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PSA told: Verify other VP intel fund recipients

FIVE LOCAL JOBLESSNESS HOLIDAYS DECLINESIN —OCT. PSA NEWS / A3/ B1 BUSINESS

ISRAELPRICES CONTINUES FUEL MIXED TONEXT POUND HEZBOLLAH WEEK — DOE NEWS / A??

WORLD A6

By Maricel V. Cruz VOL. XXXVIII •• NO. 227• 3 3SECTIONS SEPTEMBER • VOL. XXXVIII NO. 295• SECTIONS16 16PAGES PAGES••P20 P20•MONDAY, •SATURDAY, DECEMBER30, 7, 2024 2024 •

NEWS / A3

NSC exec: Impeachprobe VP PNP resurrecting bid for ‘political mileage’ into PCSO official's slay Accuses Makabayan lawmakers of 'opportunism'

Speaker grateful for PMA Class '83 vote of confidence in Quad Comm

By Maricel Cruz

and Ralph Rirao

By Rio N. Araja

A T

N official of the HENational Philippine Security National CouncilPolice said the (PNP) ismoves reopening impeachment by its investigation militant groups into against the 2020 murderSara of Vice President Philippine Charity Duterte was a form of Sweepstakes Office “political opportunism.”

(PCSO) board secretary “Makabayan’s call for impeachWesley Barayuga.

ment...very clearly, it is political opportunism and for political On Sunday, PNP Chiefmileage,” Police NSC Assistant Director GeneralMarJonaGeneral Rommel Francisco than Malaya said in a press briefing bil said he ordered the reopening of yesterday. the cold case after whistleblower Makabayan lawmakers endorsed Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told the second impeachment complaint the House Quad Committee that he againstcarry Duterte. helped out the killing at the Theofbloc said it has already begun behest ex-PCSO general manager a signature drive to gather the required Royina Garma. vote of 106 ornarrated at least one-third the Mendoza before of conHouse members to transmit the second gressmen how Garma allegedly faimpeachment rap toofficial’s the Senate. cilitated the PCSO roadside “The position of the30, NTF-ELCAC assassination on July 2020 by (National the Task Force toinformation End Local providing necessary Communist Armed Conflict) is very about his schedule, details about his clear – we with thenecessary president. We vehicle andagree the funding to agreeitthat carry out.the Makabayan’s impeachment VP Sara is a also distraction from Theof whistleblower implicated the urgent issues facing the country,” incumbent National Police ComMalaya said. missioner Edilberto Leonardo in the “The of President is correct. It (implanning the murder. peachment) will tie the police Senate Barayuga was a down retired and the House.

The President is just general and lawyer who supposedly concernedtowith addressing the withneeds threatened expose corruption of the Filipino people,” he added. in the PCSO shortly before he was Next page shot dead in Mandaluyong City.

Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-

A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang, then economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that controlled the illegal activities of the POGOs and was involved in the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.

PH lobbies UN for Security Council seat

establishes safe shelters for disaster victims, and the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, which offers financial relief to students during crises at Malacañan Palace, Manila. Witnessing the signing are Senate President Francis Escudero, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other Congress leaders and Cabinet members. PPA POOL

Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry

PH, INDONESIA INK VELOSO TRANSFER DEAL IT'S A GO FOR VELOSO. Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law,

Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra (left) and the Philippines’ Undersecretary at the Department of Justice Raul Vasquez (right) exchange signed documents regarding the plan to repatriate death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso in Jakarta on December 6, 2024. Indonesia and the Philippines signed an agreement on December 6, 2024 to send Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row for drug charges in Indonesia since 2015, back to her home country.

BAUTISTA AFP

adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Fortun, a lawyer who often finds himself at the center high-profile cases, apparently sought to mock

By Charles calling Dantestheir probe congressmen, “unacceptable.”

PRESIDENT Marcos signed two maHowever, House members argued jor pieces of legislation, both intended they did not come by their suspicions to better insulate Filipinos against about Yang recklessly. inevitable calamities amid climate On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker change and environmental neglect.

Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga During a ceremony at Malacañan and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Palace on Friday, the chief executive Quezon presented a matrix showing emphasized the importance of proacYang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad Comm hearing.

