Manila Standard - 2024 May 28 - Tuesday

PH rejects China’s ‘illegal’ four-month SCS fishing ban

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel Cruz and Vince Lopez

THE Philippines on Monday rejected China’s imposition of a unilateral, four-month fishing moratorium in the

South China Sea that includes Philippine maritime zones.

The Department of the Foreign Affairs said Beijing’s move heightens tension between the Philippines and China.

BOQ on heightened alert over FLiRT

Stricter screening at ports of entry ordered

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

THE Department of Health – Bureau of Quarantine is now on a “heightened alert” for the new COVID-19 “FLiRT” variants.

In a memorandum, Director Ferdinand Salcedo directed all BOQ stations and other concerned agencies to “conduct thorough screening at points of entry for arriving visitors originating from countries where COVID FliRT incidents have been detected.”

“We are facing a new COVID-19 strain that has the KP.1 and KP.2 variations, which are parts of the newly-discovered subvariant identified as FLiRT, a novel virus spreading globally,” Salcedo said.

“The general public should take basic health measures such as frequent hand washing, coughing etiquette, and avoiding crowded situations and getting in contact

Source: Yale Medicine

ERC halts power market as outages surge due to ‘Aghon’

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the temporary suspension of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) for the Luzon grid effective 1:05 pm Monday due to insufficient generation capacity after power plants were affect-

ed by typhoon Aghon.

The declaration of suspension came after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s system operator (SO), placed the Luzon grid under red alert as the generation capacity failed to meet consumer demand and the regulating requirement of the transmission grid.

This is pursuant to ERC Order on Case No. 2024017 MC dated April 30, 2024 to mitigate the adverse impact of the red alerts to consumers.

“The Commission is closely monitoring developments in the country’s power situation to ensure the reliability and security of the power system, maintain

By Charles Dantes and Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has released P1.2 million in humanitarian aid and additionally prepared over P3 billion for residents affected by Typhoon “Aghon.”

“We shared over P1.2 million in humanitarian assistance, and we prepared over P3 billion worth of standby funds and prepositioned goods and stockpiles to ensure broader and faster aid for our fellow countrymen affected by typhoon #AghonPH,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement.

The President assured that government agencies will continuously ensure the welfare of the public during the typhoon.

By Maricel V. Cruz

DEPUTY Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar has filed a bill amending Republic Act 10642, or the Philippine Lemon Law, to address growing complaints from consumers who have been having

difficulties in running after manufacturers, distributors, dealers or retailers engaged in deceptive business and trade practices.

Villar, in House Bill 10347, said that despite the existence of RA 10642, which was enacted on July

BEHIND the emblem of the country’s sovereignty and freedom lies a rich history of courage and dedication to duty and fellowmen. Here are some historical facts to remember:

· The first design of the Philippine flag was the brainchild of General Emilio Aguinaldo, the President of the revolutionary government.

· The flag was sewn at 535 Morrison Hill Road in Hong Kong by Marcela Marino Agoncillo, the wife of the first Philippine

SALUTE THE FLAG. Workers from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) hoist Philippine flags at the National Flag Shrine at Imus Heritage Park in Alapan, Imus, Cavite in preparation for the Flag Day celebration today. In Baguio City (inset photo), Mayor Benjamin Magalong leads the salute to the flag as worn-out Philippine Flags are burned and laid to rest. Danny Pata, Dena Halog, and Jasmin Legpin

Marcos leaves for Brunei, Singapore

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will leave today (Tuesday) for back-to-back trips to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore from May 28 to 31.

The President will be in Brunei first for a two-day state visit upon the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaul-

ah and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam.

During his stay in Brunei, Mr. Marcos will meet Brunei’s Sultan

Signal No. 2 lifted as ‘Aghon’ shifts away from Philippines.

Typhoon “Aghon” slightly shifted east-northeastward while moving away from the Philippine landmass on Monday afternoon. Its center was estimated at 155 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora. Packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, Aghon was moving east-northeastward at 10 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over the eastern portion of Quirino, the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern portion of Isabela, Aurora, the northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, and the northwestern portion of Camarines Norte.

Aghon will move generally northeastward over the Philippine Sea for the entirety of the forecast period. It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday afternoon or evening as a typhoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Aghon will continue to intensify over the next 24 to 36 hours as it moves northeastward over the Philippine Sea.

A weakening trend may begin on mid or late Wednesday as the typhoon begins interacting with the mid-latitude environment and undergoes post-tropical transition.

According to the weather bureau, Aghon is less likely to directly bring significant amounts of rainfall within the next three days.

However, the southwesterly wind flow enhanced by the typhoon will bring moderate to heavy rains over Western Visayas and portions of MIMAROPA in the next two days.

diplomat, Felipe Agoncillo. She was assisted by her daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa Natividad, the wife of General Salvador Natividad and niece of Dr. Jose Rizal.

· It took Agoncillo five days to weave the flag before handing it over to Gen. Aguinaldo who later boarded the American dispatch boat, McCulloch on May 17, 1898 enroute to the Philippines.

· On May 28, 1898, after Filipino revolutionaries had a bloody encounter with Spanish marines, the Philippine flag was hoisted at Alapan, Imus, Cavite.

· Again, the flag brought by Gen. Aguinaldo from Hong Kong was unfurled at the window of the Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898 during the declaration of independence.

· During the American occupation of the Philippines, raising the Philippine flag was outlawed all of 11 years, and declared legal thereafter by virtue of an Executive Order proclaiming October 30, 1919 as “Philippine Flag Day.”

· Years later, Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 23 prescribing the technical and detailed specification of the national flag.

· President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 374 s. 1965 declaring May 28 as “National Flag Day” to commemorate the victory of Filipino forces against Spanish troops in the Battle of Alapan.

and top business leaders to discuss trade and investment ties between the two countries.

He will also meet with the Filipino community to highlight the contributions of over 25,000 Filipinos living in Brunei.

Meanwhile, the President will visit Singapore to deliver the keynote address at the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

Shangri-La Dialogue. He is expected to tackle the current maritime dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos will also meet Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to strengthen diplomatic relations. Additionally, he will have a brief meeting with former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Escudero: No plans to run for President, VP in 2028

SENATE President Francis Escudero said Monday he does not plan to run for president or vice president in the 2028 elections. Escudero brushed aside speculation he will seek higher office after assuming the Senate presidency and replacing Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The new Senate leader noted that after losing in the 2016 vice presidential race, he never saw himself again running for a higher position. After the end of his term as senator in 2019, Escudero ran and won as Sorsogon governor.

Being the highest official of the Senate, he would just focus on his job as a senator and Senate President. In the meantime, Escudero has been meeting with Senate employees “to talk and listen” to them and address any concerns. Macon Ramos-Araneta

SC orders Comelec, Miru to answer plea

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Joint Venture of Miru Systems Co., Ltd. of South Korea to comment on the petition seeking to void the P17.9-billion contract for the 2025 automated national and local elections.

Comelec and Miru Systems were also directed to answer the plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that could immediately stop the implementation of the contract that was awarded through Comelec Resolution No. 24-0114. The answer or comment on both the petition and the plea for TRO should be filed within 10 days from receipt of the SC resolution.

with people with flu-like symptoms.”

Among the countries where FLiRT has been detected are the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, among others.

The Singapore government said it had monitored a new wave of COVID-19 infections after its estimated count of weekly cases nearly doubled from May 5 to 11 with 25,900 cases compared with 13,700 cases in the prior period.

About two-thirds of the new cases are due to the new variants.

Infectious diseases expert and Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Rontgene Solante said the FLiRT variants only pose a “low public health risk” but warned that the absence of

newer vaccines make Filipinos – particularly the elderly and the immunocompromised – vulnerable to the virus.

“It’s sad because new variants emerge from mutations, and we are no longer protected by the first vaccines we got,” Solante told GMANEWS.

“We are all vulnerable and so we should really be careful and watch out for our symptoms because we can get severe infections, especially in the elderly, even if they are vaccinated,” he added.

The DOH on Friday said the primary series and boosters that most Filipinos received still provide “residual immunity.”

“We need to strengthen the remaining immunity. We need new COVID vaccines,” DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told ABS-CBN News.

Another infectious disease expert who asked not to be named underscored the need to mask up.

15, 2014, “a number of complaints against nonconformity, defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of brand-new motor vehicles have not been satisfactorily or expeditiously resolved.”

The Philippine Lemon Law, in Section 2, provides protection “to the rights of consumers in the sale of motor vehicles against business and trade practices which are deceptive, unfair or otherwise inimical to consumers and the public interest.”

Villar said the problem lies with the “cumbersome process” of availing protection and rights under the Philippine Lemon Law.

She said, the provision that gives manufacturers, distributors, dealers or retailers four attempts to repair the defective cars within the first 12 months from the date of delivery has made it burdensome for consumers to avail of their rights under RA 10642.

Under her proposed bill, Villar urged her colleagues to cut to only one repair attempt the current four repair attempts stipulated in the Philippine Lemon Law. The idea is to make the process of availing the product not only faster but easier for buyers who fell prey to deceptive and unfair

business and trade practices.

“Warnings are being released now by the government primarily because of the new strain’s contagiousness. We should retain our mask mandate because as I’ve been mentioning before, COVID-19 has not yet been eradicated,” the expert said.

The Manila International Airport Authority on Monday clarified it is not imposing the use of face masks on travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following the BOQ memorandum.

MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Ines likewise instructed terminal housekeeping service providers to disinfect items and locations where passenger contact exposure is high, such as check-in counters, immigration counter tops, and plastic trays used for final screening of passenger luggage and items.

Former Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar R. Erice filed the petition against the contract, arguing that Comelec had abused its discretion by awarding the contract for the Automated Elections Systems (AES) in 2025 to Miru Systems while disqualifying SmartmaticTIM Corporation. Erice debunked Comelec’s assertion that the vote counting machines (VCMs) of Smartmatic-TIM were unserviceable for “lack of part parts.” He pointed out that under the contract with Smartmatic, the firm was bound to fix the VCMs and provide spare parts until 2025.

The petitioner also claimed that Miru Systems would use prototype machines, which are unreliable for being untested. He likened this to a “robbery in progress.”

The contract with Miru Systems was signed on March 11. Under the contract, Miru Systems will provide the systems and software, ballot printing, and technical support of the AES.

China’s latest fishing ban, which is set to last until Sept. 16, “directly contravenes” the understanding reached by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral discussion last year.

Beijing’s action came amid China’s continued harassment against Filipino troops and fishers in the West Philippines Sea, which includes conducting dangerous maneuvers and firing multiple times water cannon on resupply and humanitarian missions, among others.

The DFA called on China to cease and desist “from the conduct of illegal actions that violates the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in its maritime zones.”

It also urged Beijing to comply with its obligations under international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 arbitral award, as well as adhere to its commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Con-

Similarly, Villar proposed that manufacturers, distributors, dealers or retailers be compelled to ensure the availability of parts, components, or assemblies for the defective vehicle that is up for repair within the available period prescribed by the Lemon Law rights.

Under the bill, the parts, components or assemblies should be made available within ten days from the date a complaint has been made or a request for repair is requested. Failure of the car companies to provide the parts within the period would “entitle” the car owner or buyer to a “replacement with a brand-new motor vehicle of comparable specifications and value, without the need to comply with the one repair attempt requirement.”

The bill stated that “to compensate for the nonusage of the vehicle while under repair and during the period of availment of the Lemon Law rights, the consumer shall be provided with either a reasonable daily transportation allowance, an amount which covers the transportation of the consumer from his or her residence to his or her regular workplace or destination and vice versa; equivalent to air-conditioned taxi fare [as evidenced by an official receipt], or in such amount to be agreed upon by the parties.”

She said the consumer may also opt to ask manufacturers, distributors, authorized dealers or retailers to provide the client a service vehicle.

duct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The Foreign Affairs Department reasserted Paragraph 716 of the 2016 arbitral award which already ruled that China’s fishing moratorium is against international law.

Meanwhile, leaders of the House of Representatives vowed to create an inter-agency panel to look into the grievances raised by Zambales fisherfolk as well as the possible solutions suggested by stakeholders in the West Philippine Sea.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said Congress will definitely take note of what transpired in the joint hearing of the House Committees on National Defense and Security and the Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea.

“The budget season is almost here. We have heard those of our fisherfolks. So rest assured that we will form an inter-agency [panel] to have an answer to this request and their feelings,” he said.

Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas, vice-chairperson of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said the

continuous operations of the generators, and protect the Filipino consumers,” ERC said.

The ERC has directed the Independent Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), operator of the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, and the NGCP to operate the market and the power system according to the applicable provisions of the WESM Rules and the ERC Order dated April 30, 2024.

The ERC said the operations of the WESM shall remain suspended until issuance of a notice of market resumption by the regulator.

This is the second time the ERC suspended WESM operations following the issuance of the ERC order. The regulator first suspended WESM operations in the Luzon and Visayas grids on May 23.

The ERC said that during such period of market suspension, the administered price shall apply, or if a dispatch interval is subject to both a price mitigation (such as the secondary price cap) and the administered price. The lower of the two prices shall apply in the settlement of transactions for such interval.

The NGCP placed the Luzon grid on red and yellow alerts for several hours on Monday as around 4,497.3 megawatts of capacity is unavailable to the grid due to the typhoon Aghon. Manila Electric Co. said it advised customers enrolled in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) for their de-loading commitments to help ease the demand in the Luzon grid amid the red and yellow alerts.

problems faced by Zambales fishermen from the aggressions of China in Philippine territory may require a multisectoral or inter-agency approach.

“This issue is complex, this problem is complex. So we need the help of many government agencies,” he said.

Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said the House of Representatives will exercise its oversight functions to validate the grievances of the Zambales fishermen.

The Atin Ito coalition, for its part, said they will launch an “Adopt-a-Payao” campaign in response to the ongoing challenges faced by Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in Subic, Bataan, and Masinloc.

The initiative aims to provide muchneeded assistance to local fishing communities by deploying “payaos” or fishaggregating devices, to help sustain their livelihoods amid illegal Chinese presence and harassment in the area.

Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement president and Atin Ito coconvenor Edicio Dela Torre said the continuous encroachment of China in the West Philippine Sea has significant-

ly affected the livelihoods of Filipino fishers, hindering their ability to fish freely in their own waters.

