Palace suspends gov’t work, classes in Bicol region today
By Charles Dantes
THE Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) announced the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in the Bicol Region
(Region V) on October 24, Thursday as Tropical Storm Kristine continues to bring heavy rainfall and cause widespread flooding.
“In view of the continuous rain -
‘Kristine’ lashes Bicol;
By Rio Araja, Alena Mae S. Flores, Rex Espiritu, Joel Zurbano
and Caloy Lozada
RESCUERS waded through murky floodwaters—some reaching roof-high—Wednesday to reach residents trapped by “Kristine,” which has killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate as it barreled toward the eastern coast and intensified into a severe tropical storm.
Torrential rain driven by the storm turned streets into rivers, submerged entire villages and buried some vehicles in volcanic sediment set loose by the downpour in the Bicol region and some parts of Luzon.
PAGASA said “Kristine” dumped a record-high 24hour rainfall since the 1920s in Daet, Camarines Norte.
By Maricel V. Cruz
RETIRED police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo corroborated the two affidavits submitted by ex-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma during a House Quad Committee hearing that lasted well past midnight Tuesday.
The affidavits included details about a cash reward system allegedly implemented during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.
At the nineth House Quad Comm hearing, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights, questioned Leonardo regarding his knowledge of Garma’s affidavits.
“This is my question, and this will only be answerable by yes or no. I am not going to ask for any more explanation, Col. Leonardo, after reading and listening to Col. Garma’s two affidavits... do you believe what she said - yes or no,” Abante asked in a mixture of Filipino and English.
“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo responded, affirming the accuracy of Garma’s testimonies.
In a follow-up question, Abante sought clarification on the existence of a reward system.
By Joel E. Zurbano
Marcos: Marshall all assets to areas affected by ‘Kristine’
PRESIDENT Ferdinand
By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, Rex Espiritu, Othel Campos and Ralph Rirao
“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the govern -
by
tropical storm “Kristine,” such as Camarines Sur and Albay.
A2 NEWS
fall brought about by Tropical Storm ‘Kristine,’ and to ensure the safety of the general public, work in government offices and classes at all levels in Region V (Bicol Region) are hereby suspended on 24 October 2024,” the OES said in a statement.
Moreover, government agencies involved in critical services, such as disaster response, health, and other vital operations, will remain operational despite the suspension.
The suspension for private companies and offices will be left to the discretion of their respective management.
KOJC by religious devotion.
“Are our rape laws sufficient to navigate the gray area of consent, sexual agency and religious freedom?
Are our labor laws sufficient to address the situation of religious volunteers who are forced to work and are denied benefits such as SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig?” the lady senator said during the session.
At the hearing, two alleged victims, Teresita Valdehueza and Arlene Stone testified and told the panel how the pastor and select members of the Davao-based church sexually abused them over a number of years.
Valdehueza said she was 17-yearsold when became a member of the KOJC in 1980.
She recounted how she eventually left her family and dedicated her life to the ministry, within which she grew in position and stature.
However, Valdehueza said her eyes were opened to the true nature of their leader when he started to sexually abuse her sometime in 1993.
Stone, who has since migrated to the United States, also narrated to the panel her ordeal in the hands of the man they came to know as the “appointed son of god” via teleconferencing.
One former KOJC member who testified during Wednesday’s hearing recounted another sort of physical abuse imposed on church members who managed to displease Quiboloy and his lieutenants - dry fasting that lasted from 10 to 39 days.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel also raised concern about such punishments and their legal implications.
“Were there members who suffered from bad consequences as a result of dry fasting as a form of punishment? If there were, then we should encourage them to complain because this might be a violation of the Revised Penal Code,” Pimentel, a lawyer, said.
Meanwhile, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official told the panel they have discovered that Quiboloy was trying to emulate the biblical story of King Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Col. Hansel Marantan, who heads the Davao City Police Office, told lawmakers that the pastor is believed to “have victimized 200 women already, currently, PNP identified 68 female personalities, of different ages.”
Quiboloy also relied on his personal death squad, dubbed, the “Angels of Death,” to keep rape victims from speaking up.
“Victimization continued repeatedly through the years and by generation,” Marantan further told Senators.
Quiboloy invoked his right to selfincrimination throughout the hearing.
But in a chance interview with reporters, he denied all the allegations hurled against him and described the Senate hearing as unfair.
“There are no facts. This Committee is not the one to decide whether I am guilty or not. It should be the court of law. This is not a fair committee,” Quiboloy said in Filipino.
There is no truth in what they said. If they have criminal charges against me, they are free to file a case and I will face it and answer it in the proper forum, in the court of our land, like we what are facing now,” he further said, apparently referencing US prosecutors’ reported desire to seek his extradition.
However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, who also attended the hearing, said his office has yet to receive a formal request from the US government for Quiboloy’s extradition over sex trafficking and other charges.
“We wish to report that [we have] not received a formal extradition request,” the DFA chief told the panel. Manalo explained that in the event that that they receive a formal extradition request, it would still be studied before they refer it to the Department of Justice for “relevant action.”
The NDRRMC, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other relevant agencies are closely monitoring the situation and will recommend further suspensions in other regions if necessary.
On the other hand, newly minted Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that he has already issued advisories to local government units (LGUs) across Luzon for the suspension of work and classes on October 24.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand
‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. ordered the pre-positioning of relief goods and instructed relevant agencies to maintain open communication with local governments to ensure that evacuation centers remain functional and wellequipped.
Tropical Storm Kristine is expected to bring more rain in the coming days, heightening the risk of further flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Since Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, the severe tropical storm unleashed 528.5 millimeters of rain, higher than the 507.5 millimeters recorded in December 2000.
The state weather bureau said “Kristine” also logged the highest October 24-hour rainfall on record in Legazpi City in Albay with 431 millimeters logged – surpassing the previous record of 282.7 millimeters in October 2020.
A total of 382,202 individuals, equivalent to 77,910 families, were affected by “Kristine.”
Naga City in Camarines Sur was among the heavily-affected areas, with about 30 percent of Naga’s land area covered by flood waters and 70 percent of the town’s population affected.
The overflowing of the Bicol River and the spilling of water from Mount Isarog contributed to the flash flood in Naga, the local disaster management office said.
“We sent police rescue teams but they struggled to enter some areas because the flooding was high and the current was so strong,” Bicol police spokeswoman Luisa Calubaquib said.
State weather bureau PAGASA said Signal No. 3 was hoisted in Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, central portion of Abra, Benguet, Quirono, Nueva Vizcaya, northern and central portions of Aurora, Pangasinan, La Union, and central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur. Signal No. 2, on other hand, was raised over Ilocos Norte, rest of Ilocos Sur, Apayao, rest of Abra, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, rest
of Aurora, rest of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.
Kristine is forecast to make landfall over Isabela between Wednesday night to early Thursday morning and may continue to intensify until it makes landfall.
The storm may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, PAGASA said.
One person drowned inside a bus that was swept away by floodwaters in Naga, where three others also drowned, police officer Bryan Ortinero said.
An elderly woman drowned in Quezon province, while a toddler was also killed after falling into a flooded canal, police said.
The Office of Civil Defense also reported one person was killed by a falling tree branch.
At an emergency meeting of government agencies Wednesday morning, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said “the worst is yet to come.”
“I’m feeling a little helpless here because... all we can do is sit tight, wait, hope and pray that there is not too much damage, that there are no casualties.”
Families driven from their homes in Bicol were being sheltered at about 2,500 evacuation centres scattered across the region.
“There was also a lahar flow in Albay due to the rains,” Calubaquib said, referring to volcanic sediment flowing from the Philippines’ famous Mayon volcano.
Further north, authorities evacuated 216 people from the coast near Divilacan and another 60 from nearby
Palanan municipality in Isabela province after the weather service warned of the “moderate to significant risk of life-threatening storm surge” or high coastal waves.
“They had to conduct preemptive evacuations in response to the storm surge warning .... They had to evacuate some Indigenous people who were living in houses made of light materials,” Isabela provincial disaster official Constante Foronda said.
Six electric cooperatives reported total power interruption, according to the National Electrification Administration.
The affected coops are KalingaApayao Electric Cooperative, Camarines Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Casureco I) and Casureco IV, Samal Electric Cooperative, Sorsogon Electric Cooperative and First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative.
“The instruction from the President is to bring back power immediately with safety in our minds,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
He said the priority was to provide power to hospitals and water facilities through gensets, which were prepared during El Niño.
“Kristine” also led to the cancellation of all commercial flights to the Bicol region yesterday.
“Although Bicol International Airport remains operational, no airline personnel from both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have been able to report for duty due to impassable roads leading to the airport. Air assets for relief and rescue operations could be accommodated,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines information officer Karen Villanda said. With AFP
“We are beginning to marshal our assets, like rubber boats, even from as far as Mindanao, and bringing them to the areas in need,” the President said in an interview on Wednesday.
“As soon as we can get in, we will be doing that,” he added. The President noted that Camarines Sur was particularly vulnerable, with half of the province now submerged due to its location in a basin shared with Albay.
Upon the instructions of the President, the House of Representatives launched a large-scale relief operation to assist the families severely affected by the storm, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
Romualdez facilitated the request for the immediate release of P390 million in cash aid, which will be distributed to 22 districts affected by “Kristine” in the Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Mimaropa regions, as well as through four party-list representatives.
“President Marcos’ directive is clear: No Filipino family will be left behind in the assistance from the government to those affected by Kristine. We are making sure the government’s assistance reaches our affected countrymen as quickly as possible,” Romualdez said.
Additionally, the Office of the Speaker and the Tingog Party-list are preparing 2,500 relief packs per representative, for a total of 62,500 packs worth more than P21 million to be distributed to affected families.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided more than P2.3 million worth of humanitarian assistance to affected families, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.
The Department of Health deployed Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) in the evacuation centers in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur and in other areas that are extremely affected by the storm.
The Department of Trade and Industry, for its part, implemented a price freeze on essential goods in areas under a state of calamity, including Albay province and Magpet Town in Cotabato that are currently experiencing widespread flooding and landslides.
Commodities covered by the price freeze include canned fish, instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent, and salt.
Mr. Marcos said Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country would be activated for relief and rescue operations.
He said the EDCA sites would be used to airlift relief goods, personnel, and equipment, especially in areas with unpassable road networks. There are currently nine EDCA sites across the country – the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said their American counterparts are ready to deploy their planes to the EDCA sites.
“Second question, also answerable by yes or no. Do you believe that there was a rewards system [for killing drug suspects]? Yes or no,” Abante asked.
“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo replied after some hesitation, further solidifying the claims made by Garma in her affidavits, which alleged the existence of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the previous administration.
During the session, the Quad Comm also cited demoted Police Maj. Leo Laraga in contempt for lying after he attempted to evade direct questions from Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop regarding the November 2016 raid at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail.
This incident is connected to the alleged murder of Albuera town mayor
Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside the prison facility.
During the raid, operatives from the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group allegedly executed Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap.
Just as her earlier revelations are being corroborated, Garma exposed even more details about the police reward system for killing drug suspects during the Duterte administration, while also confirming the existence of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).
Garma, a retired police Lieutenant Colonel who spent a huge part of her career with the Davao City Police, confirmed the existence of the DDS, a group long suspected of carrying out EJKs in Duterte’s hometown.
She noted that while the squad was an open secret, police officers were discouraged from discussing it.
“I became aware of the so-called ‘Davao Death Squad’ through various sources during my assignment in Davao,” Garma stated in her affidavit.
“It was common knowledge among officers that almost all station commanders had special teams designated for specific operations. Although I did not know the identities of these teams, a culture of silence prevailed among police officers in Davao regarding such matters,” she further narrated.
In her previous affidavit she read during the October 11 Quad Comm hearing, Garma directly implicated former President Duterte in orchestrating a nationwide campaign that led to the EJKs of drug suspects.
The affidavit not only exposed the alleged reward system that incentivized the killings but also detailed the roles of Duterte and his close aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, in overseeing and
coordinating the anti-drug operations. Garma said the cash rewards for drugrelated killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target. As this developed, the Quad Comm issued show cause orders to five individuals, including Irmina Espino, a close aide of Senator Go, for failing to attend Tuesday’s hearing despite receiving formal invitations.
Espino—along with Peter Parungo, Rommel Bactat, Michael Palma, and Sanson Buenaventura—was earlier named by Garma as having played clandestine roles in the previous administration’s drug war.
Garma testified that Espino, known as “Muking” or “Moking,” played a crucial role in the drug war’s financial operations, handling transactions tied to the reward system that incentivized police officers to kill individuals on Duterte’s drug watchlist.
SWAMPED. Record rainfall wrought by severe tropical storm Kristine flooded the Holy Cross Parish in Nabua, Camarines Sur. FB page of Holy Cross Parish
Speaker: Cut in self-poverty rates highlights admin’s interventions
By Maricel V. Cruz
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday welcomed the latest reduction in self-poverty ratings of OCTA Research, saying the efforts of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in addressing poverty through a whole-of-government approach are slowly but surely bearing fruit.
Romualdez lauded the Marcos administration for the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey results from OCTA Research, which showed a significant decrease in self-rated poverty and hunger levels during the third quarter of 2024.
“The reforms and programs being implemented by President Marcos Jr.’s administration are now bearing fruit. The latest survey shows that over a million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor, which can only mean one thing: the Marcos administration is succeeding in its mission to reduce poverty,” Romualdez said.