“We saw a pattern, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to the top and through it all, we have discovered and identified at least two main actors or players in the issue

By Rex Espiritu

Maris, Anthony break silence on sex texting, cheating issues

THE Philippine Navy debunked on Sunday the recent announcement by China that it conducted military exercises off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

China reportedly made the announcement coinciding with the fourth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the regional waters over the weekend.

Philippine NavyAnthony Spokesperson VIRAL COUPLE. Jennings for WPSRacal Rear Admiral Roy Vinand Maris

of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English.

The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to tive measures as climate-related disasother individuals involved in illicit ters grow more severe. activities, including the laws operations The first of the two enactedofis illegal POGOs. the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which Among the implicated mandates the companies establishment of fully are Brickhartz Technology Inc. equipped evacuation centers in every and Technologydesigned Co. Ltd.,to city Xionwei and municipality, which are being linkedshelter to alleged offer safe and secure during kidnapping. emergencies.

The twonot wish firmsfor supposedly "We do the frequent have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo. During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners.

THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of usage of such facilities and can only law. pray that we have fewer calamities.

Department of Foreign Affairs But nonetheless, we need to ensure (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo in that the evacuation centers sufficiently a speech delivered at the UN Genrespond to theinneeds oursaid people eral Assembly New of York the affected by continues calamities toand other such Philippines emphasize emergencies," said.the the “importancetheofPresident upholding He directed the Department Pubrule of law and the integrity ofofthe lic Works and Highways to expedite multilateral system in the face of toNext page day’s global challenges.”

Quoted by reports, Manalo also said: “The Philippines has consistently pursued peace, the sovereign equality of states, the rights and dignity of all persons.”

He added that the country is also recognized as the “first Asian Re-

Marcos enacts 2 laws to soften blow of calamities

Typhoon-hit SSS members may advance pension

By Rio N.claim Araja Navy spokes debunks China of military exercises in Scarborough shoal

Next Nextpage page

GASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands. “’Julian’ is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24-36 hours as it moves towards Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands. With the current trend in its intensification, the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its advisory.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 1.9 million family food packs worth P1.48 billion, other food items worth P276 million, and non-food items (NFIs) worth P919 million were already prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Some P171 million in standby fund is also available for utilization by the DSWD, including P123 million which can be allotted as Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the central office of the DSWD. In Batanes, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised residents to secure their roofs and install window shutters as Typhoon Julian is expected to make landfall

LANDMARK LAWS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the ceremonial signing yesterday of two significant bills: the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which

DOTr’s Bautista says online news report‘unfounded'

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista denied an online news report claiming that Malacañang was angry with the increase in airport fees without the approval of the CabinetMaris members.

ON-SCREEN partners Racal “The Bilyonaryo article maliand Anthony Jennings brokeistheir sicious unfounded,” Bautista lence and yesterdayregarding the sexsaid texinting a Viber message, referring exposed to the and cheating allegations website that published the said story. by the latter’s ex-girlfriend, Jam Vil“Bilyonaryo lanueva. is inconsistent,” he added.

Bilyonaryo online In a video byreported ABS-CBN, Racalthat ad“Bautista his long-time protege in mitted herand mistakes and stated that she Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for would "take accountability for everyAviation thing." and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the centerI of afterfrom it was “Today, willthebestorm speaking my heart. Everything I will say comes from

Gov’t readies P1.48b aid as 'Julian' strengthens

Next page

THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions Next page about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad Committee’s impartiality and its ability to pin Chinese national Yang down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court.

“I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said.

Yang, who already admitted having a fake Philippine birth is the brother of Michael NEWS / A2certificate, Yang, a presidential economic

By Darwin Amojelar

THE House panel investigating alleged funds misuse at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) has requested the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to verify the existence of PAGASA 677 other supposed recipients of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs).

The request came after the recordkeeping agency discovered that “Mary Grace Piattos,” who supposedly signed an acknowledgment receipt (AR) for receiving CIFs, did not appear in any of the civil registry databases and is therefore believed to be a fictitious individual.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chair of the Committee on Good and THE government has Government readied P1.48 Public Accountability, told reporters billion worth of aid for communi-on Friday hebe hadhitsent a formal request ties thatthat may hard by typhoon to National Statistician Claire Dennis ‘Julian’ which PAGASA says could Mapa to look into the identities of other turn into a supertyphoon.

ARAssignatories.

