Manila Standard - 2024 May 23 - Thursday

House okays bill legalizing absolute divorce on final reading

By Maricel V. Cruz

predominantly Catholic country. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the principal author of House Bill (HB)9349, titled, “An Act reinstituting absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the

‘China manipulated recording’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vince Lopez

THE Chinese embassy in Manila was accused of manipulating an illegal recording of a phone conversation between former Western Command head Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos and a Chinese military attaché to make it appear they discussed a “new model” on how to ease tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Carlos, who has since been relieved as WesCom head after he extended his personal leave, told senators on Wednesday he had talked to a certain

“Colonel Li,” but denied entering into secret deals that would compromise national interests. “I condemn the act of the Chinese em-

bassy to record the conversation without my consent, much more to divulge it to the public with malicious twist and manipulation in order to appear that our discussion supported the corrosive narrative of PRC (China),” he said during the first hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security on the wiretapping issue.

“The terms ‘common understanding’ and ‘new model’ were not part of our conversation,” he added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, for his part, vowed to

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel Cruz

THE Philippines will not recognize China’s new regulation allowing its Coast Guard to detain trespassers

over waters which it claims jurisdiction, including the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednesday said. “They could make the announce -

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Marcos gave his go signal on the return to the traditional academic calendar, with the upcoming 2024-2025 school year starting on July 29, 2024 and ending on April 15, 2025.

In a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte presented two options to President Marcos for adjusting the academic calendar. The first option included 180 school days with 15 in-person Saturday classes, while the second offered 165 school days with no Saturday classes, both ending on March 31, 2025. President Marcos, however, rejected the 165-day school year and an alternative that included Saturday classes, citing concerns over

By Charles Dantes

SINE DIE. House Speaker Martin Romualdez presides over the closing session of the House of Representatives. In his address, Romualdez assured Filipinos of access to decent housing, basic education during the term of President Marcos. (Story on A2). Aram Lascano

CASUAL DINNER. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos hosted a ‘casual dinner’ for senators at the Bahay Pangulo Tuesday night, a day after the change in leadership at the Upper House. Present during the dinner were newly-installed Senate President Francis Escudero and Senators Robin Padilla, Alan Cayetano, Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Jinggoy Estrada and Loren Legarda. Courtesy: Liza Marcos/Facebook

Decent housing for all under PBBM

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday assured every Filipino household of access to decent housing, better education and quality jobs under the administration of President Marcos Jr.

“Hindi tayo titigil sa trabaho hangga’t hindi natutupad ang pangarap ni Pangulong Marcos: ang mabigyan ng bahay ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” he said in remarks marking the end of the second regular session of the 19th Congress.

He reported that the House has also approved House Bill No. 9506, or the “Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act,” which seeks to establish a rental housing subsidy program for informal settler families to further alleviate their plight.

accessible to regions outside Metro Manila; and Republic Act No. 11965, or the “Caregivers’ Welfare Act,” which provides necessary protections and benefits to caregivers, recognizing their invaluable contribution to society.

ment, but we don’t recognize this,” Manalo said.

The Philippine Navy likewise called the new regulation, reportedly set to take effect next month, as “unacceptable.”

(We will not stop working until the desireof President Marcos is fulfilled: to give every Filipino family a decent house) Romualdez said legislative actions have been taken to ensure the provision of over one million affordable housing units, giving every Filipino the opportunity to own a home and improve their living conditions.

“These measures are crucial in providing immediate relief and long-term housing stability to those in need,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said.

There is also House Bill 8461, which seeks to strengthen the national health program for senior citizens through a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to prevent poor nutrition and related illnesses in the elderly.

He said the overwhelming passage of House Bill (HB) 10172, the “National Housing Authority Act,” “further demonstrates this chamber’s strong desire to serve the underprivileged, homeless, and low-income households.”

He said the House has also approved measures that have become laws to enhance the healthcare system and citizen welfare.

He mentioned Republic Act No. 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act,” which simplified healthcare services, ensuring that specialized medical care is

Another measure, House Bill No. 7447, proposes to strengthen local health boards by ensuring the representation of barangay health workers, whom we continue to recognize as essential frontliners in health promotion and advocacy.

Carlos, however, clarified, the call only lasted for three to five minutes.

dissolution of marriage,” was delighted over the bill’s passage.

He asserted that “as the only country in the world besides the Vatican where divorce is still illegal, this is a clear and resounding victory and signals the imminent liberation for Filipino wives who are entombed in toxic, abusive, and long-dead marriages.”

Lagman, who defended the measure and faced 12 interpellators in debates that spanned long hours and nine session days, also emphasized that the passage on third reading of the absolute divorce bill signifies a significant shift in societal attitudes towards marriage and relationships.

Lagman maintained that “by legalizing divorce, the Philippines acknowledges the need to provide options for individuals trapped in unhappy and irreparable marriages. This recognition reflects an evolving understanding of the complexities and challenges that can arise within marital unions.”

He assured critics of the measure that a divorce law will not destroy marriages because “divorce does not put asunder a marriage as the union has long perished. What will be before the Family Court is a cadaver of a marriage. Divorce is not the monster plaguing a marriage. It is marital infidelity, abandonment, violence, and cruelty, among others, which are the devils that destroy marriages.”

The veteran legislator also said that a divorce law “is constitutional as the Constitution does not prevent the Congress from enacting a divorce law even as it does not offend the dogma of the Catholic Church which has its own canonical dissolution of marriage. All other Catholic and Christian countries in the world have long legitimized divorce.”

He also clarified that the bill does not recognize no-fault, quickie, drivethru, email or notarial divorces as there are limited and reasonable grounds for divorce and a petition will have to undergo judicial scrutiny in order to prevent abuse and collusion of the parties, which is penalized.

file appropriate remedial measures stemming from what he noted was the “apparent manipulation of a wiretapped phone conversation.”

“This wiretapping incident is worrisome and we should act on this,” he said.

“What is more disconcerting is that these Chinese officials can manipulate us -- they can manipulate a conversation to sow discord and make use suspect a bemedalled officer like Vice Admiral Carlos who has been serving the country faithfully,” Estrada added.

Chinese embassy officials claimed the phone conversation -- where Carlos allegedly agreed to China’s proposal of a “new model” -- lasted for about 12 minutes.

In the transcript of the supposed phone conversation published by a newspaper (not Manila Standard), the proposed model stipulates that the Philippines would use fewer vessels in resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, and that Manila would notify Beijing about the missions in advance.

“I did not initiate the call. We talked about how to reduce the tension in the West Philippine Sea, particularly during our rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal,” Carlos said.

“I did not forge any agreement at the level and magnitude that would bind our two countries for the long term and redefine foreign policy. I am only the commander of the Western Command and not even of the entire West Philippine Sea... I did not enter into any secret deals that will compromise the interest of our country.”

The former WesCom chief explained the conversation stemmed from his concerns following the December 2023 water cannon attacks of China against Philippine vessels conducting resupply missions in the area.

“Let us be united against this false narrative,” said Carlos, who stressed he did not give his consent to record the phone conversation.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Chief of State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan said they are still deliberating whether a

case of wiretapping can be established against the concerned Chinese embassy officials since it is the first time they heard of Carlos’ testimony.

“Because we are in the middle of the fight for the West Philippine Sea, anything that comes from them (China), we treat them very carefully… We did not accept right away that the transcript was authentic… that there was wiretapping,” Chan said.

Both the DOJ and the Department of Foreign Affairs raised doubts on the authenticity of the transcripts and audio recordings of the alleged conversation.

“But (since) we have a testimony now that we can use that indeed there was a call and it was recorded, so it could be considered as a violation of the wiretapping law,” Chan said.

Carlos revealed to the Senate committee that the Chinese official had reached out to him two days ago.

“He sent me a message two days ago but I did not acknowledge,” he said.

“Was he guilty that the phone conversation was leaked?” Estrada asked Carlos.

“That is a reasonable assumption,” the vice admiral said.

“Not only the Philippine Navy but the entire government and nation will not allow this, based on the pronouncement of our commanderin-chief that this is totally unacceptable,” Navy spokesperson Commodore Roy Trinidad said.

Chinese media earlier reported that Beijing adopted a measure permitting the Chinese Coast Guard to interrogate and detain for up to 60 days foreigners accused of illegally passing its waters.

Manalo further described China’s new regulation as having “no legal basis.”

“What’s even more worrying is that it doesn’t only affect the Philippines -- it will affect every country in the world, theoretically,” he said.

Manalo added that in light of “many issues that have come up recently,” the current relationship between the Philippines and China is “a bit choppy.”

It continues to assert its dominance over the South China Sea, including a portion of the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, despite an arbitral ruling in 2016 that invalidated its massive claim.

As this developed, the House of Representatives committed to allocate ample budgetary resources to agencies safeguarding the West Philippine Sea amid ongoing Chinese provocations within the country’s EEZ.

House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe emphasized the Lower Chamber’s consistent support for modernization initiatives presented annually in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) by the executive department.

“When the House members see that there is really a need to support these modernization programs… we not just support the programs, but we even add to what we see during the budget deliberations that are lacking when they present the NEP,” he said.

“Rest assured that when the budget season comes this August, September, the House of Representatives, as always and as expected, will be in full support to the [Philippine Coast Guard], to the Philippine Navy or any agency that is tasked to help protect our sovereignty,” Dalipe added.

“I’m not really thinking about border control or mandatory masks - that’s not on my mind. But I’m just suggesting to every Filipino, since that’s happening,

to follow the minimum public health standards. If you’re feeling sick, with a cough, cold, or sore throat, it’s better to just stay at home,” he explained.

Asked if there were recorded cases of the new COVID-19 variant in the country, Herbosa said a private hospital, which he did not name, reported posi-

formal education records.

and her Filipino mother. The mayor said her mother worked as a domestic helper for her father’s first family.

After giving birth to her, Guo said her biological mother left her in the custody of her father. Since then, she claimed she never saw her mother again.

Guo said she grew up in their farm, where she had been homeschooled for most of her formative years, which explains her lack of

The Hontiveros-chaired panel, however, also obtained the birth certificates of Guo’s siblings, who both carried the same family names as hers. It appeared they were also born from the same set of parents.

PSA records showed that Guo’s biological parents were married on October 14, 1982, contradicting the mayor’s statement they were not married.

According to Guo, she never grew up with siblings, but her father confirmed that he has two other children with her mother.

Pressed to shed light on the incon-

tive COVID-19 cases among its medical workers.

“There’s only one hospital, and that’s just circulating. That’s a private hospital. Their statement showed some of their health professionals have tested positive for COVID.,” Herbosa said.

“Our Epidemiology Bureau, our utili-

sistencies of her testimonies with the details obtained from official records, Guo told the senators: “Your honor, I wasn’t the one who prepared the birth certificates, so I have no idea.”

Hontiveros has been digging on the personal and political background of Guo amid questions and suspicions about her loyalty to the Philippines.

The senator reminded that the hearing was never about race, whether Filipinos or foreigners, nor a status in the society. It was about pursuing the truth.

“Let me also take this opportunity

He chose instead to end the school year on April 15, 2025 to ensure 180 school days without using Saturdays. This adjustment balances sufficient learning days with maintaining student welfare, according to the President.

“Let’s just extend the school days. Make it longer, just add more school days, but let’s not touch Saturday. So, (the) school [days] will remain the same. Just standard,” the President said during the meeting.

Consultations with teachers, school officials, and parents were conducted regarding the new schedule. The shift to a June-to-March calendar will continue in the following years.

zation for hospitals are still very low for COVID-19. So hindi pa tayo tumataas. Although, I’m watching the events unfold in Singapore because I think in Singapore has reported an increase in FLiRT– not flirtations. But FLiRT, the new variant of variant under monitoring,” he added.

to remind all of us: racism is never justified. The Philippines must remain open and dependable to people who follow our law and have no ill intentions, whether Filipinos or foreigners,” Hontiveros said.

“But if they are admitting fugitives, if they conspire with money launderers, if they try to run for public office knowing that they have disqualification, if they are working against our national security, we as elected officials will become a failure as a public servant if we will not investigate it,” she added.

CORDIAL TALKS. H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, stresses a point her conversation with President Marcos, Jr. during a courtesy call yesterday in Malacañang Palace in Manila. (PPA POOL / Noel B. Pabalate)

DOH: 55 new cases of HIV reported daily

IN BRIEF

BI chief says surge in foreign students due to CHED

By Vito Barcelo

Transportation

(LTO) on

for all the remaining tricycle franchise holders in Quezon City. LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the distribution of the license plates for tricycle operators and drivers’ association marked the end of the backlog problem for all the city’s tricycle franchise holders. In coordination with Mayor Joy Belmonte, he led the distribution of 150 license plates to the TODA members who waited for their license plates for years now.

A total of 2,915 license plates were produced by the LTO for distribution, and all of these were later turned over to the tricycle franchise holders.