“We are happy with this good news. Our efforts to bring our countrymen to the New Pilipinas campaign of our beloved president are not wasted.”
The OCTA Research survey, conducted from August 28 to September 2, 2024, revealed a 5-percentage point drop in self-rated poverty, with an estimated 1.4 million Filipino families now considering themselves “not poor.”
Additionally, self-rated hunger also fell from 16 percent to 11 percent, meaning approximately 1.3 million families no longer experience hunger.
“Despite the global challenges brought about by conflicts and supply chain disruptions, our administration continues to prioritize the welfare of the people, especially the marginalized,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez emphasized that the Marcos administration’s targeted support programs, including food assistance and social safety nets, have been instrumental in lifting Filipino families out of poverty.
He highlighted the government’s focus on ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, especially during these trying times.
“President Marcos has been consistent in his vision of building a resilient economy, one that is capable of withstanding the pressures of international disruptions. Through the administration’s interventions, we are seeing the positive impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” Romualdez explained.
“Dito sa Kongreso, patuloy nating susuportahan ang mga pagsisikap ng administrasyon ni Panguloing Marcos sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasa ng mga panukalang magsusulong ng economic growth at dagdag social protection sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(Here in Congress, we will continue to support the efforts of the administration of President Marcos by passing proposals that will promote economic growth and increase social protection for our countrymen)
Romualdez also commended the administration’s approach to addressing food insecurity, which has led to the significant reduction in self-rated hunger.
flights have already been suspended, while a mobile phone charging station has been established just outside the main gate to aid those in need of power for communication.
Palace
vows to seek justice for slain journo in Zamboanga
By Charles Dantes
THE Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Wednesday condemned the killing of journalist and barangay official Ma. Vilma Rodriguez and demanded a swift investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
“We condemn this barbaric attack on Ma. Vilma Rodriguez — a journalist, barangay official, mother
IN BRIEF
DOLE to employers: Don’t impose sanctions
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday appealed to private employers not to sanction employees who did not report for work due to bad weather conditions.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma cited Labor Advisory No. 17 in 2022, stating that employees absent from work due to these conditions “shall not be subject to any administrative sanction.
Further, Laguesma said that employers can also extend help to their employees. He also said that under the advisory, private employers should not “discipline” employees who will not report for work due to weather-related disturbances or other calamities.
“We know that private companies have the discretion to suspend work, and let us not discipline those who will not be able to work. That is my reminder and appeal to our employers,” Laguesma said. Vito Barcelo
Chinese kidnapped in Bulacan released
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said that the Chinese national who was abducted while fishing in Angat River in Bulacan has been released.
Acting Public Information Officer and spokesperson, Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the Chinese national was freed by abductors in the Manila area around 12:05 a.m. The Chinese underwent physical and medical examinations. The victim was also able to visit his wife who gave birth to their child early Wednesday morning.
Authorities are currently getting statements from the Chinese victim for the ongoing investigation into his abduction, Fajardo said. The Chinese national was released following the P5 million ransom money sent to his abductors in cryptocurrency.
Police are now tracing the recipient. According to Fajardo, the PNP is looking into persons of interest. The PNP earlier said the kidnapped Chinese national was allegedly linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Witnesses said the victim was with other Chinese nationals when four unidentified men took and brought the victim to a vehicle. Vince Lopez
Wage board OKs P40 hike in Western Visayas
to four children, and model Filipino,” the PCO said in a statement.
“These kinds of vile and atrocious acts have no place in our nation, which values freedom, democracy, and the rule of law above all,” it added.
The government also extended its condolences to Rodriguez’s family and directed relevant agencies to provide full support during this difficult time.
“We join the bereaved in grieving this loss and assure them of our commitment to pursuing truth and justice for Ms. Rodriguez,” the statement said.
Rodriguez, a radio program anchor for Barangay Action Center of 105.9 EMedia, was shot three times by a suspect in front of her family in Zamboanga City on Tuesday evening. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Davao bets Polong, Migs undergo separate hair follicle drug tests
By Cherrie Anne Villahermosa
DAVAO City First District Rep. Paolo ‘Polong’ Duterte and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list
Rep. Margarita ‘Migs’ Nograles both underwent hair follicle drug tests on Wednesday, October 23, in response to a public challenge between the two politicians.
The exchange began when Nograles, in a social media post, responded to Duterte’s recent drug test video, which showed him undergoing a hair follicle drug test.
Nograles claimed that the video was outdated, having been taken in August, and challenged Duterte to take a new drug test alongside her for the sake of transparency.
“I appreciate that you’ve posted your drug test result, but this is an old test done in August. For the sake of transparency and accountability to the people of Davao City, I invite you to join me for a new drug test tomorrow at 1:30 PM at Hi-Precision Laboratory in Bajada, Davao City. Let’s do it together and show the people we have nothing to hide,” Nograles
stated in her post on Tuesday.
The challenge came after Duterte, in his initial video, called on his political opponent—whom he described as being linked to a group dubbed ‘Young Guns’—to undergo a similar drug test.
“This challenge is for the good of the people, to ensure that those who serve are free from any vices or illegal drugs,” Duterte said.
By Wednesday, both representatives had followed through on their commitments, though they did so separately.
Nograles took her test at 1 PM in Bajada, while Duterte followed with another test around 2 PM, this time in front of the media. Duterte also encouraged his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, to undergo a drug test to further prove their family’s commitment to being drug-free. The Vice President earlier challenged all congressional candidates to undergo a drug test after hearing them question her sanity following her controversial press conference last week. She agreed to take both the drug test and neuropsychiatric exam.
ILOILO CITY—The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas recently approved the petition to increase by P33 to P40 the daily minimum wage of people employed in private companies.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas said the increase would take effect in late November or early December.
For companies with more than 10 employees, the daily minimum wage will increase to P33 while for businesses that have less than 10 workers, the amount would jump to P35 increase.
The agricultural sector will receive a wage hike of P40 per day. Household helpers in Western Visayas would also receive an additional P1,000 to their minimum monthly wage, which raises it to P6,000.
The wage adjustment calls for a new minimum daily wage of P513 for companies employing more than 10 workers from the previous rate of P480. For employers with less than 10 employees, the wage will go up to P485. In the agricultural sector, the minimum wage will be increased to P480. Caloy Lozada
RESCUE AND RELIEF EFFORTS. (Photo 1) The Philippine Army and local disaster responders rescue families affected by widespread flooding due to Tropical Storm Kristine. (Photo 2) Earlier today, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Ilocos Norte assisted in evacuating residents of Barangay 37-A Casilian, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. (Photo 3) The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte is using heavy equipment for emergency response and stockpiled food packs. (Photos 4 and 5) Passengers wait in Naga Airport where
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
Tingog opens centers in Ilocos, Pangasinan
Survey says young voters eager to cast ballots
Sacked Silang mayor vows fight for justice
SUSPENDED Mayor Kevin Anarna of Silang, Cavite vows to sustain his fight for “truth and justice” despite an order from the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing him from public service and barring his re-election bid in next year’s midterm polls. Anarna was supposed to return to his seat at the municipal hall on Oct. 23 after serving his six-month suspension handed down by the Ombudsman last April 24 stemming from a graft complaint over alleged irregular procurement of flowers and other materials for the town fiesta celebration.
In a social media post, Anarna said the timing of the Ombudsman’s release of his dismissal order was suspicious, coming as it did on the eve of his supposed return to office..
“However, I will use all possible legal measures and remain determined to prove that I have done nothing wrong,” Anarna stressed.
“It is said that such early statements by Vice Mayor Carranza not only damage the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman, but also color the fairness of the process,” he added. Dennis Abrina
CHED chief says PH open to foreign HEIs
MELBOURNE, Australia - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero de Vera has pushed for the advancement of Philippine and Australian transnational education (TNE), citing the Philippines readiness to welcome the entry of foreign higher education institutions (HEIs) into the country.
“The Philippines welcomes transnational higher education partnerships with Australian HEIs. We have passed our own Transnational Education law and welcome Australian HEIs who plan to bring world-class Australian education to the Philippines to expand the learning opportunities of Filipino students, offer Australian students the experience of learning in the Philippines, and help in the internationalization of Philippine HEIs,” De Vera said De Vera made the statements during the Australian International Education Conference 2024 here organized by the Australia-Philippine Business Council (APBC) at La Trobe University.
CamSur DAR workers also covered by SSS
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Camarines Sur has partnered with the Social Security System to have all DAR employees covered and have access to security protection in addition to Government Service Insurance System’s (GSIS) package of benefits.
“The partnership grants permanent, JOs (job orders) and COS (contract of service) employees additional essential retirement package, sickness, and death benefits, aside from the one provided by the GSIS,” said provincial agrarian reform officer Ricardo Garcia. The initiative shall cover job order and contract of service personnel to strengthen the support system for government employees and ensure their long-term financial security. Under the agreement, the SSS will register the permanent employees of DAR, JOs and COS personnel as SSS self-employed members. Rio N. Araja
AT least eight out of 10 young registered voters are highly motivated to participate in the May 2025 elections, driven by the desire for positive change in the country, according to a survey by Publicus Asia Inc.
However, despite the eagerness to join the coming polls, many young voters have express mixed views about the elections.
The survey indicated that while overall voter motivation is strong, it is slightly lower among certain demographics.
About seven out of 10 voters aged 18-24 or those currently not working
PH, Australia commit to boost bilateral relations
THE Philippines and Australia have reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further strengthen their bilateral defense ties.
This developed during a one-on-one meeting between Australian Secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Jan Elizabeth Adams and Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the meeting highlighted the strong defense cooperation between the Philippines and Australia, as both officials “engaged in constructive discussions on mutual interests and regional security challenges.”
With the recent passage of the SelfReliant Defense Posture (SRDP) law, Teodoro explored opportunities with Australia to enhance bilateral relations in defense industry, science, and technology collaboration.
For her part, Adams welcomed Teodoro’s proposals, underscoring Australia’s whole-of-government commitment to work with the Philippines through practical cooperation.
The discussions also addressed pressing regional security issues, including counterterrorism efforts.
Both officials acknowledged the longstanding bilateral partnership in combatting terrorism, underscored by joint training and exercises conducted under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program (EDCP).
and individuals with lower educational attainment reported being highly motivated to vote.
More than half of the electorate (51 percent) are optimistic and hopeful about the 2025 elections, reflecting the prevailing sentiment among the electorate.
Many of the young voters (20 percent) are excited to vote, while 22 percent are anxious to exercise their right of suffrage.
On the other hand, 43 percent of the voters in the 25 50 29 age bracket were pessimistic about the May 2025 midterm elections.
Nonetheless, the motivation to vote
remains high across all age groups, with even those unhappy with the country’s overall condition expressing willingness to cast their ballots.
The survey likewise revealed that negative emotions such as frustration and anger were less frequently cited, while frustration remains a more common driver than anger among those who feel negatively about the political landscape. This high level of engagement indicates a strong potential turnout in the 2025 elections, underscoring the importance of candidates continuing to connect with a diverse electorate, the survey added.
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE Tingog Partylist has launched new centers in the Ilocos Region and Pangasinan bringing to 144 the total number of its facilities nationwide.
“This expansion is focused on enhancing community support and making government services more accessible to Filipinos,” the party-list group said in a statement.
Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez who graced the opening rites highlighted the importance of the centers in reaching underserved communities.
“With every new Tingog Center we establish, we are bringing hope and support to our fellow Filipinos. These centers serve as a lifeline, ensuring that the needs of every individual are met and that our government’s programs are delivered effectively to even the most remote areas. We believe in inclusive growth, where no one is left behind,” Romualdez said. For his part, fellow Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre stressed that Tingog Centers are more than just buildings or physical structures.
“These centers represent our commitment to nurturing meaningful relationships with communities,” Acidre said.
He added that with the setting up of Tingog centers in many parts of the country, “it is through these deep connections that we can better understand and address the needs of our kababayans.”
The opening of the new Tingog Centers is a testament to Tingog party-list’s resounding commitment to bringing government services closer to every Filipino, the group said.
“It is not just about making services accessible; it is about truly connecting with the community — listening, responding, and ensuring that no Filipino is left behind — dahil ang Tingog ay patuloy na makikinig at magsisilbi (because Tingog wil continue to listen and serve),” Acidre said.
The opening of the new Tingog centers followed the distribution of financial assistance to thousands of beneficiaries in Ilocos and Pangasinan.
Immigration intercepts Pinay in apparent trafficking case
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed alarm over the rising cases of trafficking Filipino women intended for illegal surrogacy abroad. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado raised the red flag following the interception of another woman trying to leave for work as a surrogate mother to the tune of nearly P1 million. The 37-year-old woman was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 while about to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Batumi, Georgia. The BI’s immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES) said the passenger initially presented
PH, AUSTRALIA COMMIT TO STRONGER TIES. The Philippines and Australia have agreed to reinforce bilateral defense partnership during a meeting between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Australian Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Jan Elizabeth Adams at the Department of National Defense head office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
LIVE-FIRE DRILLS. Philippine and American marines hone up their skills in big gun live-fire exercises in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and in Aborlan, Palawan, using the 105mm Howitzers and VC300 Fire Support Vehicles with mounted 90mm cannons. The events are part of the ongoing Kamandag 2024 joint military exercise between the two countries.