“These fishers have fought bravely for our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. Now, it is our turn to stand by them and provide the support they urgently need,” Dela Torre said.

Akbayan President Rafaela David, also an Atin Ito co-convenor, said the “Adopt-a-Payao” campaign seeks to empower Filipino fishing communities and stand in solidarity with them against foreign aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

“Each payao deployed is not just a means of supporting our fishers but also an act of patriotism, a symbol of solidarity for our fellow Filipinos, and a firm stance against China’s unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea,” David said.

A payao is a traditional fishing device from the Philippines designed to aggregate or lure fish. It typically consists of an anchored floating or submerged structure made of materials such as bamboo, steel, or other available resources.

Hontiveros: Senate probe on Guo not an attack against Fil-Chinese

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Senate investigation into Bamban Mayor

Alice Guo’s links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) activities in Tarlac is not an attack on the Filipino-Chinese community, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

The senator said this was contrary to the statement of civic leader Teresita Ang-See, who accused the Hontiveros-led Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality of getting sidetracked in its investigation into the POGO industry.

Clarifying she is not against the Senate probe, Ang-See, however, said this “something which originated from concerns about POGO got sidetracked and had become ridiculous zarzuela and the POGO investigation disappeared from the scene.” She also said this kind of “witch-

EU, PH celebrate sixty years of friendship via multimedia exhibit

THE European Union (EU) and the Philippines are commemorating their decades years of diplomatic relationship through a multimedia exhibition titled “Shared Journey: 60 Years of EU-Philippines Diplomatic Relations” at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City.

The exhibition, which is ongoing until June 14, 2024, documents the 60 years of EU–Philippines relations since the presentation of credentials by the first Philippine Ambassador to the European Commission H.E. Vicente I. Singian, in 1964. The EU Delegation to the Philippines was officially opened on May 15, 1991.

The exhibition uses images sounds, and objects to chronicle the friendship and cooperation between the EU and the Philippines over the last six decades.

The exhibition is one of a series of events organized by the EU Delegation to the Philippines to celebrate six decades of partnership and friendship with the Philippines.

Recently it also conducted a choral festival “Sounds of Celebration: Sixty Years of EU-PH Relations” in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

H. E. Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines together with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega opened the exhibition with Yuchengco Museum Executive Director and Curator Jeannie Javelosa.

Véron underscored the longstanding partnership of the European Union with the Philippines and their shared commitment to a rules-based international order.

hunt and personal attacks are way below decency, reflecting badly on the Senate.”

“With their budget, shouldn’t the Senate do their background investigation first? What has her alleged boyfriend, her luxurious lifestyle, her ability or inability to speak Hokkien and Mandarin have to do with her being Filipino or not?” Ang-See said.

Noting that her own maternal great-grandmother was pure Chinese, Hontiveros insisted the probe was not an attack on Filipinos of Chinese heritage.

She related that the revelations about Guo came out after evidence

of her complicity in POGO-related crimes.

“The other pieces of evidence itself came from her,” Hontiveros said.

According to the senator, there has been so much evidence that they gathered against POGOs in their past eight hearings in the committee.

Among these is the proliferation of fake identification documents from PhilHealth IDs to passports.

“This just shows how Chinese POGO syndicates have managed to obtain fraudulent Filipino identities through corrupt individuals in our government agencies. And what is worse with Mayor Guo, she is a public servant,” Hontiveros said.

Suspects face raps for selling baby on social media

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge and child exploitation complaint before the Manila Regional Trial Court against two persons who were arrested for selling a newborn baby for P90,000 through social media.

The accused in the criminal complaint were Arjay E. Malabanan and Ma. Chariza R. Dizon, who were charged with violations of Sections 4(g), 6(a), and 6(o) of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended, and Section 10(a) of RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Malabanan and Dizon were charged before the prosecutor’s office after their arrest last May 15 in an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) at a church in Dasmarinas City in Cavite. The two were arrested after receiving marked money from police officers who posed as a couple seeking to get the infant.

In a resolution, Assistant State Prosecutor Claire Eufracia P. Pagayanan resolved that “there is sufficient probable cause to indict respondents Malabanan and Dizon for qualified trafficking….” Pagayanan also said “the act of respondents Malabanan and Dizon in selling the latter’s newborn child is an act of exploitation.”

The resolution that ordered the filing of the charges in court was issued last May 17 by the DOJ’s Task Force on Women and Children and Against Trafficking in Persons (TFWCATIP) headed by Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza-Torevillas.

SM leads job creation with ‘Trabaho para sa Bayan: Job Opportunities Building Skills

THE quest for an empowered Filipino workforce accelerated as SM Supermalls, the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), Jobstreet by SEEK, and its partners spearheaded the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan: Job Opportunities Building Skills (J.O.B.S.) Commitment Ceremony” at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 9, 2024. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between job seekers and potential employers, tackling the challenge of unemployment in the Philippines.

The ceremony, which brought together industry giants, prominent associations, and government leaders—including SM Supermalls, the Philippines’ leading mall operator, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT)—to host a series of job fairs and provide an online job matching platform, signified a collaborative effort towards a common goal.

SM’s dedication to this cause is evident. “Since January, SM has hosted more than 60 job fairs nationwide, gathering around 2,000 employers, and engaging more than 35,000 applicants, with a significant number receiving on-the-spot job offers,” said SM Foundation Executive Director Deborah Sy. “SM will continue to host weekly job fairs across various SM Supermalls nationwide with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) till November – in accessible and comfortable venues where companies and job seekers can find their right match.”

Leading brands seek talent

Coinciding with the commitment ceremony, a job fair was held with 44% Hired-on-the-Spot (HOTS) applicants, the highest so far in 60 job fairs. It featured a wide range of employers actively seeking talented individuals including brands like: BDO Unibank, BDO Life, SM Home/Homeworld, Our Home, SM Store, SM Retail, SM Fashion, Savemore, SM Stationery, SM Supermalls, SM Supermarket, Surplus, SM Hypermarket, Sports Central, 2GO, Ace Hardware, Alfamart, Goldilocks, Kultura, Baby Company, Star Appliance Center, The Body Shop, Toy Kingdom, and Watsons.

Other companies include the 33rd Taftst, Inc. / Jollibee, Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, Mini Depato Corp., Polystar General Services, Inc., Green Pasture, Sosa JB Property Management Corp., Robinsons Supermarket Corp., and Specialty Food Retailers Inc. / Rustan Group of Companies.

Expanding digital reach

Looking beyond the physical job fairs, SM Foundation and Jobstreet by SEEK announced a digital partnership. This online platform aims to broaden the scope of job search opportunities for Filipinos, and industry associations are collaborating to utilize it for advertising their vacancies. SM announced their pilot upskilling initiative, focusing on digital skills. This program, with plans for future expansion, aims to train and enhance the

FLAG DAY PREP. Workers from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) place bunting at the Inang Laya monument at the National Flag Shrine at Imus Heritage Park in Alapan, Imus Cavity in preparation for the Flag Day celebration on Tuesday on May 28.

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brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have joined the United States Embassy officials and other dignitaries in a requiem ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial on Sunday, May 26. The event honored the valor and supreme sacrifice of the American and Filipino soldiers who fought together during World War II in the Philippines.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. led the Philippine military delegation in saluting the fallen heroes. The ceremony included wreaths-laying, a moment of silence, a 21-gun salute, and playing of the Taps that echoed the enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippine warriors of democracy.

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, the largest of its kind in the Pacific, is the final resting place for over 17,000 American and Filipino soldiers who fought side by side in the war. It stands as a powerful symbol of the deep and historic ties between the two nations. Vince Lopez

THE Bataan provincial council has adopted an ordinance seeking to promote the province’s indigenous heritage as a tourism attraction.

Provincial councilor Tony Roman said the ordinance highlights the “diverse indigenous communities with rich cultural heritage” as must-see attractions for local and foreign visitors. Among the local tribes are the Ambala and Magbukon Aetas who have defied time and modernization to preserve their age-old cultures and traditions.

“There exists an opportunity to promote sustainable tourism that honors and preserves these indigenous culture,” Roman said. He explained that the genuine participation and involvement of these indigenous communities in the tourism industry will not only empower their cultural identity, but will also generate economic opportunities for them. Butch Gunio

Solon confident Senate under Chiz will pass Cha-cha

A CONGRESS leader has expressed optimism that the proposed economic Charter change will have a better chance under the leadership of Senate President Francis Escudero.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte was confident the President’s commitment to improving tertiary education would be the cue for senators to pass the pending measure in the Senate on constitutional reform. This seeks to lift foreign ownership restrictions on, among others, Philippine education to allow the entry of premier international higher education institutions (HEIs).

Villafuerte said he is positive on the prospects for constitutional reform to happen this year, as both Escudero and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez have separately bared plans to meet up this week to strive for a better working relationship between the Senate and House on priority issues, including Charter change.

“I prefer to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty in light of the commitment of both Speaker Martin and Senate President Chiz (Escudero) to work on mending what needs mending as far as inter-chamber working relationship was concerned,” he said.

Villafuerte is one of the lead proponents of the House-passed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7 on lifting the 40-percent cap on foreign ownership of certain Philippine businesses. He noted that Escudero, for instance, was reported as saying that discussions on RBH 6, which is the Senate’s version of the House-approved RBH 7, would be withdrawn from the subcommittee chaired by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. Maricel V. Cruz

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations has allocated P500 million to help ensure stable and more reliable power supply for the province

of Albay.

“Our vision is to empower Albay by providing stable and efficient electricity supply,” Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako-Bicol partylist group said.

“By improving our power infrastructure, hindi lang natin binibigyang solusyon ang issue ng brownout sa ating lalawigan. Bukod dito, nilalatag rin natin ang magandang kinabukasan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng ating ekonomiya (We’re not only

providing solutions to brownouts in the province. We’re also working for a better future by strengthening the economy),” Co said.

“This will help attract new businesses, create jobs, jobs and more jobs,” he added.

Co said P300 million of the allocated funds has been downloaded with the National Electrification Administration, while the remaining P200 million is set for release and will be used for the completion of the rehabilitation of power

By Vince Lopez

THE National Security Council (NSC) on Monday slammed the allegations made by two party-list groups regarding the distribution of flyers by the military during a seminar held at Taytay Rizal.

NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya belied the claims made by the Kabataan and ACT-Teachers party-lists about the distribution by the military of the supposed “red-tagging” leaflets depicting the rallyists as terrorists during a seminar in Taytay Senior High School in Rizal.

“We categorically refute the allegations made by the Kabataan and ACT Teachers party-lists regarding the distribution by the Armed Forces of the Philippines of sup-

posedly “red-tagging” pamphlets which allegedly depicted rallyists as terrorists during a seminar held at Taytay Senior High School in Rizal,” Malaya said in a statement released on Monday afternoon.

“A careful perusal and review of the said pamphlets will easily prove that there is no “red tagging” in the said materials. Nowhere in the said materials does it characterize rallyists as terrorists. It merely informed the students of the modus operandi of recruiters of the New People’s Army (NPA) which is factual and based on evidence,” he pointed out. The Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion conducted the seminar as part of a civic education program aimed at raising awareness about national security threats and promoting patriotism among the youth.

lines, replacement of dilapidated reclosers, and upgrading of transformers.

Two new power substations will also be constructed to enhance the Albay Electric Cooperative’s grid capacity and improve management and distribution of electricity. These new substations are strategically planned to serve key areas in Albay, reducing overloads and enhancing the overall reliability of the transmission grid.

NEDA sees lower priced rice come Sept. this year

THE National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) assures consumers of lower-priced rice by September despite the La Nina affecting rice supply and planting schedules of the farmers.

While acknowledging the challenge, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Arsenio Balisacan expressed optimism that rice prices will go down this year.

“We are expecting the price of rice to decline by September, but it will still follow global trends in pricing,” Balisacan said at the Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Monday.

However, bringing down rice prices remains a challenge, he added.

Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) undersecretary for policy, planning, and regulations Asis Perez highlighted the importance of long-term planning to mitigate the impact of La Niña.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve faced La Niña. We need a five-year plan to ensure the sector is resilient enough to cushion the impact,” he said.

He underscored the significance of weather-tolerant rice varieties in this strategy and whether the country has enough supply of the seeds.

REAPING WHAT THEY SOW. A San Juan, Ilocos Sur farmer and his family gingerly harvest eggplants for delivery to the market before the rains spawned by tropical storm Aghon come to spoil their day. Revoli Cortez

HOMEWARD BOUND. After being stranded for a few days due to typhoon Aghon, passengers bound for the provinces get ready to board their ships. Thousands of sea travelers got stuck at the seaports while waiting for the weather disturbance to pass through. Norman Cruz

AYUDA PAYOUT. The offices of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the local government unit of Palo, Leyte preside at the distribution of Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) financial assistance to 1,000 beneficiaries at the town’s multipurpose gym.

OPINION

Divorce Law will not happen

THE House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading the controversial law on absolute divorce.

Whether or not it will ever be enacted by the Senate is the question, considering there are only four senators who are confirmed pro-divorce: Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Risa Hontiveros and Imee Marcos.

At the outset, as a practicing Roman Catholic, I must say I am a confirmed anti-divorce Roman Catholic.

Yes, there are many marriages that have turned sour for many reasons.

First of all, marriage is not a bed of roses as many think.

I have been married for the past 69 years, and people ask me what I did to last that long being married. In jest, I always say, “I insist on having the last word in the house, ‘Yes, darling.’“

Kidding aside, as I said, marriage is not a bed of roses.

There are many trials along the way.

Thus, when people want to get married, the first requirement is one must know what he or she is getting into, not just because one is in love.

A couple must have the same background, like being educated.

A son of an haciendero must not marry the daughter of a farmer, or the house helper must not marry the son of the boss.

That can only happen in the movies.

First of all, the couple must have faith and trust in each other, and above all, they must have faith in God.

For that reason, it is essential that before marriage, the couple must consult a priest. In fact, when both man and woman are Catholic, they must undergo counseling.

I have been married for 69 years, and my wife and I are still in love because we remain having faith and trust in each other and, above all things, faith in God.

Marriages not based on faith and trust in each other, and as I said faith and trust in God, are bound to fail, like when a marriage gets into financial difficulties.

That’s when a marriage gets tested, and faith in God matters because He will show the way.

