levelized cost of elec-
Bank loans rose 7.8% as money supply reaches P17t in February
BANK loans rose as money supply reached P17 trillion in February, indicating strong demand amid sustained economic growth.
Preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the BSP, went up at a faster rate of 7.8 percent year-on-year in January compared to 7.1 percent in December 2023.
The BSP said that on a month-onmonth seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, rose
0.8 percent.
Meanwhile, outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, went up by 7.8 percent in January from 7.4 percent (revised) in the previous month, while outstanding loans to non-residents grew by 9.8 percent in January after declining by 2.9 percent in December.
Outstanding loans for production activities increased 5.9 percent in January from 5.6 percent in December, led by the increased loans to major industries such as real estate activities (11.4 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (7.4 percent); elec-
tricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning supply (7.3 percent); transportation and storage (18.2 percent); and construction (13.6 percent).
Consumer loans to residents rose by 25.2 percent in January from 23.9 percent in December, driven by the sustained increase in credit card and motor vehicle loans as well as salarybased general purpose consumption loans.
Meanwhile, domestic liquidity (M3) or money supply grew by 6.0 percent year-on-year to P17.0 trillion in January 2024. On a month-onmonth seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 decreased by about 0.4 percent.
US trademark office recognizes IPOPHL as international examining authority
THE US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) designated the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) as a competent International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) as an expression of confidence in the Philippine agency’s capabilities.
“To gain the trust of one of the world’s top five IP offices and frontrunners in innovation is a groundbreaking feat for IPOPHL,” said IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba in a statement after the signing ceremony at the USPTO head-
quarters on March 6.
IPOPHL joins a select group of major IP offices with the recent designation, including the Korean Intellectual Property Office, European Patent Office, Japan Patent Office, IP Australia, IP Office of Singapore and Israel Patent Office.
IPOPHL said it has been working to streamline and harmonize quality management policies to ensure the accuracy, comprehensiveness and timeliness of our search and examination reports after becoming an ISA/IPEA in 2017.
Othel V. Campos
tricity, VAT inclusive) for 1,200 MW.
The parties said that given a certain set of assumptions, the annual effective rate under the 2024 Meralco-SPPC PSA is P5.9450 per kWh. Meralco said the annual delivered rate of P6.0950 per kWh (VAT exclusive and line rental inclusive) would be lower by about P1.5436 per kWh than the effective cost of P7.6386 per kWh, if the equivalent capacity under the PSA is to be sourced from the electricity spot market.
“In fact, by sourcing the capacity through the 2024 Meralco-SPPC PSA, Meralco’s average blended generation rate will be reduced by about P0.4175 per kWh resulting in savings to consumers of about P15.337 billion,” the application read. Alena Mae S. Flores
Security Bank supports female entrepreneurs
SECURITY Bank Corp. said it is supporting the Lokalakalan: Kultura, Kababaihan at Kabuhayan Fair from March 15 to 17, 2024 at Power Plant Mall and Alabang Town Center. The craft fair is organized by talented female entrepreneurs from the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP).
CCAP celebrates communitybased artisans by showcasing traditional crafts reflecting their rich culture and heritage. It also supports and mentors over 23 communities in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas and Mindanao through capacity-building workshops on product development, design and effective marketing strategies.
The upcoming craft fair will showcase bags and accessories, garden and patio decor, home decor, homeware, artwork and prints and ornaments.
The advocacy-led event aims to expand the market reach of the products, aligned with fair trade, from female artisan groups to increase their economic sustainability and promote their cultural heritage.
DAVAO—Amateur standout Aidrid Chan marked his transition to the professional ranks with a remarkable victory in the Philippine Golf Tour Q-School, overhauling a four-stroke deficit with a 68 and securing the low medal honors by three at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates here Friday.
Kuresh Samanodi initially hiked his lead to five strokes with a birdie-birdie feat against Chan’s bogeyeagle start. But the tides shifted as Chan, displaying resilience and skill, recorded four birdies against two bogeys in the next 14 holes.
In contrast, the two-day leader struggled with six bogeys in the same stretch and wound up with a 75, enabling Chan to wrest the lead.
Chan held sway to the finish, matching Samanodi’s birdie on No. 17 to spike a pair of 34s for a fourday total of four-under 284, clinching the top spot and leading 29 others, who earned their spots in this year’s PGT.
The 10-leg circuit kicks off with a two-leg Davao swing on March 12 for the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic, followed by the Palos Verdes Championship on March 19-22, alongside the 54-hole Ladies PGT.
Aidrid
LEVI Jung Ruivivar reached the women’s uneven bars finals on her third attempt in the 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series, this time at the Baku leg on Friday in Azerbaijan.
Ruivivar’s Olympic qualification campaign took a significant turn after top Filipino male gymnast Carlo Yulo advanced to the finals of his favorite event, the floor exercise, but missed a chance to defend his crown in the parallel bars.
The 17-year-old, Los Angeles-California-born Ruivivar landed sixth in the preliminaries, qualifying her for the finals with a score 13.466 points.
Algerian Kaylia Neymour topped the preliminaries with 15.433, with Elisa Iorio, the bronze medalist of the World Championships, in second with 14.466, and Chinese bet Siyu Du in third (14.266), followed by USA’s Katelyn Jong (13.966).
Hard work is now paying off for Ruivivar, who vowed
to do better in the last two stages of the series.
“No matter how I score at the next two meets, I have to say I am proud and honored to be representing the Philippines in the international stage. There are so many talented gymnasts at these competitions,” said Ruivivar before she plunged into action in Baku.
It was Ruivivar’s sixth season in the elite competitions, after first bursting into the scene in the junior division of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Classics back in 2018.
Ruivivar is with another Filipino-American bet Emma Malabuyo in Baku, and they seek to join Yulo and Aleah Finnegan in the Paris Olympics with the qualification points that they will earn in the four legs of the World Cup.
The last two legs in Baku and in Doha this April will determine if Ruivivar and Malabuyo will make it to the quadrennial meet.
So far, Ruivivar, an incoming student-athlete at Stanford University, settled for 12th in the uneven bars’ prelims with 13.33 points to miss the finals back in the Cottbus leg two weeks ago.
This gave Ruivivar 12 points to stay at no. 6 in the 2024 Apparatus World Cup’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Reallocated Points Rankings of the International Gymnastics Federation.
CAPAS, TARLAC – The Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) welcomed World Aquatics (WA) delegates, headed by president Capt. Husain Al-Musallam on Thursday to witness the ongoing 11th Asian Age Group Championship at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
The WA chief was accompanied by Executive Assistant El Chaykh and Wissam Trkmani when they arrived at the Clark International Airport.
Welcoming them were officials of the Local Organizing Committee, led by PAI president Miko Vargas and Secretary-General Eric Buhain.
The group immediately proceeded to the competition venue built in 2019 for the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.