“This is the first time in the history of the LTO that it distributed the license plates directly to the owners. And we express our gratitude to the Quezon City government led by Mayor Belmonte for helping us in this objective,” Mendoza said. Rio N. Araja

DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño have formalized a partnership under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship Pambasang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

On May 20, the two officials signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a housing project for the benefit of SBMA employees and Subic Bay Freeport workers, both for residential and commercial purposes.

The development is tailored as a township, which will provide access to basic amenities and services and near the beneficiaries’ sources of livelihood.

“Just now, we can see the potential of this project to help solve the housing problem in our country, especially for our poor countrymen, minimum-wage earners as well as for our labor force and locators here at SBMA,” Acuzar said. Rio N. Araja

NUEVA Vizcaya has opened the 15th Grand Ammungan Festival to celebrate the province’s 185th founding anniversary. Bannered by the theme of unity and sustainable development, the festival celebrates the province’s colorful cultural diversity and unprecedented economic progress it has experienced in recent years. The festival kicked off with the ribboncutting ceremony of the Nueva Vizcaya Travel and Tourism Expo by Department of Tourism Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao who represented DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. Now on its third year, the expo features booths from the 15 municipalities, each showcasing their unique fiestas or festivals, tourist attractions, agricultural

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the surge in the number of foreign students--including Chinese--in Philippine schools was largely attributed to the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) promotion of the country as a regional and global education hub. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco made the remarks during the House Committee on Justice hearing, saying opening the door to foreign students would help boost tourism in the county. The surge may also be due to the memorandum of understanding signed

NHA rolls out housing caravan in Subic, Zambales

By Rio N. Araja

THE National Housing Authority (NHA) has brought government housing services closer to the citizens of Subic, Zambales through First Lady Liza Marcos’ “LAB FOR ALL” caravan recently held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

Characterized by a progressive and sustainable government, the caravan’s ultimate goal was to provide primary healthcare assistance across the country through free medical consultations, simple laboratory and diagnostic services, family planning, and distribution of free medicines in support of the implementation of Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Act.

In allegiance with the First Lady’s vision and to fulfill the goals of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s goal of a Bagong Pilipinas, the agency continuously participated in the activity through an information booth aimed to accommodate housing inquiries and offer various housing assistance to select beneficiaries and participants.

by CHED and the Chinese Ministry of Education “to fast track bilateral cooperation on higher education” and another memorandum of agreement between the two signed by China’s president and then president Rodrigo Duterte in 2019. Indian students top the number of foreign students currently enrolled in Philippine universities at 9,680 followed by Chinese, 5,921; Nigerian, 799; Thais, 259 and Nepalese, 186. It also showed that most of the Chinese students are in Metro Manila schools (3,028), while Central Luzon hosts 1,903; Western Visayas 566; Northern Luzon 174, and Central Visa-

yas 150.

The BI chief said the entry and stay of foreign students in the country is governed by an executive order, in which an interagency on foreign students was created chaired by the CHEd, co-chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Education. House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday meanwhile cited the need for Congress to conduct rigorous scrutiny of financial transactions within the country’s educational institutions.

By Charles Dantes

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said 55 new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are being reported daily.

DOH chief Teodoro Herbosa, in an interview, expressed concerns over the growing number of daily HIV cases.

“Our new cases are high, at 55 new cases a day, we have the highest in the world. That’s why we need to stop,” Herbosa said. Herbosa pointed out that the majority of the new HIV cases in the country were younger individuals, who are said to be more “experimental” and more exposed to the internet.

“The ones that are being diagnosed are as young as 15 years, and positive for HIV,” Herbosa. Herbosa, moreover, stressed that the DOH is coordinating with the Department of Education to educate the youth about HIV.

Herbosa also stated that DOH is considering a program that would allow minors with HIV to receive treatment with the consent of a doctor or guardian, Currently, antiretroviral treatment (ARV) for HIV is provided exclusively by the government and requires parental consent.

“I am thinking we could have a program where doctors or guardians can authorize ARVs,” Herbosa said. “Our ARVs are only available through the government, via PhilHealth. You can’t buy them in the private sector.”

Canadian in P13.3b drug bust

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will file criminal charges in court against a Canadian national who was arrested in Tagaytay City for possession of illegal drugs and who is also a suspect in the seizure of P13.3 billion worth of shabu in Alitagtag, Batangas last April 15. The DOJ identified the Canadian as Thomas Gordon O”Quinn who was arrested last May 16 at a spa in Tagaytay City by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). The BI and the PNP acted on a red notice issued against O’Quinn by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) based on an arrest warrant issued in the United States for violating illegal drug laws.

Seized from O’Quinn when he was arrested were 45 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, 81.65 grams of cocaine, and 14 identification cards with different names but with only the photograph of the Canadian on them. The DOJ said O’Quinn’s arrest in Tagaytay City and the seizure of illegal drugs from him would be the basis in the filing of criminal charges against him in court. The department stressed that due to the dangerous drugs and identification cards found in O’Quinn’s possession, its National Prosecution Service (NPS) issued a resolution charging the Canadian national with violations of Section 11 Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) for using fictitious names.

HOUSE COMMENDATIONS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and San Juan Rep. Maria Ysabel Zamora show the copy of House Resolution 220 and House

224 commending the University of the Philippines College of Law, led by Dean Lenlen Berberabe for winning the 2024 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition held in Washington D.C. and the 28th Stetson Annual International Environmental Moot Court competition in Gulfport City, Florida in April.

MERRY MAY. The month of May is the merriest time of any year in Makati City when most barangays celebrate

fiestas with musical bands, games, and beauty pageants despite the hot weather. Diana B. Noche

OPINION

The beheading

AS EARLY as when the HoR and its fronts for the people’s initiative towards cha-cha were blunted by senators understandably jealous of their turf, described by its decapitated president as “the last bastion of our democracy,” the process of shopping around for a replacement began.

Some of the leaders of the entertainers’ bloc started plotting, and proposed one of their members to lead the erstwhile “august” chamber.

The motivation for replacement was not high-minded. It was, as stated in this space then, merely dissatisfaction over “particion de bienes”. Read “bienes” as liempo.

But beheading and replacing require a magic number, in this case, a simple majority of 13 out of 24 nationally elected senators.

The entertainers’ bloc could not gather the magic 13 because their nominee was not acceptable, especially to the prim and proper ladies in the chamber.

Enter Maharlika with her “polvoronic” claims, later bolstered by a “leaked” PDEA operations plan vintage 2012 which allegedly involved no less than a then senator of the realm who a decade later would become president of the land.

One retired or removed PDEA agent surfaced to supposedly clear himself of the provenance of said leaked documents, as he was the signatory to the unimplemented investigation into the affidavit with incriminating pictures of the high-profile personalities.

Then the Senate chairman of the public order and dangerous drugs committee, himself a former chief of the national police, decided to hold hearings in trite “aid of legislation.”

In its first two hearings, the ex-PDEA agent held himself unruffled, his demeanor showing both resolve and credibility, while the spokesmen of the administration were left to mere ministrations of denial, even preposterous claims of artificial intelligence.

The chairman of the committee, given his background as an investigator, declared the leaked documents were “authentic,” and pursued his digging into the case. That was when the “cassus belli” for leadership change became evident. The early conspirators smelled blood. Now they were certain the palace would not object.

One could deduce the new “players” in the third hearing: a bellicose co-chair who damned the resource person for “lying through his teeth;” a few who suddenly showed up just to mouth platitudes clearly intended to please the “powers that be.”

So the plotters went into high gear last week. They had toyed with the idea of promoting a lady to become the first female senate president, but they could not gather the magic 13. They had found a new “champion,”

acceptable to the ladies who were a formidable bloc.in the chamber, but equally important, who had no “baggage” that would taint the image of the “august” before the prying eyes of the intelligent among their publics.

Last week, a new knight agreed to be their champion.

The signal to the “powers that be” was his cameo appearance in the PDEA leak probe. It was stellar compared to all others, especially over one who pugnaciously attacked the “witness for the prosecution.”

Still, as they did not want to approach the “steadfast seven” of the incumbent, whose “bienes” they decried, they were short of the clincher.

They had to convince those whose heart belonged to Davao, but whose reelectionist instincts required being on the right side of the political equation. That task was for the new champion to undertake, mismo, which he sealed over the weekend past.

The new Senate President is from Bicol...the first from his region to become Numero Tres in the pecking order of the nation’s leadership

Since his committee hearings were the cassus belli in this latest decapitation, its chair, true to character, did not join the Aeschyliian chorus.

But at the last minute, he changed his mind, with his two partymates prevailing over him, and the new champion willing to accommodate him.

To be sure, uneasy always lies the crown upon the head of the chamber’s president.

Pleasing 315 in the numerous house is easier than pleasing 23 “republics” elected by the nation at large.

Beheading has been a common occurrence in our senate, sans the gore Cassius and Brutus did to Julius Caesar.

The new Senate President is from Bicol, represented his province in three consecutive terms in the House, before becoming senator for two terms, thereafter governor of Sorsogon.

He is the first from his region to become Numero Tres in the pecking order of the nation’s leadership.

The beheaded has bannered his “independence” as reason for his ouster. That is the standard by which the public shall now measure the new leadership. How will the new head of the chamber make use of this singular opportunity to be in “the arms of the people”?

From Libyan hell to migrant boat, 2 young Bangladeshis are saved

ABOARD The Ocean Viking – They never thought they would end up in Europe by leaving their native Bangladesh.

But for Siam and Mohammad, hopes for a better life in Libya turned into a hell to escape at all costs, even if it meant risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean.

“They beat me on my legs and they punched my body also, so many times,” said Mohammad, 25, aboard the rescue ship Ocean Viking just hours after being rescued off Malta, speaking of traffickers in Libya.

Recounting to an AFP reporter in broken English how armed Libyan traffickers terrorised him for months, Mohammed recalled his captors threatening to “take off my nails.”

“I will die if I will stay here,” he remembered thinking of Libya, a country he originally thought could provide him with money to send to his family.

With jet-black hair and big, round eyes, Mohammad tinkers with the zipper of his tracksuit, scanning the horizon from the main deck.

“So I decided, whatever will happen, I have to leave this place.” Siam, 20, said that “If you can give money, you’d pay and you’d be free. Otherwise they’d beat you”. The traffickers “make videos of beating you and tell your family to give money, otherwise they will kill you”, he said.

Arriving in Libya on flights from the United Arab Emirates for a few hundred euros, both young men -- who met only while crossing the Mediterranean -- had hoped to find jobs there in agriculture, oil

or construction.

But instead they found themselves trapped in a merciless migrant trade that crushes thousands of people every year, in a country plunged into chaos since 2011. Escape or ransom

Both of them fatherless, Siam and Mohammad had promised to provide for their families back in Bangladesh, where almost half the population lives on less than a dollar a day.

“All depends on me -- medical, food, everything. That depends on me,” Mohammad told AFP aboard the ship.

Thanks to a telephone, the migrants managed to communicate their GPS position to the Alarm Phone migrant hotline that tracks boats in the Mediterranean

Thanks to an intermediary, Siam found a small job as a cleaner in a Benghazi hospital but “was only given half my salary. When I asked for my due, they slapped me,” he said.

Fleeing became the only way out. But risking one’s life on the world’s most dan-

Day care centers for seniors

We’ve been hearing calls for years now for a thorough review of the party-list system of representation in Congress for various reasons.

One of these is the system as it is being implemented runs contrary to the noble intent of the 1987 Constitution to give the marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Philippine society a voice in lawmaking.

Corollary to this is the system has been taken over by political dynasties intent only on preserving their hold on political and economic power for as long as they can.

But there’s still a glimmer of hope the party-list system can still live up to its mandate to protect the rights and welfare of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

We’re glad one such party-list group, the United Senior Citizens, has filed House Bill 10362, or the draft Senior Citizens Day Care Center Act of 2024, to “promote the welfare and protect the interest of the ageing and elderly population.”

HB 10362 describes senior citizens day care centers as “center-based facilities directly managed by the barangay that provide daytime services to senior citizens on a regular basis for fewer that 24-hours on a nonresidential setting.”

Every effort should be exerted to make it a reality to ensure that the elderly can gain access to programs and services that would make their remaining years less stressful and more fulfilling

The elderly day care centers would provide activities for socialization including arts and crafts, games, dancing, light exercise, discussion groups and outings; health services including medical monitoring and checkups, as well as occupational, speech and physical therapy; and special services, including early screening or testing for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

THE unfolding case of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo of Tarlac is truly one for the books and, as they say, can only happen in the Philippines.

She appears to have no prior record of existence in the country until a late reporting of her birth.

She has no school records of any kind because she claimed to have been home schooled from elementary to high school and also cannot present any documentary proof of this schooling.

It has also been alleged her father is a current member of the Chinese Communist Party fueling a lot of conspiracy theories of the family being Chinese sleeper spies.

How Guo acquired official documentation is actually not unusual.

This is because with the right connection and money, it is not hard for anyone to acquire official documentation like passports or birth certificates.