When my wife and I had financial problems, my wife had to sell handdecorated pillows and, with the help of a good friend, they sold those pillows to friends and relatives.

My wife had to buy paintings at a

discount and sell those paintings at a profit.

Santa Banana, there was a time when my wife made more than I did when she made the acquaintance of a big time art dealer and bought paintings at a big discount and resold them at a profit.

Oh yes, Santa Banana, there will be occasions during marriage when one is tempted to look for the comfort of another man or woman.

That is where faith and trust in each other comes in, and, above all, faith in God comes in, to keep a marriage strong and solid in spite of temptations.

Getting married at this time with so many temptations along the way is not an easy thing to do.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines must now be considering how to get the faithful oppose the Absolute Divorce law

In my case, as a journalist, I have met all kinds of people and temptations are there.

But, because of my faith and trust in God, I have surmounted them and I have learned most of the time it’s the influence of the company that you keep where temptations start.

When the Divorce Law gets into the Senate for consideration, that’s where I have serious doubt about its approval.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines must now be considering how to get the faithful oppose the Absolute Divorce law.

There’s a strong need the people of a Catholic country like the Philippines must oppose it.

Yes, I agree even other Catholic countries worldwide have a divorce law.

But, that’s not an argument why we Filipinos should have a divorce law.

I hope and pray the Senate will not allow the Absolute Divorce law to be enacted.

Otherwise, like in the United States, people will just get married for the wrong reasons.

‘They’re coming in coffins’: Israeli hostage families mourn dead

TEL AVIV – The sister of an Israeli hostage whose body was recovered from Gaza last week struck a solemn tone as she laid him to rest after thousands attended his funeral.

“I feared this ending but I wanted so much for it to end differently,” Avivit Yablonka told AFP at the Sunday funeral of her brother Chanan. Chanan, 42, was murdered on Oct. 7 in Hamas’s unprecedented attack, while trying to escape from the Nova music festival where at least 364 people were killed.

His body was taken to the Gaza Strip by militants but was retrieved on Friday by Israeli troops after spending 230 days in captivity.

In the space of a week, the Israeli army has announced the death of eight hostages who had been presumed to be alive -- five Israelis, two Thais and a French-Mexican dual national.

The army also retrieved seven bodies -- including Chanan’s -- that had been held in Gaza since Oct. 7. Hopes have since faded among the families of other hostages whose whereabouts are unknown.

Militants took 252 hostages during the attack, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the Israeli army says are dead.

Dozens of hostage relatives gathered outside the home of Chanan’s parents Sunday for a silent procession to Tel Aviv’s Kiryat Shaul cemetery, accompanied by thousands waving Israeli flags.

The Yablonka family had urged peo-

ple to join the march in solidarity with the hostages.

“We have to bring everyone back -this march is for him and for the release of all the hostages,” Avivit said.

Surrounded by crowds of people, Chanan’s family said goodbye. ‘Funeral to funeral’

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Hopes have since faded among the families of other hostages whose whereabouts are unknown

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,984 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Before she learned of her brother’s death, Avivit, 48, attended the funeral of Ron Benjamin, who was found in the same tunnel complex in northern Gaza as her brother, according to the army.

“I’m scared. I go from funeral to funeral. I’m so scared, but I have hope, I’m not giving up,” she said at the time.

A father of two, Chanan had played

EDeadly decline

COLOGISTS

have raised the bulletin board that coral around the world is turning white and even dying as recent record ocean heat takes a devastating toll.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this has triggered the fourth global mass coral bleaching event, which happens when coral gets stressed and turns white because the water it lives in is too hot.

Coral sustains ocean life, fishing, and creates trillions of dollars of revenue annually, according to scientists.

Ecologists say coral reefs provide countless benefits to our Ocean Planet, supporting over half a billion people with food, income, and protection.

Regardless of the contribution coral reefs make toward mitigating climate change, over 50 percent of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years, and up to 90 percent may die within the next century if immediate action is not taken

Some threats to coral reefs are natural, like diseases, predators, storms

and a warming planet due to climate change.

But other threats are caused by human activity, including increased runoff and pollution, sedimentation, destructive fishing practices, and tourism.

Many of these threats can stress corals, leading to degradation, coral bleaching, and wide spread mortality of these delicate ecosystems.

Coral reefs provide countless benefits to our Ocean Planet, supporting over half a billion people with food, income, and protection

Coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the ocean floor, but they are home to more than 25 per cent of marine life.

NOAA has confirmed the mass stress in all oceans (the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean) after weeks of receiving reports from scientists. The bleached coral can look beauti-

IN A delightful turn of events, the House of Representatives has done the unthinkable: they have approved the Divorce Bill, House Bill 9349, in a country where the notion of marital freedom has been as elusive as a unicorn sighting.

With 131 affirmative votes, 109 negative, and 20 abstentions, the bill inches closer to granting Filipinos the radical notion that a miserable marriage need not be a life sentence.

Yet, some dissenters, like Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Dale Corvera, clutch desperately to an outdated script, declaring this progressive step a Constitutional abomination.

Rep. Corvera, in his infinite wisdom, invokes Article XV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which proclaims that “marriage is an inviolable social institution and the foundation of the family that should be protected by the state.”

It’s a quaint sentiment, really, imagining marriage as an unbreakable edifice.

But here’s a novel idea: when the foundation starts to crumble and threatens to bury everyone under it, maybe it’s time to let the demolition crew in.

Let’s unpack this: the Constitution indeed emphasizes the protection of marriage as a cornerstone of family life, presumably one that is harmonious and beneficial to all members.

However, when a marriage transforms from a nurturing bond into a toxic, destructive force, continuing to “protect” it becomes counterproductive, if not downright cruel.

The Constitution does not, and should not, mandate the preservation of suffering and the perpetuation of misery under the guise of sanctity.

Ah, but Corvera is not swayed. He

for the Hapoel Tel-Aviv football club in his youth, and remained a fan.

His family had not heard from him since October 7, and was told he was in Gaza 90 days after his disappearance.

“We thought they were coming back alive, but they’re coming back in coffins,” Avivit said before laying her brother to rest.

Avivit said she wants “to believe that the government really wants to bring them all back and that there are difficulties in negotiating with such murderers”.

She said last week she had not received a phone call from any minister or lawmaker. Anger at government

ful in pictures but scientists that dive to examine the reefs say that up close the coral is clearly ill and decaying.

The first warning signs were in the Caribbean last year when bathers found the water off the coast of Florida as warm as a hot tub.

That heat moved into the southern hemisphere. It has now affected more than half the world’s coral including in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and in coastlines in Tanzania, Mauritius, Brazil, Pacific islands, as well as in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

Climate change is driving up sea surface temperatures as the warming gases emitted when we burn oil, coal and gas are absorbed by the oceans, according to scientists.

El Niño, a natural climate event, has also contributed to warmer temperatures since last June, though there are signs it is now weakening and may be over by end of this month.

At home, a recent national survey estimated the country lost 30 percent of its coral reefs with the decline of average live hard coral cover.

Research authorities have said the condition of Philippine coral reefs has been in constant and rapid decline, with a recent study showing 90 percent of our reefs are in poor to fair categories and none in excellent state.

How the Divorce Bill liberates Filipino rights

reminds us of the biblical injunction, “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

How quaint, yet irrelevant, considering the very same Constitution mandates a separation of church and state.

We are not a theocracy, despite some nostalgic longings for medieval simplicity.

In approving the Divorce Bill, the House of Representatives has taken a courageous step towards liberating countless Filipinos from the shackles of unhappy marriages

Public policy must be grounded in reality, not in religious dogma.

Legal separation, the fig leaf of respectability that Corvera offers as a solution, is a farce.

It allows couples to live apart but chains them together legally, denying them the freedom to remarry and rebuild their lives.

It’s like telling a prisoner they can leave their cell but must drag the ball and chain with them wherever they go.

The approval of the Divorce Bill promises numerous benefits.

First and foremost, it provides an escape hatch from abusive and dysfunctional marriages.

Yes, laws against abuse exist, but they do not address the fundamental right to terminate a non-viable marriage. Victims of abuse need more than

Her anger is shared by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, whose son Sagi is being held hostage in Gaza.

“My anger is only growing,” he told AFP.

“We see that there is no progress for the return of the hostages... Israeli society is with us but the government is not doing enough to bring them home.”

Yet he remains hopeful of finding his son alive. He was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, leaving his pregnant wife and two daughters behind.

Sagi’s wife Avital has since given birth to daughter Shahar, which means

just a temporary reprieve; they need the freedom to start anew without the specter of their abuser looming over their legal existence.

Moreover, divorce legislation acknowledges that human beings are fallible and that marriages can and do fail.

It offers a path to redemption and renewal, allowing individuals to reclaim their dignity and happiness.

In societies where divorce is legal, there is ample evidence that people are better off – economically, socially, and psychologically – when they have the option to leave a hopeless situation.

And let’s not ignore the children. Research consistently shows children fare better in stable single-parent households than in homes wracked by conflict and unhappiness.

The true protection of the family lies not in the preservation of a broken marriage but in fostering environments where love, respect, and harmony can flourish.

To Rep. Corvera and his like-minded supporters, clinging to the vestiges of a time when personal misery was seen as a noble sacrifice, I say: evolve.

The world has moved on, and so should the Philippines. The Divorce Bill is not an attack on marriage; it is a lifeline for those drowning in untenable unions. It is high time the law reflected the reality of human relationships and offered hope instead of condemnation.

In approving the Divorce Bill, the House of Representatives has taken a courageous step towards liberating countless Filipinos from the shackles of unhappy marriages.

This is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather a fulfillment of its true spirit: the protection of the individual’s right to a life of dignity, freedom, and happiness.

“dawn” in English. Around 75 people from kibbutz Nir Oz were captured on Oct. 7. Dekel-Chen said his “daily” dream was to see his son reunited with his entire family, including children Gali, 3, and Bar, 7.

“They run to him and he, on his two legs, runs to his wife Avital and Shahar, the baby, and finally embraces him, and resumes a normal life,” he said, describing his recurring dream.

“This is my mission. I won’t stop until it happens.”

At the entrance to the university library, tears in his eyes, he stared at a portrait of his son displayed at the reception desk. AFP

IN BRIEF

night Sunday into Monday, with North Korea’s notice designating three maritime danger zones near the Korean peninsula and the Philippines island of Luzon where the satellite-carrying rocket’s debris might fall, according to the Kyodo news agency. Officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea agreed in a phone call to urge Kim Jong Un’s regime to suspend the plan, as any launch using ballistic missile technology would violate UN resolutions, Kyodo reported.

Nuclear-armed North Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite last November in a move that drew international condemnation, with the United States calling it a “brazen violation” of UN sanctions. AFP

LONDON – More than 300 million children a year are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to the first global estimate of the scale of the problem published on Monday.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that one in eight of the world’s children have been victims of nonconsensual taking, sharing and exposure to sexual images and video in the past 12 months.

That amounts to about 302 million young people, said the university’s Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, which carried out the study. There have been a similar number of cases of solicitation, such as unwanted sexting and requests for sexual acts by adults and other youths, according to the report.

Offences range from so-called sextortion, where predators demand money from victims to keep images private, to the abuse of AI technology to create deepfake videos and pictures. AFP

Israeli strikes leave dozens killed in UN refugee center near Rafah

RAFAH, Palestinian Territories – Gaza officials said Israeli strikes on a center for displaced people killed dozens in a “massacre” near the southern city of Rafah on Sunday, while the Israeli army said it had targeted Hamas militants. The health ministry in the Hamas-

run territory said in a statement the strikes “claimed the lives of 35 martyrs and left dozens injured, most of them children and women.”

The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza earlier said the strike hit a center run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees near Rafah, branding it a “horrific massacre.”

Israel’s army said its aircraft “struck a Hamas compound in Rafah”, killing Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, both senior officials for the Palestinian militant group in the occupied West Bank. It added that it was “aware of reports

indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited, several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review.”

Israel’s army said Sunday at least eight rockets were fired towards central areas of the country from Rafah, with strikes targeting the commercial hub of Tel Aviv for the first time in months.

Fighting has recently centered on Rafah, where Israel’s military launched a ground operation in early May despite widespread opposition over concerns for civilians sheltering there. The Palestinian Red Crescent said its

SEOUL --Top leaders from South Korea, China and Japan discussed regional stability in their first meeting in five years on Monday, as they vowed to ramp up threeway cooperation.

The summit brought together South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul for the countries’ first trilateral talks in nearly five years, partly due to the pandemic, but also once-sour ties.

While North Korea was not officially on the agenda for the talks, Kishida said after the meeting that the three countries confirmed that its denuclearization would be in their “common interest”.

Hours before the talks, North Korea announced that it planned to put another spy satellite into orbit imminently, which would violate rafts of UN sanctions barring it from tests using ballistic technology.

Yoon and Kishida urged Pyongyang to call off the launch, with the South Korean leader saying it would “undermine regional and global peace and stability.” AFP

GENEVA– The World Health Organization chief voiced deep sadness Monday at the massive landslide that has buried more than 2,000 people in Papua New Guinea, vowing his UN agency stood ready to help.

“Our hearts go to the people in Papua New Guinea who have tragically lost loved ones in the landslide,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “We stand ready to support the government to meet urgent health needs.”

In Beijing, China’s President Xi Jinping said he was “saddened” to learn of the landslide disaster in Papua New Guinea and offered help to the Pacific island nation.

“I am deeply saddened to learn (of) the recent serious landslide disaster in Papua New Guinea, which has caused heavy casualties and property loss,” the Chinese leader said in a letter to local authorities.

Xi passed on deep condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and injured on behalf of China’s government and people. “The Chinese side stands ready to provide assistance,” he added.

The once-bustling hillside village in Enga province was almost wiped out when a chunk of Mount Mungalo collapsed in the early hours of

Friday morning, smothering scores of homes and the people sleeping inside them.

“The landslide buried more than 2,000 people alive and caused major destruction to buildings, food gardens and caused major impact on the economic lifeline of the country,” Papua New Guinea’s national disaster center said in a letter to the UN, which was obtained by AFP.

The main highway to the large Porgera gold mine was “completely blocked”, it told the UN resident coordinator’s office in the capital Port Moresby.