Having a world-class facility and
THE Spikers’ Turf is all set to elevate its game and captivate fans with a promising new season, featuring nine formidable teams, led by defending champion Cignal, in the highly anticipated Open Conference unveiling on March 13 at the Paco Arena in Manila.
In a move to broaden its reach and enhance mainstream appeal, the organizing Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. said that games will be held not only at the Paco Arena but also at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, and at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna. Tournament director Mozzy Ravena expressed enthusiasm about the growth and vision for the men’s volley league, while emphasizing the league’s commitment to providing fans with a more extensive and thrilling tournament.
“It’s going to be a bigger and more exciting men’s tournament. To many of us here, it was just a dream before. Pangarap lang talaga dahil
as much as we appreciate the women’s game na tumaas like yung popularity,” said Ravena during the league’s inaugural press conference at Discovery Suites Ortigas Friday.
“That is the vision that we’ve always had years and years ago. Internationally, alam niyo naman ang men’s game is really popular, so it’s about time na tayo rin sumunod na,” she added.
The teams set to challenge Cignal’s crack for another championship include D’Navigators, Maverick, PGJC-Navy, Philippine Air Force, RichMarc Sports, Savouge Aesthetics, VNS Nasty and the newly-formed Criss Cross. Spikers’ Turf president Alyssa Valdez, the Creamline’s ace player in the Premier Volleyball League, highlighted the solidity of the participating teams this year.
“One thing that’s different this year is very solid yung mga teams – with definitely quality games. Hopefully, yan din ang maging reason ng fans bakit sila manunuod, susuportahan, at
sound leadership in the PAI, Asia Aquatics Executive Director Farid Fatahian said he looks forward to the Philippines hosting another Asian-level competition. Buhain expressed his heartfelt gratitude with the support of the international swimming community.
The two-time Olympian and SEA Games swimming icon said the event is a shot in arm of PAI’s efforts to strengthen the country’s grassroots development program and rebuild the local swimming image and pride before the international community.
“We’re getting back there—one step at a time. Hindi naman nakukuha ang success overnight, but we’re trying our best to make the best out of the opportunity na makukuha natin,” said Buhain, the Batangas 1st District Congressman.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan was formally enshrined as champion in the artistic swimming competition, winning five more gold medals at the close of the competition Wednesday night.
Artyom Tomchishin and Zhansaya Shaukenova scored 124.7625 points to beat teammates Zhansaya Abdykadyr and Svyatoslav (99.3708) for the gold medal in the mixed duet 12 and under event. Kazakhstan also ruled the mixed team 12 and under, 13-15, junior 15-19, and mixed acrobatic junior 15-19. Kazakhstan finished with nine golds, six silvers and one bronze in the tournament organized by Philippine Aquatics, Inc. and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Pinay In Action, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Spikers’ Turf participants are shown during the tournament’s launching.
maa-appreciate
NATIONAL University withstood tremendous pressure in every inning to beat mighty rival University of the Philippines, 7-2, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines baseball tournament on Thursday night at the UP Baseball Field in Diliman, Quezon City.
Coming from back-to-back setbacks, the Bulldogs sensed another danger on a 2-run advantage by the Maroons at the bottom first.
But the Sampaloc batters levelled the score at 2-2 in the next frame, followed by a run in the 3rd and another pair in the midgame.
Knowing UP’s ability to mount a comeback, NU’s coaching staff, headed by Romar Landicho (former Maroon standout), assisted by Robin Go, pitching mentor Junmar Diarao and conditioning coach Fil-Am Mon Espina, instructed the troops to stay focused, minimize errors and step up on defense.
The ploy made the UP scoreless in the remaining inning up to their last bat, where a possible game changer never happened, due to Bulldogs’ ace pitcher MJ Carolino’s no-relief job with sterling power at the mound.
A rotation deployed by the Bulldogs at the bullpen paid off as Nico Calanday hit a double and sent home by Joven Maulit’s RBI (run-battedin), followed by Maulit’s run via RBI by Kiel Olazo to put their team to safer grounds, 7-2, en route to the victory over UP, which fielded 3 pitchers in the entire game, in vain.
“This victory is a morale booster for the team and a confidence buildup for our future games particularly in the next round,” said coach Landicho, as he acknowledged the full support of team manager Wopsy Zamora and chief motivator Rey Sol.
“A positive sign for our boys who can stand up playing under pressure. This is a game we can’t afford to lose. Now at 2-2, we’re back in contention,” Zamora said.
JSK Custom Paint and Auto Works, recognized for its exceptional craftsmanship and automotive expertise, is hosting the highly anticipated JSK Auto Fun Run X on Saturday (March 9, 2024). The JSK Auto Fun Run X holds special significance as it commemorates the 10th edition of this enduring tradition.
Led by its president and CEO, Johnson Tan, the JSK team is dedicated to rejuvenate the local car scene, fostering connections, and supporting community initiatives. Enthusiasts and members of car clubs will gather at the 6th level of the SM North EDSA Multi-level Parking from 4 to 8 a.m. to jumpstart the festivities. The convoy will traverse well-known routes, including EDSA and the North Luzon Expressway, concluding with an exciting finale at the Laus Group Event Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Aside from the thrill of the drive, participants can expect a variety of entertainment options, delicious cuisine, engaging activities, and enticing raffle prizes.
However, the true essence of the JSK Auto Fun Run X lies in its charitable initiatives. Profits from the event are dedicated to a cause chosen by the organizers, exemplifying the spirit of giving back while indulging in one’s passion.
As the JSK Auto Fun Run X prepared for its grand comeback, the organizers express their sincere gratitude to their esteemed sponsors, whose steadfast support has been essential in bringing this event to life.
THE Philippine real estate and housing sector sustained its growth in 2023 despite a host of global and domestic challenges such as high inflation and interest rates.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that based on constant 2018 prices, the sector grew 3.6 percent in 2023, slower than the 5.3-percent expansion in 2022.
Real state, in particular, grew 5.1 percent, while ownership of dwellings rose 2.1 percent in 2023, slower than the increase of 9.8 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively in 2022.
The sector grossed P1.37 trillion in 2023, with real estate accounting for P692 billion and ownership of dwellings, P674 billion at current prices.
The growth was notable in key sectors such as residential, commercial, and industrial properties. The trend of mixed-use developments continued to gain popularity in 2023. These projects, which combine residential, commercial, and retail spaces in one area, offer convenience and efficiency to residents and tenants.
Affordable housing projects targeted at the middle-income segment also gained traction, supported by various financing options and government incentives.
Developers also adapted to changing preferences, with a growing focus on eco-friendly and sustainable designs. The growth of the sector allowed major developers to post strong revenues and profits last year.
SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest developer, posted a P40-billion consolidated net income in 2023, or 33 percent higher than P30.1 billion in 2022 as consolidated revenues grew 21 percent to P128.1 billion from P105.8 billion.
SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said the result reflects the strong support and trust from tenants and customers despite the economic challenges encountered in 2023. “We continue to see this growth momentum this year as we pursue our expansion plans in our key businesses, and explore new opportunities to expand our businesses,” he said.