Next page of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PA-

The Social Security System (SSS) is urging pensioners affected by typhoons “Kristine,” “Marce,” “Nika,” “Ofel” and “Pepito” go aheadthat and cent Trinidad told to reporters avail of a three-month advance on their Manila troops did not monitor pensions December any such before activity, adding 21. that BeiSSS officer in charge Voltaireonly Agas jing’s statement was meant saiditsoninternal Friday that the advanced payfor audience. ment of pensions is a financial assis“Our troops did not observe tance given to SSS and Employees’ any exercise, we have to underCompensation (EC) pensioners stand that sometimes, China isin towns this and for citiestheir hit recently condoing internalbyaudisecutive tropical cyclones. ence, right? For them not to look experienced aTrinidad very unweak“We andhave embarrassed,” usual event wherein a string of storms said. swept country only severalwere days Two theChinese warships apart, bringing massive destruction monitored at a distance rangingto areas eight within to its 14 path.nautical At SSS, miles. we are from aware that among those affected by the One of these went up to 1,000 stormsatare pensioners who now yards theour MMCA site but evenneed immediate help,” he said. tually went away. “It was not “It is imperative for SSS to extend threatening, just normal,” accordits full support and assistance not only

Next page Next page

Pacquiao joins world boxing greats in 2025 Hall of Fame Next page

NEW YORK—Philippines legend Manny Pacquiao will be among those inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025, the organization announced Thursday.

Pacquiao, 45, was a world champion from flyweight (112 pounds) through super welterweight (154 pounds) divisions in a career that spanned from

GLOBAL BOXING ICON.

Next page

1995 to 2021.

The southpaw superstar finished with a record of 62 wins, eight losses and two draws.

Pacquiao, fellow fighters Michael Nunn and Vinny Paz and referee Kenny Bayless are among 14 individuals set to be enshrined June 5-8 at the Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Next page

Former senator Manny Pacquiao joins the world's boxing greats after AWARD. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, being selected to the was honored by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) with its Outstanding International Boxing Filipino Retailers President Award for his visionary leadership in retail development.

Hall of Fame for 2025.

(From left to right): PRA Director and Director of SM Retail Jorge T. Mendiola, PRA AFP Vice President and President and COO of Golden, ABC, Inc. (The Penshoppe Group) Alice T. Liu, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, PRA President and Chairman of Quorum International, Inc. (Toby’s Sports) Roberto S. Claudio, and PRA Director and President of Sportshouse Int’l. Leisure, Inc. and proponent of PRA OFR President’s Award Mars C. Chua

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NEWS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More children radicalized online S

YDNEY—Intelligence and law agencies in the Western "Five Eyes" security alliance warned Friday of a rising number of children being radicalized online by violent extremists.

The intelligence-sharing group spanning the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand called for a "whole of society" response to the phenomenon in its first jointly authored public paper.

"We are increasingly concerned about the radicalisation of minors, and minors who support, plan or undertake terrorist activities," they said in the study.

The proportion of minors and people under 25 involved in such cases fluctuated over time, according to the study.

But "our nations have seen a rising prominence of young people and minors in counter-terrorism cases over the last few years," it said.

Australia's intelligence service said

about 20 percent of its priority counterterrorism cases involved young people.

In one case that made headlines in April, a 16-year-old boy was charged with a "terrorist act" after a bishop was stabbed during a live-streamed service at an Assyrian Christian church in western Sydney.

"In every one of the terrorist attacks, disruptions and suspected terrorist incidents in Australia this year, the alleged perpetrator was a young person," said Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization.

"As a parent, the numbers are shocking. As an intelligence officer, the numbers are sobering."

'Dark and dangerous' Once intelligence and police servic-

PSA...

and the legitimacy of the disbursements.

“This is deeply troubling. If these two names don’t exist in official records, we have to question whether the other 677 names are legitimate or if they are part of a wider scheme to misuse funds,” Chua said.

He said the verification process is a critical step in determining the validity of the ARs and ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.

“If even one peso was spent improperly, it is our responsibility to find out and hold those responsible to account,” Chua pointed out.

The name “Mary Grace Piattos” gained attention during the House hearings due to its resemblance to a popular restaurant and snack brand, raising doubts about its authenticity.

Lawmakers discovered discrepancies in the signatures linked to this name across different documents, fueling concerns about possible forgery.