ANTI-DENGUE FOGGING. A team deployed by the General Trias City Health
Office in Cavite fumigates suspected breeding places of mosquitos to ward off potential outbreak of the disease. Dennis Abrina
OPINION
Toxic politics means economic stagnation
THE vice-president, in what are now described as “bizarre” and “unbecoming” statements, has just confirmed something any perspicacious mind would have realized since 2021: that UniTeam was a farce. It was just a slogan, an empty marriage of dynastic personalities.
The latest vice-presidential statements can only mean that:
First, that she never talked seriously with the president about her personal resentments and promises unkept, which shows they were truly never “friends” in the right sense of that word.
Second, neither did she take up with him what she now belatedly label as his “incompetence”, nor his seeming lack of empathy. Did she think it unbecoming, or she did not feel that they were close at all?
Third, when the public attacks on her person, triggered by those around the president became quite strident, the president with all his awesome power and influence, never intervened to maintain political peace, not even “friendly” relations.
Again, a powerful friend is expected to rein in his sycophants if he truly was a friend. In our culture, which James Fallows aptly described as “damaged”, friends protect friends.
Which is why Davao thinks that the demolition of their Inday Sara could not happen without the blessings of the present “king” that they helped put on the throne.
Seen from the perspective of the post-Marcos I era, these political marriages never really last. The MarcosDuterte marriage is the latest example.
In a book I am writing, I recalled the fate of the Cory and Doy snap election “unity”. Their common goal was to end the Marcos dictatorship. While there was some loftiness in purpose, there never was unity in the details of governance and policy after victory was achieved. Agreements on powersharing made were violated the day after Edsa Uno.
Eventually the dam of Doy’s resentment at being treated like a doormat by Cory’s close-in acolytes and her nonchalant attitude towards these broke.
In Bongbong and Sara, history repeats itself. It was different when FVR and Erap triumphed in 1992. The president squeaked to victory; the vice-president led comfortably. The presidential acolytes never liked the upstart and they planted landmines across his path to 1998, but the popular movie actor bided his time and was publicly supportive of FVR until 1997 when attempts to alter
the Constitution were instigated. Erap’s patience paid off, aided by FVR’s choice of the unwinnable Joe de V.
Erap won, but Joe de V’s Gloria became vice-president, and after the jueteng scandal, she succeeded as president.
Gloria wisely chose a vice-president who would not be a threat to her, and in 2004, when she ran, she chose the popular broadcast icon Noli de Castro who even when there was a “perfect storm” with Hello Garci, stayed loyal and unperturbed.
In Bongbong and Sara, history repeats itself.
In 2010, PNoy won hands-down, but his luckless team-mate was side-swept by a Cory loyalist, Jojo Binay, who was supportive of the president throughout their six year-term. Still, PNoy chose his loyal party-mate to succeed him, yet failed to do what his mother before him did in 1992, which was to pull all stops to make her chosen win.
An upstart from Mindanao swept aside both the incumbent vice-president and PNoy’s endorsee, as well as another candidate running with little else as credential than the memory of a deceased movie hero “cheated” twelve years back.
But the first president from Mindanao failed to do what Cory in 1992 did, nor FVR and PNoy tried but failed to achieve, which was to anoint a successor and ensure that he won. That would have been the ideal scenario for continuity, considering that he was exiting with extremely high approval and trust ratings.
He may have deemed it inappropriate to foist his Davao dynasty into the after-life of his presidency. But it required that he choose a champion for continuity, a Duterte 2.0 who at the very least, would keep the political peace between new and old.
He initially floated the possibility of his chief aide, a senator made popular by “malasakit”, but the float failed to swim.
He allowed politics to percolate by itself, including the “Uniteam” between his daughter and a man he himself refused to endorse and even criticized for being a spoiled “cokehead”.
Now that the dam has burst, the political atmosphere will be toxic until 2028 regardless of what happens in 2025.
And with such toxicity, the economy will surely stagnate.
Nothing has changed
ONCE again, another election season is upon us and by the looks of it, nothing has changed. Political campaigning has not yet officially started, but we already witnessed our first violent incident in Sharrif Aguak in Maguindanao. If the simple filing of a Certificate of Candidacy is enough to cause violence, how many more people will have to die before it is all over? Considering that we have been having elections since 1907, one would expect that we would have attained enough political maturity to be able to conduct a peaceful election but we seem to have not learned anything at all. It is not only in the area of election violence that we continue to lead the way but we also have become the foremost exponent of a political phenomena known as family political dynasties which we are doing to the extreme. Where else can we see families ruling provinces and cities for generations as if it is a fiefdom and passing positions to wives and children?
All that one has to do is scan the political horizon to see how this has grown in this country. The names of the candidates both national and local
EDITORIAL
Can we cut poverty to single-digit level?
THE Philippine Development Plan for 20232028 unveiled by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) at the start of the Marcos Jr. administration in July 2022 contained an enticing target: to reduce poverty incidence in the country to single-digit level by 2028
Who wouldn’t want to see a drastic cut in the number of poor Filipinos who constitute a sizable chunk of the total population?
The question, however, is whether this is a realistic target.
should be proof enough.
Another feature of Philippine politics is the number of movie personalities or celebrities in elective positions both national and local. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with this, it is probably an indication why we are always playing catchup with our economically speeding neighbors. There is no doubt that being always in the limelight has certain advantages in name recall during elections. This is perhaps the reason why many of our current elective officials can be seen in huge advertising billboards endorsing commercial products of every kind. That no one in Congress sees the need to pass a law regulating this practice ensures that we are not going to see any reforms done anytime soon.
This is one reason we are being overtaken by countries.
Let us also take a look at the Senate race. Of the 183 who filed their candidacy for the 2025 election, the Comelec
A prominent economist believes this is a realizable goal, but subject to certain conditions, chief among which is that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should grow to at least 8 percent.
Bernardo Villegas, Director for Research of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Research and Communication, is
will only apparently include in the ballot 66 candidates whom it believes are able to mount a nationwide campaign. The rest are considered nuisance candidates. Many of the 66 that will be allowed to campaign are familiar names and faces which means that it is business as usual. The names that we also read vying for local positions are the same people either coming back to reclaim the positions that they have vacated or other families consolidating or expanding their current power base.
In the Senate, if things turn out according to plan, there will be four pairs of siblings which will be a third of the entire body. We do not know if this qualifies for a Guinness world record but that would be something. Even in
confident that if the economy maintains its six to seven percent growth trajectory over the next 4 to 5 years, this should be enough to achieve single-digit poverty incidence by 2028.
There are three strategic areas crucial to this goal.
In the second quarter of this year, the Philippine economy expanded by 6.3 percent, driven by increased government spending and strong investments, marking the fastest expansion seen in four quarters. This brought average first-semester GDP growth to six percent, well within the government’s six- to seven-percent target for this year.
At the same time, the poverty rate declined to 15.5 percent in 2023 from 18.1 percent in 2021 as the average income of a Filipino increased.
Villegas cites three strategic areas crucial for economic expansion. One, the government must rectify the neglect of rural and agricultural development over the years. Agricultural productivity should grow by three to four percent every year. But our agricultural production,
Baguio City where it has never happened before, we are seeing the first husband-and-wife team wanting to occupy the two highest positions in the City. The husband wants to become mayor while the wife intends to win the congressional contest being vacated by the husband. If both will be successful, the City will join the many cities and provinces throughout the country wherein the governance of these places are essentially family affairs. Even in the party-list system, there are according to the Comelec 156 party-list groups vying for representation in the House. Originally intended for underrepresented and marginalized sectors of society, the Supreme Court has reinterpreted it to include various
which contributes about a tenth to economic output, has actually declined by 3.3 percent in the second quarter due to the drop in the value of crops and livestock production. This was also the biggest drop since the 3.4 percent contraction in the first quarter of 2021.
Second, the government should increase the investment to GDP ratio. The usual investment to GDP ratio in East Asia is between 25 to 40 percent. Korea has 40 percent, China has 40 percent. The Philippines stands at a low 20 to 22 percent. The economy should be able to attract $15 billion to $20 billion worth of foreign direct investments (FDIs) by 2028. Government data show that FDI net inflows for the first seven months rose by 7.5 percent to $5.256 billion from $4.888 billion a year ago. With this, the central bank expects to record FDI net inflows of $10 billion by the end of the year. And third, to boost economic development efforts, the Marcos administration should conduct an honest-to-goodness campaign to curb corruption.
“Corruption leads to leakage of P800 billion a year,” Villegas said. “If we can reduce that, then that will add up to the 8 percent growth.” Can the Marcos Jr. administration hack it in the remainder of its six-year term?
sectors. This will ensure that membership in the House will continue to increase. If we compare provinces and cities that have been governed by families for generations to places that regularly change their leaders, the places that regularly change leaders are generally more dynamic and progressive. That is after all supposed to be the essence of our system--- electing new leaders on the notion that no leader can stay in power forever. But we in this country can always find ways to circumvent regulations so that political power will continue to remain in the hands of those already in power. This is one reason we are being overtaken by countries more willing to change.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
IN BRIEF
UN chief in Russia for Putin’s BRICS summit
KAZAN, RUSSIA — United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Russia on Wednesday to attend the BRICS summit, his first visit to the country for more than two years that has drawn scorn from Ukraine.
The gathering is the largest diplomatic forum in Russia since launching its fullscale military offensive on Ukraine in 2022 and President Vladimir Putin wants to use it to demonstrate that attempts to isolate him on the world stage have failed. Around 20 world leaders, including China, India, Turkey and Iran, are in the central city of Kazan, where they will address topics such as developing a BRICSled international payment system and the conflict in the Middle East. Moscow sees the platform as an alternative to Western-led international organisations like the G7 -- a position supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In bilateral talks on Tuesday, including with Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin hailed Moscow’s close ties and “strategic partnerships” with its partners. AFP
Mexico troops kill 19 suspected Sinaloa cartel members
CULIACÁN, Mexico — Mexican troops shot dead 19 suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel after they came under attack in the northwestern state, the ministry of defense said Tuesday.
Military personnel were attacked on Monday by more than 30 people near the state capital Culiacan, and the ensuing firefight left 19 cartel members dead, the ministry said in a statement.
Sinaloa has seen a surge in violence since the July arrest of the cartel’s cofounder Ismael Zambada in the United States.
Zambada’s arrest triggered a war between his relatives and the sons of drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who co-founded the cartel.
The ministry of defense said the cartel members killed on Monday were presumed to be linked to Zambada’s faction. AFP
Harris says US ready for woman president
WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris said Tuesday that America is “absolutely” ready to elect its first woman president but downplayed her historic bid, saying she simply wants to turn the page for a nation “exhausted” by Donald Trump. With two weeks to Election Day, Harris and Trump are saturating swing states with rallies and taking to the airwaves and podcasts on the hunt for an advantage in a race that polls suggest is effectively tied.
Speaking on the national NBC network, Harris responded “absolutely” when asked if America was ready to elect its first woman -- but also noted her candidacy was about “turning the page.”
“People are exhausted with Donald Trump and his approach, because it’s all about himself,” she said.
Trump, speaking to supporters in North Carolina, pitched a very different message. AFP
New Delhi chokes as ‘hazardous’ air pollution returns
NEW DELHI — Acrid clouds engulfed India’s capital on Wednesday as air pollution fuelled by fireworks and farm stubble burning was ranked “hazardous” by monitors for the first time this winter.
Commuters walking to work cough through poisonous smog that kills thousands each year, according to health experts, although few in the sprawling city wear masks. The city’s famous India Gate monument was wreathed in foul-smelling mist. New Delhi is blanketed in acrid smog each
Japan US, kick off joint military drills
‘Now
is the time’ to end Gaza war — US
TEL AVIV — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday “now is the time” to end the conflict in Gaza, and urged Israel to avoid further escalation with Iran.
Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and has pledged to hit back against Iran’s October 1 missile strike.
In Lebanon, the Israeli military issued a new evacuation call for the south Lebanese city of Tyre on Wednesday, warning of impending operations targeting Hezbollah.
The warning sparked a new exodus from the once vibrant city, which is perched on the Mediterranean coast.
“The situation is very bad, we’re evacu-
ating people,” said Mortada Mhanna, who heads Tyre’s disaster management unit.
“You could say that the entire city of Tyre is being evacuated,” said Bilal Kashmar, the unit’s media officer.
Blinken’s visit to the region is his 11th since the start of the war in Gaza and his first since Israel-Hezbollah violence escalated to all-out war late last month.
The war in Gaza began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 42,718 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry which
Execs of Malaysian firm charged with child abuse
SELAYANG, MALAYSIA — Top executives of a Malaysian conglomerate linked to a banned sect were charged Wednesday with being members of an organized crime group after police raids uncovered horrific tales of child abuse in the organization.
according to monitoring firm
on Wednesday,
as “hazardous,”
of some 30
Nasiruddin Ali, 65, the chief executive of Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB), his wife Azura Yusof and 20 senior leaders heard the charges at a court in the town of Selayang, in Selangor state outside the capital Kuala Lumpur. The single-page charge sheet said Nasiruddin and the others were found to be members of the “organized crime group” identified as GISB Holdings. Defence lawyer Rosli Kamaruddin said he would ask the attorney general to either
review or drop the charges. The court fixed December 23 for further mention, and no bail was granted. The group’s pleas will be taken at a later date at the High Court. They face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty. The accused -- 13 men and nine women -- were brought to the court under tight police security and chained together, AFP reporters saw. GISB has long been controversial for its ties to the Al-Arqam sect, which has been banned in Malaysia since 1994 for its deviant teachings and cult-like activities. In 2011, GISB set up an “Obedient Wives Club” that called on women to be “whores in bed” to stop their husbands from straying. AFP
the UN considers reliable.