“The situation remains unstable as the landslip continue to shift slowly, posing ongoing danger to both the rescue teams and survivors alike,” the disaster centre said.

The scale of the catastrophe required “immediate and collaborative actions from all players”, it said, including the army, and national and provincial responders.

It called on the United Nations to inform Papua New Guinea’s development partners “and other international friends” of the crisis.

The UN has invited member nations to an emergency aid meeting via Zoom at 10:00 am Tuesday, the French embassy in Port Moresby said. AFP

ambulance crews transported “a large number” of people killed and injured in the Rafah strikes. The Palestinian presidency in the West Bank called it a “heinous massacre,” accusing Israeli forces of “deliberately targeting” the tents of displaced people.

Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli strikes killed and wounded at least 50 people in the area, where it said 100,000 displaced people live. Hamas said Palestinians must “rise up and march” against the Israeli army’s “massacre” in Rafah. AFP

TAIPEI – A senior US lawmaker affirmed on Monday Washington’s support for Taiwan against Chinese “aggression,” on the first congressional visit to the self-ruled island since it swore in a new president.

Sitting down Monday morning with President Lai Ching-te, Rep. Michael McCaul -- who heads the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee -- said he and his colleagues stood in “strong support of this beautiful island.”

Three days after Lai was sworn in, Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills that Beijing said were a test of its ability to seize the island.

China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and says it will never renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control.

McCaul on Monday condemned those “intimidating military exercises”, saying they showed China was “not interested in taking Taiwan by peaceful means”.

“All democracies must stand together against aggression and tyranny,” McCaul said.

“Whether it’s Putin in Russia, the Ayatollah in Iran or Chairman Xi next door to us in China, an unholy alliance is eroding peace around the world,” he told Lai.

“Not since World War Two... have we seen such blatant violence and naked aggression,” he said.

McCaul arrived in Taipei on Sunday accompanied by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

Lai thanked the lawmakers for their support, saying he hoped the US Congress would “continue to assist Taiwan in strengthening its selfdefense capabilities”.

“I will enhance reform and bolster national defense, showing the world the Taiwanese people’s determination to defend their homeland,” he said.

Beijing said Monday it “firmly opposes” the lawmakers’ visit. China “made stern representations to the US, and will take the necessary measures to staunchly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

DOZENS

Dagoon wins 3 titles in Calderon Cup

JAN Cadee Dagoon delivered a stellar performance in the Mayor Doc Totep Calderon Cup National Junior Tennis Championships, securing a remarkable three-title sweep in the girls’ singles competitions at the Lado del Rio Resort courts in Roxas, Isabela over the weekend.

The 14-year-old Dagoon showcased her dominance in her age category, drubbing Jolina Bacog, 6-4, 6-2, in the finals. She then played beyond her years to clinch both the 16- and 18-and-under titles, earning MVP honors in the Group 3 tournament presented by Dunlop.

The Olongapo City native trounced doubles partner Athena Liwag, 6-2, 6-1, in the 16-and-U championship and upset top seed Yeoji Gonzales, 6-4, 6-1, to reign in the premier 18-and-U division.

While Dagoon dominated her side, the boys’ singles competitions were fiercely contested. Ilagan, Isabela’s Al Matteo Lagamia, along with Olongapo’s Troan Vytiaco and Joaquin Dacyon, shared top honors.

Lagamia subdued Lukas Calderon, 6-0, 6-4, in the 16-and-U finals, Vytiaco topped the 14-and-U class with a tough 7-5, 6-3 victory over local entry Kier Manuel, while Dacyon won the 10-and-U unisex title, defeating Jayberth Corales, 4-0, 4-0, in the fiveday tournament sponsored by Mayor Calderon and supported by the Palawan Pawnshop National Tennis Championships and the Cagayan Valley Tennis Federation.

Top seed Ivan Manila carved out a hard-fought 7-6(2), 7-6(3) victory over No. 2 Jan Kevin Javier in the 18-and-U finals of the event, which set the stage for the centerpiece Open singles competitions scheduled to begin tomorrow (Wednesday, May 29). Also on tap are the Open doubles, the Legends 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, and the women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

In other results, Jairus Peralta upended No. 1 Joshua Stewart, 6-0, 6-2, for the boys’ 12-and-U trophy, while Liwag salvaged the girls’ 12-and-U title with a 6-0, 6-1 romp over Michelle Asas.

Dagoon made it a four-title feat as she and Liwag took the 14-and-U doubles crown with an 8-5 triumph over Athena Pablo and Asas, while Peralta and Dean Palaroan nailed the boys’ title with an 8-2 rout of Vytiaco and Dacyon.

PSA Forum to discuss PH obstacle sports group

THE latest with the Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) will be talked about in the resumption of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday (May 28) at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Federation president Atty. Al Agra is gracing the session to discuss the plans and programs of the POSF, a consistent source of gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games including a fourgold romp during the 32nd edition of the biennial meet held in Cambodia last year.

Agra will be joined in the public sports program by her daughter Jessica Agra, also a lawyer by profession, who recently won the women’s doubles title in the Pro Women’s event of the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Phuket Open in Thailand.

The young Agra is currently ranked no. 2 in the APPT behind Patricia Garcia of Spain.

The 10:30 a.m. session is presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and the 24/7 sports app in the country, ArenaPlus.

Livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation, the session is also aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2 and shared on its official Facebook page Radyo Pilipinas 2 sports.

Leclerc delivers emotional hometown win in Monaco

MONTE CARLO—Charles Leclerc claimed an emotional first Monaco Grand Prix victory on Sunday to finally broke his hometown circuit curse as Red Bull had a weekend to forget.

Three time world champion Max Verstappen scraped in sixth after Sergio Perez crashed out, the Mexican’s Red Bull ripped apart, in a firstlap pile-up.

Leclerc in contrast had a Sunday afternoon drive he will remember for the rest of his life.

The 26-year-old, who had not claimed a Monaco podium in his five previous attempts, became the first Monegasque to win at home since the world championship started in 1950.

After climbing from his car, he

jumped into the arms of his team after finally translating pole position into victory on his home streets at the third attempt.

Fighting back tears, he said: “No words can explain it. It’s such a difficult race. I think that twice starting on pole position and we couldn’t get it makes it even better.

“It means a lot. It is the race that made me dream of becoming a Formula One driver.

“Already the emotions were coming, 15 laps from the end, I was thinking of

my dad a lot more than what I thought while driving.

“He has given everything for me to be here. It was our dream for me to race here and to win so it is unbelievable.”

His triumph ended his run of failing to win from his previous 12 pole position starts and was received with popular acclaim by a big crowd packed into the famous Mediterranean harbour on a sunlit afternoon.

Leclerc came home 7.152 seconds ahead of nearest rival Oscar Piastri of McLaren with Carlos Sainz taking third in the second Ferrari ahead of Lando Norris in the second McLaren.

George Russell was fifth for Mercedes ahead of Verstappen and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Me rcedes. In a race that was re-started after

three accidents on the opening lap

Yuki Tsunoda of RB finished eighth ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine.

High speed chess -

On a perfect Riviera afternoon

Leclerc made a clean start to pull clear while behind him Piastri and Sainz went into Ste Devote side by side and collided.

Before Sainz could recover, the race was red-flagged when Perez and the two Haas cars tangled at the back of the field.

Perez spun and clipped the barriers before he hit Nico Hulkenberg and then Kevin Magnussen at an estimated 240 kph on the climb towards Massenet. “Unnecessary,” said a furious Hulkenberg. Magnussen faced a possible race ban if he was penalised but escaped blame. AFP

Cignal reloads after winning Spikers’ Turf Open tilt

CIGNAL bolstered its already formidable squad once again during the midyear break by signing three UAAP stalwarts who were key players for their respective universities and teams.

The HD Spikers have signed setter Joshua Retamar, opposite hitter JM Ronquillo, and middle blocker Martin Bugaoan, further strengthening the team that recently won the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

Retamar recently led National University to a ‘four-peat’, the first in the school’s history. He won three straight titles during his college career, culminating in back-to-back Finals MVP awards in UAAP seasons 85 and 86.

JM Ronquillo played for De La Salle University as part of its three-headed attack, serving as opposite hitter that saw the Green Spikers finish in the Final Four in the last two seasons.

Martin Bugaoan, the brother of Cignal HD Spiker JP, has also signed on, after finishing his collegiate career with FEU. He capped off his run with

Far Eastern University with a 1st Best Middle Blocker Award in the recently concluded UAAP Season 86, where the Tamaraws finished third.

“Men’s volleyball has been gaining steam again as the pandemic died down, so we see it fit that Cignal sustains its dominance and excellence in the sport since 2013. The level of talent has been rising, and we want to get the best ones out there to bolster our squad and win more championships. Hopefully, these three will be here for the long haul and help us reach our goals each conference and season,” said Cignal HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor.

Cignal’s acquisition of these three stalwarts will help the team sustain its excellence in men’s volleyball, with a roster now considered to be more than 10

Rising stars set for fierce Pradera Verde battle

LUBAO, Pampanga—Jiwon Lee is aiming for improvement and strength following a commanding victory at Splendido Taal but expects a tougher challenge in pursuit of a second straight victory in the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series 2, which gets going today (Tuesday, May 28) at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club course here. Although Lee missed her target of a 15-over total in her 13-stroke victory in the series’ kickoff leg at Splendido Taal, she believes she gained invaluable experience, determined to deliver a stronger performance this week and in the upcoming legs of the 14-stage tour.

“I’m a bit nervous but super excited to play. I think my excitement comes from the confidence I’ve built over the past few weeks,” said Lee, who nailed her victory with a 17-over 305 total, finishing 13 strokes ahead of Lia Duque.

“I want to play better than my last JPGT event, as I’m more aware of my weaknesses now. I’ll try to improve and score as low as possible,” she added.

However, Lee will need more than confidence as she competes for another championship. The girls’ 15-18 field is toughened by competitors like Reese Ng, Duque, Maria Monserrat Lapuz, Rafa Anciano and Angelica Bañez. Ng brings vast international experience, having triumphed in the American Junior Golf Association and recently capturing the Asian Junior Masters in Thailand. Duque, Lapuz, Anciano and Bañez are also poised for a strong competition for the 72-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf. Lee, Ng and Duque tee off at 7 a.m. at the third nine of the vast

golf complex. The key focus at Pradera Verde is on length, thanks to its wide fairways. However, players should remain cautious of the numerous bunkers and ards that add a layer of challenge to the well-maintained layout. The ICTSI-sponsored series aims to nurture young talent and promote the sport, ensuring no scheduling conflicts and fostering a cooperative atmosphere for the players’ benefit. A tight finish is also expected in the boys’ 15-18 division with Shinichi Suzuki joining for the first time and expected to be a strong contender. He will compete alongside Tristan Padilla, Santino Pineda, Gabriel

and Von

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc celebrates after winning the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco. AFP

Pradera

Handog

Tablac in the absence of Splendido Taal leg winner Charles Serdenia and runner-up Zach Villaroman.

Cignal players (from left) JM Ronquillo, Owa Retamar, and Martin Bugaoan

Jiwon Lee

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Osaka, Alcaraz win French Open starts, Murray bids goodbye

PARIS—Naomi Osaka swept to her first victory at the French Open in three years on Sunday, setting up a potential showdown with Iga Swiatek, as Carlos Alcaraz maintained his record of never losing in the first round of a Grand Slam.

However, Andy Murray’s French Open career was ruthlessly ended in straight sets by fellow three-time major winner and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

The 39-year-old Swiss hailed his beaten rival as a “great champion” as the former world number one bid adieu to the tournament ahead of his expected retirement later in the summer.

Osaka, a four-time major winner who has yet to get past the third round in Paris, needed three sets to defeat Italy’s 48thranked Lucia Bronzetti on the showpiece Court Philippe Chatrier, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

The 26-year-old fired 31 winners, including six aces, and 45 unforced errors in a match where she gave up a 4-0 lead in the decider before finding herself 5-4 down.

However, she rallied strongly to register her first win at a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open.

“It feels really nice to be back and I’m just really grateful to be here in front of everybody,” said Osaka.

The Japanese star, a former world number one now at 134 in the rankings, has endured a bittersweet relationship with the French capital.

In 2021, she was fined for opting out of mandatory media commitments before withdrawing from the tournament in order to protect her mental health.

A year later, she fell in the first round before leaving the sport in September 2022 for 16 months to give birth to her daughter.

Top seed and defending champion Swiatek, chasing a fourth French Open, will face Osaka if the Pole gets past qualifier Leolia Jeanjean on Monday. World number three and reigning Wimbledon champion Alcaraz eased to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 win over America’s J.J. Wolf, the 107th-ranked player who entered the main draw as a ‘lucky loser’ from qualifying. AFP

Alas Pilipinas faces tough grind against Kazakhstan

By Peter Atencio

MEETING Kazakhstan will be no easy task for Alas Pilipinas when they clash for a finals’ slot on Tuesday night in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Kazakhs are a tall and talented team and national coach Edson Jorge Souza de Brito feels that he needs an energetic squad when they take the floor at 7 p.m.

We want coach Jorge to stay, says

IF Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara will be asked about Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito’s future, he’s going nowhere but in Alas Pilipinas.

“We’ll be appealing that he remains head coach of our women’s national team program,” said Suzara on Monday, a day after the Alas Pilipinas methodically beat Chinese-Taipei, 25-13, 25-21, 25-18, to advance to the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women semifinals unscathed in four matches in Pool A play.

“Coach Jorge coached the country to a first-ever semifinals stint in any AVC or Asian level competition, that’s historic for Philippine volleyball,” Suzara said. “And because of that, there’s no reason that we’ll let him go.” By letting go means De Brito—who arrived in the country in July 2021 under the FIVB’s national team development program that Suzara significantly

By Randy Caluag

THIS cyclist “doesn’t get tired.”

Mark John Lexer Galedo has competed in countless races, each adding to his illustrious career in professional racing.

In a touching tribute, his wife, Grace, recently shared a photo showcasing her husband’s extensive collection of race bibs—a testament to Galedo’s unwavering passion and commitment to the sport.

Galedo’s journey hasn’t been without its share of hardships—long uphill roads testing his physical limits, crashes shaking his resolve, and the relentless pursuit of excellence demanding every ounce of his energy.

For Grace, her husband has done it all.