From A1

The ARs were used to justify a total of P612.5 million in confidential fund expenditures—P500 million for funds spent by the OVP from late 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, and P112.5 million for the DepEd in 2023.

The PSA has been requested to expedite its verification process and submit both electronic and hard copies of the results to the Committee.

“May we request for the verification of the Civil Registry Documents (birth, marriage, and death) of the names in the attached list relative to the investigation being conducted by the Committee,” Chua wrote in his letter dated December 5.

Last week, the PSA issued certification confirming no birth, marriage, or death records for Piattos, prompting significant concerns about the authenticity of the listed beneficiaries

Pacquiao...

From A1

"I'm so happy that I have been selected to enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame. This certainly is a wonderful Christmas gift," said Pacquiao, who also served as Philippine senator from 2016-2022.

"Throughout my career, as a professional fighter and a public servant, it has been my goal to bring honor to my country, the Philippines, and my fellow Filipinos around the world."

He follows into the Hall of Fame his countryman Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, a 1960s super featherweight world champion, who died in 1985 and in 1993 became the first Asian in-

Typhoon-hit...

From A1

to SSS members but also to SSS and EC pensioners who need financial aid as they try to recovery from the aftermath of the tropical cyclones,” Agas added.

Pensioners in areas placed under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are qualified to apply for the three-month advanced pension.

Agas clarified that SSS and EC pensioners who have received advance pensions from previous calamity assistance programs and whose pensions are still suspended can still apply for this advance pension.

“Existing partial disability pensioners can also avail of the advance

Marcos...

From A1

the construction of these centers, ensuring they adhere to high standards capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions, a pressing concern given the increasing intensity of typhoons.

He acknowledged the ongoing appeal from the Department of Education to reduce the use of schools as evacuation centers.

The second law enacted Friday, is the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, which temporarily halts loan payments for students affected by disasters without imposing penalties or interest.

Mr. Marcos described the law as a

ducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

"I am humbled knowing that in June, I will receive boxing's highest honor, joining our national hero, Flash Elorde, as well as my trainer and friend Freddie Roach," Pacquiao said.

In 2019, at age 40, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history by taking a split decision over American Keith Thurman for the World Boxing Association crown at 147 pounds.

Among the top fighters to fall at Pacquiao's hands were Americans Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley, Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, Britain's Ricky Hatton and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto. AFP

es are involved, "it is usually too late— the young person is already in a dark and dangerous place," he said.

The Five Eyes study said young people have "grown up online."

"Online environments provide an avenue for first approaches to minors, often through seemingly innocuous social media and gaming platforms, such as Discord, Instagram, Roblox and TikTok," it said.

"In these environments, violent extremism is made more accessible, as violent extremism content can be created within the platforms themselves."

Minors were increasingly "normalizing" violent behaviour in online groups, the analysis said, "including joking about carrying out terrorist attacks and creating violent extremist content."

The Five Eyes study urged people close to minors to look out for signs they were being enticed into violent extremism.

"This includes noticing and asking questions of minors, particularly given

radicalization to violent extremism can start with moderately objectionable material containing violent extremist narratives which then intensifies in its support for violence."

It advised parents and guardians to understand their children's online activities and warned that minors who are socially isolated are more vulnerable.

In one British case cited by the study, counter-terrorism police investigated a schoolchild and found "alarming" proIslamic State group content on the minor's phone.

Besides accessing violent extremist content, police believed he had been groomed for radicalization by an Islamic State group member and by Al-Muhajiroun, which was founded in 1996 with the goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate in the UK. The Five Eyes analysis said the child was referred to Britain's multi-agency "Prevent" program, which aims to stop vulnerable people from being drawn into violent extremism. AFP

NSC...

mitted before the Commission on Audit and the alleged “deliberate obstruction” of congressional investigation and oversight.

The impeachment raps added to Duterte's legal woes as she faces a probe into her alleged death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as another inquiry into her use of government funds.

Meanwhile, a House leader supported Senate President Francis Escudero’s appeal for senators to avoid public statements on the impeachment complaints against Duterte to ensure impartiality.

Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V agreed with Escudero’s stance that senators should refrain from prejudging cases that may come before them.

According to the Philippine Constitution, the House has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.

Once a verified complaint is filed, it is referred to the House Committee on Justice, which determines its sufficiency in form and substance.

If the committee finds the complaint sufficient, it submits a report to the House plenary.