“Since October 7 a year ago, Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives when it comes to Gaza... Now is the time to turn those successes into enduring, strategic success,” Blinken said as he departed Israel, following meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials.
On aid to Gaza, Blinken said he saw “progress being made, which is good, but more progress needs to be made and, most critically, it needs to be sustained”.
Of Israel’s pledge to retaliate for Iran’s October 1 missile attack, the US top diplomat said: “It’s also very important that Israel respond in ways that do not create greater escalation.” AFP
TOKYO — Japan and the United States kicked off 10 days of joint military drills on Wednesday involving tens of thousands of personnel, a week after China held large-scale exercises around Taiwan.
China’s military build-up, and growing defence ties among Washington and its allies have raised fears of a conflict over self-ruled Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as its own -- or over other territorial disputes in the region.
“Keen Sword” will involve 45,000 Japanese and US troops, 40 vessels and 370 aircraft, as well as some forces from Australia and Canada, the Japanese Joint Staff said.
The exercises, which take place every two years, will be held across Japan, including at the two countries’ military bases through November 1.
“We have a strong sense of urgency that we can’t rule out the possibility of a serious situation resembling Ukraine happening in regions near our country,” General Yoshihide Yoshida, the top uniformed officer in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF), said on Tuesday.
“We are determined to prevent and deter such a situation,” he told a news conference, adding the US-Japan alliance was integral to regional stability.
“Keen Sword will ensure we maintain our advantage over those who seek to undermine the rule-based international order”, Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, told reporters Tuesday. The exercises will see tilt-rotor aircraft Ospreys fly to Yonaguni, the Japanese island closest to Taiwan, for the first time, as part of an “evacuation” drill, an SDF spokesman told AFP.
The drill was to practise bringing out residents and tourists “in the event of a natural disaster”, he said.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has also evoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in warning about security dangers in Asia. AFP
WELCOME SNACK. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrives at the Kazan airport to attend the BRICS summit. AFP
SHAME ON HER ABUSERS. Gisele Pelicot arrives at the Avignon courthouse for the trial of her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan, in the south of France. She requested that her trial be made public. AFP
Rising equestrienne Aboitiz shines in international debut
By Randy Caluag
AMALIA Aboitiz, a promising young equestrienne, proudly represented the Philippines in the recent CSICh-B Competition in Thailand, securing a commendable 6th place finish in the individual owner/pair category.
Competing in her first international event, Amalia was accompanied by her coach, Janine Felix, and her mother, Nikki Aboitiz, as she showcased her talent in the competition designed for riders aged 12-14 in a borrowed horse format. Amalia successfully advanced through the first day of the competition, earning a spot in the final individual round.
Her performance demonstrated the potential of the next generation
Zaragosa storms ahead in brutal Negros weather
BACOLOD City—Torrential rain and unrelenting winds turned the second round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic into a battle of endurance and mental toughness here on Wednesday. Play was suspended after a one-and-a-half-hour downpour submerged fairways and flooded bunkers of the Negros Occidental Golf and Countrly course, forcing the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to suspend the P2.5 million championship.
Rupert Zaragosa emerged as the standout performer in brutal conditions, firing a three-under card through 12 holes to seize the
clubhouse lead at five-under. Starting from No. 10, he braved swirling winds in the morning and a heavy downpour midway through his round, exhibiting mastery over the conditions by hitting birdies on Nos. 10, 14,and 17, and coming through with a brilliant parsave on the long par-5 18th.
Despite dropping two strokes on the par-3 13th due to a misjudged gust, Zaragosa swiftly recovered with back-to-back birdies from No. 2 before play was halted. His nearflawless performance left him with a four-stroke clubhouse lead over a quartet of pursuers, including Tony Lascuña, Russell Bautista, Francis Morilla and first-round leader
Biñan Tatak Gel reaches MPVA semis
BIÑAN Tatak Gel booked the third semifinal ticket, scoring a 25-23, 2624, 25-16 home win over AM Caloocan in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Tuesday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna. The Volley Angels, who leaped to 10-5 needed only 80 minutes to hit two birds with one stone as they also momentarily snatched the second seed for the other twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
of Filipino athletes, with the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP) expressing pride in her achievement.
“We hope experiences like these will help mold future athletes. We look forward to seeing more young riders represent the country in future events,” the EAP shared in an official statement.
Equestrian, known for its high costs, remains a sport accessible to only a select few in the Philippines.
Nevertheless, the country has produced notable athletes such as Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who now serves as the International Olympic Committee’s permanent representative for the Philippines.
The EAP continues to promote and develop equestrian sport.
Also representing the Philippines in Thailand was Katrina Holigores, who served as a judge and member of the Ground Jury for the event.
The small Philippine contingent also participated in the Pedja Marjanovic-led Jumping Coach ESEE Program, which aims to enhance the skills of coaches in the jumping discipline.
Tiu, Bureau of
Biñan joined Quezon (13-1), which already secured the No. 1 seed and the other bonus, and Rizal (10-4) in the semifinals with only one up spot left among three remaining contenders. Shane Carmona delivered 17 points on 16 attacks and an ace as the Volley Angels notched their fourth straight win in the nine-team, two-round MPVA founded by former Senator and also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao. Chreizel Aguilar and May Ann Nuique contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Biñan, which found Caloocan a tough nut to crack in the first two sets before running away in the third to complete the sweep. In the other game, Quezon stayed on course with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 2518 win against Bacoor to clinch the No. 1 seed with only two games left in its schedule.
Rhea Mae Densing tallied 18 while Francis Mycah Go, Cristy Ondangan and Mary Grace Borromeo had 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively, in the Tangerines’ fourth straight win. Quezon’s victory derailed Bacoor’s semis entry at 9-3, leaving a slim chance to pursuers San Juan and Caloocan with 6-7 and 5-7 records, respectively, in the homestretch of the MPVA backed by Extreme One-Stop Shop Appliances, ASICS, Mikasa and Gerflor with MPTV and Outcomm as broadcast partners.
Eala falls to Pera in China meet
By Peter Atencio
ALEX Eala dropped out of contention in the main draw of the Guangzhou Open. Eala’s exit came when she suffered a 0-6, 3-6 loss in the Round of 32 to Croatian-American Bernarda Pera. The world no. 95 Pera blanked the 19-year-old Eala in the first set and went on to grab the lead after trying the second set at 3-all.
Earlier, Eala joined the Wuhan Open as a wild card and was in the qualifiers of the Ningbo Open as well.
She made it to the main draw of the Guangzhou netfest after scoring a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elena Pridankina of Russia last Monday. Now ranked no. 143 in the Women’s Tennis Association, Eala made the first round after hurdling two qualifying matches.
Michael Bibat, who all posted oneunder aggregate scores.
“It was tough, but my game was fairly solid,” said Zaragosa in Filipino, who had to withdraw from the final round of last week’s event in Binitin due to a persistent stiff neck. However, he bounced back swiftly, showcasing strong play in challenging conditions over the first two rounds with hopes of maintaining his confidence and momentum as he chases his second career victory following his dominant win in Iloilo last year.
“I’ll stick to my game plan tomorrow and play smart,” said Zaragosa, stressing the importance of minimizing mistakes. “I’m also hoping my putting comes through, and I can keep that momentum going until the final day.”
Tournament officials decided to resume the round early Thursday, with Zaragosa holding a commanding advantage over his rivals. Due to the weather disruptions, the men’s competition has been reduced to 54 holes and the women’s to 36.
recently entered into a partnership that offers a unique opportunity to harness the power of sports for social impact. The partnership also aims to enhance awareness and appreciation of basketball, while fostering teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship particularly among the youth and children of BFP personnel as well as to support safety awareness ensuring that PBA public events maintain the highest standard of safety through collaborated efforts in fire and emergency preparedness.
Painting
Eala first took down China’s Gao Xinyu on Sunday in three sets, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2, before breezing past Russian Elena Pridankina in two sets, 6-2, 6-2, on Monday. The field in the main draw includes China’s third-highest ranked player and world No. 44 Yue Yuan and world No. 45 Elina Avanesyan of Armenia.
the barangays through sports: MILO, Boysen team up to support 200,000 Filipino kids
MILO® and Boysen culminate 2024 on a high note, coming together to furnish 100 barangay courts and providing added support to 200,000 grassroots athletes in basketball as part of the MILO® Barangay Liga.
As part of the brand’s 60th anniversary of providing nourishing energy and building champions, the two brands inked a partnership that was initiated last year to refurbish barangay courts all over the country in preparation for one of its main sports pillars, the MILO® Barangay Liga. Across 100 barangays in 2024, Boysen has imparted their
expertise to serve as motivation for the grassroots athletes of MILO®, through painted installations that house inspiring words to be seen while they play on the court. To empower young basketball athletes to be their best in the sport, the MILO® and Boysen linked up for the mounting of MILO® Barangay Liga across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Apart from being able to support local athletes, the initiative intends to provide kids with a platform for skill development, build up their confidence, and strengthen sportsmanship.
Amalia Aboitiz
PBA-BFP PACT. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial (left) and General Kwan
Fire Prevention Deputy Director for Operations,
Caption
Shown here are (from left) Carlo Sampan, Head of MILO® Sports; Kingsley Ceña, MILO® Brand Manager; Vergel Dyoco, Marketing Manager of Boysen Paints, and Audrey Azcarraga, MILO® Brand Manager.
Manny Marcelo
Members of the Biñan Tatak Gel celebrate their MPVA win on Tuesday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna. Roman Prospero
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
Asst. Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG,
Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO,
Ababa leads; bad weather suspends play
BACOLOD—Sarah Ababa found herself within striking distance of securing her third leg victory of the season after adverse weather conditions suspended the second round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here on Wednesday. Organizers decided to reduce the P1 million championship to 36 holes after heavy rains rendered the course unplayable at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
Ababa, who opened the season-ending tournament of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with a stunning 68 and a three-stroke lead over Daniella Uy, maintained her cushion as play was halted midway through the round. The rain-soaked course allowed for only six holes to be completed on both the front and back nines before the suspension. Despite the disruption in momentum, Ababa kept her focus, parring the first three holes. With the cancellation of the third round, the championship will now be decided over 36 holes, with Ababa aiming to finish strong in her final 15 holes.
LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history with father-son appearance
OS ANGELES
LLeBron and Bronny James made NBA history on Tuesday, becoming the first father and son to play alongside each other in a regular season fixture as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103.
The duo, who played together briefly in a pre-season game earlier this month, took to the court late in the second quarter at the Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers leading 51-35.
An enormous roar went up from the home crowd as the James duo approached the scorers table to check into the game after the Lakers had surged into a double-digit lead.
As James and his son prepared to enter the court, James Sr. could be heard telling Bronny: “You ready? You see the intensity, right? Just play carefree though.”
In a perfectly scripted moment that was pure Hollywood, the James’ double-act was watched at courtside by Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr, who made baseball history playing for the Seattle Mariners as father and son in 1990-1991.
“That moment -- us checking in together -- is something I’ll never forget, no matter how old I get, how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever. I will never forget that moment,” said LeBron, who had started Tuesday by celebrating the 10th birthday of his daughter Zhuri Nova.
“Everything was just great today, everything -- from the moment I woke up,” he added.
“Obviously this is the first time in this beautiful history of the NBA that a father and son have been on the same floor, let alone on the same team. It was
pretty cool.” Bronny’s debut for the Lakers was subdued. The 20-year-old spent 2min 41sec on court, taking two unsuccessful shots from the field before being replaced. He expressed gratitude for the
supportive “energy” shown by Lakers fans. “I try not to focus on everything that’s going on around me. I was trying to focus on trying not to mess up. But I totally did feel the energy,” Bronny said. AFP
LeBron (left) and Bronny James of Los Angeles play defense during the second quarter of the Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. AFP
Sarah Ababa Manny Marcelo
P200 billion P123.7 billion
P131.7 billion
PEZA’s investment target 10-month investments in 2024 10-month investments in 2023
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is keeping its P200-billion investment target for 2024, despite a 6.4-percent decline in registrations to P123.756 billion in the first 10 months of 2024. Based on data from PEZA, investments from January to October 2023 reached P131.756 billion.
Exports went up by 16.26 percent to $3.075 billion from 3.025 billion, while employment increase 30 percent to 40,733 from 28,521 workers.
PEZA approved 198 projects so far, or 14.6 higher than 169 in 2023. The PEZA board said it approved P7.829 billion in new investments as of Oct. 22, down by 161.32 percent from P20.54 billion in the same period in 2023. Exports declined by 14.34 percent to $561.507 million from $643.32 million in 2023, while jobs generated dropped 13.1 percent to 4,862 from 5,500. The number of projects totaled 19, or 7.5 percent than 25 projects registered in October 2023. The newly-approved projects include the expansion of Light Industry & Science Park IV (LISP IV-SEZ) in Batangas, covering 30.8065 hectares and costing P1.75 billion.
Another major project is a pharmaceutical zone in Tarlac province, with a project cost of P81.633 million.