“Are you tired of racing?

Are you tired of long uphill roads?

“They need to play against Kazakhstan with energy. Yes, Kazakhstan is tough,” said De Brito after they brought down winless Chinese Taipei, 25-13, 25-21, 25-11, for their

fourth straight win in Pool A.

The Kazakhs showed their might when they dominated Hong Kong with a decisive 25-17, 25-18, 25-4 sweep that allowed them to secure the second seed in Pool B.

Six-foot-two Sanna Anarkulova dominated and scored 22 points with 19 attacks, two blocks, and one ace.

Six-footer Zhanna Syroyeshkina supported her with 16 points from 10 attacks, five aces, and one block in their 65-minute contest.

“They have a lot of guys who can

PNVF president Suzara

Are you tired of crashing in the race?

Are you tired of mechanical, physical, and emotional problems?

Are you tired of losing?

Are you tired of winning?

Are you tired of counting medals and trophies?

Are you tired of counting race numbers?

Oh well, he’s not.... good luck on your next race, my love.”

From his memorable triumph at the Tour of Luzon in 2009, where he first tasted a major victory, to his current role as a key member of the 7 Eleven Cliqq RoadBike Philippines Continental Cycling Team, Galedo’s presence on the cycling circuit is nothing short of iconic.

The 38-year-old Galedo worked as a car painter and kitchen helper before embarking on a serious cycling career. He was inspired to

take up cycling after he watched Victor Espiritu finish as the 1996 Marlboro Tour (now the Tour de Filipinas) champion.

In her post, Grace thanked all their friends, family, teammates and officials, and sponsors who supported Galedo throughout his entire career.

“Sobrang thank you sa lahat.

Sir Bong Sual hind lang sa support kungdi sa pagmamahal sa aming mag-asawa. Thank you Ninong Ric Rodriguez and Ninong GT Advincula for the guidance and advice,” said Grace in her social media post.

“A super big thanks to our Ninong Victor Paterno for your unending support for the Team. And also to our team sponsors, maraming salamat po. Cheers for more races to come!!!! Salamat... Salamat... Salamat.”

When off the road, the husbandand-wife tandem runs a bike shop in Mandaluyong City.

facilitated—would be heading for Chinese-Taipei for another tour of duty.

De Brito, who helped Brazil to the men’s gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is bound to be replaced by another FIVB-appointed coach from Italy.

The 57-year-old Brazilian has earlier stated in interviews that if he has his way, he’d love to stay in the Philippines—his family, in fact, have joined him in the country and according to him, they’ve gotten to love the Philippines.

Immediately after Alas Pilipinas beat Iran to secure a semifinals seat, the Philippines rose from No. 62 to No. 57 in the FIVB women’s world ranking and breached the top 10 in Asia at No. 9.

“We’ve always trusted Coach Jorge and Alas Pilipinas’s historic accomplishment in this AVC Challenge Cup is testament to his world-class skills as coach,” Suzara said.

John

spike strong and even block,” de Brito added.

De Brito will bring back the highleaping Sisi Rondina and the lanky Fifi Sharma back in the game, after the two were absent in their clash with Chinese Taipei. Vietnam was the first to claim a semis slot, after pulling off a 25-17, 25-15, 27-25, 25-13 win against Indonesia.

The defending champions will clash with Australia earlier at 4 p.m. for the first finals berth.

Grandjean sees gruelling fight vs. Zamboanga

WHEN Noelle “Lil Monkey” Grandjean was training at Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand, she knew that a clash between former teammates Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga would eventually happen. Little did Grandjean know that she’d get a crack at one of them before the two ever had the chance to fight—but that is exactly what has happened. Because ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp tore her meniscus last week, Grandjean is stepping in to take on Zamboanga at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on 8 June at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Lil Monkey” recalled her time training with the pair, and while there will be no love lost when she squares off with Zamboanga, she still considers the Filipina a good friend.

“It will be an interesting fight. We were training partners before. I started my journey in Fairtex with Stamp, Denice, [Nat “Wondergirl” Jaroonsak]. We were all there training together,” she said.

“We know each other and we’re friends. It’s kind of the same story with Stamp and Denice, so it’s cool.” Grandjean acknowledged that she’s coming in as a heavy underdog in this fight, considering that Zamboanga is the #2-ranked atomweight contender. She also knows Zamboanga’s desire to become a ONE World Champion someday, and while this match won’t be for the gold, she expects the Filipina to compete as if the belt is still on the line.

“Her [strength] is her cardio. She’s been preparing for a fight for months, maybe a year, maybe more,” Grandjean said.

Members of the Alas Pilipinas team celebrate their win against Chinese Taipei, 25-13, 25-21, 25-11.

Mark

Lexer Galedo and his extensive collection of race bibs

Head coach Jorge Edson De Brito (fourth from left) with his coaching staff (from left) strength and conditioning coach Norman Montalvo, assistant coach Ed Ortega, team manager Hollie Reyes, physical therapist Grace Gomez, team statistician, Joyce Palad, assistant coach Ronwald Kris Dimaculangan and strength and conditioning coach Justin Aquino.

Noelle ‘Lil Monkey’ Grandjean

Indigenous Filipinos face challenges

A WORLD Bank report underscores the urgent need to improve living standards for indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Philippines.

The report titled “No Story, No Data: Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines” finds that increased access to water, sanitation, education, health care and economic opportunities, while preserving cultural identities, could significantly improve IPs well-being.

It underscores the importance of data collection and faster processing of legal land titles. IPs have collective ancestral ties to the lands and resources where they live or from which they’ve been displaced.

According to census data, about 9.4 million people in the Philippines identify as indigenous, representing roughly 8.7 percent of the population. Many live in geographically disadvantaged areas.

The report suggests that enhanced development through improved connectivity and other interventions could accelerate poverty reduction within these communities. Collecting disaggregated data by ethnicity would better identify IPs and other minorities, leading to more effective poverty reduction strategies and social program targeting.

“Understanding the interplay between ethnicity, gender, and geography is crucial to comprehending the challenges faced by indigenous peoples, which are closely linked to their locations,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

INCLUSIVE

QUEEN. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto (right) welcomes the support of Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) for the Department of Finance (DOF) to accelerate the widening of financial inclusion and ensure financial protection among Filipinos by digitizing government payments and keeping financial services affordable.

PH seen becoming 13th biggest market by 2030

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines is seen becoming the world’s 13th biggest consumer market by 2030, fueled by a growing middle class, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said Monday.

Recto said more Filipinos are engaged in the formal and stable jobs, an indication of an expanding middle class and reinforcing the Philippines’

path towards becoming an uppermiddle-income country next year.

“This expansion is seen to rapidly raise the country’s average income per person, nearly doubling from $3,541 last year to $6,500 by 2030,” Recto said during the Philippine Economic Briefing.

“As a result, the Philippines is expected to become the world’s 13thlargest consumer market by 2030, offering vast opportunities for local and foreign businesses,” Recto said.

The Finance chief said the Philippine economic outlook is the brightest it has ever been. The Philippines has consistently become the brightest star in the Association

of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the fastest growth in recent years.

“Despite external challenges, we are expected to outperform ASEAN economies with a projected growth between 5.8 to 6.3 percent in 2024. The forecast for 2025 is even higher at 5.9 to 6.5 percent,” Recto said. He said this trajectory puts the Philippines firmly on course to become a trillion-dollar economy in less than a decade.

“This means that by 2033, our economy will nearly triple in size, placing us in the league of economic giants like China, Japan, India and South Korea,” Recto said.

AboitizPower to establish smart plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores

BANGKOK—Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower)

teamed up with REPCO NEX Industrial Solutions of Thailand to introduce the Philippines’ first smart power plants as part of the Aboitiz Group’s push towards a “techglomerate.”

The project, dubbed “Project Arkanghel,” will develop digital twins for AboitizPower’s circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plants including the 300-megawatt Therma South plant in Davao City and the 340-MW Therma Visayas Plant in Toledo City, Cebu.

AboitizPower, Aboitiz Data Innovation and REPCO NEX held the ceremonial signing of project Arkanghel here, marking a milestone for the Aboitiz Group as it embarks on a journey of innovation that will transform the future of the Philippine energy landscape and even Southeast Asia.

Both assets will serve as pioneer models for future installations in other thermal sites.

Digital twins are a virtual replica of a power plant that mimics its operational processes and systems, giving operators a tool that can simulate or stress-test scenarios and detect faults and glitches earlier and in real time, all within a virtual environment.

AboitizPower said that with CFB technology already recirculating combustion for even greater power generation efficiency, digital twins would further optimize the performance of the power plants through data science and artificial intelligence to empower operators and engineers on making informed decisions.

A digital-enabled power plant will streamline data collection and review for the benefit of asset health monitoring, life cycle management and predictive maintenance.

AboitizPower executives said the proactive action spurred by these insights could result in shorter planned and unplanned downtimes, thus increasing plant reliability.

AboitizPower chief finance officer Sandro Aboitiz said the Philippine energy landscape is constantly evolving towards transition, while the economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, requiring new sources of dependable and reliable power supply.

MEDICAL MISSION, Nickel Asia Corp. founder and senior advisor to the board Manuel Zamora Jr. (second from the left) and Jose Bayani Baylon (third from the left), senior vice president for sustainability, risk, corporate affairs and communications, join Dr. Benjamin Campomanes (left), president of St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation Inc. (SLMCFI) and Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone (fourth from left) during the signing of a memorandum of understanding and deed of donation for an upcoming medical and surgical mission to be led by NAC Foundation Inc. The foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with SLMCFI to provide a LigaSure surgical device worth P1.5 million for a joint medical mission in Borongan, Eastern Samar.

SM Investments bags int’l award for corporate governance initiatives

CONGLOMERATE SM Investments

Corp. (SMIC) won recognition for its corporate governance initiatives in the 14th Institutional Investor Corporate Awards.

SMIC said in a statement Monday it was named as the best Philippine company with strongest adherence to corporate governance by Hong Kongbased magazine Alpha Southeast Asia.

This marked the conglomerate’s 9th win in the said category after being voted by 586 investors and analysts across the Southeast Asian region as well as in US and Europe.

“At SM, we uphold the highest standards of corporate governance in keeping with our commitment to attain shared value for our stakeholders –towards responsible and sustainable development for the communities we serve,” said SMIC president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio.

The conglomerate was also among the top five best performing companies in the categories of Most Organized Investor Relations, its 13th win, and Best Strategic CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

The Alpha Southeast Asia poll included fund managers with investment interests in Southeast Asia, large institutional investors, insurance companies, pension funds, funds of hedge funds, private banks, equity and fixed income brokers as well as buy and sell-side analysts.

About 38 publicly listed companies from across Southeast Asia were ranked this year representing the very best practices on corporate governance, investor relations, disclosure, transparency, financial management, integrated reporting, CSR and/or dividend policy. Jenniffer B. Austria

Local stocks decline amid lack of market catalysts

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE share prices opened the week in the red, even as most Asian stocks edged higher, to close below the 6,600 level.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 48.29 points, or 0.73 percent, to close at 6,571.60, while the broader all-shares index slipped 13.41 points or 0.38 percent, to settle at 3,510.08.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research analyst Claire Alviar said the market dropped in the absence

Smart warns of ‘fake cell towers’ scam

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SMART Communications Inc. on Monday warned the public about a new scam involving “fake cell towers,” allowing scammers to bypass the telco’s network and send fake text messages directly to subscribers’ phones.

“Our investigation did not find any evidence that these malicious text messages passed through our network,” PLDT and Smart first vice president and group head of corporate communications Cathy Yang said.

“The illegal ‘cell site simulators’ can also spoof or mimic mobile numbers to deceive subscribers into thinking that they’re receiving legitimate text messages,” she said.

While cell site simulators are typically used in disaster-stricken areas as temporary emergency communication platforms, Smart said there is a need for government oversight on the legitimate use of these devices.

Smart said it is working with the government to regulate the use and importation of these types of illegal devices.

The company also engaged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) for collaborative efforts to fight SMShing and other similar fraudulent activities that include the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of scammers.

A few Smart subscribers reported receiving text messages supposedly coming from Smart about expiring rewards points.

Smart said it discovered that the link included in the fraudulent SMS led to a fake Smart website that asked for payment to redeem the rewards points. Smart earlier blocked the phishing domain from being accessed by its subscribers.

AppleOne bullish on tourism in the south, bares expansion plan

THE rest of 2024 is looking bright for the Visayas and Mindanao’s hospitality and tourism industry, according to property developer AppleOne Group Inc.

This followed Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco’s pronouncement that Mindanao plays a significant role in the tourism transformation during the second Mindanao Tourism Expo (MTEx) in April. Frasco said the implementation of infrastructure projects in Mindanao such as tourist rest areas (TRAs) aim to attract tourists and enhance their experience for repeat visits.

AppleOne assistant vice president for hospitality Samantha Manigsaca

said Visayas is expected to continue thriving, with the island province of Cebu at the forefront. Cebu alone saw a 283.35-percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2023.

Manigsaca said Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the largest international airline hub outside Metro Manila, plays a vital role in the rising number of inbound tourists arriving directly at Mactan.

MCIA connects to 28 local destinations across the Philippines via 8 airlines and services 17 international carriers that link Cebu to multiple prime international destinations.

“And for us to meet this increasing demand brought about by the boom of

travel and tourism, real estate investments now become a center of attention, because we believe that there is still a huge opportunity that Cebu still has to offer,” she said.

AppleOne built the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and Residences and the business and lifestyle hub, the Mahi Center in Cebu and sees phenomenal potential in the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao region.

AppleOne is now developing the JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort & Spa in Bohol. It will also expand across Mindanao, targeting Cagayan de Oro (CDO) as its next prime location for another luxury brand hotel this year.

of market catalysts.

“Investors were awaiting data that could influence the decision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas regarding interest rates,” Alviar said.

Heavy foreign selling weighed on the market, registering a net outflow of P487.62 million. Value turnover remained thin at P3.81 billion.