SM Prime’s mall business accounted for 56 percent of the group’s consolidated revenues and posted a 30-percent growth in revenues to P71.9 billion. Mall rental income also rose 24 percent to P61.3 billion.
HOME builders are seeking the government’s assistance on making mortgages on socialized housing more affordable to address the country’s huge housing backlog.
The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) said that while the government hiked the ceiling for socialized housing to P1.2 million (about $24,000) under the national housing program, many Filipino families still could not afford the mortgages.
“This is a step in the right direction, but the law needs more teeth, and there are some loose ends that need to be tightened up,” CREBA president Noel Cariño said on the sidelines of the group’s recent general membership meeting in Makati City.
Cariño said while the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program was designed to close the wide housing backlog in about five years, “the rate at which these programs are being implemented may not meet targets.”
The group said that with fewer than 300,000 homes being built annually, it could take much longer to address the 6 million housing backlog.
CREBA also called for a review of the Comprehensive Integrated Shelter Finance Act (CISFA) to address homebuyers’ needs for affordable mortgages and interest rates.
CISFA is a secondary mortgage market that provides long-term and affordable housing financing to qualified low-income earners.
TOURISM GROWTH. AppleOne Group Inc., a Cebu-based property developer, is gearing up to welcome an increased influx of both local and international travelers in 2024 to further showcase its ongoing commitment in helping foster people-to-people connections, enriching cultural relations and contributing to the boosting of tourism at the local and national levels. AppleOne through its flagship properties have been consistently the pioneers of hosting and extending warm welcomes to international travelers. Shown is the façade of Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, one of the properties developed by AppleOne.
SM OFFICES emerges as a revolutionary force in the Philippine real estate sector, going beyond traditional office settings and offering environments that are not only conducive to business but also supportive of a balanced and engaging lifestyle.
The innovative approach reflects a deeper understanding of the evolving needs of today’s workforce, marking SM Offices as a leader in creating spaces where productivity and personal well-being coexist harmoniously.
Experiential workspaces
A shining example of how these principles are brought to life by SM Offices is the E-com Office Block at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex. The E-com Office Block, defined by the series of avant-garde E-com Center office buildings, is more than just a dynamic center of workspaces. The scenic E-Com Center glass edifices and grand staircases amalgamate to create a picturesque backdrop that is perfect for commercial and pre-nuptial photo shoots, as well as
hosting functions. “Being located in an SM Office is practically like working from home – we are where you want us to be. Our network of sustainable workspaces is nationwide, so that we are conveniently closer to the homes of our tenant-partners’ employees. This keeps families closer together, while answering companies’ needs for hubs of growth, innovation, and workplace synergy,” said Alexis Ortiga, SM Offices business unit head. Equipped with a myriad of facilities and amenities, SM Offices properties are designed to nurture a well-rounded lifestyle. The unique approach to office space design is driven by a desire to provide an environment where work and pleasure blend seamlessly, fostering a thriving professional community. The OneE-com Center, for instance, houses full-size wooden basketball and volleyball courts, as well as badminton courts with Badminton World Federation-approved PVC flooring. These
facilities provide an excellent avenue for tenant-engagement activities, sports fests, and team-building exercises. Along with this, TwoE-com Center, LEED-Gold certified ThreeE-Com Center and Pre-LEED Gold certified FourE-com Center, all have stirring sky gardens. These expansive fourthand fifth-level green spaces feature curated landscaping, relaxation nooks and retail offerings, to break the monotony from one’s work day and complete a holistic work environment. These areas also serve as ideal Manila Bay sunset settings for corporate gatherings and social events. Adding to the allure of working in the E-com Office Block, the MOA Complex is the premier destination in the Bay Area in Pasay City. The 67-hectare estate boasts of a diverse mix of amenities and facilities, including the SM Mall of Asia, SMX Convention Center, world-class stages like the SM MOA Arena and SM Concert Grounds, and the SM By the Bay amusement park.
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is implementing reforms to improve transparency, accountability and streamline services in the housing sector.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar issued Department Circular (DC) 2024-005, which streamlines the issuance of licenses, certificates and permits. This aligns with the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance, aiming to better serve Filipinos. DC 2024-005 codifies the requirements, rules, regulations and procedures for streamlining and standardizing housing and real estate development regulations, homeowners’ associations and community development.
“The circular will not only promote transparency and accountability, but equally important, it will further streamline processes in the housing sector, leading to better delivery of public service,” Acuzar said.
The DC aims to simplify DHSUD processes for applying for permits,
licenses and certificates. It also seeks to synchronize these processes with other agencies, particularly local government units, to avoid redundant requirements and bureaucratic red tape.
“Through this circular, we harmonize all processes pertaining to licensing, permitting and certification to prevent confusion and delays,” the housing secretary said.
DHSUD director Angelito Aguila explained the codification, which consists of three books.
Book I outlines procedures and requirements for applying for development permits, certificates of registration and licenses to sell for various projects, including subdivisions, cemeteries, columbariums, memorial parks, condominiums and socialized housing projects developed by key shelter agencies and other government agencies. It also covers the validity of development permits, publication requirements, posting, performance bonds, balanced housing development compliance, rectification and certificates of completion.
BUILT with the vision of delivering the needs and wants of consumers across the country, the 70,000-square meter SM Distribution Center (DC) started from a small warehouse in Echague, Manila.
“Previously, all the vendors delivered directly to all the branches. But those were limited to Metro Manila, not VisMin. Through the DC, we were able to deliver all the needs of the store, making products available in all areas,” said Rose Siaco of SM Store. Siaco led the SM Distribution Center from 2004 to 2022.
The SM Distribution Center serves the customers of 75 SM Store branches across the country with the bulk of the distribution or nearly 70 percent
consisting of provincial stores. Whether the merchandise is coming from Davao and going to SM Baguio, the Distribution Center got it covered.
SM Retail vice president Tim Gohoc, who is also managing the SM Distribution Center, said that “it is through a collaboration with MSMEs, customers and logistics partners that we aspire to create a seamless and eco-friendly supply chain network that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing operational efficiency.”
The center leverages innovative technologies to further enhance their services and support businesses of all sizes.
“Aligned with SM Group’s commitment to grow
and enable areas outside of the NCR, coupled with today’s rising consumer demand and expectations, efficient logistics is critical in creating a delightful supplier or partner and customer experience. The SM Distribution Center provides reliability of the supply chain essential to sustained economic activity,” said Frederic DyBuncio, president and chief executive of SM Investments Corp.
Inclusive growth
A one-stop drop for SM’s suppliers is what the SM Distribution Center has become.
Burlington Industries Philippines Inc., the country’s biggest local socks brand, shares how instrumental the DC was to their growth.
ON its 9th run, Cyberzone officially launched its annual ‘Cyberzone Game Fest’ at SM Megamall on March 1, supporting the grassroots gaming community, together with its brand partners and special guests from the esports scene.