Recto asks World Bank, IMF to pursue reforms
FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto, current chair of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) Board of Governors, pushed for key reforms to empower the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) to better serve developing countries.
“We continue to call for a more agile and resolute IMF and World Bank. We need you to not only keep pace with the changing times but also lead with foresight and innovation. We need heightened development cooperation, scale-up support, and more responsive
solutions to navigate the headwinds and foster peace, stability and prosperity for all,” Recto said during high-level meeting of ministers and governors on Oct. 22, 2024 at the IMF headquarters in Washington D.C.
Formed in 1971, G-24 helps coordinate the positions of developing countries on international monetary and development finance issues to ensure that their interests are adequately represented in negotiations on international monetary matters. The Philippines serves as the chair of the G-24 Bureau for 2023-2024.
With the theme, “Bretton Woods System at 80: Historical and Emerging Challenges and Options for Reform”, the high-level meeting aimed to facilitate discussions on essential reforms of the System to address the global challenges faced by emerging markets and developing economies.
“Today is an extremely different world. Financial interconnectedness, digital
disruption, widening inequality, climate change, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global order. Any slowdown in the global economy because of these uncertainties and new economic realities is bound to hit developing countries the hardest,” Recto said. Recto underscored the need for the IMF to create a new liquidity provision mechanism to further support countries with sound fundamentals in times of liquidity crises. He said to meet its mission of eradicating poverty on a livable planet, the World Bank Group should set more ambitious goals for its concessional and non-concessional windows, commensurate with the challenges of achieving inclusive and sustainable development by 2030.
Recto said the Sovereign Debt Resolution Framework should also be reformed to deliver comprehensive, predictable, swift, and impactful debt relief, addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable.
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Wednesday outlined a comprehensive set of recommendations to address key challenges facing the Philippines including food security, human resource development and investment generation. It said to enhance food security, a multifaceted approach that includes establishing a technology task force, supporting cooperatives and investing in logistics infrastructure would improve market access and ensure a stable food supply.
“We also call for amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law to increase land retention limits and encourage more concentrated farming businesses,” said Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) 2024 overall chairman Jude Aguilar.
The PCCI said to address human resource development, the government should reform the education system, establish R&D centers, upskill and reskill the workforce and promote health and wellness.
FOUR operating members of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) performed at par with global best mining practices in five protocols or key areas that minerals development firms should focus on towards sustainable mining (TSM) standard. The results, confirmed by independent external verifiers, were revealed during the recent Digging Deeper Mining Policy Forum at The Westin Hotel in Mandaluyong City. Filminera Resources Corp.’s Masbate Gold Project received the highest verified ratings of AAA in TSM’s biodiversity conservation management across all protocol 3 indicators, while Philex Mining Co.’s Padcal Project was rated AAA in all six indicators under tailings management. TVI Resource Development Phils. Inc. was rated AAA in three of the four indi-
The PCCI proposed involving private sector stakeholders in policy development and conducting regulatory impact assessments; streamlining business processes through digitalization initiatives; passing investment-friendly legislation; and creating a comprehensive investment guide to create a more conducive environment for investment generation and job creation. Othel V. Campos
cators under water stewardship. Taganito Mining Co., meanwhile, had the highest scores in four of the five Indicators under safety and health as well as in all five indicators under the IP and community outreach and social development management.
“We are extremely encouraged by the active participation of our members in the first year of TSM’s full implementation in our country,” COMP chairman Michael Toledo said.
“TSM provides us a roadmap with which to measure our performance on important areas that our stakeholders, especially our host communities, care about. We now know how to achieve global mining best practices, and our members will constantly strive to reach the highest ratings towards better ESG performance, and consequently, improved relationships and bottom line,” said Toledo.
FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday the Philippines expects to reduce its debt level as a percentage of the gross domestic product by 2028. “We are following our macro fiscal framework of reducing the deficit over time. We expect the good debt-to-GDP to be way below 60 percent by 2028. Today, it roughly at 60 percent,” Recto said during the highlevel meeting of ministers and governors on Oct. 22, 2024 at the IMF headquarters in Washington D.C. Recto made the statement as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it expects GDP growth in the Philippines to reach 5.8 percent in 2024 and 6.1 percent in 2025, following a 5.5-percent expansion in 2023. Growth is expected to pick up to 6.3 percent by 2029.
The IMF sees Philippine inflation settling at 3.3 percent in 2024 and 3.0 percent in 2025 and its current account to yield a deficit of 2.2 percent of GDP in 2024 and 1.8 percent of GDP in 2025. It predicted that unemployment rate in the country would average 4.4 percent in 2024 and 5.2 percent in 2025.
Recto said the Philippine economy grew 6.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024 and achieved an averaged expansion of 6.0 percent in the first two years of the Marcos administration. “On the expenditure side, we are spending roughly 5 to 6 percent on infrastructure, maybe a similar amount also for human resource development, particularly in health and education,” he said.
Recto said the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector contributes roughly $35 billion in revenues annually, or at the same level of remittance from overseas Filipino workers. “That helps our consumption, and 70 percent of the economy is household consumption. Public investments have also generated most of that growth as well,” he said.
Recto is optimistic about generating more investments from the United States, despite the outcome of the presidential election.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, current chair of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) Board of Governors, leads this year’s successful high-level meeting of ministers and governors in Washington D.C. where he championed four key reforms to empower the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) to better serve developing countries.
PH stocks decline, track Wall Street on interest rate concerns
PHILIPPINE stocks declined Wednesday amid negative market sentiment overseas as concerns about less aggressive rate cut by the United States Federal Reserve weighed on the market.
“Philippine stocks slipped along with Wall Street, as investors grappled with ongoing concerns about rising interest rates and processed the latest earnings reports released this week,” Regina Capital and Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index slipped by 45.50 points, or 0.61 percent, to close at 7,367.66, while the broader all-shares index dropped 34.74 points, or 0.85 percent, to settle at 4,050.76.
Limlingan said investors were also concerned about the impact of typhoon Kristine on the country’s economy. Investors are also awaiting third-quarter financial reports of listed firms.
Veteran stockbroker Jonathan Ravelas
said a sustained fall below the 7,300 level could accelerate the market’s decline back towards the 6,800 to 7,000 level.
Mining and oil led the sectors, increasing by 0.43 percent, while holding firms advanced by 0.08 percent. Services lost the most, declining by 1.92 percent, while property went down by 1.04 percent.
Value turnover was weak at P4.078 billion, as a number of institutions were closed over the impact of the typhoon. Decliners edged advancers, 128 to 71, while 55 names were unchanged.
Monde Nissin Corp. rose 3.79 percent to P11.50, while Globe Telecom dropped 3.35 percent to P2,310. Meanwhile, Asian equities diverged Wednesday after another unremarkable day on Wall Street, where rising bond yields and comments from Federal Reserve officials dampened expectations for US interest rate cuts.
Austria with AFP
Jenniffer B.
PAL unveils plan to operate at new JFK terminal by 2026
By Darwin G. Amojelar
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said
Wednesday it will operate out of The New Terminal One at New York F. Kennedy International Airport by 2026, enhancing the travel experience for passengers flying between Manila and New York City. PAL, currently operating at the existing Terminal 1 at JFK Airport, will transition its operations to the New Terminal One in time for the terminal’s opening in 2026.
As the first Southeast Asian airline to commit to operations at The New Termi-
Globe names new deputy CEO for succession plan
GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Wednesday announced a major leadership change as part of its commitment to strategic growth and succession planning.
Carl Raymond Cruz, a former executive at Unilever, will assume the role of deputy chief executive of Globe effective Jan. 1, 2025. Cruz will report directly to chief executive Ernest Cu and oversee the company’s day-today operations.
“I am very honored to be given the opportunity to be part of the Globe organization. I look forward to working alongside Ernest and Globe’s talented team to drive growth, elevate customer experience, and shape the future of the telco industry,” Cruz said.
Cruz will be nominated to the position of president and CEO of Globe in the company’s annual stockholders meeting (ASM) scheduled for April 2025. Until then, he will report to Cu, who is expected to continue to hold chairmanship for 917Ventures, Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), the holding company of GCash, Kickstart Ventures Inc. and STT GDC Philippines.
“We welcome Carl to Globe. He has a solid track record as a strategic and transformational business leader who delivers business growth,” Cu said. Darwin G. Amojelar
nal One, PAL is solidifying its presence on the US East Coast.
The new terminal will serve as PAL’s primary gateway to the region, offering passengers a more modern, efficient and comfortable travel experience.
PAL is the only airline directly linking the Philippines to the US East Coast, offering thrice-weekly flights between JFK Airport and Manila utilizing the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
“This partnership with the JFK New Terminal One highlights an important innovation for Philippine Airlines. This alliance allows us to enhance our service
and elevate the travel experience for our passengers traveling between Manila and New York, as well as nearby cities in New Jersey and Connecticut, and throughout the U.S. East Coast and Midwest,” PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley Ng said.
“We stay committed to creating a seamless and memorable journey, reflecting our dedication to excellence in every flight,” he said. Jennifer Aument, chief executive of the New Terminal One at JFK. said is delighted to welcome PAL to the growing family of airlines at the New Terminal One.
THE Philippines will soon have four international airports along a stretch or an arc of about 135 kilometers. That will establish the country with one of the densest airport infrastructure facilities in the world. There is nothing wrong with having several airports that are in proximity with each other. Former Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III back in 2018 noted that most megalopolises around the world were being served by multiple airports. Does the Cavite-Metro Manila-Bulacan-Pampanga corridor, however, have the tourism numbers to justify the existence of four international airports? Clark International Airport in Mabalacat, Pampanga in the north is a mere 125 km away from the proposed Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) in Cavite province in the south. Between them are Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque
MPIC, Keppel selling PCSPC stake for $296m
By Jenniffer B. Austria
METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and its joint venture partner Keppel Infrastructure Trust (KIT) are selling their entire stake in Philippine Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corp. (PCSPC) to Terminal PH Investments Pte. Ltd. for $296 million.
PCSPC is the owner of the country’s biggest independent storage facility in Subic Bay Freeport.
MPIC owns a 50-percent stake in Hyperion Storage Holdings Corp., which fully owns PCSPC. The remaining 50-percent is owned by KIT.
MPIC is entitled to 50 percent of the total selling price which is expected to be about $148 million, MPIC’s parent firm First Pacific Co. Ltd. said in a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Terminal PH is an affiliate of I Squared Capital, an investment global fund focusing of energy, utilities, water and waste water management, transportation and telecommunications in North America, Europe and high-growth economies in Asia, Australia and South America.
MPIC is one of the country’s biggest infrastructure companies. Its investment portfolio spans energy, water distribution, toll roads, hospitals and railways. It acquired its 50-percent indirect interest in PCSPC in early 2021 to diversify its portfolio and revenue stream.
“Having considered the financial performance, the business and operation status of PCSPC to date and the potential economic benefits that the disposal could bring to MPIC, MPIC considers it appropriate to divest and realize the value of the investment at this stage,” the company said.
PCSPC runs a 150-hectare facility comprised of 86 storage tanks, two piers and a pipeline infrastructure connecting the entire facility. It has the capacity to store up to 6 million barrels and serves markets from Metro Manila to Central Luzon.
It serves blue-chip customers which include a government agency, oil and gas conglomerates, multinational corporations and domestic gasoline retailers.
A large majority of customers are on “take-or-pay” contracts, which significantly reduce PCSPC exposure to petroleum price and volume risks.
PH tourism numbers do not support four airports
and less, if they live in Pampanga, Tarlac or Bulacan provinces.
City and Pasay City, and the controversial Bulacan International Airport in Bulacan province. Having multiple airports is not an anomaly, per se. Visitors’ traffic back them up.
Five airports serve Paris, France. The nearest airport to Paris is Paris Orly (ORY) Airport, which is 14.3 km away from the land of Eiffel Tower.
Other nearby airports serving Paris are main airport Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), which is 22.9 km from the capital city, and Beauvais (BVA), located 69.2 km away. Lille Lesquin (LIL) is 198.3 km away.
About 50 million tourists travel to Paris and the surrounding Île-deFrance region each year, with 47.5 million visits recorded in 2023. In 2019, 50.6 million people visited Paris and the Île-de-France region.
Italy’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, better known as Fiumi-
… building and expanding airports must be in response to increasing tourist arrivals.
cino (FCO), is Rome’s main airport, the gateway to Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican. Ciampino Airport (CIA) is Rome’s secondary airport. It is smaller than the FCO airport but an efficient gateway. FCO and CIA are 24 km apart but they served over 35 million tourists who visited Rome in 2023.
Here in the Philippines, it’s up to the private sector proponents of the four airports to make their operations viable and efficient.
Clark appears to be making a niche as an alternative airport to Manila. It has become the preferred gateway of regional budget airlines as passengers take just an hour of travel time to reach Metro Manila
I am not sure how the other three airports will fare in the future. Antiquated NAIA is being modernized to be at par with more efficient regional airports while the efficiency of the Bulacan airport remains to be seen.
A fourth airport, meanwhile, is set to rise. The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) approved just Monday the proposed joint venture between the Cavite provincial government and the consortium of Cavitex Holdings Inc. and House of Investments Inc. to develop the $11-billion Sangley Airport.
The anti-trust body says the proposed transaction involving a public-private partnership (PPP) project “is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening, restriction or prevention of competition in the relevant market.”