Among the sectoral indices, only the industrial ended in the green, rising by 0.26 percent. Mining and oil posted the biggest decline of 1.35 percent followed by financial and property. Meanwhile, other Asian markets rose

Monday, tracking a bounce on Wall Street at the end of a painful week for investors, with eyes now on the upcoming release of key US inflation data. Sentiment took a blow last week after Federal Reserve officials warned they wanted more evidence that prices were being brought under control, fueling worries they might not cut interest rates this year. That was compounded by figures suggesting the world’s number one economy remained in rude health, despite borrowing costs being kept at two-decade highs. With AFP

Dr. Junius W. Yu and Benjamin Phillips III

FAST-FORWARD to 2023, Benjamin became the DLSU team captain. He was given the rare opportunity to play alongside his two brothers, Michael and Isaiah. After years of hardship and relentless attempts to regain the glory of DLSU basketball, a promising force of fourteen strong young men entered into battle together. He said nobody predicted De La Salle University would win initially, even after hiring a new and decorated coach, Topex Robinson.

They began with minor setbacks, losing some close games, but the team, under the guidance of Coach Topex, grew stronger. Despite a significant loss to UP in Game 1 of the Finals, Coach Topex’s leadership and belief in them that it was not over and that a winning mindset was always the key, instilled a renewed sense of determination in the team.

DLSU emerged triumphant in Season 86 of Men’s Basketball, led by Finals MVP Kevin Quiambao and graduating seniors Francis Escandor, Mark Nonoy, and Evan Nelle. Winning the championship in his final year was a moment of glory for Benjamin, who shared the triumph with his brothers, cherishing these moments as they etch themselves in DLSU history.

After the championship, the Phillips brothers were given a custom Adidas shoe line with their likeness embedded on the front.

Three Adidas stripes for three Phillips brothers is a fitting end to these three champions. After bringing the UAAP crown back to Taft Avenue, Benjamin decided to venture back to the United States to continue running his multiple business operations.

Benjamin serves as the chief operating officer of The Business Hospital. This innovative organization approaches business management with the same level of care and expertise as a medical hospital treats its patients. The Business Hospital boasts a team of reputable business doctors and specialists, each holding terminal degrees in their respective fields. This ensures that businesses of all industries, sizes, and locations receive top-notch care and tailored solutions.

During a recent business trip, Benjamin visited the Cleveland Cavaliers in his home state of Ohio. The primary objective

of this visit was to establish deeper partnerships and further the organization’s mission and vision by collaborating on market research expansion in Brazil and cultural immersion initiatives within the country.

As he closes his athletic story with the Green Archers, he opens a new one in the business realm.

In addition to his work with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Benjamin also oversees The Business Hospital’s operations in 14 countries globally, actively engaging with influential business leaders and advisors, particularly in the Philippines, to foster valuable connections and partnerships. His daily work is as dynamic and exhilarating as his basketball and volleyball court play. Operating a general Business Hospital, Benjamin states that his patient portfolio consists of everything from a small restaurant opening to new financial technology startups looking to enter the market, large multimillion-dollar outfits like Rumpke and Nasa, and everything in between.

As he closes his athletic story with the Green Archers, he opens a new one in the business realm by pairing it with a terminal degree alongside a global entrepreneurial mindset.

Dr. Junius Yu is a full-time faculty member of the Decision Sciences and Innovation Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at junius.yu@ dlsu.edu.ph.

Benjamin Phillips III is a DBA student of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at benjamin_phillips_a@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

NEW SERVICE. Subic Bay International Terminals (SBITC), International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (ICTSI) operation at the Port of Subic Bay, adds a new service that offers a direct link between the Philippines and China. Operated by Macrocean International Shipping, the CX1 service makes weekly calls to SBITC and Manila International Container Terminal to provide manufacturers and traders in Northern and Central Luzon with a fast and efficient connection to key Chinese ports.

2024 revenue collection on track

ROSQUILLOS FESTIVAL.

Colorful costumes and lively music fill the streets of Liloan town in Cebu as people dance at the Rosquillos Festival, coinciding with the town’s nearly month-long fiesta in honor of its patron, San Fernando El Rey, on May 25, 2024. Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Frasco is a former mayor of

DA asks new Japan envoy’s help to reduce tariff on PH bananas

By Othel V. Campos

AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco

Tiu Laurel, Jr. is seeking the help of Japan’s new envoy to Manila, Ambassador Endo Kazuya to increase Philippine exports of agricultural products to Japan.

The new Japanese ambassador paid a courtesy call on Tiu Laurel to discuss bilateral agricultural cooperation, particularly the details of the memorandum of cooperation between the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture and Japan’s Ministry of

Greenhills market vows to eliminate counterfeit goods

GREENHILLS Shopping Center

(GSC) is making a major push to eliminate counterfeit goods from its flea market.

GSC unveiled its 10-year roadmap aiming for a complete shift to legitimate products by 2027 in a recent dialogue with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), brand owners and enforcement agencies.

The GSC reported about 80 percent of traders already transitioned to selling local products, Halal items and other authorized goods, while the number of stalls was reduced to 1,412 from 1,771.

The mall suspended nearly 300 stores for violating IP rules, effectively weeding out repeat offenders.

“What we have done so far is really to educate our traders along the way, to tell them that it’s time to change and that there are other products to profit from,” said GSC assistant vice president and trade fairs and exhibits head James Candelaria.

The mall also stopped accepting applications for categories notorious for counterfeiting, with exceptions for locally made or labeled items. Legitimate businesses are incentivized through access to premium locations for stores selling local products.

Representatives from luxury brands also participated in the dialogue, discussing improved store monitoring strategies with GSC.

While GSC is the only physical market on the U.S. Notorious Markets List, Cartimar, Baclaran and Divisoria are on the EU Watch List. IPOPHL seeks Metro Manila mayors’ support to fight market counterfeiting.

Othel V. Campos

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the recently adopted ASEANJapan Midori Cooperation Plan.

The two officials discussed various topics including sustainable agriculture initiatives, trade facilitation, market access concerns and DA’s upcoming hosting of the inaugural meeting of the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Agriculture scheduled on May 30 to 31, 2024.

The DA raised issues on the Philippines’ long-standing request for the reduction of tariffs for Philippine bananas, Philippines’ market access for

fresh avocadoes, the revival of Philippine mango exports to Japan and the possibility of regionalization to facilitate the export of processed poultry products to Japan.

Banana is the Philippines’ top agricultural export to Japan, with total volume between 2020 and 2023 reaching 3.4 million metric tons (MT), based on sanitary and phytosanitary permits issued.

A tariff reduction could further improve competitiveness and increase shipment of Philippine bananas to Japan, a major part of the Japanese diet,

the DA said. Banana exports from the Philippines to Japan reached 241,282 MT between January and April 15, 2024. While Japan imports nine banana varieties, Cavendish remains the king of bananas in the Japanese market.

The Philippines also expects to receive approval for its request to export fresh avocados to Japan within the year. Meanwhile, mango exports to Japan plunged from 59 MT in 2021 to 11 MT in 2023, after the Philippines breached the maximum residue levels due to pesticide use.

PEZA concludes investment mission to Germany

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) recently concluded a successful investment mission to Germany, securing potential expansions and new investments from leading German companies.

The PEZA delegation met with one of the world’s largest producers of electronic components for various industries, including automotive and medical, on expanding their Philippine presence.

PEZA said it also held talks with a pharmaceutical powerhouse engaged in life sciences, healthcare and electronics and a company specializing in pharmaceutical lab and medical equipment calibration, which is currently finalizing its application to join

MORE Power maintains lowest rate in Western Visayas for May billing

MORE Electric and Power Corp. said Monday it continues to offer the lowest electricity rate in Western Visayas despite an increase for May 2024 billing.

MORE Power said electricity price in Iloilo City, despite a P1.02 per kilowatt-hour increase, remains the lowest in the region.

The effective residential electricity rate for MORE Power, reflected on its consumers’ bills from May 18, 2024 to June 12, 2024, is P11.3263 per kWh.

These changes came amid a tight supply situation, highlighted by the “red” and “yellow” alerts declared by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in Luzon and Visayas over the past two months.

Niel Parcon, vice president for corporate energy sourcing and regulatory affairs (CESRA), said MORE Power managed to maintain competitive rates due to its bilateral contracts with power generators.

The strategy has limited its exposure to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), where prices increased from P8.67/kWh to P11.85/kWh.

“In anticipation of the increase in demand for the summer, we have secured bilateral contracts of 66 percent. Thus, our exposure to WESM is only 34%. In fact, our energy purchases for this billing cycle have increased by 19 percent,” Parcon said, emphasizing the importance of the bilateral agreements with the power generators.

economic zone agency.

A global leader in discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, crucial for advancements in automotive, industrial and medical technologies, also expressed interest in expanding their Philippine operations to accommodate new product lines.

PEZA collaborated with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Berlin to bring one of the biggest industrial gas producers in Germany to the Philippines.

It also coordinated with the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) for the upcoming business forum on May 29, 2024, focusing on sustainability in the

Philippine economy. Meetings with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Frankfurt aimed to explore collaboration in promoting the Philippines to German companies in sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, IT-BPM, automotive, and tourism facilities.

Germany consistently ranks as a top trade and investment partner for the Philippines, with foreign direct investment inflow reaching $149.89 million and foreign-approved investments hitting P394 billion in 2023. PEZA houses 37 German locator companies, generating over P30 billion in investments and creating more than 20,000 jobs. Othel V. Campos

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Finance (DOF) said Monday the government is on track to meeting its 2024 revenue goal.

“With total revenues already reaching P1.5 trillion as of end-April , we are on track to meet our collection target of P4.3 trillion,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told the participants of the Philippine Economic Briefing in Pasay City.

“The BIR has already collected close to P1 trillion––or P970.3 billion –– representing a 15.4 percent increase from last year,” he said, The Bureau of Customs recorded a 6.5-percent growth in its collection, reaching P299.3 billion.

Recto said the government is focusing on growing tax revenues by plugging tax leaks and improving tax administration, especially in the e-commerce market, through digitalization.

He said the agency also strategically tapped into non-tax revenue streams to generate additional funds without imposing new or increased taxes.

“This allowed us to collect P188.8 billion in non-tax revenues as of endApril, 48.8 percent higher from the same period last year,” Recto said.

“The surge is primarily driven by higher dividend remittances from GOCCs,” he added, noting that dividends remittances reached P88.6 billion.

Recto said the government’s privatization efforts are also expected to boost non-tax revenue.

Meanwhile, Recto said the government’s fiscal consolidation plan ensures that the economy will continue to outgrow debt in the medium term.

“Our debt-to-GDP ratio further dropped to 60.1 percent in 2023, and is on track to decline further to 55.9 percent by 2028,” he said.

“We have been very prudent with our borrowings. The majority of financing is sourced domestically to take advantage of high liquidity in the economy. This provides a venue for ordinary Filipinos to invest and help in nation-building,” Recto said.

Energy expert assists SNAP battery project

CONSULTANTS in the Singapore and Philippine offices of DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, assisted SN Aboitiz Power Group in the development of a battery energy storage system (BESS) facility co-located with the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant in Ramon, Isabela.

DNV provided owner’s engineering services to SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP), a joint venture between Scatec and AboitizPower, for the stationary-type BESS intended for use in frequency regulation and balancing services. The system rated at 24 megawatts/32 megawatt-hours at the point of interconnection entered commercial operation in the reserve market in January 2024.

Co-located with SNAP’s hydroelectric plant, the storage system uses liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries and is connected to the grid via a 230- kV power transformer.

“We are delighted to have worked on SNAP’s project that sets a precedent for innovative solutions driving the energy sector transformation and resilience in the Philippines,” said Brice Le Gallo, vice president and regional director for APAC energy systems at DNV.

“As our region navigates the dynamic landscape of energy demand and sustainability, storage systems with batteries have emerged as a key pillar in the energy transition. By harnessing the power of stored energy, we unlock new possibilities: grid stability, seamless renewable integration, and enhanced energy security,” Le Galllo said.

The Magat reservoir in Isabela is also home to SNAP’s 200-kWp pilot floating solar project.

DNV, as SNAP’s technical advisor, conducted a feasibility study on the project and provided support during the bid evaluation and contract negotiation.

Liloan.

DIGITAL TRAINING. Aboitiz Land, Aboitiz Foundation, Connected Women and the local government unit of Liloan, Cebu sign a partnership to implement the Elevate AIDA program, which aims to provide underprivileged women with training in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and other tech skills. Signing the agreement are (seated from left) Connected Women CEO Agnes Gervacio, Aboitiz Foundation chief operating officer Mardi Mapa-Suplido, Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, Aboitiz Land senior assistant vice president Farrah Niña Mayol and Vice Mayor Darwin Apas.

The Department of

NET ZERO GOAL. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista discusses with former Ambassador Brian David McFeeters, representing the US-ASEAN Business Council, the country’s commitment to complying with the net zero emission by 2050 global goal through exploration of alternative fuels and adoption of other measures.

Recto: BSP rate cut ‘very much possible’ in August

FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto

said Monday he expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to reduce the key interest rates by August 2024.

“That’s very much possible… it all depends on inflation outlook number one, and I suppose what the Fed does. The spread shouldn’t be too different between the US and the Philippines, otherwise you might have flight to safety,” Recto, a member of the BSP’s Monetary Board, said during the Philippine Economic Briefing in Pasay City.

“So it’s possible that you may have a rate cut this year, and possibly more rate cuts next year. Surely, I don’t ex-

PNB to raise $300m from debt market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE National Bank (PNB), the lending arm of tycoon Lucio Tan, is returning to the overseas debt market to raise at least $300 million.

The capital raising plan will be issued from the bank’s $2-billion medium-term note program (MTNP), PNB said in disclosure to the stock exchange Monday.

PNB did not provide additional details on the planned offering including the timetable, use of proceeds and lead managers and bookruuners for the transaction.

The last time PNB ventured into the overseas debt market was in 2019 wherein it raised $300 million to beef up its capital base and bankroll its expansion plans.

It also raised $750 million from issuance of fixed-rate senior notes in the same year, after establishing a $2-billion MTNP. The notes which carry a coupon rate of 3.28 percent a year will mature in 5.25 years or by September 2024.

PNB posted a net income of P5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024, up 10 percent from the same period last year. Core income in the first quarter amounted to P12.9 billion, up by 7 percent from a year ago, with net interest margin growing 12 percent year-on-year to P11.7 billion.