Cyberzone has built gaming programs that have been recognized all over the country since 2016 on its first edition of Cyberzone Game Fest, and has continued to innovate tournament events and exhibitions in collaboration with global esports organizations and trusted brand partners.
During the Mega Launch of the highly-anticipated gaming event, Cyberzone Game Fest was mainly presented by Predator Gaming in the Philippines, co-presented by realme and PC Express, and powered by PLDT Home—to collaboratively bring an immersive gaming experience for all.
Transcending Boundaries,
Solidifying Tech Leadership
“This year, Cyberzone is dedicated to transcending boundaries, aiming to further solidify our leadership as the country’s premier tech destination through Cyberzone Game Fest 2024; putting this evolving consumer segment at the forefront of esports”, says Mr. Joaquin L. San Agustin, Senior Vice President, Head Marketing of SM Supermalls, at his welcoming speech.
The official opening of the 8-part series of Cyberzone Game Fest was also graced by the presence of Predator Ambassador, and Valorant gamer himself, Josh Cullen of SB19; alongside Team Secret Ambassador for the Philippines, Razzie Binx.
Both Josh and Razzie led the
GLOBE Gamer Grounds, the country’s leading community games platform, is proud to announce its updated store and rewards portal.
Gamers can now top-up using Globe & TM prepaid load and GCash, or redeem points for their favorite games, such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, VALORANT, Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Ragnarok Origin, and more!
To celebrate this milestone, Globe Gamer Grounds is rolling out a special promotion! From February 24 to March 10, gamers can enjoy discounts for up to 20% off on GCash top-ups through Globe Gamer Grounds.
Through the expansion of its roster of games, Globe Gamer Grounds is now positioned to organize a wider variety of community event types. Aside from standard tournaments, raffles, giveaways, on-ground community gatherings, and other activities may now be expected through the service.
“Together with Globe, we are committed to delivering enriching experiences that cater to the diverse interests of gamers. We encourage everyone to stay tuned to Globe Gamer Grounds for upcoming events and promotions—we have plenty in store for
you!” said Ted Medalla, Regional Manager at Swarmio Media, operations partner for Globe Gamer Grounds.
“With this update, Globe Gamer Grounds is evolving into more than just a platform for competitive gaming; it’s becoming a vibrant hub for all types of gamers,” expressed by Ralph Aligada, Director and Head of Games, Esports, Innovation, and Metaverse at Globe. “Our aim is to create
INFINIX has officially announced that the all-new Infinix GT 10 Pro will be the official tournament phone for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League - Philippines (MPL-PH) Season 13. The top smartphone brand proudly continues its partnership as an official sponsor of the MPL-PH.
As a staunch supporter of the local gaming and esports scene, Infinix believes in empowering users to play their best. No matter one’s skill level, gamers can experience powerful performance for an affordable price point. This year, catch your favorite Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) players using the all-new Infinix GT 10 Pro during MPL-PH Season 13. This smartphone provides a superior gaming experience with its Dimensity 8050 6nm Gaming 5G Processor, so pro players can take on challenging matches and secure their wins. It also has Ultra Graphics powered by an All-Sensory Game Engine and up to 16GB extended RAM running at maximum speed, ensuring that competitors will play their smoothest during the tournament.
The Infinix GT Series is the newest addition to the brand’s diverse smartphone lineup, with the GT 10 Pro as the very first model. Each series aims to meet every user’s needs. The Infinix NOTE series is known for its powerful performance and iconic design, equipped with reliable fast charging. The ZERO series is Infinix’s flagship line with superior performance and a high-quality front vlog camera. For a next-level entertainment experience, the HOT series is the ultimate smartphone for streaming and content viewing. Infinix’s SMART is an entry-level series that can be added to users’ essentials.
an inclusive space where gamers can come together, forge connections, and celebrate their shared passion for gaming. This expansion is a testament to our commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming community.”
In addition to offering discounts on ingame currency purchases, Globe Gamer Grounds remains dedicated to nurturing the grassroots gaming community. Weekly free tournaments will remain a fixture, providing gamers with thrilling competition and the opportunity to earn Gamer Grounds Points. These points can be redeemed for various game topups on the platform. Gamer Grounds Points can also be earned by participating in sign-up campaigns, community events, and giveaway events organized by Globe Gamer Grounds.
Globe Gamer Grounds invites gamers to explore its latest update, and promises gamers an exciting journey ahead as it continues to partner with publishers, community leaders, content creators, and streamers. For more information and to take advantage of the launch offers, visit globe.gamergrounds.ph. Stay connected, stay gaming, and stay tuned for what’s next at Globe Gamer Grounds!
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
platform with specially designed redeemable coupons on SM Malls Online app.
At the first leg of Cyberzone Game Fest 2024, 16 victors have entered the Semi-Finals and 8 teams for the Finals. These two-part gaming tournaments were both held on Saturday, March 2 at SM Megamall, Event Center, Mega A.
Four winning teams (Team Meow, Scatter, Vertex Lumina, and No Org) were hailed for glory as they took home a total prize pool of P30,000.
Game Fest Kids: Roblox Tournament for the Young Providing an immersive adventure for fun and creativity, Cyberzone Game Fest Kids was held, Mar 3. The first leg was closed off with a meetand-greet opportunity among kids, supported by their parents and guardians, with Roblox Star Junell Dominic, aka ‘Juneru’.
Juneru graced the stage and made the gaming experience for kids a memorable one as they navigate their way to SM Super Kids Zone on Roblox.
The best 4 kid players were rewarded with a total prize pool of Php5,000 during the event run. The fun continues as the kids, along with other gaming aficionados, take the free plays and mini challenges into the next level.
Catch Cyberzone Game Fest until April 2024
The gaming adventure continues at select SM Supermalls, during mall hours, every Friday to Sundays.
Catch Cyberzone Game Fest on these dates—SM Southmall March 8-10, SM North EDSA March 15-17, SM City Baguio March 22-24, SM City Clark April 5-7, SM City Sto. Tomas April 12-14, SM Seaside Cebu April 19-21, SM City General Santos April 26-28. Always make sure to #CheckCyberzone at an SM Mall near you for the latest and best #TechAssured gadgets! You can also locate competitive gadget deals through the SM Malls Online app. Keep informed regarding the latest tech updates and gaming events like Cyberzone Game Fest 2024 by following SM Cyberzone on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or by visiting our website at www.smcyberzone.com.
THE biggest Esports event in the country will be held with the launching of the Unity League: Mobile Legends Tournament next month.
The P3.5 million event that has begun to attract a huge number of gamers nationwide, kicks off with its National Capital Region (NCR) phase on April 20 and 21, while similar legs will also be held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) which spearheads the tournament in partnership with PTV 4, announced in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA)
(onsite), while Mindanao on June 15-16 (online) and May 22-23 (onsite).