The joint venture partners offered to develop, own, operate, manage and maintain the SPIA in Cavite City, which is intended to alleviate congestion at the NAIA.
Proponent SPIA Development Corp., which is composed of Cavitex Holdings, Yuchengco Group, MacroAsia
Corp. and their foreign partners, earlier said the airport project included the construction of a four-kilometer connector road, with provisions for rail connectivity, fully-integrated logistics and aviation support facilities. With the development of the first runway, SPIA can operate as a satellite runway to immediately relieve the extreme congestion of the runway at NAIA.
But building and expanding airports must be in response to increasing tourist arrivals. The Philippines, or Metro Manila and its peripheral provinces, does not have the inviting numbers to justify airport expansions yet.
The Department of Tourism expects at least 7.7 million foreign tourists to visit the whole Philippines in 2024, higher than the 2023 target of 4.8 million. These are minuscule numbers compared with those arriving at the multiple airports of Paris and Rome. Philippine airports must also manage or find a way to deal with the attendant traffic congestion that they will create if their economic assumptions add up.
E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
NEW BERTH. Aboitiz Construction Inc. (ACI) teams up with DICT Bulk Terminal Inc. (DBTI) to develop a new berth for cement shipments at the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. The project involves the design and construction of DICT’s 5th berth, under its subsidiary company, DBTI, a joint venture between DICT and Philcement Corp. Signing the agreement on Oct. 15, 2024 at at Damosa Diamond Tower in Davao City are (from left) ACI chief operating officer Ramez Sidhom, ACI executive director Antonio Peñalver, DICT Bulk Terminal Inc. (DBTI) chairman and ANFLO Group vice chairman Ricardo Floirendo, DBTI president Ricardo Lagdameo and DICT/DBTI first vice president Giovanni Pimentel.
INAEC TOUR. International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) director-general Kurt Edwards (center) visits the INAEC Aviation Corp. (INAEC) facility in Pasay City on Oct. 18, 2024. IBAC, a non-profit international trade association with an observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), represents the interests of business aviation worldwide. INAEC is the only Filipino air operator with a Stage 3 ISBAO certification, the highest given to operators whose safety management activities are fully integrated into their business operations.
Rice supply seen enough at 3.83m tons by end-2024
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippines is expected to maintain a sufficient rice supply of 3.83 million metric tons by end-2024, covering about 100 days of consumption despite the anticipated production losses due to La Niña and other weather-related factors.
“Despite the production decline, we are confident that the country’s rice needs will be met. Our projection is based on updated stock data, actual import arrivals, and historical trends,” said Agriculture Undersecretary for rice industry programs
Christopher Morales.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) forecasts an 11.9-percent decrease in palay production in the third quarter of 2024 to 3.35 million metric tons due to typhoon damage.
Higher production yields helped mitigate the decline on increased utilization of improved seeds, farm equipment and support from the Rice Tariffication Law and the National Rice Program, said Morales.
Morales said that with a projected loss of 358,000 metric tons, total annual palay production is expected to reach 19.41 million metric tons, translating to about 12.69 million tons
of milled rice.
Despite the production drop, the national rice supply remains robust. As of Oct. 14, 2024, the Philippines imported 3.57 million MT of rice, up by 24 percent from the previous year.
The recent reduction in tariff rates further incentivized imports, ensuring greater access to global rice markets and mitigating potential shortages.
Experts said the combination of imports and effective domestic production management would help the Philippines remain resilient in the face of climatic challenges.
FESTIVAL. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wraps up the 2024 Fiesta Haraya Creative Caraga Festival on Oct. 18, 2024, after four days of celebrating the region’s vibrant creative industries. The festival featured a diverse array of artists and performers from Caraga, representing the four creative industry clusters. The festival, organized by DTI Caraga, aims to unite local artisans, entrepreneurs and businesses while showcasing an exciting variety of products, including handcrafted items, innovative fashion pieces and other creative works.
Angeles RTC junks complaint filed by Metro Clark Waste
THE Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has dismissed a complaint filed by Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC) which sought to include an automatic renewal clause in its 25year contract for services over the 100-hectare Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill with Clark Development Corp. (CDC).
The Angeles City RTC Branch 114, in a 30-page order issued on Oct. 21, 2024, ruled that MCWMC’s complaint failed to state a cause of action and was already barred by prescription.
It also found MCWMC guilty of forum shopping for filing an injunction case in Capas, Tarlac. The court ordered MCWMC and its counsel to ex-
plain why they should not be liable for willful and deliberate forum shopping.
CDC reiterated its position that the contract was valid only for 25 years, which expired on Oct. 5, 2024.
CDC said the contract could not be renewed or extended as it would violate the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law, which governs the bidding and awarding of contracts for MCWMC.
MCWMC, the operator of the 100-hectare Kalangitan Landfill, is a private company established in 1994 to manage solid waste in the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) and surrounding areas. Othel V. Campos
IPOPHL, Comelec team up to protect IP rights of artists
THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) teamed up with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to protect the intellectual property (IP) rights of artists whose works may be used without permission in the campaign period leading up to the 2025 elections.
The collaboration marks the first time IPOPHL is working with the election body as the nation prepares for the 2025 national and local elections.
IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba and Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the 2nd Philippine International Copyright Summit (PICS) at Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“This MOU will pave the way for initiatives that will ensure that candidates are held accountable for the materials they use, which will foster a culture of respect for IP in our electoral system,” Barba said.
The MOU ensures that candidates are held accountable for the materials they use, promoting a culture of respect for IP in the elec toral system. Under the agreement, IPOPHL and Comelec will collaborate to increase copyright awareness and compliance of aspirants and can didates with the IP Code of 1997, ensuring fairness and compliance with the law before and throughout the campaign.
Garcia said that while an IP violation is not an election offense that could forfeit an aspirant’s candidature, Comelec is committed to supporting initiatives to hold individuals accountable for violat ing any law during the candidacy period and to be aggressive in exposing violators as a way to educate voters.
The campaign period for national elections is scheduled from Feb. 11 to May 10, 2025, while the campaign period for local elec tions is slated from March 28 to May 10, 2025.
IPOPHL previously urged political candidates and groups in the upcoming elections to respect IP rights when using existing copy righted works in developing their promotion materials.
Barba said candidates and campaign teams should understand that using songs, images or videos without permission violates the IP rights of artists and authors, and these creators deserve recognition, respect, and fair compensation for the use of their works. Othel V. Campos
SM Prime set to open 4th mall in Cebu, 87th in PH
By Jenniffer B. Austria
PROPERTY developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) said Wednesday it will open on Friday SM City J Mall in Mandaue City, Cebu, its 87th in the country.
SMPH said in a disclosure to the stock exchange SM City J Mall would also be the group’s fourth mall in Metro Cebu and eighth in the Visayas region.
“The opening of SM City J Mall reflects our confidence in the robust economic growth of Central Visayas,” said SMPH president Jeffrey Lim.
“This new mall is designed to cater to the increasing demand for premium commercial and lifestyle experiences in Mandaue City,” he said.
SM City J Mall is situated along A.S. Fortuna Street in Barangay Bakilid, maximizing accessibility and visibility for both residents and tourists.
The four-level mall has over 100,000 square meters of gross floor area (GFA), offering a diverse mix of retail, dining and entertainment options. The mall has already pre-leased about 80 percent of its gross leasable area.
Anchor tenants include SM-owned retail and affiliate companies including The SM Store, SM Hypermarket, SM Appliance Center, Watsons, Uniqlo, Levi’s, Miniso, Pet Express, Sports Central, Ace Hardware and BDO and Chinabank.
Mandaue is a first-class highly urbanized city located in the centraleastern coastal region of the island province of Cebu. It is the industrial
HARAYA
Malampaya phase 4 gets significant project status
By Alena Mae S. Flores
RIME Energy Resources Development B.V., a subsidiary of businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., said Wednesday it reached a pivotal milestone in the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project in northwest Palawan after receiving the Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) for its Malampaya phase 4 project.
Phase 4 entails the drilling of the Camago and Malampaya East production wells, dubbed “Project Sinagtala,” and the drilling of the Bagong Pag-asa exploration well.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
PLDT Inc. said Wednesday it obtained a P2-billion social loan facility from HSBC Philippines to expand internet connectivity and bridge the digital divide in underserved and unserved areas of the Philippines.
Social loans are financing solutions where the proceeds aim to generate positive social outcomes such as increasing access to affordable basic infrastructure and essential services.
PLDT said the social loan would support the further expansion of its fiber network infrastructure to reach the country’s fourth to sixth class municipalities, including geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
It said that as of June 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority classified 729 municipalities as fourth to sixth class, with PLDT’s fiber network covering 59 percent of these areas.
The company outlined plans to extend fiber services more municipalities in the com-
ing years, prioritizing areas most in need of connectivity to enable communities to benefit from access to data and the internet. It said that as of mid-2024, 767 GIDAs were connected to PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, ensuring that even the most remote communities have digital access. PLDT said to complement GIDA targets focused on wireless connectivity, the expansion of fiber services is critical to providing inclusive access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities for millions of Filipinos.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to uphold the country’s commitment to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promote economic growth through science, technology and innovation.
The MOU with the UNDP aims to raise awareness and understanding of the SDGs among the private sector, especially MSMEs. They will also co-design and implement SDG activities, such as capacity building and advocacy and support SDG monitoring and reporting.
PCCI will also collaborate with the DOST on the establishment of the “Philippine Technology Business Alliance” (TechBizAlliance) to facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors. The alliance will focus on driving business and economic growth, advancing policy and STI-assisted industry development, establishing a technology and business hub, strengthening strategic partnerships and pursuing collaborative opportunities.
The MOU outlines specific areas of cooperation, including policy dialogues, programmatic collaboration, a strategic partnership framework, commercialization of R&D outputs, knowledge sharing and capacity building and participation in annual events.
THE Philippines aims to conclude bilateral trade agreements with key economic partners including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to boost economic growth.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Undersecretary for international trade group (ITG) Allan Gepty noted the Philippines’ effort to fast-track negotiations for a trade agreement by end of October or the first week of November as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the UAE.
“The diplomatic relations with the UAE are one of our deliverables. The conclusion of the negotiation is important for both of us; that’s why we are fast-tracking this, but of course, this is two-way,” Gepty said at the sidelines of the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PCB&E) organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
Projects granted EPNS status consistent with the policy thrust and implementation of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP). The citation allows for faster regulatory approvals of energy projects in the country, imperative in advancing energy security and over-all nation building efforts.
This certification reinforces Malampaya’s crucial role in securing the Philippines’ energy future and highlights its national significance. The project is operated under Service Contract No. 38 (SC 38) in collaboration with consortium partners UC38 LLC, PNOC Exploration Corp. and Prime Oil and Gas Inc.
“We are honored to receive the EPNS certification from the Department of Energy. This milestone reaffirms Malampaya’s importance in securing the Philippines’ energy future. As we advance with Phase 4, our focus remains on ensuring sustainable and reliable energy for millions of Filipinos,” Prime Energy president and chief executive Donna Kuizon Cruz said.
PRYCE Corp. said Wednesday its net income grew 40 percent to P2.21 billion in the first nine months of 2024 from P1.58 billion a year ago as revenues rose 7 percent to P15.01 billion from P14 billion.
Pryce said in a disclosure to the stock exchange liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) contributed P14.07 billion or 93.77 percent of revenues during the period.
Industrial gases provided P665.51 million, or 4.43 percent, while revenues from memorial park operations contributed P233.56 million or 1.56 percent; and pharmaceutical products, P36.48 million or 0.24 percent.
Earnings per share climbed 42.6 percent from last year’s P0.760 to this
He disclosed the UAE’s keen interest in investing in the Philippines. Gepty said the Philippines is also nearing the completion of a joint economic study with Chile. The study, which analyzes the potential trade creation, trade diversion, welfare effects and GDP growth resulting from a free trade agreement, is expected to be finalized by November 2024.
He said the Philippines also completed its domestic ratification process for a free trade agreement with South Korea. The agreement is awaiting ratification by the South Korean Parliament and is expected to be implemented by 2025. Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to collaborate with its partners in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) on several projects such as housing. Othel V. Campos
year’s P1.084.
Gross profit in the first nine-month period also improved by 29.4 percent to P4.41 billion from last year’s P3.69 billion, despite the 2.78-percent increase in cost of sales and services, from P10.31 billion to P10.60 billion.
The company attributed the higher gross profit to the improvement of LPG margins in Luzon, brought by the ongoing shift in revenues to sales of branded LPG from generic sales and the lower landed cost of LPG due to the renewal of supply contracts with improved terms.
Income from operations went up by 23.32 percent to P2.64 billion from last year’s P2.14 billion, even with the corresponding
increase in operating expenses by 14.4 percent to P1.77 billion from P1.55 billion.
Pryce said that in line with its move to boost its industrial gases arm, it intensified the marketing of its industrial gas products, resulting in an increase in total sales volume by 27.4 percent year-on-year.
“This increase laid down a strong foundation for the commencement of PPC’s operation of its air separation facility in Mindanao after a one and a half-year construction period. With these developments, PPC foresees the potential of its industrial gas business to contribute substantial income in the succeeding periods,” the company said.
Alena Mae S. Flores
IN BRIEF
more health projects beyond those already funded in the 2024 national budget and the proposed 2025 budget, ensuring the overall welfare and health security of all Filipinos.