This was mainly due to the combined effect of the increase in the bank’s loan portfolio and better yields which increased by an average of 47 basis points.

pect interest rates to go any higher. If not, there’s time that it will start going down, maybe 150 bps in the next two years,” he said.

The Monetary Board kept the overnight borrowing rate steady at 6.5 percent for the fifth consecutive policy meeting since October 2023.

It also maintained the interest rates on overnight deposit and lending facilities at 6.0 percent and 7.0 percent, respectively.

The BSP had said the risks to the inflation outlook continued to lean toward the upside.

“Potential price pressures are linked mainly to higher transport charges, food prices, electricity rates

and global oil prices,” the BSP said.

The BSP’s risk-adjusted inflation forecast for 2024 eased to 3.8 percent from 4 percent in the previous meeting. Meanwhile, the risk-adjusted inflation forecast for 2025 rose to 3.7 percent from 3.5 percent previously. Inflation expectations remain wellanchored, it said.

Based on the latest gross domestic product (GDP) data, the expected path for domestic output growth over the medium term remains largely intact, even as recent indicators point to continued moderation under tight financial conditions, the BSP said. Darwin G. Amojelar

SMC still keen on Pasig River Expressway

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) is still keen on pursuing its P81.53-billion proposal to build the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), after previously announcing it is shelving the project over environmental concerns raised by some groups.

“We’re not [withdrawing our proposal]. If there is a withdrawal, there might be a violation,” SMC president and chief executive Ramon Ang told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing.

“We are trying to address it [environmental concerns], so it is on hold for now,” Ang said. Ang said in March the PAREX project would not push through because of the concerns raised by some environmental and conservation advocates.

Toll Regulatory Board executive director Alvin Carullo earlier said the agency had yet to receive official communications from San Miguel about its intention to drop the project.

Carullo said San Miguel has six months from March to send official communications to the TRB.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) expects to attrition rate in the sector to fall below 45 percent in 2024 with the continued adoption of hybrid and work-fromhome arrangements.

The call center sector has among the highest employee attrition rates in the country, with about 60 percent to 70 percent of agents leaving their companies until 2016, when the rate began to slow below 50 percent.

Attrition rate refers to the percentage of employees leaving the company within a given timeframe.

Key findings from the CCAP At-

OX reveals 3 key air-conditioner checks before calling a technician

OX Air Conditioner encourages home owners to be proactive in maintaining their air conditioning units to ensure optimal performance.

Raymond Lim, owner of OX, listed three common reasons why the airconditioning unit might not be cooling.

“There’s no need to panic if your aircon is blowing warm air. Before calling your technician, it helps to know these issues so you can better inform them of the problem,” said Lim.

He said sometimes, the problem lies in the remote control or thermostat not working correctly, leading to inconsistent cooling from the aircon. When setting the remote to ‘cool’ or adjusting the temperature, the unit may not respond properly. This could be due to prolonged hardware er-

rors, needing battery replacement or long-term issues that haven’t been addressed immediately.

Located at the front of air conditioning units, air filters can accumulate dust and debris over time, reducing airflow and causing the unit to cool more slowly. A visual inspection can reveal this issue; a filter that used to be white might look dirty gray.

Regular cleaning with a brush or periodic replacement can significantly improve the performance of your unit.

If the aircon is still not cooling effectively, it might be due to low refrigerant levels. If the air coming out of the unit is warm or strange noises occur, these are signs that the refrigerant level is incorrect and may need a refill.

trition and Retention Survey reveals that voluntary attrition has declined in the past 2 1/2 years to 36 percent in 2021, 36 percent in 2022 and 19 percent in the first half of 2023.

“Given the trajectory during the first half of 2023, we are expecting better numbers this year. The flexibility of work arrangements has helped a lot to maintaining talents. And many of us are quick to pivot to countryside expansion, where work is near where employees,” CCAP board director Haidee Enriquez said in a briefing Monday.

Increased adoption of hybrid and work-from-home arrangements is credited for a significant portion of the decline in attrition. A 2023 poll

shows that 78 percent of agents in CCAP companies prefer a hybrid model, with surprisingly high interest in onsite work at 47 percent alongside remote work at 41 percent.

The positive trend comes amid a concerted effort by CCAP member companies to adapt to evolving employee needs and a changing work landscape.

CCAP highlighted investments in employee training as a major factor. The association has developed the Philippine Skills Framework (PSF) specifically for the Contact Center and Business Process (CCB) industry, aiming to bridge the gap between academic programs and industry needs.

PAREX is a proposed 19.37-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway which would traverse the Pasig River from Radial Road 10 in Manila to its connection with the proposed South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6. The project will connect and utilize a 2.7-km. portion of Skyway Stage 3 from Nagtahan to Plaza Azul. San Miguel earlier said it invested P2 billion to clean up the Pasig River and integrate a bus rapid transit system, bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways in the project.

San Miguel built and manages several expressways including the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System and the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX).

IN BRIEF

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Mass rail transport critical to

solving road congestion

SENATOR Joseph Victor “JV” Ejer-

cito has raised alarms over the repercussions of an estimated 300,000 additional vehicles hitting the roads each year as the urban traffic crisis intensifies, “This means an additional one million new vehicles vying for limited road space within three years,”

Ejercito said.

He stressed the urgent need to develop the country’s mass transit system to combat the escalating problem.

Environmental advocates have pointed out the dire consequences of traffic congestion not only for commuters but also for the environment.

Additional vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution, emitting harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. These pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and other health issues.

Furthermore, the increase in

greenhouse gases exacerbates climate change, leading to more severe weather patterns and environmental degradation.

Ejercito lamented the country’s lethargic position on transportation infrastructure compared with other Southeast Asian nations. “Indonesia, Malaysia,and Thailand are 30 years ahead of us in transportation infrastructure,” he said.

Ejercito has been a strong advocate for the modernization of the transportation system, particularly through railways. He cited the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) as pivotal solutions. The NSCR is a 147-kilometer railway system that will connect Calamba City in the south with New Clark City in the north, passing through several Metro Manila stations using the existing Philippine National Railways (PNR) line.

Gov’t pushing climate-resilient agriculture

THE government is boosting efforts to promote sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the Philippines to ensure sufficient supply and lower prices.

The Climate Change Commission stressed the urgency of supporting the development of sustainable agriculture across the archipelago through research, development, investments, policies and projects.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., meanwhile, cited the role of agriculture stakeholders in economic development, job creation and in ensuring stable food supply and prices.

Speaking last week during the opening ceremony of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, Tiu Laurel said the government should adopt modern and sustainable farming practices, improve competitiveness and profitability, and mechanize farm operations to increase yield and lower production cost.

Agriculture accounts for one in every four jobs while food has a major contribution in the consumer price basket that determines the inflation rate—a key metric that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas looks at in determining interest rates.

“We need to ensure that future generations can rely on this sector by making agriculture sustainable through the promotion of environ-

FAO cites promise of AI to transform agri-food systems

ROME—Artificial Intelligence and the ongoing digital revolution will inevitably transform the world and its agri-food systems, making it all the more urgent that the changes they drive benefit everyone and contribute to solving global challenges.

Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological shift but is driving a fundamental economic and social transformation at the broadest level, says Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), at the Business Federations of the G7 (B7) meetingFriday in Rome.

Qu noted that FAO recognizes AI’s power to bring potential benefits to a wide range of populations and to contribute to improved efficiency and sustainability.

”Digital agriculture can revolutionize how we produce, distribute and consume food,” he said, stressing that potential benefits for farmers and stakeholders across agri-food systems include improved pricing data, minimizing food loss and waste, enhancing food safety and stimulating adoption of better seeds, fertilizer and sustainable practices.

The event took place at the Rome headquarters of Italy’s main business association, Confindustria. The B7 comprises the main business and industrial federations of the G7 members and the European Union. FAO News

mental stewardship, enhancement of biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change impacts,” Tiu Laurel said.

“We must continue supporting and empowering our food producers, processors, and other agri-fishery stakeholders by modernizing and mechanizing Philippine agriculture,’ he added.

DA Undersecretary for operations Roger Navarro said the month-long celebration recognizes the contribution of farmers and fisherfolk in driving progress the countryside and ensuring national food security.

“The work that Filipino farmers and fisherfolk accomplish day-in and day-out, from sunrise to sunset, puts food on our tables, drives the national economy, and preserves our way of life,” Navarro said. “We are determined to foster an environment in which all farm and fishery enterprises can grow and thrive,” he added.

The CCC echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s call to boost sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the country during the inauguration program of the Calamansi Processing Center (CPC) and Provincial Agriculture Center (PAC) of Oriental Mindoro.

and

of

a

Co-op teaches Nasugbu farmers to make charcoal briquettes

Rapid extinction rate triggers chain reaction on biodiversity

WHILE nearly one million species are currently at risk of extinction, the United Nations University (UNU) is drawing attention to “co-extinctions,” the chain reaction occurring when the complete disappearance of one species affects another.

The issue is in the spotlight ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity last week, observed annually on May 22, and covered in the most recent edition of UNU’s Interconnected Disaster Risks report.

Among the animals at risk is the gopher tortoise, one of the oldest living species on the planet. This

tragic story of biodiversity loss is unfolding at the heart of the coastal plains of the southern United States. Their reduced number is not just problematic for the survival of the tortoise as a species, however, as these charismatic creatures also play a vital role in preserving the delicate balance of their coastal realm. Gopher tortoises are not merely occupants of their habitat; they are architects, sculpting ecosystems and providing sanctuaries for over 350 other species. With their front legs functioning like shovels, they dig burrows that range in size from 20 to Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert

By John Maico Hernandez

AGA, Nasugbu, Batangas—The Aga Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (AGFAMCO) in Nasugbu, Batangas held a seminar May 17 on charcoal briquetting technology with the aim of utilizing the agro-wastes they generate in their coffee production business.

The seminar, organized by the local government unit of Nasugbu, Batangas, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas, aimed to educate AGFAMCO on converting coffee bean hulls, a by-product of their coffee production, into profitable charcoal briquettes. It covered various aspects of the briquetting process, including the

necessary raw materials and methods for making charcoal using both the fine biomass carbonizer and the drum method.

Participants were oriented on the production of charcoal briquettes, the equipment required for production and the characteristics of high-quality charcoal briquettes.

Experts from the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), engineer Allan Bondad and. Ronelia Lalap, both senior science research specialists, and Cheyenne Marqueses, science research assistant, shared their expertise on the topic and demonstrated examples to further enhance the understanding of participants on the process.

E.A. Borje stresses the importance

having

climate-resilient

climate-smart agriculture sector during the inauguration program of Oriental Mindoro’s Calamansi Processing Center and Provincial Agriculture Center.

the oldest known gopher tortoise, lives at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Canada. UN News

gopher tortoise are a safe haven for breeding and nurturing offspring, while for others, they offer respite from predators and the elements. UN News

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

Shticks Joseph Peter Gonzales

SINGER-ACTOR Gerald Santos is making a return to the live concert scene with his latest show, Grateful , set to be staged at the Music Museum on June 29, his first concert since 2019 when he performed at Resorts World Manila.

In the intervening years, Santos has been busy with major theater projects, both before and during the pandemic. Now, he is excited to return to his pop roots.

The concert will feature special guests, including Pinoy music icons Ogie Alcasid and Rey Valera, as well as Rita Daniela. Santos expressed his humility and honor at having these renowned artists join him, noting that Alcasid and Valera are his idols and that Daniela is his contemporary in GMA.

Grateful is an apt title for his latest project, considering that he is still very much around after 18 years. He won the grand prize in GMA’s top-rating reality singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar

“I believe it is. Not everyone is given the chance to last long in the industry. I’m proud that I continue to weave magic through music, theater arts, and acting,” says the singer-actor.

Gerald is working on a new album for PolyEast Records. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, mentioning it aligns with his goal of reinventing himself as an artist and reaching the Gen-Z market.

After doing the Denmark production of Miss Saigon , is he still open to projects abroad?

“Of course! I guess that’s part of our lives as artists. We go where there’s an opportunity for work. I will never forget my ‘Miss Saigon’ experience. For one, it taught me how to become independent and disciplined,” gerald responds.

Interestingly, one reason Gerald is grateful at present, apart from his career, is his love life.

“My relationship with my girlfriend Grace is going strong. I met her in New York, and since we became a couple, she’s been very supportive of my career.”

Can he say that she is the “one”?

“Yes, I can say she is. I’m not getting any younger,” ends Gerald.

*

Joshua Garcia is excited and nervous about being paired with in the Philippine adaptation of the hit K-drama It’s Okay Not to Be Okay produced by Star Creatives. He and the actress and TV host will bring to life the characters of popular Korean stars Kim Soo Hyun respectively.

“I’m so honored to share the screen with Anne. Imagine, it’s her comeback soap after a decade, and I’m her leading man,” he stated during the series announcement. Upon learning that he got cast in It’s Okay Not to Be

By Nickie Wang

JOkay he started to watch episode one of the series where Kim Soo Hyun showed his abs.

“ That’s why I went to the gym right away.

That’s my preparation.

But more than that, I guess it’s equally important that we are emotionally prepared. The story is quite sensitive,” he said.

The upcoming series is his first project with Anne, “And that’s what excites me. I know that I will learn a lot from Anne when we start with it.”

UST like many other celebrities on Tiktok, actor Joshua Garcia with the app during the pandemic and quickly captured the hearts of millions with his upbeat and feel-good “saya” uploads.

The 26-year-old star eventually became one of the first viral boyfriends for millions of Filipinos, earning his place as one of the most influential celebrities on the social media platform.

Joshua looks back on how his dance covers, filled with snappy and cool moves, helped him connect with millions. His TikTok account now boasts 8.2 million followers and 70.8 million likes, continuing to spread joy to his fans.

“I didn’t expect the reception to be like that. Like many others, I was just enjoying the app and using it during breaks or as a simple escape throughout the day,” said Joshua, who now proudly leads TNT’s campaign for TikTok Saya 50, the most affordable unlimited TikTok offer.

THE Garfield Movie and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga battled for the top spot in North American theaters over the long US holiday weekend, but it was still a rough Memorial Day at the box office, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The Garfield Movie, Sony’s animated reboot about the lazy cat who loves lasagna, starring Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) as the orange feline, was expected to take $31.9 million from Friday to Monday, Exhibitor Relations said.