The top two teams from each region are going to play in the grand finals set July 5-7.
PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo also said in the same session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PLDT/Smart, MILO, and the 24/7 sports app in the country ArenaPlus, that gamers 15-andabove are allowed to participate in the all-amateur tournament.
Initially, the age limit was pegged at 18-and-above.
“OK na rin sa 15 (years old) kasi on the side, the responsibility is there,” said Marcelo, while adding the meet also serves as tryouts for possible inclusion to the national team, which accepts members 16 years old and above.
and May 11-12 (onsite), Southern Luzon on May 18-19 (online) and May 25-26 (onsite), Visayas on June 1-2 (online) and June 8-9
“As an NSA, one of the things that we wanted to do is to promote Esports responsibly kasi maraming bad connotations initially (ang Esports). And we wanted to remove that connotation.” The PESO official noted that currently there are 43 million gamers in the Philippines, and that out of the figures, 55 percent are in the youth market.
SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor By Riera U. MallariTHE latest iterations of realme smartphones have pushed the boundaries of aesthetics, with designs that wow and awe.
realme’s latest masterpieces – the realme 12 Pro+ 5G and the realme 12+ 5G are no different, meaning you can flaunt them all you want and make sure to turn heads.
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G, our review unit, is yet another example of amazing craftsmanship, a collaboration of expertise, inspired by legacy and built with modern luxury materials.
Crafted with Timeless Elegance
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G’s design embodies the essence of luxury timepieces, featuring elements meticulously chosen to evoke a sense of sophistication, developed in partnership with renowned watch designer Ollivier Savéo, whose experience with prestigious Swiss brands like Rolex and Piaget is evident in the exquisite details.
The polished sunburst dial, reminiscent of classic watches, captures the light with a captivating brilliance. A golden fluted bezel adds a touch of timeless elegance, while the 3D jubilee bracelet provides a comfortable and sophisticated feel.
The premium vegan leather back in a stunning shade of blue completes the luxurious aesthetic. This design is also available in versatile colors like beige and green, allowing you to choose a perfect match for your style.
Beyond the looks
But the realme 12 Pro+ 5G goes beyond its stunning looks.
In case you have been living under a rock, the recent launch of the realme 12 series goes by the catchline – Be The Portrait Master.
For a smartphone to embrace such a bold slogan meant there must be some truth in its claim.
After a week’s use of the realme 12 Pro+ 5G, one thing is for sure – it’s camera system sure wows and awes, just like its looks.
realme Pro+ 5G
Capture Stunning Photos, Day or Night
The phone boasts a flagship-grade camera system designed to deliver exceptional results in any
Unmatched Zoom: Get incredibly close to your subject with the 64MP periscope telephoto lens, offering 3x optical zoom and an impressive 18x total zoom (combining optical and in-sensor zoom). Plus, capture distant details with the powerful 120x SuperZoom. All supported by Optical
By Jasper ValdezFINDING the right smartphone for your needs is no longer as tedious of a task as before. After all, the affordable smartphone block is peppered with all kinds of handsets—of different sizes, colors, and attributes.
But having almost all of the important features in a midrange smartphone is close to impossible, spec-wise and lookwise. Choosing the most important aspect of a smartphone for what you
demand will have to be the center point of your buying decision.
However, that no longer has to be the case. And it’s thanks to realme. The Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer is redefining what it means to have a midrange smartphone with its latest offering—the realme 12 series.
In this new lineup, we had the opportunity to test the realme 12+5G, specifically the Pioneer Green colorway.
Here’s what we think:
Superior Build Quality
Unlike most affordable to midrange smartphones out in the market today, the realme 12+5G does not cut corners
with how it presents itself.
It sports a premium vegan leather back that feels great to the touch, adding more grip to the phone. This backing also makes it less prone to scratches and abrasions—a must if you prefer your phone as is (without a case that makes it bulkier).
Meanwhile, the metal edge trimmings also add to the luxurious feel of the phone but the drawback is that it’s a fingerprint magnet. This same metal trim can be seen at the back, running through the protruding circular camera island that ties the whole look together. The realme 12+5G also feels a little bit heavy and solid when held, a departure
provides 5G Connectivity and a powerful performance with up to 2.4GHz; 660,000++ AnTuTu Score for benchmarks and high level power efficiency with its 4nm Architecture.
Even though this is a mid-range processor, it is still capable of handling many games. We tried the Asphalt 9: Legends and Genshin Impact and were impressed by how smooth the graphics and sound played out, considering the realme 12 Pro+ 5G isn’t a gaming phone. Just don’t do it for extended periods of time, because doing so may lead to frame rate drops.
But with everyday tasks such as writing and sending emails, binge-watching your favorite Netflix shows or listening to your Spotify playlists on end, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G is one capable machine. Battery
Stay connected for longer with the realme 12 Pro+ 5G. The 5000mAh battery provides up to 35 hours of talk time, perfect for marathon conversations. Binge-watch your favorite shows for over 17 hours on a single charge, or get through days of regular use without worry. Whether you’re a marathon talker, a streaming enthusiast, or a casual user, this battery keeps you powered up for what matters most.
The 67W SUPERVOOC Charge is a fast and versatile charging solution. It can quickly charge a compatible device’s 5000mAh battery up to 50% in 19 minutes and 100% in 48 minutes. Additionally, the charger is PD-compatible, meaning it can be used with a variety of other devices and charging technologies.”
Verdict
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G is an entrancing option not only for millennials, yuppies and/or Gen Z, but also for executives and even parents, who prioritize a good camera, a smooth display, long battery life, and a stylish design.
Price
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G comes in the highest 12GB+512GB storage variant available in two colorways: Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige, retailing at P25,999.
Sample photos
An Excellent Shooter
from most affordable phones which feel light and plasticky.
Prime Screen Display Looking at the realme 12+5G, the first thing you’ll notice is how the colors pop on its 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that boasts of an impressive 92.65% screen-to-body ratio. Its 120Hz refresh rate ensures that everything feels liquid when navigating the screen with your fingers—no lags or snags. This snappy screen has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, guaranteeing high-quality viewing even under the blazing Philippine sun. The in-screen fingerprint scanner also performs well, offering secure and fast unlocking at all times.
Another facet the realme 12+5G has in the bag is photography. With a triple rear camera system that consists of a 50MP Sony main sensor, an 8MP Wide Angle camera, and a 2MP macro sensor, it’s to be expected.
In ideal lighting, photos always come out sharp and vivid—thanks largely to Sony’s optical image stabilization technology (OIS). Likewise, the phone performs well in lowlit environments, producing vibrant images with just a tinge of softness, which is within expectations.
Selfie-takers will also have a field day with this device. It’s equipped with a reliable 16MP front hole-punch camera that generates sharp and color-accurate photos, enabling users to capture their authentic selves.
Longevity
The realme 12+5G’s massive 5,000 mAh battery can last all day under moderate usage—that’s hours of video playback, streaming, shooting, and more. And even if you do lose power due to consistent use, its 67W SUPERVOOC charging support will fill your power back up in under 50 minutes.