“It is our job at the DOF to find enough funds for the government’s expenses which amount to P15.8 billion per day this year. And one of the most important here is the health projects and programs that directly promote the welfare of every Filipino,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.
“This includes providing more healthcare facilities, ensuring accessible access to them through better infrastructure, ensuring food security for all through boosting our agricultural productivity, giving economic opportunities for our people to increase their incomes and capacity to buy medicines and vitamins, and lifting more Filipinos out of poverty—because this ultimately breeds hunger and disease,”
Women entrepreneurs
donate wheelchairs, school supplies
By Julie Ann Lope
THE Philippine Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association, led by president Chen Yanqing, donated wheelchairs and school supplies valued at over P1 million to Parañaque Elementary School on Oct. 10, 2024.
The initiative aims to support education and assist children with disabilities in the local community.
Myla Velasquez, the school principal, welcomed the attendees and thanked the association for its donation.
She also expressed hopes for enhanced educational cooperation between the Philippines and China.
A representative of Paranaque Mayor Eric Olivarez commended the women entrepreneurs Association for their vital contribution to social welfare and the enhancement of local education and childcare services.
Shi Yu’e, instructor of the association and director of Philippine-China Television, noted the power of education in transforming lives and highlighted the association’s commitment to providing better learning environments, especially for children with disabilities who require additional support.
Chen also shared her aspirations for the students’ futures, underscoring the role of education in strengthening ties between the Philippines and China.
She assured attendees that the association would continue to support more educational projects in the future.
The donation included wheelchairs, pencil holders, crayons, water cups, hygiene kits, masks, school bags and various other supplies, reflecting the association’s dedication to fostering both educational and social development in the community.
FFCCCII visits China to boost cooperation
By Michael Wong Ho
THE Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), led by president Cecilio Pedro, is visiting Beijing and Fujian province from Oct. 16 to 27, 2024 to promote friendship between the Philippines and China, enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well and new business opportunities.
The delegation includes executive vice president Victor Lim, along with vice presidents William Cosiaco, George Hock Huy Chiu, Michael Tan, Tai Lian, Jose Go, Edwin Fabro, Hobg Jian Xiong, Reynold Siy and leaders from various committees.
They met with top leaders from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the China Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
Federation
During their stay in Beijing, the group visited significant sites, including the CPPCC’s Culture and History Hall, the Badaling Great Wall, Huawei’s headquarters and Prince Gong’s Mansion.
The delegation then traveled to
engagements
In Fuzhou, they visited Coastal New City and then proceeded to Fuqing, where they toured the China-
Indonesia Double Parks and the 7 Alleys Overseas Chinese Theme Pavilion.
The group exchanged insights with local enterprises in Zhangzhou, fostering collaboration and shared experiences.
In Jin Jiang, they visited the Anta Group, a well-known shoe manufacturer, as well as other significant sites including the Jin Jiang City Experience Hall and Shi Lang General Memorial Hall.
The final stop was Xiamen, where the delegation visited the City Planning and Exhibition Hall and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Park, solidifying their mission to seek out business opportunities and strengthen ties between the two nations.
Kamuning Bakery Cafe gives free pandesal, donates school building CGHMC heart team performs LAAO procedure
THE Structural Heart team at the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) Heart Institute, under the leadership of Dr. Timothy Dy, successfully performed a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure using the Omega Eclipse device on a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF).
It marked the second LAAO procedure in the Philippines since 2016. “There was only one such procedure done locally before, in 2016, when we had the opportunity to implant the first LAAO device at CGHMC HI,” Dy said. “From what I understand, there have not been any such procedures since. So, we now have the only two LAAO procedures in the Philippines.” The patient, an elderly gentleman with multiple health issues including a slow heartbeat, coronary artery blockages, kidney problems and a history of venous blockage, was considered at high risk for bleeding and thus unable to take long-term anticoagulants, which are typically recommended for AF patients to prevent stroke.
LAAO is crucial for patients who cannot safely use anticoagulants, as over 90 percent of strokes caused by AF originate from clots in the left atrial Appendage (LAA).
Julie Ann Lope
travels to Anhui,
THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines (FFCAP), led by president Cai Yong Ning, visited Anhui province on Oct. 16, 2024 to enhance economic and cultural ties between the Philippines and China. The delegation attended a promotional symposium hosted by
THE Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Manila signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance scholarship opportunities for TUP students from underprivileged backgrounds. The event took place at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Oct. 8, 2024.
ties
director Zhang Qi Ming of the Anhui Province Overseas Chinese Affairs Office at the Hefei City Administrative Service Center. Chen Xiao Bo, director of the United Front Work Department of Anhui Province, welcomed the group and highlighted Hefei’s significance as a central city in China,
The MOU is part of Tzu Chi’s Educational Assistance Program, which seeks to strengthen collaborations between state universities and colleges, including TUP. It outlines streamlined processes for scholarship applications, academic performance assessments, and other essential components to support scholars effectively.
rich in economic potential and cultural tourism resources.
He expressed hopes for strengthening cooperation between Anhui and the Philippines.
Vice director Wang Jing of the Anhui Bureau of Culture and Tourism introduced the ambitious “(Anhui) Wave the World” investment attraction strategy. Michael Wong Ho
TUP vice president for academic affairs Ryan Reyes said the agreement allows scholars to pursue academic excellence without the burden of financial constraints.
“The partnership aims to provide a holistic educational experience, with TUP focusing on essential skills and knowledge, while Tzu Chi emphasizes character development,” he said.
Rosa So, head of Tzu Chi’s education committee, noted the partnership’s broader goals.
“We aim to sustain and strengthen our collaboration not just in scholarships but also in programs promoting social responsibility and environmental protection,” she said.
“Through education, we can build great character, achieve success, and cultivate virtue, creating a new breed of leaders to improve our society,” So said. Julie Ann Lope
THE Kamuning Bakery Café, under the ownership of Wilson Lee Flores, celebrated the World Pandesal Day on Oct. 16, 2024 by distributing 100,000 pieces of pandesal to urban poor families and orphanages. This year’s celebration highlighted the ongoing commitment to combat hunger and promote community welfare.
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Imee Marcos joined the civic and cultural project.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice-President Sara Duterte expressed their support for the initiative, underscoring the importance of such community-driven projects in addressing food insecurity in the country.
Lee Flores, in cooperation with the Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) donated a school building to the Sinait Integrated School in Tarlac City.
The donation aims to increase the school’s capacity to accommodate more students and ensure that education remains accessible to all. The ceremony was attended by local officials, including Tarlac Second District Rep. Christian Yap and Tarlac City Vice-Mayor Genaro Mendoza, Pico Cojuangco Guingona, city councilors, barangay chairman Catalino Tonelada III and Tarlac Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce officers led by Benigno Chua, Councilor Necito Chua, William Co, Calvin Tan and others. They commended Lee Flores for his generous contributions to education and community welfare. Packs of free pandesal were also distributed to the students, teachers and guests at Sinait Integrated School.
Lee Flores shared the inspiration behind World Pandesal Day, referencing the Biblical story of a boy who shared his five loaves of bread and two fishes, which Jesus Christ miraculously multiplied to feed thousands. Michael Wong Ho
The Philippine Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association, led by president Chen Yanqing, donates wheelchairs and school supplies to Parañaque Elementary School on Oct. 10, 2024.
The
of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), led by president Cecilio Pedro, visits Beijing and Fujian province from October 16 to 27, 2024.
Fujian province to explore several cities, following their
in Beijing.
The Kamuning Bakery Café, led by Wilson Lee Flores, celebrates the World Pandesal Day on Oct. 16, 2024 by distributing 100,000 pieces of pandesal to urban poor families and orphanages.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines (FFCAP), led by president Cai Yong Ning, visits Anhui province on Oct. 16, 2024
PH bet shines at Karaoke World Championships in Finland
JAN Francis Alinsonorin , an emerging Filipino talent, proudly represented the Philippines at the 2024 Karaoke World Championships (KWC) World Finals in Turku, Finland.
Once,” and “Lay Me Down.” His performances showcased his versatility, vocal range, and stage presence, culminating in a notable top 11 finish.
featured cultural exchanges, with participants exploring the city of Turku and bonding over their shared love for music.
Held from Oct. 7 to 12, the event brought together singers from over 50 countries, where international talents were celebrated through music.
Alinsonorin impressed both the audience and judges with his renditions of Queen ’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Just
IT’S quite common to hear a Filipino proudly express how much they love their hometown province for various reasons. But to become the pride of the province itself, carrying its identity while making a mark abroad, is something truly extraordinary.
Fashion designer Amiel Noble grew up in Lumban, Laguna, known as the “Embroidery Capital of the Philippines,” for a good reason. So, there was no stopping him when he established the family-owned business Noble Creations, which quickly became a source of high-quality Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana dresses. He was focused on stitching his destiny as both an immigrant and an insider within Southern California’s community of artists, fashion experts, and trendsetters.
Those close to Amiel, including myself, who first saw him at the Los Angeles Kids Fashion Show in North Hollywood last year, knew this was coming. It was only a matter of time before he gained widespread recognition. That time has now arrived. He was recently honored with the title “Natatanging Lumbeno” at the Burdang Lumban Festival 2024. Yes, he flew back to his beloved province to be recognized for responsibly and stylishly bringing Lumban craftsmanship to America.
“It’s what I was born to do,” Amiel shared in a Facebook post. “My ultimate goal has always been to advocate for the use of our traditional dress and handwoven fabric.”
The award was presented by the municipal government, largely due to the efforts of Councilor Roma Tablico, the principal author of the resolution to recognize Amiel.
That’s just half of the story that cements the status of this down-to-earth man, who rightfully deserves recognition for showcasing Filipino culture through his products. This Sunday, the noble Noble heads to The Aloha State as he will be among the honorees at this year’s The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA), to be held at the iconic Blue Note Hawaii in Honolulu. He will, of course, be celebrated for his “intricate barong designs.”
Amiel will accept the honor at the 14th edition of TOFA alongside other awardees, including the most famous Filipino gymnast of all time, Carlos Yulo
“I’m honored to be among such well-respected Filipinos being recognized this year at The Outstanding Filipino Awards,” he said. “I’m bringing with me the pride of being from Lumban, the embroidery capital.” I attended last year’s TOFA in Los Angeles, where distinguished figures like journalist Jessica Soho and former Vice President Leni Robredo were honored. TOFA is known not only for gathering a stellar group of achievers but also for its charming host, Boy Abunda, whose presence and witty punchlines are always highlights of the ceremony.
Amiel will join the festivities on Sunday, which will feature performances by sibling act 4th Impact and San Francisco’s Parangal Dance Company. I also read that US-based pop diva Tootsie Guevara and Star In A Million finalist Garcia will be performing on the red carpet.
From being a student at Lumban National High School to sharing the limelight with renowned designers like Alexis Monsanto and Michael Cinco, this noble man has truly come a long way.
An event at Amiel’s shop in Artesia, California, on November 4 will launch actor Enchong Dee as the brand ambassador of Noble Creations.
Talking about his experience, Alinsonorin expressed pride in representing the Philippines, saying, “It is an honor to carry the Philippine flag on the global stage. I’m grateful for the support I received back home and from everyone I met on this journey.”
The week-long event also
The collaboration between The New Channel (TNC) and PraXis Experiential played a pivotal role in Alinsonorin’s journey.
Apple Esplana-Manansala president of TNC, praised his accomplishment, stating, “We’re proud of what Jan Francis has achieved, and we’re excited to see him continue to make waves in the music industry.”
Elle Quan , KWC Asia Pacific director, also expressed her happiness now that the Philippines is officially back as a country partner at KWC. “The world has always been ready for Asian talents, and I’m grateful that Apple and Gladys paved the way to bring the Philippines back onto the KWC global stage. Jan Francis is a great representation of what Pinoy talent truly is, and I see a bright future for him on the world stage,” Quan shared.
Giving juicy ‘chismis’ a clever twist
By Abigail Adriatico
THROUGHOUT his time in the entertainment industry, Ogie Diaz has made a name for himself by wearing many hats over the years. From being a wellknown comedian who naturally tickles the funny bones of his audience to a showbiz reporter whose scoops are highly anticipated, Diaz’s career has been filled with unexpected ventures that have earned him the public’s attention.
With his notable presence on social media, particularly with his hit YouTube channel Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update , which currently has 3.85 million subscribers, Diaz’s next move in entertaining his audience comes in an unexpected form—a game show.
Marking his return to TV, Quizmosa is a variety show that aims to appeal to showbiz and pop culture fans by turning the hottest and juiciest gossip into a unique game.
During the media launch for the show, Diaz shared that with his success online, he noticed a stark difference between the large digital audience and the declining number of television viewers. When
people to return to the once sought-after medium.
“Our goal is to have more people watching TV again,” said Diaz.
Media5 Chief Operating Officer Dino Laurena explained that the idea for Quizmosa stemmed from the realization that TV5 hadn’t aired a new celebrity or showbiz show in a while.
“Since we’ve grown used to a lot of drama in the afternoon, we were challenged to come up with a show that would entertain and hopefully wake people up around that time,” he told the media.