Even our supposedly ultra-secure national ID has been breached.

As I once wrote in another article, one Filipino-Chinese tycoon once said “Mga Filipino walang problema, pera-pera lang yan.”

Thru that process, there are maybe thousands of Chinese and other foreign nationals who cannot speak a word of English or Pilipino who are holding authentic documentation as Filipino citizens or legal residents.

The shocking thing is only when the President questioned Guo’s identity did government agencies sprung to life.

Now, the DILG wants the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend Guo pending investigation but apparently has not written the Office of the Ombudsman to make that request official.

gerous migration route comes at a price -- $5,000. Where would the money come from?

His family begged for money from anyone who could help, Siam said.

“And then my family sold my house. Sold my house to save me,” he said.

Locked up in unsanitary prefab buildings, tossed from one trafficker to another, Mohammad finally managed to escape his jailers along with two companions.

Without a roof over his head or any money, he gave away all he had left: his phone and his clothes. Luckily, a smuggler accepts his pittance.

So he found himself aboard a fiber glass boat, along with Siam, bound for Sicily. Nothing left

The young men recalled huddling at the bottom of an eroded hold, cold and bathed in salt water, the smell of gasoline pervad-

With more and more Filipinos reaching the age of 60 and above, the partylist group believes the establishment of senior citizen day-care centers in every barangay would help elderly Filipinos stay well and active through easy access to community recreation, education and health services.

The author of the proposed bill explains the rationale for it thus: “Events like demise of a spouse, retirement from work and onset of related illnesses may put older persons through brief periods of distress. External support or help may be needed by some to bring relief and expedite adjustment.”

While the Department of Social Welfare and Development has been providing housing facilities for abandoned, neglected and homeless senior citizens, these were “simply insufficient and inadequate to address the needs of numerous aging Filipinos whether or not separated from their families,” the bill pointed out.

The establishment of senior day care centers in every barangay is an idea whose time has come.

Hence, every effort should be exerted to make it a reality to ensure that the elderly can gain access to programs and services that would make their remaining years less stressful and more fulfilling.

The inconsistent Mayor Alice Guo

Not much is being heard either from the Bureau of Immigration, the principal government agency handling illegal aliens or the PAGCOR that has the authority to grant POGO permits.

This is shameful to say the least.

I do not really blame those foreign nationals like the family of Guo for being able to obtain legal documentations if that is what they did because this is happening in many countries.

Tightening visa requirements will not solve the problem unless the corrupt officials are rooted out and sent to jail

What is disgraceful is those greedy and corrupt Filipino public officials who are doing the country grievous harm instead of being sent to jail are apparently flourishing in their trade.

I feel sorry for those “Atin ito” coalition who are braving the might of the Chinese militia ships and Coast Guard to sail in small boats to deliver needed supplies to the Ayungin Shoal while greedy and corrupt public officials are very busy selling the country out.

Tightening visa requirements will not solve the problem unless the corrupt officials are rooted out and sent to jail.

I wonder if our political leaders realize the irony of this dreadful situation and

ing the air.

“The ocean had very big waves, like five meters, six meters. And, the boat was very small,” Mohammad said.

After three days in which the boat traveled 600 kilometers, water, food and fuel were running out and the boat began to take on water.

Bottles, sponges, clothing -- everything was used to bail.

Thanks to a telephone, the migrants managed to communicate their GPS position to the Alarm Phone migrant hotline that tracks boats in the Mediterranean.

It was nearly four in the morning Monday when the Ocean Viking, operated by the SOS Mediterranee migrant rescue group, noticed the small boat in distress and began its approach.

Mohammed recalled wondering whether they were pirates: “But what could they

start getting serious because if they will not, our own corruption will be responsible in sinking the country.

No wonder, the Chinese government treat us with utter contempt and who can blame them when we ourselves are causing our own country’s demise. It is well known in government circles the Chinese community in the country is well organized.

I found this out myself during my days as a law enforcement officer. We once intercepted a group of illegal Chinese one early morning and before noon, they already had a lawyer with representatives from the Chinese community taking care of their needs. We were then directed to turn them over to the competent authority i.e. the Immigration and that was the end of the story.

Guo’s case should be easy to clear up. Since she is claiming that her mother is or was Filipino, a simple DNA examination should be able to tell whether she is lying or not.

A more thorough document search should also be done to determine the family’s travel history and when the father originally entered the country. Moreover, Guo must provide satisfactory answers how an illegal POGO operation sprouted so easily in Bamban with her as a business partner of a wanted criminal from China employing about 170 illegal Chinese nationals who have since been deported.

This case should scare every Filipino because if Guo will be proven to be fake, it demonstrates how easy it is for us to be infiltrated and taken over without firing a single shot and it’s all because of insatiable corruption.

possibly take from us? We’ve got nothing left.”

Staggering to stay on their feet and exhausted, the 35 migrants on the boat were plucked from the sea.

“You are a blessing... You have loved us very much,” Siam told his rescuers. “You saved our life.”

Both men now wish to apply for asylum. But under Italy’s far-right government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the task could be difficult.

This month, Italy designated Bangladesh -- the country from which most migrants to Italy departed last year -- as a “safe country”, complicating asylum requests. Not that Mohammad, who hopes to be a baker or pastry chef, is discouraged.

“I came so close to death. Being here is a second birth,” he said. AFP

IN BRIEF

BOC overshoots JanMay target by P12.4b

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) overshot by 3.9 percent its target of P317 billion for the period January to May this year.

The BOC reported that it collection a total P330.27 billion for the first five months of the year, exceeding its target of P317.87 billion by P12.41 billion.

In a statement, the BOC said this figure represents a seven percent increase from the same period last year when the agency mustered P308.65 billion.

The BOC also reported that it conducted 132 apprehensions in the first quarter with seizures valued at about P28.02 billion.

“These seizures encompassed a range of items, including general merchandise, counterfeit goods, cigarettes/tobacco, and illicit drugs discovered at various ports,” it added.

The BOC marked 7.01 billion liters of fuel worth P908.52 billion for the start of the fuel marking program in 2019 to May 9, 2024. Vito Barcelo

Taguig gov’t, cancer care hospital tie-up

THE Taguig City government has partnered with Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH), the country’s first comprehensive cancer specialty facility, to improve the city’s healthcare access for indigent cancer patients. Under the agreement signed at the HCCH located in Arca South, Barangay Western Bicutan, the hospital will offer a range of cancer-related services and treatment modalities like laboratory tests, radiology, nuclear medicine, and outpatient nursing services at discounted rates to beneficiaries referred by the local government unit.

AC Health’s president and CEO, Paolo Borromeo, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and commended Mayor Laarni Cayetano for her commitment to the health and well-being of Taguigeños.

“Mayor Lani, your leadership and vision for a healthier Taguig have been instrumental in bringing this partnership to fruition. Your dedication to improving healthcare access for your constituents resonates deeply with our mission at AC Health. So even outside of this agreement, we have already seen the tireless efforts and passion that your team brings for healthcare and it’s inspiring to witness the positive changes you continue to champion for the city,” Borromeo said. Joel E. Zurbano Malabon gov’t cites ‘partners’ in dev’t

THE Malabon City government has recognized several outstanding Malabueños, contributors and stakeholders as key partners in efforts to implement development programs in the city.

“On our Night of Thanksgiving 2024, we want to thank and recognize the outstanding Malabueno, organizations, agencies, individuals, and other groups tirelessly supporting the projects and programs of various departments of the city government, which are also the reasons for us to implement them properly, effectively, and in accordance with the needs of the beloved Malabuenos, towards the continuous development of their lives and the upliftment of Malabon,” Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said in her remarks in Filipino.

The Mother Earth Foundation was acknowledged for its role in assisting the barangays in Zero Waste Management Program.

DOLE hotline 1349 sustains contact with workers having issues at work

By Vito Barcelo

NON-REMITTANCE of employees’ contributions to the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund appeared to be the workers’ top concern gauged from calls received by Hotline 1349 set up by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a report, DOLE said the hotline has fielded over 126,000 inquiries from 2023 until the first quarter of the 2024.

Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., chairman of the Alumni Association of AIM Inc.

gov’t steps up drive vs. mercury-laced cosmetics

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City government through its public health office has stepped up its drive to promote business compliance with laws banning mercury-laced cosmetics. A recent consultative meeting organized by the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) drew the participation of shopping mall management representatives, cosmetic product and food supplement retailers, exhibitors and organizers.

Dr. Laarni Malapit, special services division head of the QCHD, urged the participants to support the efforts of the city government to protect public health and the environment from the detrimental effects of hazardous products, such as mercury-laden cosmetics. According to the Ecowaste Coalition, the city government wanted the strict implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9711 or the ‘Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009.’ The law prohibits the manufac-

ture, importation, distribution, sale, advertising, promotion or sponsorship of any health products without proper authorization from the FDA, which is tasked to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of cosmetics and other health-related products in the market.

EcoWaste Coalition campaigner Manny Calonzo also briefed the participants about the effects of constant exposure to mercury found in some skin lightening creams for men and women.

Aside from non-remittance of employees’ contributions, other major concerns received by the department were on the release of retirement benefits, computation of holiday pay, separation, suspension, and job termination, local employment opportunities, as well as the process of job hiring and placement.

Last year, the hotline tellers responded to 83,683 queries on labor standards; 9,177 queries on social protection and welfare; 4,171 queries on employment facilitation, includ-

ing TUPAD and youth employment programs; and 1,329 queries on labor relations, the DOLE records showed. In the first quarter of 2024, the hotline received 24,649 calls on labor standards; 3,100 calls on employment facilitation; 1,549 calls on social protection and welfare; and 278 calls on labor relations.

The DOLE advises the public to call Hotline 1349 for immediate response and action to the labor and employment concerns of Filipino work

Food processing exec headlines AIM Roadshow in Davao City

A PROMINENT executive in the food processing sector has shared insightful business ideas with a group of professionals, entrepreneurs and other enthusiasts during an Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Roadshow in Davao City.

The event was held at the TED Library of the Philippine Women’s College of Davao last May 17.

Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., chairman of the Alumni Association of AIM Inc., was among the accomplished graduates of the prestigious business school who graced the LEAD, INSPIRE, TRANSFORM roadshow. The event was seen to have “sparked a passion for leadership and innovation.”

Tiukinhoy is also chairman and president of Virginia Foods Inc. and president of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI), which plays a crucial role in the country’s food security.

The event, made possible by the Alumni Association of AIM Inc. Davao Chapter and the Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC), featured a wide array of world-class and innovative management programs at AIM.

It also presented an opportunity to interact with Tiukinhoy, along with Luciano Frederick Puyod III, EMBA ‘08, president of the Alumni Association of AIM Inc. – Davao Chapter; and Benja-

min Palma Gil, MBM ‘76, former president of the Philippine National Bank.

The presence and wisdom of these notable alumni highlighted the impact of AIM in shaping remarkable professional careers. The afternoon was filled with learning and networking opportunities, sparking discussions and creating new connections among attendees, the event organizers said in a statement.

The participants were treated to an exclusive glimpse into the transformative power of AIM education and the benefits of being part of the AIM alumni network. With the positive response to the Davao Roadshow, AIM reaffirms its legacy of empowering leaders and shaping the future of business in Asia.

AIM remains committed to fostering a thriving community of lifelong learners dedicated to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.

AIM is a pioneer in management education in Asia. The institute was founded in 1968 by a consortium of prominent business leaders, Philippine academic institutions, and the Harvard Business School Advisory Group. It is the first school in Southeast Asia to receive accreditation from the US-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), globally recognized as having the world’s highest standards in business education.

RTC rules NPA leader guilty of sedition

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has secured the conviction of a notorious member of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPPNPA) who led a series of attacks against soldiers and communication facilities in Quezon province in 2005. In a decision promulgated last May 16, a copy of which was furnished the DOJ, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 found Maria Salome Crisostomo, also known as Maria Salome Crisostomo Ujano, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rebellion. The RTC sentenced Ujano to suffer imprisonment of 10 years 17 years and four months for her crime. Court records showed that on separate

incidents from November 19 to 25, 2005 in Quezon province, Ujano and several others identified as officers and members of the CPP-NPA led attacks against government forces, killing and wounding several soldiers, destroying communication sites and various government properties.

During the trial, Ujano claimed she has no connection with the NPA and alleged that from November 19 to 25, 2005, she was nowhere near Quezon province, and that she was at St. Scholastica College on Leon Guinto St., Malate, Manila. “Evidently, members of the NPA took up arms against the armed forces who act on behalf of the Government. Further, the NPA also shouted “Mabuhay ang CPP-NPA,” “Mabuhay ang Kilu-

san,” and relayed to the armed forces for them to surrender. Taken altogether, the actions of the NPA members constitute acts of rebellion,” the court ruled. It also noted that the prosecution witnesses recognized some members of the NPA during the encounter, Ujano, among others, being one of the most wanted CPP-NPA members posted in the bulletin in their camps.