Performance
While the realme 12+5G does stellar in almost all aspects, it hits a bit of a rough patch performance-wis e.
Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset and an ARM Mali-G68 MC4 GPU made more impressive by 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, it’s able to run applications without experiencing any hiccups.
YouTube. Leveraging this integration, Rili.ai gathers personalized information from users’ public profiles
on these platforms, ensuring a tailored experience based on their interests and preferences.
Features for Enhanced Social Engagement
The app offers various features designed to enhance users’ digital interactions. The explore feature allows users to effortlessly search for their favorite Rili users and discover others who share similar interests and preferences, fostering meaningful connections in a virtual community. With profile customization, users can tailor their Rili to reflect their unique personality and interests. The chat functionality allows users to initiate conversations with other “Rilis” and review their past chats, promoting seamless interaction and boosting engagement. Other features include creating favorite Rili lists, scoring conversations, adding likes to conversations or phrases, and sharing messages with anyone through different channels. Through Rili, users have the unique ability to deeply connect with others, gaining valuable insights and understanding into their perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Rili.ai facilitates meaningful connections that transcend geographical
boundaries and time constraints. With its advanced capabilities, Rili.ai offers an app for preserving digital heritage, allowing users to capture and preserve their memories, stories, and experiences for future generations.
“Rili is the new generation of social media platforms. Powered by AI and using the most relevant state-of-the-art technologies, its development will be a turning point for the history of communication. The creation of digital twins will give the opportunity to the society to expand their knowledge, connections and share of voice beyond boundaries”, highlighted Antonio Camacho, Rili Cofounder. “Rili’s mission is to fight against isolation, allowing people to connect with others you would not be able to reach”. Join Rili’s white list The Rili alpha version is already live for anyone interested in joining the community. You can sign up for the white list and will be notified once you have access to create your own Rili. The app is available for iOS and Android.
Thanks to voice cloning and lip-syncing, anyone can create their own digital twin (Rili) and interact with anyone, anytime, and anywhere.
Continuing over 1,000 years:
A Legacy of Entrepreneurship and Charity
For over 1,000 years, the relationship between the Philippines and ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs has consistently been defined by trade, cultural exchange, social harmony and mutual growth.
In this 21st century, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) stands as a testament to this enduring legacy, celebrating its 70th anniversary by reaffirming a commitment to furthering economic and social progress in the Philippines through entrepreneurship and charities.
FFCCCII officials are led by philanthropist and industrialist Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro as president. He personally coined the anniversary theme “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” which expresses the unique identity of Filipinos of Chinese heritage committed to help Philippine economic and social development.
Trade
Beyond dynamic commerce, the FFCCCII and its 170 Filipino Chinese chambers nationwide have been at the forefront of philanthropy and diverse charities in accordance to traditional Confucian moral values of“ren”in Mandarin or“jin”in Hokkien meaning benevolence or humaneness and “yi” in Mandarin or “gi” in Hokkien meaning “righteousness”. These charities combining trade with initiatives that contribute to the well-being of Filipino communities in all regions of the Philippines for generations. The organization’s dedication to sustaining this harmonious blend highlights its deep understanding of the essential interconnectedness of economic success and social welfare.
In its seven decades of existence, FFCCCII has consistently championed efforts to elevate the Philippines into a globally-competitive economy. Through strategic partnerships, innovative business approaches, promoting high productivity and a commitment to excellence, the federation hopes to help uplift the Filipino nation on the international economic stage.
As part of its efforts to promote economic diplomacy with all countries like Asean neighbors, China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, US, EU, etc., during its 70th anniversary celebration, FFCCCII has invited many foreign business delegations from different continents to visit the Philippines.
A Catalyst for Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth
Embracing the principles of sustainability, FFCCCII has actively promoted inclusive economic growth. By fostering initiatives that benefit a wide spectrum of society, the federation underscores the belief that true economic progress is achieved when no one is left behind.
Advocacy Beyond Business - Socio-Civic and Philanthropy
FFCCCII’s initiatives extends far beyond boardrooms, reaching into the heart of socio-civic and philanthropic causes. Through various initiatives, the organization has demonstrated a commitment to addressing societal needs of the whole Philippines, embodying the spirit of its 70th Anniversary theme: “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy”—Chinese blood, Filipino heart. They are majority full-pledged Filipino citizens with Chinese heritage, with all members contributing to social development of the Philippines.
FFCCCII Operation Barrio Schools: Donating 6,200 Public School Buildings
One of the diverse civic projects of the FFCCCII is the “Operation Barrio Schools” started in the 1960s, which has encouraged Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs to donate public schoolbuildings in economically-disadvantaged and mostly far-flung rural areas throughout the Philippines. The country’s biggest philanthropic project of its kind, through its Operation Barrio Schools, the federation’s remarkable contribution of 6,200 public school buildings stands as a tangible testament to its dedication to providing good quality public education for the Filipino youth.
Volunteerism in Action - Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigades
In times of crisis through past decades, FFCCCII has proven that volunteerism knows no bounds. By supporting Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigades nationwide, the federation has demonstrated a commitment to community safety and resilience in the face of adversity. The Filipino Chinese business community’s volunteer fire
brigades assist all victims of fires and other calamities in the Philippines regardless of their ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds.
Calamity Relief Efforts - A Helping Hand in Troubled Times
FFCCCII’s philanthropic spirit shines brightly in times of calamity. Through generous donations and strategic relief efforts, the organization galvanizes Filipino Chinese community donations and stands shoulder to shoulder with all Filipinos during their challenging moments like typhoons or other disasters, providing a helping hand when it is needed most.
Advocating Socio-Economic Reforms
FFCCCII recognizes that true progress of the Philippines involves continuously advocating for meaningful socioeconomic reforms. Through collaborative efforts with various sectors, the federation works towards creating a conducive environment for sustainable development, ensuring lasting benefits for the Filipino nation.
Recently at the annual Prospects Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro was the only private sector business leader speaker and he articulated 12 socio-economic reforms needed for sustainable and inclusive Philippine economic growth.
In its auspicious 70th anniversary, the FFCCCII upholds its theme of “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” or Filipinos of Chinese heritage, unwavering in commitment to economic prosperity, social welfare, and the betterment of the Philippines.
Warm greetings!
MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA
For decades, the Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has been one of our indispensable partners in promoting the growth of vital businesses and industries in our country. With its countless acts of compassion, charity, and humanity, it has proven itself equally valuable to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our nation.
As you bring your members together for the commemoration of your 70th Anniversary, may you continue to strive with us in the rigorous implementation of national policies, advancement of trade industries, and perpetuation of the highest standards in the business landscape. I also have faith that you will continue to spearhead social welfare initiatives and nurture a profound sense of belongingness among your fellows in the Filipino-Chinese community.