A vote of at least one-third of all House members is required to approve the Articles of Impeachment, which are then transmitted to the Senate for trial.

From A1

The Iglesia ni Cristo earlier announced it will hold a large rally in support of the President's position against pursuing impeachment proceedings against Duterte.

“The Iglesia ni Cristo supports President Bongbong Marcos's opinion against the impeachment pushed by certain sectors. The Iglesia ni Cristo is for peace; we do not want any form of unrest coming from any side,” said program host Gen Subardiaga over NET25, Iglesia's media arm.

As this developed, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it was coordinating with other agencies in preparation for the INC rally.

“We are coordinating with the police and local government units. We will manage the traffic and we will make sure the roads are passable,” MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said yesterday.

“We will also be coordinating with the rally organizer to ensure they don't disrupt traffic,” he added.

The complaint endorsed by the Makabayan bloc accused Duterte of betraying public trust for the alleged misuse of millions of pesos in public funds while she was Education secretary.

The complaint also cited the “systematic cover-up” of the fund misuse through anomalous documents sub-

pension for the remaining months of their partial disability pension or the three-month period, whichever is lower,” he explained further.

After the three-month period, the pensioner’s monthly pension will automatically resume on the fourth month.

SSS retirement pensioners can also borrow under the SSS Pension Loan Program equivalent to three, six, nine or 12 times their monthly pension, inclusive of the P1,000 additional benefit or up to P200,000.

“We offer flexible payment terms for the PLP, ranging from six to 24 months, depending on the loan amount. We hope that the SSS pension loan can help our calamity-stricken pensioners rebuild their lives after the storms,” Agas stressed.

my heart. Today, I will take accountability for everything,” Racal said.

She explained how she developed a connection with her co-star, Jennings, while working on their teleserye “Incognito.”

“I made a mistake, and I want to say sorry for everything that I have done.

It all started last June of 2024. I was in a very dark place. I was lonely. And I was getting attention from Anthony, the kind of attention that I needed,” she continued.

She revealed how the time they spent together on set contributed to her growing feelings for Jennings.

“And in all those projects, I was with Anthony. I admit, over our daily work, I also fell for him. He would be very sweet to me. He would be such a gentleman to me. He would say things to me. He would tease me on the set in front of other people,” Racal said.

Racal also shared that she had asked Jennings to clarify their relationship publicly and whether his previous relationship with Villanueva was truly over.

“God knows I asked him, ‘Nagkab-

alikan ba kayo?’ He said no. ‘Did you still love her?’ He said no. He would say things na ako yung gusto niya and all. I really asked him so many times,” she admitted.

The situation worsened when private messages between Maris and Anthony surfaced, leading some to label her as “the other woman.” She described reading the messages as “gutting” and revealed how deeply they affected her.

“I’m truly, truly embarrassed. Because people got to read without my consent, against my will. I read the screenshots over and over again. What made me really shocked was when I read it, it was the perfect narrative. That there was this other woman. there was this apologetic boyfriend. And the avoidant boyfriend towards the other woman and the scorned woman. That’s the narrative. That’s her side of the story. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But this is my side. This is my side,” Maris said.

“That's where I connected everything and realized that the reason he couldn’t release a statement was because they were still together this whole time,” she continued.

In a separate interview, Jennings expressed his apologies towards the two women involved.

crucial step in alleviating the financial strain on families, allowing students to continue their education despite economic challenges.

"The benevolence of this law allows the disaster-affected students and their families to have a breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this law will help lessen the financial burden off our students’ shoulders as they continue their schooling," he said.

The President directed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide support to students, ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent them from completing their education.

He thanked lawmakers for swiftly

passing the laws, calling it a testament to their commitment to prioritizing the welfare of the Filipino people.

Present at the ceremonial signing were Senate President Chiz Escudero, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and representatives of various universities and colleges.

Romualdez, the principal author of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, said that building fully-equipped evacuation centers across the country answers the public’s need for temporary shelter when forced to flee their homes during typhoons, flooding and other disasters.

“When these shelters are built, people will be aware of where to go when they need to evacuate. The centers will have the necessary facilities and supplies for them,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the moratorium on paying student loans after calamities supports the government’s goal of providing all learners with quality education despite climate challenges.