“Positive identification where categorical and consistent and without any showing of ill motive on the part of the eyewitness testifying on the matter, prevails over a denial which, if not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence is negative and self-serving evidence undeserving of weight in law,” Judge Marivic Vitor ruled.

BOOK LAUNCHING. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas (right) leads the launch of the book ‘Iloilo City Rises’—Padayon sa Pag-Uswag‘—with writers and photographers who helped put out the book in attendance. Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s o ce.

SAVING BIODIVERSITY. In observance of the International Day for Biodiversity, the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ‘Biodiversity Crisis Escape Room,’ an interactive new attraction at The Mind Museum in Taguig City where young and old alike can learn more about protecting the ecosystem. In photo are Rebekah Eubanks, USAID Philippines deputy mission director and lawyer

Ernesto Adobo Jr., DENR Undersecretary for legal administration. Manny Palmero

Israel raid in West Bank enters 2nd day

JENIN, Palestinian Territories—An Israeli raid on the West Bank city of Jenin stretched into a second day on Wednesday, an AFP correspondent reported, after eight Palestinians were killed the previous day.

Explosions and gunfire were heard from inside the adjacent Jenin refugee camp, the AFP correspondent said.

The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah said Israeli troops had killed eight people and wounded nearly 20 during the raid, which began on Tuesday morning.

An AFP correspondent saw four bodies at Jenin’s Khalil Suleiman government hospital morgue.

The Israeli army said on Tuesday it had launched a “counter-terrorism operation” in Jenin, adding later that “exchanges of fire are underway between the security forces and the armed terrorists”.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa and medical charity Doctors Without Borders reported that surgeon Usaeed Jabareen, from the government hospital, was among those killed.

A schoolteacher and a student were also among the dead, Wafa reported, quoting hospital director Wissam Bakr.

The Israeli army said it had raided the house of Ahmed Barakat, who was suspected of involvement in an attack on an Israeli civilian last year.

Meir Tamari, 32, was killed in May 2023 at the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, medics and military officials said at the time.

The streets near the camp were deserted on Wednesday morning, except for Israeli military vehicles.

Drones buzzed overhead and

Blinken says Gaza truce still possible but set back by ICC move

Washington, United States—US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that a Gaza ceasefire deal was still possible but he charged that an International Criminal Court arrest bid for Israeli leaders was setting back diplomatic efforts.

Testifying before Congress, Blinken was repeatedly disrupted by protesters critical of US support for Israel. Several were evicted after shouting that he was a “war criminal,” but protesters—many showing symbolically reddened hands—were later allowed to sit silently behind him.

Blinken credited Qatar and Egypt with assisting the “extensive effort” to secure a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in return for the release of hostages.

But CIA Director Bill Burns, the US point man in the talks, left the region empty-handed some 10 days ago.

“I think we’ve come very, very close on a couple of occasions,” Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the first of four appearances before Congress planned through Wednesday.

IN BRIEF

Nepal’s ‘Everest Man’ claims record 30th climb

KATHMANDU, Nepal—A 54-year-old Nepalese climber known as “Everest Man” reached the peak of the world’s highest mountain for a record 30th time on Wednesday, three decades after his first summit.

Kami Rita Sherpa, who broke his own record after climbing the 8,849-meter peak for the 29th time earlier this month, has previously said he was “just working” and did not plan on setting records.

“Kami Rita reached the summit this morning. Now he has made a new record with 30 summits of Everest,” Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, his expedition organizer, told AFP. Sherpa first stood on the top of Everest in 1994 when working for a commercial expedition. Since then he has climbed Everest almost every year, guiding clients.

“I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken,” he told AFP after his 29th climb on May 12.

“I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognized in the world.” AFP

Trump doesn’t testify as defense rests case

NEW YORK—Donald Trump’s defense lawyers rested their case Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila)—without the former president following through on a vow to testify —as the judge scheduled jury deliberations in the historic criminal trial for next week. The trial has not been televised due to New York law, and experts are divided on whether the five weeks in court, more than 20 witnesses and often salacious testimony have damaged Trump politically.

But the looming verdict represents a moment of peril for Trump, less than six months before election day when he hopes to oust President Joe Biden and return to the White House.

“I think a great case was put on... It should be dismissed before you even have any verdict,” the Republican said outside court Tuesday.

“It’s very sad. But the good news is they’ve not proven the case. There is no crime.”

Judge Juan Merchan told jurors that closing arguments would take place next Tuesday when each side will make their pitch to the 12 New Yorkers who will decide Trump’s fate. AFP

“We remain at it every single day. I think that there’s still a possibility,” Blinken said.

“But it’s challenged by a number of events and I have to say, yes the extremely wrongheaded decision by the ICC prosecutor yesterday—the shameful equivalence implied between Hamas and the leadership of Israel—I think that only complicates the prospects for getting such an agreement,” Blinken said.

Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on Monday said he had applied for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Hamas chiefs.

President Joe Biden called the move “outrageous” for putting together Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and Israel, which has carried out a relentless military campaign in Gaza since then.

Republican lawmakers urged Biden to take action against the ICC. Previous president Donald Trump imposed sanctions on an earlier prosecutor, a step reversed by Biden after he took office. AFP

serve as a notice to all parties concerned of the legal dissolution of the said corporation. Makati City. Philippines. September 23, 2023

AURELIO AGUINALDO TORRES JR. Corporate Secretary

(MS-MAY 23 /30/JUNE 6, 2024)

for the recognition of a Divorce in the United States of America, praying that said Divorce declaring the dissolution of marriage between petitioner Nelia Michaela Camarao and respondent Edison Libago, Jr. be recognized and that public respondents Office of the Civil Registrar General/ Philippine Statistics Authority be ordered to recognize the same and accept it for registration in their offices. It is alleged in the petition that on May 27, 1996, petitioner Nelia Michaela Camarao and respondent Edison Libago, Jr. got married at Sacred Heart Parish, Quezon City; that their relationship as husband and wife did not work out; that the couple then went to the United States of America in 2022; that on March 25, 2008, petitioner was naturalized as an American citizen; that under Section 26.09.030 of the Revised Washington Code, a divorce may be obtained or dissolution of marriage may be granted by a United States Court on the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken; that pursuant to the laws of the United States, particularly, the Revised Washington Code, petitioner filed a petition for divorce or dissolution of her marriage with respondent; that on December 2, 2016, the Superior Court of Washington, County of Pierce, issued a Final Divorce Order (Dissolution Decree) granting the divorce and dissolving the marriage of petitioner and respondent; that considering the valid divorce obtained by petitioner and respondent in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, USA, the fact of such divorce must likewise be recognized in the Philippines; that the effects and the fact of the foreign divorce obtained in the US must be recognized in the Philippines; and that based on the foregoing rules, law and jurisprudence, as well as on the basis of a validly obtained foreign divorce and the law of the State of Washington, USA, petitioner prays that the foreign divorce validly obtained by petitioner and respondent be recognized in this jurisdiction and the entry of marriage between petitioner and respondent be cancelled under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court.

Notice is hereby given that the petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 507, Hall of Justice Annex, Mayaman St., Quezon City Hall Compound, Diliman, Quezon City on May 27, 2024 at 11:00 in the morning at which date and time, all persons interested and concerned may appear and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle. Petitioner is ordered to serve a copy of the petition on the Office of the Solicitor General and the respondents, and to submit proof of service thereof. Moreover, the Local Civil Registrar and any interested person may file opposition to the recognition sought within fifteen (15) days from notice, or from the last date of publication, of this Order. Quezon City, March 11,

(Sgd.) CATHERINE P. MANODON JUDGE

sporadic gunfire rang out. Palestinian militant group Hamas called the raid a “massacre” and deemed it “conclusive evidence of the criminal mentality that rules the occupying state and its ideological belief in killing our people”.

The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas condemned the raid, saying in a statement on Wafa that Israel was “killing innocent people, doctors, and destroying the infrastructure of Palestinian hospitals, cities and villages”.

Jenin has long been a stronghold of Palestinian militant groups and the Israeli army routinely carries out raids into the city and adjacent camp.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen a surge in violence for more than a year, but particularly since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7.

At least 513 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war broke out, according to Palestinian officials. Attacks by Palestinians have killed at least 12 Israelis in the West Bank over the same period, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The Gaza Strip has been gripped by more than seven months of war since Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. AFP

WAR-TORN GAZA SCENE. Palestinian women walk past children looking at the damage caused by Israeli bombardment early on Wednesday in al-Zawaida town in the Deir al-Balah governorate in central Gaza, where many civilians from other parts of the besieged strip had taken refuge amid the continuing battles between Israel and Hamas. AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Short game nets Bisera 1-shot lead

FLORENCE Bisera

Ladies Philippine Masters at the Villamor Golf Club yesterday (Wednesday). Following her maiden victory at home in South Pacific in Davao last September, Bisera navigated the tight layout virtually unscathed, She overcame a bogey on No. 16 with three birdies, including a tap-in on the final hole.

“Actually, my driving was good, but I missed many shots due to the unpredictable kicks. However, my short game, especially putting, was strong,” said Bisera in Pilipino. She birdied the par-3 No. 4 and No. 15 but couldn’t save par after missing the green on the next hole. She hinted at adjusting her strategy for the second round, saying: “I might avoid using the driver too much, the fairways are very unpredictable.”

The impressive finish distanced her from Kim, who began her round at the backside and reached the ninth hole at two-under par with four birdies against two bogeys. But she struggled with her putting, missing close-range birdie opportunities on Nos. 6 and 7 and failing to get up-and-down on the last hole, resulting in a 71.

“It was not my day. My driver was all over the place, but my irons were fine. In times of trouble, I managed to save par,” said Kim, motivated by her family’s support. “They trust me so much. That’s why I want to do well this week and I believe I can.”

PH captures bronze medal in world sepak takraw meet

By Randy Caluag

THE Philippines bagged a bronze medal in the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup held at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippine men’s team, labeled as overachievers by their top official, guaranteed themselves of a podium finish with a thrilling 17-16, 9-15, 15-12

victory over Brunei in the quarterfinals of the men’s Regu Premier. Their journey to the finals was cut short by Thailand, which pulled off a

Rho aces way to ICTSI PH Masters lead, cards 67

HYUN Ho Rho outgunned Ryan Monsalve in an early shootout between two emerging stars of the Philippine Golf Tour, spiking his solid, five-under 67 with a holein-one in the first round of the ICTSI Philippine Masters in Pasay City yesterday (Wednesday). The 2023 PGT Q-School topnotcher aced the 195-yard No. 4, complemented by three birdies, including two in the last three holes. His bogey-free 33-34 performance came in scorching conditions at the Villamor Golf Club which yielded just five under-par rounds. Monsalve had an impressive start in the third flight with Rho and veteran Marvin Dumandan, eagling the par-5 No. 2 and bouncing back from a mishap on third hole with birdie on No. 6. He dominated the next two long holes on Nos. 8 and 13 but couldn’t match Rho’s birdie on the par-5 18th. Still, Monsalve’s 68 put himself in early contention in the P2 million championship, his best start in a career marked by a fifth-place finish in his first pro event at Apo last March.

MEMBERS of PhilCycling’s national road team completed recently a five-day training camp in Zambales ahead of their participation in the 2024 Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Championships for Road in Kazakhstan in June.

A total of 35 cyclists took part in the training camp hosted by Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane and supported by Rep. Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz of the province’s Second District at the Balin Sambali in Iba and at Camp Kainomayan in Botolan.

“The training camp’s important not only to keep the athletes in harness for the Asian championships but for them to bond them together further as a national team,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who also heads the PhilCycling.

Smart/MVP national taekwondo tournament slated

PROMISING taekwondo jins will be tested to the max when the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) stages the Smart/MVP National New Face of the Year Championhips in Kyorugi (free sparring) on May 25-26 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Just like last year when the event attracted more than 2,500 participants, PTA is once again expecting another exciting and energetic action in the two-day event designed to discover future PH team members.

It is also the association’s way in gauging the progress of these individuals who have trained long and hard and sacrificed lot for a chance to become the new face of PH taekwondo.

Supported by the Philippine Sports

Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO, the tournament will be participated in by all affiliated chapters and branches throughout Metro Manila and all provincial affiliated chapters including the military branches of service.

Competitions on tap are Senior, Junior Cadet, Grade School and Toddler for both male and female divisions which have novice and advance categories.

The event is also part of the association’s commitment to support the government grassroots programs.

Parents interested to enroll their children and sports enthusiasts are cordially invited to witness the event starting at 9 a.m.

15-4, 15-8 win in their semifinal showdown on Tuesday. Karen Tanchanco Caballero, president of the Pilipinas Sepaktakraw Federation, lauded the team’s astounding feat, admitting she initially had doubts about their potential in such a highly competitive tournament.

“I was skeptical about this new batch of athletes because, by my standards, they’re a bit old to peak (in their early 20s). Truthfully, I was quite harsh when I first met them and even coined the team ‘Thunder Cats’ because I felt they were too old to peak,” said Caballero.