In line with your vision of fueling the country’s engine of progress, I trust that you will continue to hone the competencies of our people by conducting workshops, offering green and sustainable jobs, as well as encouraging their immersion in our nation-building efforts. I likewise look forward to your endeavors that will deepen cultural understanding and raise sociological consciousness so that we can lay the foundation of a nation that is characterized by unity, tenacity, and prosperity. I wish you a happy Anniversary and more success in your future pursuits.
Mabuhay ang FFCCCII!
MANILA 9 March 2024
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
M E S S A G E
It is with great pleasure that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) as you celebrate your remarkable 70th anniversary.
This significant milestone is a testament to your unwavering commitment, resilience, and invaluable contributions to the economic landscape of our nation.
For seven decades, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been at the forefront of fostering strong ties between the Filipino and Chinese communities, promoting trade, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange.
Your steadfast dedication to enhancing bilateral relations and advancing economic cooperation has played a pivotal role in shaping the prosperity of our country.
Throughout the years, your organization has not only provided a platform for business growth but has also been instrumental in initiating philanthropic endeavors, community development projects, and disaster response efforts. Your unwavering spirit of corporate social responsibility serves as an inspiration to us all.
As we commemorate this significant anniversary, let us reflect on the achievements of the past while embracing the opportunities of the future. Together, let us continue to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive business environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
On behalf of the House of Representatives, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Federation of Filipino -Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, its esteemed officers, members, and partners, on this momentous occasion.
May you continue to prosper and thrive in the years ahead, and may your endeavors continue to bring prosperity and success to our beloved nation.
Mabuhay!
“He is truly the pole-vault king of Asia - Philippines’ star athlete EJ Obiena wins Asian Games pole vault with games record,” wrote Agence France Presse (AFP) journalist Andrew McKirdy. “Congratulations, EJ, on clinching our first gold in men’s pole vault at the 19th Asian Games!” President Bongbong Marcos tweeted.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) led by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro expressed congratulations for the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games and the country’s first ever Asiad track and field gold in 37 years won by Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena (whose Chinese name 蔡華強 is pronounced as “Chua Hua Kiong” in Hokkien, Minnan or south Fujian province language and “Chai Hua Chiang” in Mandarin) on September 30, 2023 at the packed 80,000-seat, lotusinspired and high-tech Hangzhou Olympic Centre Stadium in Hangzhou City, China.
athletes from 45 nations competing for 481 gold medals in 40 sports. Aljazeera reported: “The Games are bigger than the Olympics when it comes to the number of athletes and sports---and this year’s competitions is billed as the biggest in history”.
Dr. Pedro’s other co-speakers were Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr. and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon. They all manifested strong support for the Filipino athletes.
Thunderous applause as Philippines
shattered Asiad pole vault record
EJ Obiena said: “What a way to conclude this amazing season. Jumping in front of a thunderous-synchronized claps of 80,000 people in a breathtakingly beautiful Hangzhou Stadium was more than enough to blow my mind and unquestionably register a core memory. What a privilege it was to deliver the country’s first gold in the 19th Asian Games and break the Championship Record.” The thunderous applause and cheers of the Chinese crowd at the massive stadium for the Philippines’ Asian Games record-breaking pole vault win of EJ Obiena showed that sports promotes goodwill and Asian solidarity, a positive sign for continued PhilippinesChina friendship.
FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro said that like the Federation’s Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs nationwide in its 170 chambers and diverse business organizations from Aparri to Tawi Tawi, EJ Obiena and other Filipino Chinese athletes competing to bring honor to the Philippines, they exemplify what he describes as “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” or ethnic Chinese who cherish their cultural heritage and also at the same time are full-pledged Filipino citizens helping Philippine progress.
EJ Obiena is alumnus of Chiang Kai Shek College, a school good in Chineselanguage classes and teaching Confucian moral values, also the alma mater of civic-spirited philanthropists FFCCCII Chairman Emeritus Lucio Tan of Tan Yan Kee Foundation, late George S.K. Ty of Metrobank Foundation, late Henry Sy, Sr. of SM Foundation, Oishi snacks/Liwayway Group founder Ambassador Carlos Chan (who in 2019 alone had donated 100 public schoolbuildings to rural areas of the Philippines through FFCCCCII’s philanthropic “Operation Barrio Schools”) and Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foundation. FFCCCII, PCCI, ECOP support Philippine team in Hangzhou Asian Games
Good luck and support for the Philippine team of athletes to the Hangzhou Asian Games were expressed by FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro at the September 15, 2023 Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, a week before the grand opening rites of the Asiad.
Dr. Pedro also sent his best wishes to host city Hangzhou of China for the success of the Asian Games, which hosted a record 12,400
Biggest ever & most high-tech Asiad opening ceremony POC President Bambol Tolentino said that he hopes the Philippine team shall exceed the four gold medals in the last Asiad, and that he expects Hangzhou City and China shall stage a “spectacular and amazing Asian Games” because he said that’s how the Chinese nation usually stages international events.
Indeed, the high-tech, stunning Hangzhou Asian Games’ opening rites in the mega stadium marked the richest and most skillful use of augmented reality in history, shedding spotlight on the sustainable and digitally enhanced future of such gala events, according to the creative team.
Even though Chinese civilization invented fireworks thousands of years ago for celebrations, this historic use of stunning digital fireworks “showed fireworks could be a thing of the past” according to British newspaper “The Guardian”. Chinese organizers used digital fireworks for environmental sustainability. The stadium’s lotus design was inspired by Hangzhou City’s world-famous scenic West Lake and its lotus blossoms.
Futuristic performances combined with dazzling, ancient cultural performances to showcase not only the progress of beautiful city of Hangzhou, but also the epic socio-economic transformation of China into the world’s No. 2 biggest and still dynamically growing economy.
More than 4 Golds goal & better Philippines-China friendship at Asiad POC president Bambol Tolentino said the Philippine sports delegation to the Asian Games in Hangzhou City will be 396 athletes, and he has high hopes that the country can surpass the previous performance of 4 gold medals in the last Asian Games.
Tolentino praised China’s preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, saying he expects it to be “amazing and spectacular” because that is the way they usually host and organize events. He added, the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo described Hangzhou City as “Paradise on earth”.
Mayor Tolentino added that despite recent territorial disputes between the Philippines and China, he hopes the host shall treat Filipino athletes with fairness. In a positive sign of goodwill promoted by sports, the jampacked stadium filled with a huge Chinese crowd cheered on Filipino athletes like EJ Obiena.
HIGHLAND BREW
Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio
Looking for the perfect pickme-up to kickstart your Baguio adventure? Grab a cup of Baguio’s warm brews at Coffee & Pine, a local favorite, offers signature coffee like the milky Atok Haze Latte. They also have refreshing alternatives such as the Northern Blossom Purple Latte and Blueberry Smoothies. Pair your drink with their decadent Mac & Cheese or Triple Decker for a filling stop.