Quizmosa is the ultimate way for our viewers to test their inner ‘marites’ and ‘tolits’ while having fun. Through this innovative format, Ogie – an exciting addition to the Kapatid family – will undoubtedly elevate and energize our Kapatids’ afternoon viewing experience,” said TV5 President and CEO Guido Zaballero
Straying from the usual formula, Quizmosa blends the concepts of a game show and a talk show, as it becomes the first gossip quiz show in the Philippines. Guests on the show will go through three rounds of trivia questions testing their knowledge of past and current showbiz events, as well as pop culture. Using a simple point system, the guest with the highest number of correct answers wins.
“We’re confident this show will be a hit, especially at a time when gossip is no longer limited to neighbors,” said Diaz.
“This show doesn’t just dive into the lives of personalities and celebrities. It adds excitement and a bit of thrill to the issues that people usually come across,” he added.
Joining Diaz as his “Quizmates” are comedian and content creator Ton Soriano , social media personality
Tita Jegs, and young heartthrob Kid Yambao . Diaz emphasized the importance of having co-hosts he shares good rapport with to keep the show engaging, which led him to choose these three as his co-hosts.
“Before the show, we already knew each other, and that’s important because it’s tough when you’re not sure if they’ll be offended or uncomfortable with the jokes. With them, we can easily banter,” said Diaz, adding that he also guides them on TV hosting since it differs from the social media space they are more familiar with.
Quizmosa airs Monday to Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on TV5, right after Eat Bulaga
From left: ‘Quizmosa’ hosts Kid Yambao, Ogie Diaz, Ton Soriano, and Tita Jegs
The ‘Quizmosa’ hosts demonstrate how the game works with a few representatives from the media
Fashion designer Amiel Noble is an honoree at The Outstanding Filipino Awards
Amiel Noble (right) with fashion designer Michael Cinco
Singer-songwriter and record producer Jay R (left) with Amiel Noble
What does it take to become an Olympian?
By Angelica Villanueva
PEOPLE say it takes a village to raise a child, but for two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, it takes a solid support system to achieve his Olympian dreams, allowing him to be fully prepared to compete in Paris.
One of the key people in this support system is sports occupational therapist Hazel Calawod, who conditions Caloy’s mind and oversees his biomechanics, gathering scientific data to optimize his performance and provide crucial support during rigorous training and high-stakes competitions.
During a recent forum, coach Hazel shared that becoming an Olympian like Caloy requires more than just mental conditioning. As one of the key speakers at the “Move with PowHER” forum, an inspiring event dedicated to women’s wellness and empowerment conducted by Watsons Philippines, the sports occupational therapist discussed what a young athlete should possess to follow in the footsteps of the country’s “golden boy.”
“One, you have to have grit, right? Sports is a highly competitive environment. It’s no joke. Every day, you’re going to compete with yourself. Every day, you’re going to have to learn about your weaknesses because if you’re going to be an Olympian and if you want to have gold medals or be at that level, every day you have to constantly discover what else you can do, what else is out there, what else you are missing,” said coach Hazel.
She added that part of having that grit is maintaining a healthy form of perfection, emphasizing that it helps an athlete reach the top level in their sport.
“You need to have a healthy form of perfection. Healthy is the word because at that level, to perform at the top .0001 percent of your sport—that takes a lot of dedication, learning, and waking up
even though your body is tired, but you are very committed to what you envision yourself to achieve. You have to show up for your dreams because you are the only one who understands what your dream is,” she continued.
The second thing she highlighted was the importance of being open and dedicated to learning.
“Number two, you need to be coachable because if you have too much ego, it’s going to limit your ability to learn. If you’re not able to listen to people, you know, sometimes the coaches can be very intense, right? But also, you, as an athlete willing to go on this route, need to pick up little things from people so that it adds value to your dreams,” the coach added.
Calawod also stressed the importance of surrounding yourself with people who genuinely want to help you along your journey.
“Three, find people with the right credentials to help you because even if you have the dream if you don’t have the right people to get you there, there might be others working with athletes who can push their athletes beyond your capacity. So you have to study the people you will be working with,” she stated.
She then emphasized the importance of good recovery, knowing your body’s limits, and learning when to pause and rest.
“If you constantly train without taking care of your body and mind, you might break. If you break, you can’t train anymore, and then you’ll slide backward. Your preparation timeline for competitions will crack as well. Then you become your own enemy towards your dream. So, strategy—build a great strategy and stick to it,” Calawod added.
Millennial startup owners aim to establish world-class Philippine watchmaking industry
THE Philippine watchmaking scene may not be well-known yet, however, a handful of brands are determined to change that. They even have a private group chat to support one another and foster industry growth. One standout is Argos Philippines, founded by millennials Gregory Yu and Ivan Jeff Soberano I recently chatted with Greg, who shared insights into this emerging industry and his journey as both an entrepreneur and a watch collector.
Philippines, meticulously following their unique designs. Odyssey and Asteri Collections
The name Argos pays homage to Odysseus’ loyal dog in Homer’s epic. The team aimed for their watches to be as reliable and enduring.
“We founded Argos in 2021, as the world began to emerge from the pandemic. My passion for watch collecting began in 2014, and when Ivan, a former colleague, approached me for a partnership, we started by reselling branded watches. Eventually, we decided to create our own brand, and Argos was born,” Greg explained.
The goal was to design a world-class watch suitable for everyday wear and built to last. Their timepieces can be worn with anything—from suits to casual shorts—and are unisex. Quality was non-negotiable from the start. The movement is sourced from Japan, similar to a well-known Japanese brand, but all parts are custom-made for Argos and assembled in the
Their first collection, Odyssey, launched in 2022, draws inspiration from Homer’s The Odyssey. It blends ruggedness with elegance, ensuring versatility for any occasion. Designed to withstand harsh environments, it guarantees reliability and durability. The initial release features colors reminiscent of the Philippine beaches—cream and blue, invoking “the sand and the sea.”
The second collection, Asteri, meaning “Star,” comes in midnight blue and green, inspired by the Sierra Madre mountains. The colors reflect nature—the blue symbolizes the night sky, while the green evokes the lush landscape.
“We aim to instill a sense of pride in our customers, showing them that this beautifully
crafted, world-class watch is made right here in the Philippines,” Greg said. What’s next
“Our vision is to place our products on par with internationally recognized brands. Through Argos and other local brands, we aspire to establish a vibrant Philippine watchmaking industry. We believe this will be realized in the near future,” Greg added.
The market is increasingly receptive to microbrands, moving away from traditional names. Argos has already attracted clients beyond Philippine shores and is gaining international attention, making them optimistic about the future, including plans for free international shipping.
“For us at Argos, anything truly worth doing takes time. It’s this belief that has kept us going, even during the toughest times. In building a company and shaping an industry, you have to embrace the struggles and sacrifices as much as you enjoy the highs—they’re both essential parts of the journey,” Ivan Soberano noted.
To learn more about Argos Philippines, visit www.argos-watches.com or check out their Instagram at Argos.Philippines.
You may reach the author at joba.botana@ gmail.com.
Job Well Done
Joba Botana
Argos co-founder and managing director Ivan Jeff Soberano
Argos co-founder and PR director Gregory Yu
Asteri in midnight blue symbolizes the night sky seen on top of the Sierra Madre mountain range Asteri in green takes inspiration from the lush landscape of Sierra Madre
watches are suitable for everyday wear and goes well with any outfit
The ‘Move with PowHER’ forum brought women from
Hazel Calawod (right) with two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo
Sports occupational therapist Hazel Calawod works with Carlos Yulo in his training endeavors
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
ABIGAIL
ADRIATICO, Writer
C4 LIFE
Coalition rallies to protect Philippines’ wildlife wonders
THE Philippines, known for its rich biodiversity, faces a critical conservation crisis as six species are on the verge of extinction. The pangolin, Philippine eagle, tamaraw, Philippine turtle, cockatoo, and dugong are threatened by illegal hunting, poaching, and habitat destruction.
In response, a coalition of organizations— including SM Supermalls, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), BDO, Kultura, World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), the Philippine Eagle Foundation, the Zoological Society of the Philippines, the Katala Foundation, the D’Aboville Foundation, and the Forest Foundation Philippines—has launched the “Save from Extinction” initiative.
The campaign was formally announced during the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) and aims to raise awareness, generate funds, and mobilize volunteers to protect these endangered species.
The initiative includes a donation drive, allowing contributions through BDO ATMs nationwide and donation boxes placed at various SM malls. Additionally, Kultura is selling merchandise with a portion of the proceeds going directly to conservation
Very Wang Nickie Wang
IN OBSERVANCE of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Unilab Foundation recently held a media briefing to address the state of mental health in the Philippines. Guest speaker Dr. Sheila Marie “Shake” Hocson, a former president of the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, underscored the critical shortage of mental health professionals in the country.
With only one psychiatrist potentially serving 100,000 people, serious concerns arise about the wellbeing of both the public and the professionals themselves.
Dr. Hocson discussed the risk of burnout for mental health professionals, noting that the pressure on psychiatrists, counselors, and psychologists is significant.
“If someone is overworked or doing more than they can handle, they are at risk of burnout,” she explained. Even those within the mental health field seek support, she added, stating that she knows several psychiatrists who undergo counseling, too.
Sharing a personal story, Dr. Hocson recounted how a colleague had to miss a meeting to attend a session with their own psychologist.
“It takes humility to ask for help, whether from a professional, a spiritual director, a mentor, or another mental health professional,” she noted.
Supporting the cause can also be done by purchasing Kultura merchandise, with proceeds directly benefiting conservation efforts. Those passionate about raising awareness are encouraged to share information about these endangered species with friends and family to foster a collective effort in wildlife protection. Call to Action
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga highlighted the urgency of the situation, expressing pride in the country’s endangered species while calling attention to their plight.
“Every positive step we take, no matter how small, contributes to a greater impact. Together, let’s be the voice for wildlife and work towards a sustainable future where these incredible animals thrive,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan By supporting the “Save
poverty, bullying, internet addiction, academic pressure, and the effects of climate change.
Dr. Hocson also pointed out the importance of setting clear professional boundaries, explaining that she could not counsel her own family members.
“As a psychologist and counselor, I can’t counsel my own children or husband—at most, we can have informal conversations,” she said. “Boundaries like these are crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of therapy.”
In addition, she emphasized the importance of seeking mentors who not only excel in their field but also exhibit strong values. This, she believes, is key for professionals who are trying to maintain their own mental health while helping others.
“Submitting ourselves to the guidance of other professionals ensures that we, too, can remain mentally well and continue serving others effectively,” she said.
Rising mental health concerns among Filipino youth
The media briefing also highlighted the mental health crisis among Filipino youth, pointing to an alarming increase in suicide cases.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), during the 2021-2022 academic year, there were 404 suicides and 2,147 attempted suicides among public school students. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29 globally.
The situation among young Filipinos has worsened over time. In 2013, about 574,000 youth attempted suicide, and by 2021, that number had grown to nearly 1.5 million. Various factors contribute to this, including the impact of the pandemic,
Unilab Foundation, in collaboration with government agencies like DepEd and the Department of Health, has launched the Heads Up PH program to address mental health needs in schools and colleges. The program focuses on providing mental health support to students across the country.
health struggles with family members. The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute found that 62 percent of young people who had suicidal thoughts did not seek help from anyone, and only 2 percent who attempted suicide reached out to professionals.
Empowering School Personnel
Mental health initiative
Heads Up PH is designed to offer mental health and well-being programs for students, based on the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Framework and the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
The program aims to help address the shortage of mental health professionals, especially guidance counselors in public schools. Currently, there is only one guidance counselor for every 25,000 students, according to Dr. Hocson.
Stigma remains a significant obstacle to getting help, with many students choosing not to discuss their mental
Heads Up PH aims to equip teachers and school personnel with tools to identify and respond to mental health issues in students. The program includes the Race Against Suicide Toolkit, which provides guidance on early detection, intervention, and referral systems. According to Marie Joan Urieta, program director at Unilab Foundation, the goal is to address mental health challenges as soon as possible.
“We aim to close the gaps with a strategic approach as soon as tendencies or risks are detected,” she explained.
The program also provides suicide prevention training for guidance counselors, teachers, and school administrators. Dr. Hocson noted that a lack of mental health literacy and assessment tools are major barriers to addressing these issues.
In partnership with DepEd, the Unilab Foundation is also implementing the Child and Adolescent Risk Screener (CARS), a universal screener for gathering data on youth mental health. This information will help shape evidence-based policies to improve mental health support
Addressing mental health in schools
The Heads Up PH program has trained over 200 trainers and 5,084 gatekeepers across 17 regions in the Philippines. The initiative has gained recognition for its efforts, earning accolades such as the 2023 Galing Pook Award and the 2024 CSR Guild Award.
By focusing on mental health awareness and support, Heads Up PH aims to build healthier school communities. With more comprehensive mental health programs in place, the initiative seeks to address the growing crisis among Filipino youth and create environments where mental well-being is prioritized.
SM Prime Holdings Lead Executive for Design, Innovation, and Strategy Jessica Bianca Sy at the ‘Save from Extinction’ booth during the 2024 APMCDRR
The ‘Save from Extinction’ initiative aims to raise awareness, generate funds, and mobilize volunteers for the protection of the endangered wildlife in the Philippines
SM Prime Holdings Lead Executive for Design, Innovation, and Strategy Jessica Bianca Sy at the ‘Save from Extinction’ booth during the 2024 APMCDRR
The Heads Up PH program aims to address the mental health needs of students in schools and colleges
Dr. Sheila Marie Hocson emphasizes the shortage in mental health professionals in the country