Despite her reservations, Caballero decided to give them a chance at the urging of team coach Rodolfo Eco, who insisted on providing the athletes with an opportunity to prove themselves.

“My usual challenge was, ‘Coach, if they mess up at the World Cup, they’ll have to swim back to the Philippines,’” she said. Caballero noted that the ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup is the toughest tournament in the sport, causing her significant stress and anxiety as she watched each game. However, the team exceeded her expectations.

NEARLY 200 youngsters from the host city and surrounding towns and municipalities in Region II brace for spirited battle for top honors and ranking points in the Mayor Doc Totep Calderon Cup National Junior Tennis Championships beginning tomorrow (Friday, May 24) in Roxas, Isabela.

The juniors tournament, presented by Dunlop, will feature competitions across five age categories in both the boys’ and girls’ singles divisions at the Lado del Rio Resort. It also serves as a prelude to the highly anticipated Open singles and doubles events, which will showcase the nation’s top players and emerging talents.

The age categories on offer include the 10-and-under unisex, as well as the 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-andunder divisions. Following the juniors, the Open championship will take place from May 28 to June 2, featuring the Legends division, including the men’s doubles for various age groups, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Subsequent legs of the tournament will be hosted by the Tuguegarao Tennis Club and the municipalities of Aparri and Ballesteros, continuing the nationwide initiative spearheaded by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. According to event organizer Bobby Mangunay,

The national sepak ‘Thunder Cats’ takraw team displays the PH ag.

Hyun Ho Rho studies the layout in the first round of the ICTSI Philippine Masters. Manny Marcelo

Two young taekwondo jins looking to land a head kick.

Florence Bisera Manny Marcelo

Recto: EO 12 on e-vehicle incentives to cut emissions

FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday the expansion of electric vehicle incentive program under Executive Order No. 12 would generate more jobs in the area of green technology for Filipinos.

“This strategic move puts the Philippines at the forefront of green technology, attracting more sustainable investments. It will spur the creation of high-quality jobs, foster innovation, and offer Filipinos more eco-friendly vehicle choices. Ultimately, it will bring us closer to reaching our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent in 2030,” Recto said in a statement.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on May 15, 2024 approved the expansion of tariff exemptions on electric vehicles (EVs) to include e-motorcycles, e-bicycles, nickel metal hydride accumulator batteries, e-tricycles, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) jeepneys or buses. The tariffs on these articles will be reduced to 0 until 2028.

The tariff exemptions include EV parts and components and completely knocked down (CKD) EVs which could incentivize interested parties to assemble or even manufacture in the Philippines–deepening the manufacturing sector and generating quality employment.

The Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM) will conduct an annual review of the rates to ensure that they are timely, applicable and considerate of the sectors affected by the changes in duties on EVs.

Darwin G. Amojelar

INDO-PACIFIC

FORUM. Trade Secretary (second from right) pitches the Philippines’ investment potential at 6th IndoPacific Business Forum on May 21, 2024. The Philippines stands as an ideal destination for investment, offering a wealth of economic opportunities across diverse industries, says Pascual. With Pascual are (From left) United States Trade and Development Agency director Enoh Ebong, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs assistant secretary Daniel Kritenbrink.

MARINA secures jobs of over 55,000 seafarers

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines secured its place anew on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Whitelist, entrenching the country’s status as a major provider of world-class Filipino seafarers in the global maritime industry.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said in a statement the Philippines was recognized anew for its commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training and certification for Filipino seafarers.

Maritime Capital of the World by continuously supplying the global maritime industry with high standards Filipino seafarers,” Bautista said.

He said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is determined to address challenges faced by the maritime industry for the country to achieve such a reputation.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the inclusion in the list is aligned with the government’s goal to establish the Philippines as the “Marine Capital of the World” by providing the global maritime industry with worldclass Filipino seafarers.

“Our goal is to entrench the position of the Philippines as the

As a roster of parties, the IMO Whitelist signifies that seafarers trained and certified in the Philippines meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

After the 2022 IMO Independent Evaluation, the DOTr through the MARINA exerted efforts to consistently implement and monitor the corrective actions for the benefit of almost 50,000 Filipino seafarers employed by European-flagged vessels.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) confirmed that the Philippines has fully complied with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention.

KKR invests in PHINMA Education

TikTok stifles youth development and education—if lef t unrestricted

PRESIDENT Joe Biden has every legitimate reason to ban

TikTok in the US, unless the app’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, sells it to an approved buyer not later than January 19, 2025.

Mr. Biden, along with American politicians, law enforcement agencies and intelligence officials, fear Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to release data from 170 million Americans, who use the TikTok social media platform.

The concern is rooted in Chinese national security laws that oblige organizations to help in intelligence gathering, although TikTok has denied sharing US user data.

TikTok’s supposed security threat is paramount to the US. Equally significant, however, is TikTok’s unsavory influence on the youth. Virtually all of the Philippines’ strategic and economic allies have initiated restrictions or active investigations into the negative educational and mental health effects of TikTok and other addictive online content providers.

The Philippine military is understandably worried over the personal data that TikTok has amassed from its Filipino users. But Senator Sherwin Gatchalian sees TikTok’s threat to the educational achievement, mental health and economic future of Philippine youth more disturbing.

also worrisome. There are concerns that some users may find it hard to stop using TikTok.

Tiktok’s Chinese version, Douyin, added in April 2018 an addiction-reduction feature that encouraged users to take a break every 90 minutes. The same feature was introduced to the TikTok app later in the same year. TikTok uses popular influencers to encourage viewers to stop using the app and take a break.

Many, according to Wikipedia, were also concerned with the app influencing users’ attention span due to the short-form nature of the content. The apprehension is well founded. Many of TikTok’s audience are younger children, whose brains are still developing.

The adverse effect of TikTok and other addictive online contents on our youth should be given equal importance as the app’s security threat.

The popular short-form video hosting service has been embroiled in past controversies involving teens.

Underage users, according to information reported to Wikipedia, may inadvertently reveal their daily routine and whereabouts, raising concerns of potential misuse by sexual predators.

The free, open content online encyclopedia reported that comment sections of “sexy” videos, such as young girls dancing in revealing clothes, were found to contain requests for nude pictures.

TikTok’s influence on the youth can also lead to fatal consequences.

The Italian Data Protection Authority on Januar4y 22, 202 demanded that TikTok temporarily suspend Italian users whose age could not be established. Its order came after the death of a 10-year-old Sicilian girl involved in an Internet challenge. TikTok asked its users in Italy to confirm again that they were over 13 years old. By May, over 500,000 accounts had been removed for failing the age check.

The youth’s addiction to TikTok and their mental health are

Thus, in March 2022, a coalition of US state attorneys general launched an investigation into TikTok’s effect on children’s mental health.

The TikTok media platform has become a minefield for unsuspecting children. Since 2021, accounts engaging with contents related to suicide, self-harm or eating disorder received similar videos.

TikTok has faced multiple lawsuits pertaining to wrongful deaths and the app said it was working to break up these “rabbit holes.”

Given the slew of concerns about TikTok’s adverse impact on the youth, it is no wonder that Philippine political, social media and public education leaders are again shaking their heads in frustration over the country’s absence in the global debate to limit the negative effects of TikTok on youth and educational development.

The adverse effect of TikTok and other addictive online contents on our youth should be given equal importance as the app’s security threat.

In the wake of the poor global rating of the Philippine youth in educational achievements, many consider the addictive, sensationalist and distorted content on TikTok, combined with its integrated consumer manipulation, as significant roadblocks to improving the country’s literacy.

It is not too late, though to stem TikTok’s tide. Other nations have found the mental fortitude to restrain or ban the app. The Philippines should join the offensive now.

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

Stocks extend losses on peso depreciation

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE stocks extended their losses for a second straight trading day on worries about the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 26.44 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 6,607.22, while the allshares index declined 11.82 points, or 0.33 percent.

“The peso’s weakening could have many negative impacts on our economy, one of which is the upward measure it may exert on inflation if this trend persists,” Philstocks Financial Inc. research analyst Claire Alviar said.

While the peso exchange slightly recovered on Wednesday after falling for three straight days, it remained at the 58-a-dollar range. It closed at 58.06 against the greenback.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors also opted to stay on the sidelines while waiting for the minutes of the recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting and April home sales data from US. Value turnover was thin at P4.7 billion, while foreign investors were net sellers by P644.6 million.

Sectoral indices ended mixed, with services and holding firms rising by 0.90 percent and 0.17 percent, respectively. Property registered the biggest decline by 1.39 percent, followed by industrial by 1.18 percent, financials by 1.16 percent and mining and oil by 1.07 percent. Meanwhile, Asian markets were mixed, and European stocks fell Wednesday as investors struggled to revive a recent rally across markets as they turned their focus on the release later in the day of earnings from US tech darling Nvidia. Record closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq provided a little inspiration, even with few catalysts to drive buying, with minutes from the Federal Reserve’s May policy decision possibly giving an insight into officials’ thinking with regard to interest rates. With AFP

Tokyo Gas finalizes deal with FGEN LNG

By Alena Mae S. Flores

FIRST Gen LNG Holdings Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lopez-led First Gen Corp., said Wednesday it executed a shareholders’ agreement (SHA) and share subscription agreement (SSA) with Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.

First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that under the SHA and SSA, Tokyo Gas will subscribe for shares and become a shareholder in FGEN LNG Corp., the owner and operator of the interim offshore terminal project in Batangas City.

First Gen and Tokyo Gas signed a joint development agreement for the IOT project in December 2018.

“The execution of the SHA and SSA represents the next phase of the parties’ joint development of the project,” the company said.

The SHA will govern the rights of FGEN LNG Holdings and Tokyo Gas with respect to the ownership and operations of the IOT project.

The SHA is conditioned upon several conditions precedent, including the procurement of relevant government approvals.

First Gen said that once effective, FGEN LNG Holdings will have an 80-percent shareholding, while Tokyo Gas will have a 20-percent shareholding in FGEN LNG. FGEN LNG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen, one of the biggest independent power producers in the country and the leading gas power generation company in the Philippines with approximately 2,000 MW in operating gas assets.

Tokyo Gas, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading LNG player with more than 130 years of experience and more than 50 years of experience in the LNG business.

Tokyo Gas is one of the largest purchasers of LNG in the world with an annual volume of 13 metric tons per annum (MTPA). It has over 63,000 kilometers of gas pipelines serving about 8.8 million customers.

BUSINESS KKR invests in PHINMA Education

Alsons’ diesel plant warns of shutdown over fuel constraint

By Alena Mae S. Flores

WESTERN Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC), a diesel facility in Zamboanga City owned by Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., on Wednesday served notice that the plant may need to cease operations, causing rotating brownouts in Zamboanga City and nearby areas over fuel constraint.

WMPC said it informed relevant government agencies that it was expected to exhaust its fuel supply in the coming weeks.

The company previously engaged in a non-firm ancillary services procurement agreement (ASPA) with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), which enabled WMPC to provide critical power support to maintain grid stability in Mindanao and ensure a consistent power supply in Zamboanga City and nearby areas.

WMPC said this non-firm ASPA expired on April 25, and while NGCP awarded a new firm ASPA to WMPC in April 2023, its implementation was on hold pending approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Under a non-firm ASPA, power plants are not guaranteed to always provide ancillary services to the power grid.

WMPC faced about P50 million in losses from January to March 2024 as power plants holding new firm ASPA contracts received provisional authority from the NGCP.

By Othel V. Campos

THE US Trade and Development Agency

(USTDA) said it awarded a grant to Filipino company Responsible Internet Sustainability Effort Inc. (RISE) for a feasibility that will help internet service providers across the Philippines strengthen their delivery of high-quality and reliable internet, particularly in areas lacking proper service.

The study specifically targets the expansion of RISE’s carrier-neutral internet exchange infrastructure through their GetaFIX business unit. The expansion aims to bring data centers closer to users, among several benefits.

“The US government is committed to supporting the Philippine government on its digital development journey... This

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GLOBAL private equity funds KKR and Kaizenvest are investing P4.5 billion in PHINMA Education Holdings Inc., a leading private higher education firm owned by conglomerate PHINMA Corp.

PHINMA said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday its education group signed an investment agreement with Phoenix Investments II Pte. Ltd, an investment fund managed by KKR, and Rise Edu Pte. Ltd., an investment fund managed by Kaizenvest (Kaizenvest III).

Under the agreement, PHINMA Education will issue P4.5 billion worth of new common shares to these funds.

These funds also signed an agreement to acquire the shares in PHINMA Education owned, directly or indirectly, by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Nederlandse Financierings- Maatschappij voor Ontwikkel-

ingslanden N.V. (FMO), and Kaizen Private Equity II Pte. Ltd. (Kaizenvest II).

Post transaction funds managed by KKR and Kaizenvest III will respectively own, directly or indirectly, 30.67-percent and 3.73-percent stakes in PHINMA Education.