Furiosa, the fifth installment in Australian director George Miller’s Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series, starring Anya Taylor-Joy in the role first played in Charlize Theron, was right behind at $31.5 million over the four-day weekend.

opening for Mad Max’s 5th episode,” adding that though it was well received by critics and audiences, the prequel paled at the box office in comparison to Mad Max: Fury Road, which starred Theron.

Memorial Day is the traditional kickoff to summer in the United States, and also usually a big weekend for new movies – meaning studios are sure to be disappointed with the overall box office total.

Both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter said whichever film triumphs, it will be the worst Memorial Day

Furiosa, from Warner Bros, was ahead in the estimated FridaySunday totals, Exhibitor said, but the four-day figure is the key metric. Final figures are due out Tuesday.

“Garfield is not among the animation elites, but it’s reasonably budgeted,” said industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “It’s doing what it’s supposed to do.” Furiosa, Gross called it “a weak

Actor Joshua Garcia is part of TNT’s TikTok Saya 50 campaign

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

Catch ‘em all: ‘Pokémon’ voice actor, OST singer to join Pokéverse expo in Manila

By Nickie Wang

VOICE actor Veronica Taylor , the original voice of Ash Ketchum, the protagonist in Pokémon , will appear at Pokeverse from May 31 to June 2, at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.

The event is an unofficial Pokémonthemed expo celebrating the beloved Pokémon brand.

The event features international guests, including Taylor and Jason Paige, the original singer of the “Pokémon Theme Song,” and will be hosted by Tim Yap, Myrtle Sarrosa, and Robi Domingo Pokeverse offers a variety of activities and entertainment to delight every fan.

Taylor’s contributions to the Pokémon franchise go beyond voicing Ash Ketchum, she also voiced Ash’s mother, Delia Ketchum, and the character May. Her versatile talent has made her a beloved figure in the anime world.

Beyond Pokémon, Taylor is known for her roles as April O’Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” and Sailor Pluto in Sailor Moon Her extensive work highlights her remarkable ability to connect with audiences across various genres and generations.

In addition to her work in television, Taylor has significantly contributed to film and video games. She has voiced characters in major projects such as Slayers One Piece Dinosaur King, and YuGi-Oh! Duel Monsters. Her performances have spanned various media, making her a versatile and highly respected voice actress in the industry. Taylor’s dedication to her craft and her ability to bring characters to life have earned her numerous accolades and a dedicated fanbase.

At a recent media conference for Pokeverse, Taylor shared insights into her role and excitement about the upcoming expo.

“I was working on another anime called Slayers,

By Angelica Villanueva

FILM producer Francis Ho recently addressed the controversy surrounding the filming of 1521

in English, and it just happens that the people who cast me in that were doing the casting for Pokémon. So, I auditioned for it, and there were many callbacks. I happened to get the role, and even when I got it, I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it, and it just kind of went on and on,” Taylor said.

“It’s one of the most challenging and joyful roles I’ve ever had. I love playing Ash, he was this ten-year-old normal boy full of courage and positivity. It changed my life because I think I took positivity for granted before this. But now I realize how important it is. I’m looking forward to Pokeverse and can’t wait to meet everyone and hear their stories about Pokémon,” she added.

Kirck Allen, one of the lead producers of the Pokeverse Expo, in partnership with Hobby Stadium, Arken, and more, explained, “We’ve had brilliant Pokémonthemed events in the country before, but Pokeverse is the first Pokémon-themed expo of its kind. It distinguishes itself from previous conventions and meet-ups by its unprecedented scale, design, and comprehensive offerings. We’re also thrilled to have Veronica Taylor and Jason Paige as guests for our event –something that is a dream come true for most fans.”

“Our innovative map, business model, partnerships, and themed activities aim to create a unique event. Pokeverse spans three days, featuring community, fan art, and cosplay, capturing the essence every Pokémon fan seeks,” he continued.

Allen further added that the event will feature a comprehensive museum with vintage Pokémon products, competitive competitions themed towards the Pokémon IP, and a line-up of local celebrities reigniting their passion and sharing their journey with the brand.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where true Pokémon fans can fully immerse themselves in the world of their favorite brand in real life,” Allen underscored.

While Pokeverse maintains no official affiliation

extraordinary expo is generously organized by Kirck Allen and by the Philippine Feng Shui queen herself, Marites Allen, and the whole Pokeverse team.

role Pokeverse with The Pokémon Company and its subsidiaries, this

During a recent media interview, Ho apologized to actress and 1521 lead star Bea Alonzo for any mistakes he made as a firsttime producer.

“I apologize for my limited knowledge and experience as a first-time producer. I made some calls na hindi nakatulong sa kanya , and I take full responsibility for that. I hope she accepts my apology because I didn’t intend to do that,” he said. Ho then acknowledged his shortcomings and expressed his hope for resolving the issue. He mentioned reaching out to Alonzo’s team on multiple occasions.

‘1521’ producer apologizes to Bea Alonzo for on-set issues

point,” he continued.

“I did reach out to her camp several times, and, sadly, we had to reach this

He also emphasized his good relationship with Alonzo’s manager, Shirley Kuan. He highlighted their personal connection and refuted any rumors of animosity.

“By the way, on a personal note. Ms. Shirley is a family friend, hindi ko po siya kaaway . Her family would spend time in America, hang out, and go places. Kaya , I just want everyone to know na hindi ko siya kaaway ,” Ho added.

Despite the conflict, the movie producer commended Alonzo’s talent when it comes to her craft, speaking highly of her acting skills, and expressed his admiration for her work and saying that it’s a dream come true working with her.

“Si Miss Bea, it has always been a dream to work with her kasi nakita ko yung track record niya magaling naman talaga siya. I mean, like stellar yung

performance niya. I admire her; she’s a great actress; there are times during the production when I will tell her exactly napakagaling mo ,” he continued.

Ho also revealed that he only thought of Alonzo as the perfect actress to portray the role of Diwata.

On the other hand, Ho discussed his debut film as a producer. He clarified that 1521 is a historical drama with fictionalized elements, not a documentary.

“I just wanted to be clear that 1521 is not a historical documentary. It’s a historical drama, action, and romance. The battle is historical, but the love story is fictional,” explained Ho.

The movie centers on a love story set against the backdrop of the Battle of Mactan. It showcases the bravery of Datu Lapu-Lapu and his warriors against Ferdinand Magellan and his forces.

The film boasts a cast that includes Bea Alonzo as Diwata, Hector David Jr. as Enrique, and Hollywood actor Danny Trejo as Magellan.

Directed by Michael Barder 1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom is hitting the cinemas nationwide on June 5, with Viva Films as its distributor in the country. The film also stars Michael Copon as Lapu-

The expo is made possible through partnerships with licensed Pokémon distributors, hobby shops like Hobby Stadium and Arken, collectors, exhibitors, and fans. A portion of the proceeds will support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. For more information, visit wishes.ph. Visit https://pokeverse.ph/ to buy tickets or visit https://www. facebook.com/PokeverseOfficial for the latest updates and exclusive content. For inquiries, please contact info@pokeverse.ph or call 0920 9281288 / 0945 1279023.

Telco launches loyalty rewards program for prepaid users

GLOBE Prepaid customers can now enjoy an exclusive experience with the launch of the new Globe Rewards+ program.

Accessible through the GlobeOne app, Globe Rewards+ aims to make Globe Prepaid customers feel highly valued and supported, showcasing the brand’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions that elevate the customer experience.

“We are determined to deliver unparalleled service to our loyal Globe Prepaid customers that extends well beyond simple connectivity,” said Givielle Florida, Globe Prepaid Brand Head.

Through this initiative, eligible Globe Prepaid subscribers gain access to premium benefits, ranging from priority assistance to special vouchers and early access to Globe-sponsored events.

To avail of these benefits, eligible subscribers can easily download the GlobeOne app, locate the Globe Rewards+ icon on their dashboard, and fulfill the welcome mission within the Globe Rewards+ section to activate their membership.

Once enrolled, Globe Rewards+ members gain access to a wide array of exclusive privileges, including priority care for expedited assistance on load, promos, or rewards-related concerns. Moreover, members can enjoy exclusive offers from their favorite brands, ranging from discounts to freebies across shopping, dining, travel, and more.

Additionally, they have the opportunity to gain early access to Globesponsored events and experiences. Further enhancing the benefits, members can avail themselves of a 50 percent discount on top rewards, allowing them to enjoy their favorite vouchers at a reduced rate. Furthermore, by completing missions, members can earn additional rewards points and prizes from partner brands. This comprehensive package aims to provide an unmatched level of value and satisfaction to Globe Rewards+ members.

Film producer Francis Ho believes that Bea Alonzo was the perfect choice for her role in ‘1521’

Actress Bea Alonzo (right) stars in ‘1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom’ as Diwata

Veronica Taylor is the voice behind the iconic main character of the ‘Pokémon’ series Ash Ketchum

Jason Paige is known for singing the original version of the ‘Pokémon Theme Song’

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

Very Wang Nickie Wang

YOUR home is your safe space, a place to unwind and recharge. But it shouldn’t just be functional; it should also reflect your style and personality. And the key to achieving this perfect balance lies in your furniture choices.

C4 LIFE

At Crate and Barrel, explore the latest collection featuring globally inspired statement pieces that can turn your home into a contemporary space of comfort. Called Modern Organic Home, this curated collection features furnishing pieces that blend mixed materials, sculpted curves, and travel-inspired accents.

The collection was made possible by the genius minds of American interior designer Leanne Ford and star Chef Eric Adjepong, with whom Crate and Barrel collaborated to bring exciting additions to its existing lineup.

Ford presents the exclusive Origins Collection, featuring fresh designs of modern farmhouse furniture and houseware. Chef Adjepong, on the other hand, introduces a vibrant collection rooted in heritage, combining West African and New York City influences to spark bold flavors and joyful gatherings.

The Modern Organic Home embodies natural warmth and texture alongside high-design looks. Crafted with warm natural wood, sleek glass accents, deep charcoal hues, earthy clay elements, and luxurious marble touches, each piece exudes timeless elegance.

The new collection also includes the Cool Coastal Home, offering a breezy and beautiful European beach getaway-inspired look.

Among the highlights of the new collection is the Delancey Leather Sofa, a fusion of classic comfort and contemporary aesthetics. It combines a cozy traditional style with modern looks. Sitting on a shiny black metal base, it has soft cushions covered in fancy Italian leather, giving it a classy vibe.

The Roseau Charcoal Black Wood Sideboard Cabinet showcases intricate craftsmanship from Vietnam, utilizing twisted paper rope to weave a classic rush pattern, offering both visual appeal and ample storage space.

By Abigail Adriatico

GROCERY chain

Puregold kicked off the first day of the country’s biggest sari-sari store convention, the Tindahan ni Aling Puring Negosyo Convention 2024, last May 16.

The first day of the convention aimed to support and empower members of its Tindahan ni Aling Puring program.

It saw an opening program graced by Puregold executives and the grocery chain’s partner suppliers, celebrating the significant milestones it had achieved.

“We are just four doors away from reaching 500 Puregold stores,” said Puregold Chairman Susan

The Plateia and Warren White Stoneware Vases bring Danish mid-century modern design into the present with their clean lines and organic forms, perfect for displaying botanicals or standing alone as sculptural accents.

Marin Black Recycled Dinnerware embodies sustainability and elegance, crafted from recycled clay with a matte black finish, while the Asta Speckled Ceramic Canister combines style and functionality for kitchen organization.

The Monterey Cypress Green 5-Piece Non-Stick Ceramic Cookware Set blends West Coast mid-century modern design with durable construction and effortless cleanup. Greye 60” Ash Brown Burl Wood Desk boasts unique patterning and hidden compartments, making it a versatile and intriguing addition to any space.

Collaborations with Ford and Chef Adjepong introduce modern twists on classic designs, from the Gig Leather Chesterfield Sofa to the Twa Dark Acacia Wood Cutting Boards, each piece imbued with innovation and style.

With over 300 new arrivals, Crate and Barrel’s collection promises to breathe new life into your home. Visit Crate and Barrel at SM Aura Premier, SM Makati, SM Megamall, call to order, or shop online at www.crateandbarrel.com.ph.

Top grocery chain celebrates 20th year of ‘sari-sari store’ convention

Co , adding that the Tindahan ni Aling Puring program that had been providing benefits to smaller businesses has welcomed about 12,000 new members, leading to a total of almost one million members.

“Be assured that Puregold will continue to innovate and inspire all KaAsensos in the next decades to come,” she added.

Following the opening program was a grand band performance along with a dancing mascot of Aling Puring that wowed thousands of Aling Puring members who attended the event.

The first day of the highly-anticipated event was also graced by several celebrities like Belle Mariano, Marian Rivera, Bianca Umali, and

Anthony Jennings along with musical performances by Agsunta, Andrew E. , and Orange and Lemons

The annual convention offered a multitude of exclusive deals, promotions, and freebies for sari-sari store owners as well as other small businesses. As the program celebrated its 20th year, over 120 partner brands such as including Monde Nissin, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Universal Robina, Alaska Milk, Century Pacific Food, CocaCola Beverages, Colgate-Palmolive, GCash, Nutri-Asia, and Rebisco were in attendance with colorful booths themed around Filipino festivals for the entirety of the three-day event.

“The solid participation of global and local brand partners, along with the impressive turnout of Aling Puring members at our annual Sari-Sari Store Convention, reflects the trust and confidence our suppliers and members place in us,” said Puregold Price Club, Inc. Ferdinand Vincent Co.

“We will aggressively equip and supply our Aling Puring members with the best prices and assortment of goods so they can serve their communities better,” he added. The Tindahan ni Aling Puring SariSari Store Convention 2024 was held at the World Trade Center from May 16 to 18.

The Rica White Wood and Grasscloth Bed by Leanne Ford takes on a clean and contemporary look that is perfect for a cozy bedroom

The Greye 60” Ash Brown Burl Wood Desk with Swivel Drawers is perfect for those looking to mix productivity and comfort while boasting an elegant and contemporary style

The Roseau Charcoal Black Wood Sideboard Cabinet incorporates twisted papers ropes in its timeless design

The Marin Black Recycled Dinnerware features elegant matte black colored pieces made from recycled clay

Delancey Leather Sofa takes on a contemporary yet cozy design with its rustic brown hues and fancy Italian leather