“The moratorium will be a big relief to students, both in public and private schools, including those run by local government units, in times of calamities, disasters, and similar emergency situations,” the Speaker said.

Under the newly signed law, the deferment of student loan payments would cover students enrolled in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, private higher education institutions, and public and private technical-vocational institutions whose residence is located in barangays, towns, cities, provinces, or regions under a state of calamity.

Maris,...

From A1

Indonesia, PH ink deal on transfer of Mary Jane JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia and the Philippines signed an agreement Friday to send Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row for drug charges in Indonesia since 2015, back to her home country.

The announcement came following the Philippines' Department of Justice undersecretary Raul Vasquez meeting with Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra in Jakarta Friday, where both ministers signed the agreement.

Following the signing, Indonesian authorities will discuss further details with the Philippines' embassy in Jakarta on Veloso's transfer, which is expected to occur before December 25, Yusril said.

"We agree to return the person concerned to the Philippines and furthermore the obligation to provide guidance to prisoner Mary Jane Veloso becomes the responsibility of the Philippine government," Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Friday.

He added that they are hoping the transfer "will be carried out before Christmas, 25 December."

Mary Jane Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin and later sentenced to death.

She was due to face the firing squad in 2015 but the Philippine government won a last-minute reprieve for her after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested and put on trial for human trafficking in which Veloso was named as a prosecution witness.

The mother-of-two's case sparked an uproar in the Philippines, with her family and supporters saying she was innocent and had been set up by an international drug syndicate.

Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws including the death penalty for traffickers. AFP

CFO to Pinoy immigrants: Be dual citizens THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) urged Filipino immigrants abroad, who are naturalized citizens of foreign countries, to re-acquire their Philippine citizenship.

In celebration of Overseas Filipinos Month, CFO director Rodrigo Garcia Jr. said they want Filipinos overseas to be in touch with their homeland, noting that re-acquiring their Philippine citizenship will not forfeit their foreign citizenship. "it doesn't mean that when you (reacquire) your Filipino citizenship, you will lose your foreign citizenship. So you will have the best of both worlds," Garcia said.

He said Filipinos can still visit the country, own lands, and establish businesses.

"What we want is even if they are overseas, their hearts remain here and the properties which they can benefit from. We’d also like them to become partners for economic development," Garcia added.

Garcia said they also want overseas Filipinos to be able to vote in national elections, which is allowed by the Overseas Voting Law. Republic Act 9225, or the Dual Citizenship Law, allows natural-born Filipinos who have become national citizens abroad to retain or reacquire their Filipino citizenship by taking an oath before a Philippine Consular office.

The processing fee for dual citizenship usually costs $50 or roughly P2,900.

According to the 2020 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the US has the most number of Filipinos with dual citizenship at 50,089, followed by Canada (23,727), Australia (2,733), South Korea (2,252), Germany (1,969), Italy (1,699), United Kingdom (1,498), Spain (1,219), Switzerland (742), and France (720).

CFO data since 1981 show that more than half or 60% of the total number of Filipino emigrants are in the United States. The next most popular destinations among Filipino emigrants after the US are Canada at 20.12%, Japan at 6.21% and Australia at 5.9%, followed

by Italy, New Zealand, UK, Germany, South Korea and Spain.

NEWS

A3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trilateral drill unfolds at PH exclusive zone THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), along with its counterparts in the United States and Japan, conducted on Friday a drill dubbed Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), said the exercise showed a trilateral commitment to enhance regional and international cooperation for a free and open IndoPacific region.

“This builds upon previous MCAs and our continuing operations together, which strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures," the INDOPACOM said in a statement. "MCAs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States," it added.

Among the participating units were the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon from Patrol Squadron 47, the Philippine Navy’s BRP Andres Bonifacio and C-90, and Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force’s Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD 106).

“The U.S., along with our allies and partners, uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to the maritime rights under international law,” the INDOPACOM said.

The AFP said it would likewise issue a statement about the activity.

Previous MCAs have been conducted in the hotly contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).

OLD, RELIABLE PH MAP. President Marcos receives the original

Murillo Velarde 1734 Map of the Philippines during a turnover ceremony at Malacañang, as First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, NOW Group chairman Mel Velasco Velarde, and retired Justice Antonio Carpio look on. (Inset) The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins US and Japan troops during maritime drills within the country’s exclusive economic zone. PPA Pool

Map affirms PH territorial rights

By Charles Dantes

P

RESIDENT Marcos enjoins the people to draw inspiration from an old map dating back to 1734 in protecting and asserting the country’s rightful claims over its territorial sovereignty.