Meanwhile, the ADB, FMO and Kaizenvest II will no longer be, directly or indirectly, shareholders of the company. PHINMA, which owns a 75-percent stake in the company, will continue to be the majority shareholder of PHINMA Education after the entry of the new investors.

PHINMA chairman and chief executive

PHINMA Education Holdings Inc. country head Christopher Tan, PHINMA Corp. chairman and chief executive Ramon del Rosario Jr., PHINMA Education president and chief executive Dr. Chito Salazar; and AB Capital & Investment Corp. executive chairman Antonio Periquet celebrate the investment of KKR in PHINMA Education, which runs a network of schools serving more than 150,000 students across the Philippines. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to regulatory approvals, including that of the Philippine Competition Commission.

Ramon del Rosario, Jr. said the partnership with KKR puts the company in a better position expand its operations in the Philippines and in Indonesia. Under the investment agreement, KKR will be entitled to three board seats in the 11-man board of PHINMA Education.

grant from USTDA will support efforts to bring affordable connectivity to remote communities, enabling access to the digital economy for every Filipino,” said US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.

“We’re thrilled and honored that USTDA would choose to support GetaFIX. Having grown to the Philippines’ largest internet exchange already, GetaFIX is ready to make an even bigger impact and keep living our motto ‘when we share everyone wins,” said RISE founder and chief executive Rhett Jones. By expanding GetaFIX internet exchanges, data will

travel shorter distances, enhancing both speed and reliability for users.

This translates into a better overall internet experience and increased connectivity between Philippine internet service providers. The project also has the potential to create new business

notice and to vote in the said meeting. Since the meeting will be held in a fully virtual format, stockholders may only attend the meeting by remote communication, and may only vote in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

by

intending to attend the

communication should

Should you wish to ask any questions or give any comments on the items in the agenda, you can send them by email to aec_asm@angeleselectric.com.ph on or before June 10, 2024 and this will be read and addressed by the Board of Directors during the meeting within the time allowed. Questions that could not be accommodated during the meeting will be responded to by email.

The Information Statement and its attachments, SEC Form 17A, minutes of the previous meeting of stockholders, and other pertinent documents, as may be necessary under the given circumstance, can be accessed through the company website www.angeleselectric.com.ph.

The meeting proceedings will be recorded in audio and video format, and the recorded copy shall be kept by the Company in accordance with the Revised Corporation Code and related regulations. Pasig City, May 22, 2024.

BENEDICT R. TUGONON Corporate Secretary M. Standard –

Hospital Building, Judge Martelino Rd., Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan. The meeting can be accessed at the link provided in the Company’s website at http://www.asiapacificmedicalcenter-aklan.com/ASM2024/.

The Agenda* of the meeting is as follows:

I. Call to Order

II. Proof of Notice of Meeting and Declaration of Quorum

III. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Stockholders’ Meeting

IV. Message from the Chairman of the Board

V. Presentation and Approval of the 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements

VI. President’s Report

VII. Election of the Members of the Board of Directors

VIII. Amendment of By-Laws

i. Section 1, Article II: Change of Schedule of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting

ii. Section8, Article IV: Separation of Position of Corporate Treasurer from Chief Financial Officer

IX. Ratification of the Acts, Resolutions and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Corporate Officers and Management from 2023 up to 14 June 2024.

X. Appointment of External Auditor

XI. Other Matters

XII. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record as of 25 May 2024, will be entitled to receive the notice and to vote at this meeting.

The Company will once again conduct a virtual annual stockholders’ meeting to be able to accommodate shareholders from other areas especially the ones working abroad who will not be able to attend personally. The conduct of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting will be thru Zoom Teleconference on 14 June 2024 and stockholders may attend by registering by 25 May 2024 until 07 June 2024, 1700H. Participants may send in questions or remarks via Company’s email compliance@apmcaklan.com

If you wish to cast your votes as a stockholder,

Philtrak Inc.

Metro Manila Subway seen operational by end-2029

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation

(DOTr) said Wednesday the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is on track to become fully operational by end of 2029. The agency said the MMSP’s physical progress is now at 14 percent. The MMSP is the first underground railway system in the Philippines and a flagship project under the “Build, Better, More” program of the Marcos Administration.

Spanning 33 kilometers across eight local governments units in Metro Manila and passing through three

Tatak Pinoy Act to promote local water fabrication

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) will make provisions to include wafer fabrication in the Tatak Pinoy Act’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) signed Wednesday by various concerned government agencies.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual underscored the importance of establishing a local wafer fab to gradually step up semiconductor and electronics manufacturing in the country.

Senator Sonny Angara, author of the Tatak Pinoy Act, said the law supports the country’s industrialization ambitions with an offer of P2 billion funding allocation for the program.

The DTI’s share of P350 million will be used to support small manufacturing companies and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), Pascual said.

The Tatak Pinoy Industrial Policy (TPIP) Program is a new initiative of the DTI that aligns with the goals of the Tatak Pinoy Act which is one of the 12 priority legislations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which aims to foster development and uplift the lives of the Filipino people.

Consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, the Tatak Pinoy Act calls for close collaboration among the government, industry and other stakeholders in enabling Philippine industries to enhance productivity and competitiveness, produce and trade a diverse array of more complex and higher quality products and services.

central business districts, the MMSP is an expansive system that will be interconnected with LRT-1, MRT-3 and MRT-7 at the Common Station, LRT2 at Anonas Station and a physical run through into the NSCR-EX at FTI and Bicutan Stations.

Passengers can board a subway train at North Avenue Station, and get off almost 100 kilometers away at the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project’s Calamba Station without changing trains.

The subway also features a spur line to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at T3 Station which makes the gateway reachable from

SIGMA ASIA SUMMIT.

Neil Shih, managing director of SiGMA Asia, presents Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco a copy of the SiGMA magazine. PAGCOR is endorsing SiGMA Asia’s upcoming 2024 Manila show at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from June 3 to 5, 2024.

Quezon City in as fast as 40 minutes, with eight-car train sets carrying up to 2,200 passengers per train, running as fast as 80 kilometers per hour, and with trains arriving at stations every five minutes.

The P488.5-billion project is also expected to serve around 370,000 passengers a day in its first year of full operations, with capacity to serve up to 1 million passengers a day in later years.

The project aims to reduce travel time between Clark, Pampanga and Calamba, Laguna to just two hours and service over 800,000 passengers daily once operational.

Local group offers to turn rail assets into logistics hub

ALOCAL consortium led by Philtrak Inc. chairman and chief executive Francis Yuseco offers to transform the idle rail tracks of the Philippine National Railways into a new mass transit and logistics hub to resolve the traffic congestion and high prices of commodities in the country.

Yuseco, 78, said in a presentation at the Grand Hyatt Residences in Taguig City Wednesday the proposed mass transit system and farm-to-market digital logistics integrated backbone would maximize the country’s patrimonial assets, particularly the 1,079 kilometers of PNR railways in Luzon and the Panay Railways and convert them into “powerful daily cash machines”.

Yuseco, a former investment banker and inventor, said his group is in talks with local and international banks to fund the project that would initially involve 85 kilometers of railways between Tutuban, Manila and San Pablo City in Laguna and the decommissioned Panay railways in the Visayas. He said the project would not require massive and continuing taxpayer subsidies.

He said the proposal involves redeveloping the unused at-grade level of the elevated North–South Commuter Railway spanning at least 30 meters in width into a new transit system us-

LAND Bank of the Philippines said it will soon use cards with quick response (QR) code functionality to facilitate more convenient and secure cash aid disbursement to beneficiaries of the government’s social amelioration programs.

The LandBank cards with QR code will provide beneficiaries an alternative method to immediately receive and access their funds, ensuring timely assistance from government agencies especially during emergencies and other special subsidy payouts.

LandBank teamed up with Traxion Pay to facilitate the innovative payment option, through the signing of a memorandum of agreement led by LandBank president and chief executive Lynette

SSS files charges against four companies over unremitted members contributions

THE Social Security System (SSS) said Wednesday it filed criminal charges against four business establishments for P15 million in unremitted employees’ contributions plus penalties.

SSS president and chief executive Rolando Macasaet said the state-run pension fund is poised to charge another 655 delinquent employers for not remitting P257 million in workers’ contributions. Macasaet said in a statement a restaurant under the name Juanito Galvez, fire extinguisher’s retail-refilling supplier Chedda General Merchandise, BPO service provider eTelecare and car spare parts importer Cinwha Trading Corp. deprived their 140 employees of availing SSS benefits or applying for loans because of non-remittance of their contributions.

“SSS previously visited the four employers during RACE (Run After Contribution Evaders) operations to remind them to pay the contributions of their workers. However, they failed to settle their contribution delinquencies despite receiving violation notices from SSS,” Macasaet said. Macasaet said the legal actions taken by SSS against the employers proved that SSS was serious and determined to penalize business establishments who failed to deduct and remit the monthly contributions of their workers.

SSS vice president for operations legal services division and RACE team coordinator Renato Jacinto Cuisia said the fund has beefed up its RACE campaigns around the country. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ortiz and Traxion founder and chief executive Ann Cuisia on May 9, 2024.

“As our newest fintech-enabling partner, Traxion’s technical expertise will be invaluable in the implementation of our plan to integrate QR code functionality into our cards to facilitate convenient, seamless, and secure cash disbursements, especially under the government’s social amelioration programs. We expect to further accelerate our efforts to promote QR Ph code-enabled person-to-person and person-to-merchant payments with our partnership,” said Ortiz. Under the partnership, Traxion will also provide technology solutions to enable QR Ph person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) payments.

This will complement LandBank’s digital banking solutions to service the requirements of government agencies for the seamless collection of fees and charges.

The adoption of QR code in payment services is in line with the thrust of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability of payment systems in support of advancing inclusive economic growth.

The new partnership also covers the onboarding of over 200 Traxion partner cooperatives to the LANDBANKasama Program. This is expected to boost the Bank’s reach in rural areas to bring financial services closer to more Filipinos.

Social Security System (SSS) Mindanao North legal counsel Jhon Edgar Ipan (center) files charges against a car spare parts importer at the Prosecutor’s Office in Cagayan de Oro City for non-remittance of SSS contributions as a part of the nationwide Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign.

ing European Road Trains and the hybrid electric road transit designed by the Department of Science and Technology. The proposed articulated bus train will occupy five meters on each side of the railway, while the remaining open spaces will be utilized for housing, logistics, public markets and post-harvest facilities with transit stations along the way.

The group also proposed that the reengineered and fortified at grade level patrimonial wall of the PNR be renamed as Fort Bagong Pilipinas.

Philtrak teamed up with local companies such as AirSpeed International Freight Forwarders, the logistics arm of the SM Group, Filipino innovators and the DOST for the project that would also have warehousing, tourism, waste-to-energy and commercial components.

“This would liberate our farmers and fisher folks from centuries of dehumanizing poverty,” said Yuseco. Roderick T. dela Cruz

IN BRIEF

BPI to host corporate run BANK of the Philippine Islands said it will host the first-ever exclusive corporate running event in the Philippines on June 9, 2024. The BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024, in partnership with race organizer RunRio, is a more inclusive expansion of last year’s #BestLifeRun. It aims to promote the value of creating a culture of health and wellness in the workplace and to provide the business community with an exciting and healthy bonding activity for employees.

BPI

“We

CFBCI meets with Villar to discuss legislative bills

OFFICERS of the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI) led by Samuel Lee Uy held a courtesy meeting with Senator Mark Villar on May 16, 2024 at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The meeting focused on key legislative measures aimed at bolstering the country’s economic landscape. Villar, who serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, facilitated a discussion on his significant legislative initiatives.

He highlighted the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Bill and the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) during the meeting.

Senate Bill No. 1594, also known as the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act of 2022, recognizes the vital role of MSMEs

in economic growth.

It provides support for these enterprises to enhance product quality, development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, and brand development. The act also aids rural communities in creating higher quality, innovative products and promotes collaboration among local government units, national agencies and the private sector to develop and market competitive Filipino-made products locally and internationally.

The Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) aims to curb financial cybercrimes, addressing the rising threat of economic sabotage. It seeks to impose tougher penalties on those using financial accounts to commit crimes. Julie Ann Lope

Filipino-Chinese traders told to invest in manufacturing

By Julie Ann Lope

THE Anvil Business Club, an organization of young Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs, held its 4th Anvil Exchange Forum at the Makati Diamond Hotel.

More than 120 Anvil members and guests attended the event, with investment banker Stephen CuUnjieng as the guest speaker.

CuUnjieng underscored the pressing need for the Philippines to prioritize industrialization as a key

driver of economic growth.

He pointed to successful nations that have leveraged manufacturing and industrialization to fuel their developments.

“The ‘leave it to the private sector’ attitude, coupled with a lack of manufacturing and long-term planning, has resulted in a high vulnerability to imported inflation. This situation leaves countries like the Philippines disproportionately exposed to price fluctuations in imported goods, stemming from a heavy reliance on foreign markets.” he said.