GREYHOUND CAFÉ
Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio
Photos: Coffee and Pine FB page
Experience the vibrant flavors of Thailand without leaving Baguio! Greyhound Cafe, perched atop SM City Baguio’s Sunset Terraces, offers an authentic Thai culinary experience with a unique twist. Savor authentic flavors & their secret Baguio menu: Pineapple Fried Rice & Three Musketeers (taro, sweet potato, pumpkin). Ask for the “black book” to unlock hidden gems. Sip on Pink Journey (strawberry, apple, lime) or coffee Jello, all with a breathtaking panorama of Baguio City!
BOTEJYU
Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio
MANGO TREE CAFE
Explore the exquisite flavors of Japan at Botejyu! Start your taste bud adventure with crispy Gyoza, then dive into the creamy goodness of California Rolls. Digin on a culinary journey with the Sakura Bento Box. It’s the perfect fuel for your SM Baguio food crawl!
YOGORINO Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio
Sky-high indulgence! Ascend to SM Baguio’s Sky Terrace and treat yourself to Yogorino’s Italian frozen yogurt with panoramic views. Imagine creamy swirls, fresh fruit, and decadent toppings – a royal treat! They even have Japanese crepes for a sweet twist. Don’t miss out!
NABE JAPANESE IZAKAYA AND HOTPOT
Seeking a comforting thirstquencher from exploring Baguio? Highland Brew, a local favorite atop SM City Baguio, awaits. It offers stunning views and soulwarming brews like the Mt. Ulap Tiramisu. Unwind with calming lavender or refreshing hibiscus tea. It’s more than coffee, it’s an experience.
Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM CIty Baguio
Warm up after Baguio adventures! Nabe Japanese Izakaya and Hotpot offers endless hotpot to share with loved ones. Choose from 16 soup base flavors, add premium meats, fresh vegetables, and scrumptious hotpot balls, and umami sauces.
CHILI’S Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio
Indulge in authentic American comfort food at Chili’s! Try their refreshing Classic Chicken Salad or indulge in savory favorites like Bacon Ranch Beef Quesadilla and Loaded Boneless Chicken, all dipready!
JAMES WRIGHT CAFÉ
Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio
Photos: James Wright Cafe FB page
VIZCOS’S RESTAURANT AND CAKE SHOP
Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio
Make James Wright Café a must-add to your food crawl! It’s the perfect spot to cap off your culinary adventure with a delicious and affordable drink like their Greek Frappe, Hot Mocha, or Cheesecake Latte. The warm and inviting atmosphere makes it ideal for both unwinding and getting some work done.
Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio
Mango Tree Cafe brings its worldrenowned menu to SM City Baguio, offering authentic Thai flavors crafted with high-quality ingredients. Enjoy a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, curries, and more, all prepared by talented Thai and Filipino chefs. Experience the warmth of Thai hospitality amidst a cozy ambiance, and discover the unique charm of regional dishes from Northern Thailand. Photos: Mango Tree Cafe FB page
WINGZONE
Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio
Sink your taste buds in the many flavors of Wingzone’s chicken dishes like Salted Egg, Thai Chili, Garlic Parm, Lemon Zinger, and Honey Q. Choose between the naked wings or boneless bites to go with your plate of piping hot rice, or have both so you can fully enjoy the Wingzone experience.
A trip to the North isn’t complete without a stop at the famed Vizco’s. The crowd-pleasing Strawberry Shortcake, undoubtedly the alltime favorite, is a must-try (or take home), as is the decadent Tres Leche. While they have several main dish options, the rich Baked Chicken Penne stands out as the most popular.
H.O.Y. HOUSE OF YOGURT Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio
Photos: H.O.Y. IG page
H.O.Y. House of Yogurt elevates yogurt in Baguio! They craft unique blends with local and highland ingredients, a must-try for yogurt lovers. Enjoy delectable pasalubong ideas like hopia, cheesy pie, and more! Treat your gut and taste buds for an enjoyable experience.
THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has for 70 years played a pivotal role in enhancing economic diplomacy between the Philippines and various nations.
The focus has been to boost economic engagements with our neighbors the ASEAN countries, our traditional ancient trade partner and rising 21st century economic superpower China, our east Asian neighbors South Korea and Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, the Western countries of USA and EU, etc.
With its focus on fostering trade, exports, investments, tourism, and goodwill, FFCCCII has become a key player in strengthening international relations and promoting Philippine economic growth.
From March 8 to 10, 2024 during
its 70th anniversary celebration, FFCCCII led by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro has invited many foreign investor delegations from different continents to come and visit the Philippines. FFCCCII sees this as a golden opportunity to promote the Philippines as a progressive country focused on trade, investments and economic cooperation.
Trade and Exports
FFCCCII has been instrumental in facilitating trade partnerships between the Philippines and other countries, most especially the urgent need to increase
Philippine exports. By leveraging its extensive network of businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors, the organization has actively engaged in trade promotion activities. This involvement has not only opened new avenues for Filipino products in the global market but has also attracted foreign investments, contributing significantly to the country’s economic development. Apart from sending trade missions and joining trade fairs in ASEAN countries, FFCCCII has also supported the government’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), CITEM and other agencies to promote Philippine products in the increasingly affluent market of 1.4 billion consumers in China. FFCCCII doesn’t want the Philippines to lose out to our ASEAN neighbors in the competition to sell to China an d other vast foreign markets.
Investments
Through its commitment to economic diplomacy, FFCCCII has attracted foreign investments into the Philippines from all over Asia and other continents in the past 70 years. The organization’s initiatives provide a platform for dialogue between local entrepreneurs and foreign investors, fostering an environment conducive to investment. This collaborative effort has led to the establishment of joint ventures, technological exchanges, and the infusion of capital that fuels innovation and development. Tourism FFCCCII’s involvement in economic diplomacy extends to the Philippine tourism sector, which Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs believe still has vast untapped growth and development potentials.
Recognizing the economic impact
of a vibrant tourism industry, the organization has actively promoted the Philippines as a prime tourist destination. By fostering cultural exchanges and showcasing the country’s attractions, FFCCCII has contributed to the growth of tourism, bringing in foreign visitors and enhancing the nation’s image on the global stage.
Goodwill and Cultural Exchange
Beyond economic interests, FFCCCII places a strong emphasis on fostering goodwill and cultural exchange. The organization has initiated numerous programs aimed at strengthening people-to-people connections with all our Asean and Asian neighbors, promoting mutual understanding, and building lasting friendships. These efforts go beyond business transactions, contributing to a more interconnected and harmonious global community.
In conclusion, FFCCCII’s multifaceted approach to economic diplomacy has positioned it as a key driver of the Philippines’international economic engagement. Through its initiatives in trade, exports, investments, tourism, and goodwill, FFCCCII has not only strengthened economic ties but has also played a vital role in building bridges between nations.
As the global environment continues to evolve and faces numerous challenges, the organization’s commitment to fostering stronger international cooperation and mutual prosperity remains essential for the sustained growth and development of the Philippines.