CuUnjieng noted the crucial importance of adding value through refining and processing mineral resources for maximum economic gain, particularly in the context of exporting

higher-value finished goods.

He said the Philippines’ limited manufacturing capacity made it particularly vulnerable to the economic impacts of the pandemic. With a smaller manufacturing sector compared to other nations, the country struggled more with the downturn.

He also underscored the need to develop the Philippines’ manufacturing sector to enhance resilience against future global crises, reduce import dependence, stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

He also discussed the structural issues affecting the Philippines’ economic performance, focusing on inadequate and costly infrastructure.

He cited the need for cost-effective infrastructure to drive national development.

CKS College business expo nurtures innovation, entrepreneurship

CHIANG Kai Shek College held its Business Expo 2024 on May 3 to 4 at the 7th floor of CKS College Narra Campus.

Themed “Resurgence Amidst Change,” the expo provided a platform for student-entrepreneurs to exhibit their innovative and sustainable products, alongside Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and companies from various industries.

Business Expo 2024 was organized by the School of Business, Accounting and Hospitality Management, in collaboration with the University Students’ Union, High School Students’ Association, Rotary Youth Association, Secondary School Management Association, High School Marketing Association, Philippine Young Accountants Association, and Hospitality Management Students’ Association.

The event showcased the entrepreneurial spirit thriving within the college community. The student exhibitors featured were Kapi Pen, Canvas Crafts, Nature Sip, Bite Bye, Atomic

Notebook, Blazing Ice, Travelentials and several others.

“The expo is not just an event; it’s a celebration of resilience, creativity and the unwavering spirit of entrepreneurship. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and media partners for their support.” CKS college said.

Participating exhibitors included Xiaomi, Dairy Queen, King Sue, True Boss, GIF Manila, Milky Mangoes, District Takoyaki, Yummy Yokemi Sushi Bar, Big Boss Chicken, Celeste Jewelry, BPI, Paperaica, Kaibakes, Klio, MNG Stationary, International Fine Paper Exchange, GemRaphael’s Pan de Soliman, Cranbaby, Liberty Foodmart Inc., and Cafenilia, alongside the university’s esteemed media partners, ChinoyTV and ChinatownTV.

Event sponsors included Triton Paints, Flowerstore.ph, Motivo, Alveo, GMW Graphic Design Corp., Prime Pacific Foods Corp., Aezer, Simply G, Mixue Ice Cream and Tea, C & E Adaptive Solutions, Cenage, Sysu International Inc., Balducci, Treetop and Clara Ole.

Summer Camp to boost PH-China cultural exchange

THE Chen Yankui Foundation, in collaboration with the Philippine Chinese Education Center announced the arrangements for the “2024 Summer Filipino Students Xiamen/Quanzhou Chinese Summer Camp.”

The program aims to provide Filipino-Chinese students with a rich cultural exchange experience in China.

The camp’s agenda include a series of important events such as meetings, morning banquet and detailed roundtrip flight arrangements.

The meetings are scheduled to take place at the Grand Ballroom, Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila.

Campers from Metro Manila and Luzon will meet on May 30 at 9 a.m., while those from Visayas and Mindanao will convene later the same day at 2 p.m.

A morning banquet is scheduled

on May 31 at 8 a.m. at the Century Seafood Restaurant.

The campers and team teachers will travel in two groups to Xiamen on special flights operated by the Philippine Airlines.

The first batch will depart from Manila at 7:30 p.m. on June 1 and will return on July 12. The batch includes the 3rd Regiment (Quanzhou Division), 4th Regiment (San Shaolin, Quanzhou), 2nd Regiment (Jimei University) and Groups 5 to 9.

The second batch, which consists of the 1st Group (OCTU), 2nd Group (Jimei University) and additional members of the 1st Group (Jimei University), will leave Manila at 8 p.m. on the same day and will also return on July 12.

Following the summer camp, a performance at the Century Park Hotel on July 14 will showcase students’ experiences and learnings. Michael Wong Ho

By Michael Wong Ho

THE Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), the Filipino-Chinese Grand Family Association (FCGFA) and the Association of Chinese-Filipino Schools in the Philippines sponsored an essay contest themed “Be Punctual and Frugal” to promote traditional Chinese virtues, cultivate the concept of punctuality and uphold a frugal lifestyle.

It also sought to discover and develop writing talents within the Filipino-Chinese community. An awards ceremony for the winners was held at the ground floor of the Federation building on May 11.

Guest speakers during the ceremony included FFCCCII vice chairman and culture and education group supervisor Hong Jian Xiong and FCGFA chairman Gao Ming Seng. Both speakers emphasized the significance of punctuality and frugality.

They highlighted that the Filipino-Chinese community has long been advocating for the punctuality and frugality movement, which is not only a set of behaviors but also a reflection of values and a way of life.

Hong expressed hope that the writing contest would further promote an appreciation for traditional Chinese culture and contribute to social progress.

They believe that such initiatives reinforce cultural identity and encourage responsible and conscientious living within the community.

Rotary Club of Chinatown donates hearing treatment machine

THE Rotary Club of Chinatown Manila held the inauguration and handover ceremony for the Real Ear Measurement Treatment for the Hearing Impaired machine to Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital in Binondo, Manila on May 16, 2024. The project was funded by the Rotary Foundation’s Global Grant No. 2453429. The machine is valued at $80,000.

Manila Vice Mayor Yul Nieto and other community leaders attended the ceremony.

“Being a part of the Rotary Club of Chinatown Manila is more than just a club - it’s a family,” the club said. “Today’s event was a great reminder of why we do what we do, and the impact we can have when we work together. Let’s continue to spread positivity and support those in need in our community.” It said. Julie Ann Lope

Senator Mark Villar discusses legislative bills with Officers of the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI).

Investment banker Stephen CuUnjieng addresses members of the Anvil Business Club.

Students of Chiang Kai Shek College showcase innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Members of the Rotary Club of Chinatown Manila turn over a hearing treatment machine to Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital.

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

Alisah Bonaobra kicks off Canadian concert tour

SINGER Alisah Bonaobra considers it a miracle that one of her records bagged the Inspirational Song of the Year trophy from an award-giving body with a good reputation and mainstream influence. That’s how appreciative she is of the good news, not to mention the song is called, and asks, “Do You Have a Miracle for Me.”

The Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Music, in its 14th edition, handed the citation to Alisah’s song written by A-list songwriter Cecile Azarcon-Inocentes. The track is produced by the San Francisco Bay Area-based RJA Productions, the head of which Rosabella Jao-Arribas has served as Alisah’s ever-supportive manager since the pandemic-triggered lockdown days of the current decade.

“I’m so honored for this recognition at sobrang laking blessing nito para po sa akin,” expressed Alisah who moved to northern California in 2022, a year after the release of the said song.

“Do You Have a Miracle for Me” is a beautiful ballad reminiscent of classic inspirational pop songs that go beyond the trappings of preachy pieces. Well, its composer is behind the enduring “Lift Up Your Hands” popularized by Basil Valdez. Both songs inspire in a way a traditional church song, one that the faithful have become accustomed to, does.

The adored songwriter herself whose classic catalog also includes Kuh Ledesma’s “I Think I’m In Love,” Gary Valenciano’s “Reaching Out,” Chiqui Pineda’s “How Did You Know,” and Martin Nievera’s “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” certainly found Alisah’s voice a perfect fit to her composition.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Voice of the Philippines Season 2 runner-up likewise recorded a separate song she penned, called “Faithful.”

Vocally spiritual herself, Alisah noted, “We’re thankful for Ms.Cecile for trusting us with her songs. This award from PMPC is a big boost to my profile. Ibang klase po talaga magbigay ng blessing si God.”

With her X Factor UK stint, where she impressed everyone with her impromptu take of the popular tune “Bang Bang” as a cue, Alisah is enjoying herself performing abroad. Last year she wowed crowds in Germany, while just last February, she entertained people in Guam, a US island territory.

Next month, she will be touring Canada with Bryan Termulo on the following dates: June 7 and 8 (Calgary and Grande Prairie in Alberta), June 28 (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), and June 29 (Dawson Creek, British Columbia).

“Since I got here in the US, I’ve been doing a lot of shows and I always feel excited seeing people appreciate my presence,” she said.

Alisah has been visible in the Fil-Am community events, performing in intimate shows and sold-out concerts, some of them being promoted by RJA. She recently guested at a Gigi de Lana show in San Francisco.

She is scheduled to headline Emerge, a big concert on July 20 to be staged at the Empress Theatre in (330 Virginia Street) Vallejo, California. The show will also feature the Philippines’ King of R&B Jay R, along with other notable talents who are US-based. When outside of the spotlight, the remarkable singing contest talent is volunteering in an animal shelter. She is a passionate lover of dogs and cats. She is likewise serving as a Catholic church choir member.

The recording artist whose number of singles just keeps increasing happily gives voice lessons to those with potential. She has started living on her own as she further navigates life in America. She reflected, “I feel blessed that I have a roof on my head while adjusting to life away from the Philippines. You have to be strong, especially when the only choice is to be strong. You need to live in the present.”

The petite singing sensation finds home in inspirational songs as her life is an inspiring story in itself. She was raised through humble means and went through the competition circuit in difficult situations. As talents come and go, her continuing story empowering the voice and charming audiences in and out of the Philippines is some sort of a miracle, while being largely the result of her strength of character and faith in God.

Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri heat up Boracay bash

BRILLIANT Skin Essentials hosted a summer event last May 19, on Boracay Island, introducing a new ambassador and unveiling their new product line.

CEO of Brilliant Skin Essentials, Glenda dela Cruz , kicked off the event by expressing her gratitude, hyping up the three new products, and teasing the plans for BSE.

“Thank you to the team for making this possible. Some people have commented, ‘Ms. Glenda, it’s not summer anymore,’ but for us, it’s still very much summer,” the beauty brand executive said.

Miss Glenda extended an all-expenses-paid invitation to over 300 guests, comprising franchisees and distributors, ensuring they could fully enjoy the event.

Endorser, Andrea Brillantes, who recently renewed her contract with the brand, also joined the festivities and performed on stage with actor, singer, and co-ambassador Kyle Echarri

Asked about her favorite part of being a Brilliant Skin endorser, Andrea said, “My favorite part, of course, is the most important thing –the products of Brilliant Skin are truly effective. I can say this because I’ve been a user since I was 15 years old.”

Kyle added, gesturing to the crowd, “I can feel that too. I think Blythe would also say that her favorite part is that it feels like you’re really family.”

One of the event highlights was the introduction of Kyle Echarri as part of the Brilliant Skin Family. He made it official by signing his contract with the brand

The brand, which unveiled three new products, also recognized and honored their top city/municipality, district, and provincial distributors, as well as their top provincial and regional franchisees for the first quarter of 2024.

Anne-Marie announces multi-city Asia Tour 2024

PLATINUM-SELLING artist AnneMarie has announced her 2024 Asia tour, which kicks off in Tokyo and continues to Osaka, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taipei.

The tour begins at the Garden Theater in Tokyo on Sept. 24, then moves to Zepp Namba in Osaka on Sept. 26, The Podium Hall in Manila on Sept. 28, Capitol Theatre in Singapore on Sept. 30, MacPherson Stadium in Hong Kong on Oct. 3, and ends at Zepp New Taipei in Taipei on Oct. 7.

Anne-Marie gained fame with her unique voice on tracks by Rudimental and the hit “Rockabye” with Clean Bandit. A former three-time world Karate champion, she connects with fans through personal songs about betrayal, body image, and love. Her debut album, Speak Your Mind , was the UK’s biggest debut album of

Starting from small roles in West End shows and performing in a soul covers band in East Tilbury, Essex, Anne-Marie rose to fame with no industry connections. Her honest lyrics and powerful vocals have won her a devoted fanbase, including Ed Sheeran and Marshmello

Anne-Marie’s music often feels like a conversation with a friend, especially about relationship issues: “We

all go through heartbreak, and it’s important to talk about it. Recognize a bad relationship and know that heartbreak feelings don’t last forever, and you’re not alone.”

Anne-Marie’s global appeal keeps growing, making her a world-class vocalist with a unique bond with her audience.

Anne-Marie 2024 Live in Manila will be held at The Podium Hall on Sept. 28. Mastercard cardholders can access presale tickets until today. Visit https://www. priceless.com/ music for details. Live Nation members can get tickets during the pre-sale today from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Register for access at https://www. livenation. ph/. General ticket sales start tomorrow, May 24 at 12:00 p.m. via https:// www.smtickets.com/.

Skin’s newest ambassador

Kyle Echarri (left) and Andrea Brillantes entertain the crowd with a sweet performance

Anne-Marie rose to fame with her collaboration with music group Clean Bandit

Actress Andrea Brillantes showcases her vibrant and sweet charm during the Boracay event

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

‘Drag Race Philippines’ M1ss Jade So reveals secret to serving ‘lewks’

By Ratziel San Juan

M1SS Jade So , a popular Filipino drag artist who finished as a finalist in the second season of Drag Race Philippines , has generously shared beauty tidbits with her followers.

The fan favorite talked about her professional inspirations and best practices during the recently held TELUS International Philippines’ IDAHOBIT x Mother’s Day event in Bonifacio Global City.

“My drag aesthetic…I usually get inspiration from the fashion industry, music artists, and also my life. My favorite designers are Mugler, Gaultier, McQueen, and more. I get inspired watching their fashion shows and how I will apply it to my drag aesthetic,” So said. As for music artists, she cited Lady Gaga as an alltime favorite, along with Tyla and Beyoncé as her current picks.

“I get to conceptualize my performances based on what I’ve experienced,” the “Esoteric Goddessa” related.

Asked for makeup tips, So drew attention to her “snatched eye” look: “My secret tip is to put the lashes

on top of your lash line. There’s a space above the lash line so that it would look tilted to this angle.”

She then advised putting extra face tape underneath the wig for good measure.

So’s drag daughter, Rocky Star , in the same event, revealed adopting the same snatched eye look to emphasize her own beauty.

Whereas she would go for the simple feminine look before, Star has since transitioned to a more “exaggerated” look in favor of maximizing her stage presence.

“The biggest difference especially when you’re onstage is to exaggerate as much as you can with the eyelid, eyeliner, the lash, and everything,” Star recommended.

How kidney disease causes chain reaction of health woes

THE kidneys are small, bean-shaped organs only about five inches big, but don’t let their small size fool you. Sitting just below the rib cage, they are a complex filter system that processes around 200 liters of blood, removes impurities, regulates blood pressure, maintains electrolyte balance, and produces hormones crucial for red blood cell production and bone health. Whew, what a fantastic job they do every single day. In other words, these fist-sized hardworking organs play a powerful role in maintaining our well-being, and having kidney problems can set off a domino effect of other health problems.

“Given all the work the kidneys must do, developing kidney issues like chronic kidney disease or CKD which affects one Filipino every hour puts you at risk of complications that affect other areas of your body like your skin and your heart,” explains Eladio Miguel M. Peñaranda Jr., MD Chief of the Section of Nephrology of the top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

Some people with malfunctioning kidneys do complain about itchy skin that can range from mildly bothersome to unbearably lifedisrupting, and gout too.

“There are many possible reasons why people with kidney problems experience this, and it could be because there’s an accumulation of toxins in the body,” shares Dr. Peñaranda. “The same excess waste buildup also leads to uric acid build up in your blood that triggers gout. Having too much uric acid creates small urate crystals, which settle in your joints and cause sudden attacks of pain and swelling.”

With the kidney controlling the balance of minerals like phosphorus, calcium, and

potassium in the body, problems in these organs may also affect bone and heart health.

“Healthy kidneys can easily get rid of excess phosphorus. Otherwise, high levels of this mineral can also decrease the calcium levels in bone, making you more at risk of fractures and osteoporosis,” says Dr. Peñaranda. “Moreover, potassium controls the electrical signals of your myocardium or the muscular layer of the heart controlling your heartbeat. When there’s too much potassium it can result in an irregular heartbeat.”

Similarly, kidney damage increases the risk for more serious health issues like heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death among Filipinos.

“This is because kidney disease can lead to increased strain on the heart as it works harder to supply blood to the kidneys,” notes Dr. Peñaranda. Considering their impact and influence on the

rest of the body, these small organs should always be factored into our proactive approach to maintaining health, MakatiMed reminds. Some people with kidney disease don’t feel its effects until the condition reaches an advanced stage when treatment only involves alleviating symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.

“To keep kidneys healthy, it’s crucial to add more veggies and fruits to your plate, stay hydrated, work out regularly, limit cholesterol and salt intake, reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, and control blood sugar and blood pressure,” underlines Dr. Peñaranda.

“If you suspect kidney issues, see a doctor immediately and ask if you can get tested. Diagnosis requires blood and urine tests. Taking these steps can preserve your kidneys and prevent a surge of health issues that’ll keep you from living life to the fullest,” concludes Dr. Peñaranda.

Nurturing communities with compassionate care

IT TAKES a village to mount a Watsons Alagang Pangkalusugan medical mission. There are volunteer doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. Watsons also invites supplier partners to donate medicines and medical supplies and witness the work being done in the communities. Then there are the Watsons employee volunteers who use their days off to give back instead of resting and spending time with their families.

A number of these Watsons volunteers are mothers. Patience and leadership skills are traits that many good volunteers have and if there is one person who has these traits and more, it’s a mother. For Watsons moms who volunteer for Alagang Pangkalusugan medical missions, volunteerism is a commitment. Since 2013, Alagang Pangkalusugan has benefited over 6,500 Filipinos. Watsons is very proud to be a partner of Filipino families in their journey to good health.

Editha “Meg” Aguila has been a Watsons employee for eight years. She started volunteering for a medical mission last year.

“It is my 2nd year this year in Watsons with MNDC Metro Naga Development Council but in my store, we already conducted simple community services to the elderly way back in 2017. We would share our time and help provide the elderly with essential needs and also gave them food from our Christmas caroling fund,” said Aguila, a Watsons store manager and mother of three.

One of Aguila’s most memorable experiences as a volunteer was when the medical mission went to her hometown of Libmanan. But for Aguila, it’s even more special and poignant when they work with children.

“I am a mother too, I felt the same pain and anxiety of the mother’s patient. I will lead them to the attending doctor and if ever they need my advice on how to interpret the prescription, I will help them so they may be guided correctly.”

Eden Valenzuela, a Watsons employee for over 13 years now and a pharmacy manager, also considers it a privilege to be working with children.

“I am sad that because of poverty, they cannot have regular check-ups for their kids. Their kids are malnourished. I always tell them to take care of their children and give them proper care. I also remind them about giving the kids healthy food and vitamins,” said the mother of three.

Joan Pacio, a pharmacy manager who has been with Watsons for 21 years, said her civic duty and faith in the common good are what motivate her to volunteer.

“Helping other people is a lifefulfilling duty. It is also fulfilling to help meet the health needs of the less privileged, especially in far-flung barangays,” said the mother of two. For Meg, her motivation is to help others and make an impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Eden said she is happy to see the happy faces of people when they have free check-ups and medication.

“We have been seeing a rise in employee participation in support of Alagang Pangkalusugan in each area as more and more patients benefit from this initiative. We’re very happy that our employees are taking part in this,” said Sharon Decapia, Watsons Senior AVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability Watsons’ social purpose tagline

“Look Good Do Good Feel Great” has been guiding the company in inspiring its employees and customers on their sustainability goals. This social purpose is in the company’s DNA. The spirit of doing good is deeply ingrained in the Watsons’ culture. In 1841, A.S. Watsons founder Alexander Skirving Watson provided free medicine to the needy in the first dispensary.

You can help support Watsons medical missions by visiting any Watsons store near you or shopping online via Watsons App.

Watsons employees and mom volunteers during the Alagang Pangkalusugan Medical Mission in Camarines Sur

M1ss Jade So takes inspiration from famous music artists including Lady Gaga, Tyla, and Beyoncé

WANG,

Beauty lounge redefines beauty with advanced techniques

SEMI-PERMANENT tattoos such as microblading and lip tattoos using the safest modern techniques and premium pigments, are what Pino Beauty Lounge is specializing in when it recently opened its doors along Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

Chris Andrea Pino, chief marketing officer and co-owner of Pino Beauty Lounge, has been a beauty enthusiast for as long as she can remember. However, it was only recently that she decided to put up her own business and worked hands-on in running it.

Whenever Pino Beauty Lounge introduces new machines or modern techniques, the beauty lounge uses the owners as guinea pigs to try the procedures.

Foremost is Chris’ mom, Whena Pino, who was the first to put up a clinic specializing in semi-permanent make-up techniques at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza. The mom is now an industrial partner at Pino Beauty Lounge in Quezon City.

knowledge in the Philippines around 2015-2016.

“When my mom opened her studio at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza, I supported her and assisted when I could. Later, I opened another studio as a co-owner and artist. After six years of training and learning from top experts, we finalized plans for Pino Beauty Lounge in late 2023.”

Pino Beauty Lounge specializes in semi-permanent makeup tattoos.

“Each client is unique. We use science and aesthetics to create customized tattoos,” Chris shared.

“This lounge is proof of concept for me,” Chris said. “We use the golden ratio to measure clients’ faces. It’s not just about personal preference but based on their facial features. Even identical twins have different features.”

Pino Beauty Lounge always uses modern techniques, always tries to innovate, and learns from all over the world. They had several clients who were beauty queens, models, celebrities, influencers, and even politicians.

Chris can honestly say all her clients have left feeling satisfied after she performed procedures on them.

From ‘not good enough’ to Hollywood glow

LOVI Poe’s story is an inspiring example of overcoming selfdoubt and societal pressures. From a self-conscious teenager to a confident actress, her journey shows the power of self-care and embracing what makes you unique.

When she began her career at 15, she heard hurtful comments about her appearance, but she didn’t let those remarks dim her light. THURSDAY, MAY 23,

“I have so much to learn from my mom as she started in this industry way earlier, and I know that her expertise is much needed as this is my first venture as an owner,” Chris admitted. “My friend (Regine Florida) and I were the ones who invested our capital in this new clinic and we have an equal share.”

Chris is also a certified semipermanent makeup artist. She trained under PhiAcademy London eight years ago, when she was only 19 and still in college.

“My mom wanted me to be the ‘youngest, certified microblading artist’ in the Philippines,” Chris said. “At that time, I was still focused on my studies.”

Chris took up Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) since she initially wanted to pursue a career in diplomacy. However, she realized early on she didn’t have as much passion for Political Science as she did trying on makeup or doing research on skincare products.

“Even then, I knew I was a beautiful girl,” Chris said. “I stayed with my course until graduation but was a beauty blogger and content creator for major brands during college.

“My mom enrolled me in microblading training under PhiAcademy London, and I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to study modern microblading early on.”

When Chris’ mom founded PhiBrows Manila, she brought Chris along, giving her access to new

“We’re the most up-to-date,” Chris beamed. “Even for lip tattoos, my expertise and my favorite procedure to do. We do continuous innovation.”

“Because Pino Beauty Lounge takes pride in mixing artistry with scientific knowledge that we have, we give our best to all our clients.

They can see that.

“It’s important to know that when done right, a makeup tattoo can be an excellent beauty enhancement and will be a worthy investment.”

Pino Beauty Lounge formally

Apart from her outstanding acting skills, Lovi is also known for her confidence and charm, which have helped her succeed in the Philippines and now in Hollywood. She stars in The Chelsea Cowboy and Bad Man and has been cast in an upcoming Adam Beach movie. But she wasn’t always this self-assured. Starting as a young actress, Lovi faced many doubts and criticisms.

“I was told that I was not going to make it because I’m dark-skinned and because I was flat-chested,” Lovi shared during an interview with Manila Standard Life when she renewed her contract with beauty brand Skin Care Depo (SCD). “People said I was chubby and wouldn’t succeed.”

These words affected her, but instead of giving up, Lovi decided to overcome her doubts.

“I allowed myself a few days to sulk and feel bad and then told myself, ‘I will rise, I will do well in my work, and I will take care of myself,’” she said alluding to her own version of self-affirmation.

Lovi’s confidence grew over time with a positive mindset and supportive friends.

“It’s not every day that I feel confident, so it’s important to have the right people around you and stay positive,” she added.

She also believes in the power of positive thinking. “Tell yourself good things and fill your mind with positivity,” Lovi advises. “Take care of yourself and put in the effort to feel beautiful.”

Lovi also reminds people, especially young women, that beauty is unique to each person.

“You don’t need to fit a certain image because your own qualities make you truly special. Let your confidence grow, and the world will see your inner and outer light shine,” she affirmed.

As the face of beauty brand SCD, Lovi talks about the importance of selfcare. She believes beauty is not just about products but also about a healthy lifestyle.

“I love working out and being active,” she says. “Apart from using beauty products, you also need to take care of your body.”

Lovi exercises daily and believes it helps her feel confident and beautiful.

“It’s a holistic approach. Taking care of your body through exercise and good nutrition is essential.”

By sharing her experiences, Lovi encourages everyone to rise above negativity and invest in themselves. Her confidence has led to her success and reminds people that true beauty comes from within.

Very Wang Nickie Wang

How embracing her beauty led Lovi Poe to win in both life and career

opens its doors on May 27 along Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Chris Andrea Pino (center) took a microblading training course under PhiAcademy London

Pino Beauty Lounge specializes in microblading and lip tattoos

From left: Lovi Poe and Skin Care Depo CEO Grace Angeles during the actress’ contract renewal with the beauty brand

Lovi Poe graced the Panagbenga 2024 festival aboard a beautifully flower-adorned float, representing the brand with style

From left: Pino Beauty Lounge owners Regine Florida and Chris Andrea Pino with Pino Beauty Lounge industrial partner Whena Pino