During a formal turnover ceremony Friday at Malacañang, the President Marcos and First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos received the original the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, deemed a historic artifact and considered as the “mother of all Philippine maps.”

“Let us not only admire the artistry of

the masterpiece presented to us today, but also draw inspiration from its enduring message: the call to protect and to assert what is rightfully ours, with resolve and with integrity,” the President said in his remarks.

Acquired at a Sotheby’s auction in London by Filipino businessman Mel

Velasco Velarde in 2014, the map was donated to the Philippine government with a provision requiring a formal turnover to the Chief Executive.

Mr. Marcos underscored the map’s historical and legal significance, noting its role as a key piece of evidence in asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights during the hearing of arbitration case under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2013.

The map, produced during the Spanish colonial era by Jesuit Friar Pedro Murillo Velarde and Filipino artisans Francisco Suarez and Nicolas dela Cruz

ENDANGERED SPECIES. Former

Candaba mayor and Ibon-Ebon Bird-Watching Festival organizer Jerry Pelayo displays during a press briefing in Quezon City screenshot photos of game hunters as posted on social media, preying on Philippine ducks locally known as Dumara which has been declared as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These birds have an estimated remaining population of only 3,300 to 6,700 face extinction, along with other wild avians. Manny Palmero

CONSUMERS can expect another mixed oil price movement next week amid the ongoing volatility in the world oil prices. `The Department of Energy (DOE) predicted that based on the four-day trading, another mixed movement will be experienced next week, with gasoline increasing by P0.10 to P0.30, while diesel and kerosene are expected to have a rollback.

DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) director Rodela Romero said diesel

may have a rollback of P0.40 to P0.70 per liter, and kerosene by P0.40 to P0.60 per liter.

Romero cited among the reasons for the oil price hike the uncertain geopolitical climate in the Middle East particularly the recent strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, and delays in increased oil production by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+).

She said the reasons for rollback include bearish demand outlook for 2025, especially from top importer China, the strengthening of US dollar and President Donald Trump’s promise to drill more.

Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said primary drivers of next week’s oil price movement include geopolitical tensions which have kept prices volatile and ample diesel supply in Asia due to increased outflows from India weighed on the price. “However, lower exports of gasoline to the region supported the mgas prices,” Bellas said.

Last Dec. 3, oil companies implemented a mixed adjustment on the price of petroleum products.

Gasoline went up by P0.90 per liter while diesel and kerosene declined by P0.20 per liter and P0.40 per liter, respectively.

Speaker lauds Marawi rehabilitation push

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday lauded the Marawi recovery initiatives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the latest of which is the creation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development (OPAMRD) under Executive Order (EO) 78.

At the same time, the leader of the 307-strong House of Representatives highlighted the measures taken by his chamber to speed up Marawi City’s rehabilitation from the devastation caused by the 2017 siege, including the annual allocation in the national budget of at least P1 billion for reconstruction programs and projects.

Romualdez said President Marcos Jr.’s efforts “reflect the administration’s deep commitment to addressing the long-standing issues that have delayed the full recovery of Marawi City and its surrounding communities.”

IN BRIEF Police arrest suspect in QC road smash-up POLICE arrested on Friday a truck driver tagged as the main suspect involved in a road smash-up that killed four people on the Katipunan Ave.-Aurora Blvd. flyover in Quezon City.

The Quezon City police identified the suspect as Richard Mangupag, driver of the truck with license plate RJK 719 that triggered the multiple-vehicle collision last Dec. 5.

Mangupag was reportedly negotiating the flyover headed to C.P Garcia Ave. when the accident occurred.

The truck rammed several motorcycles and vehicles, leaving four people dead and at least 26 others wounded.

The mishap also caused damages to 16 motorcycles and five cars.

The truck driver fled, but was captured in a follow-up operation shortly after midnight on Friday. Rio N. Araja

Courier surrenders parcel of dried weeds

DOE sees mixed oil price movement

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Bagay, became crucial in the 2016 Arbitral Award that reaffirmed the country’s maritime rights over portions of the South China Sea. "It reminds us that history, when meticulously preserved, wields immense power to inform and to uphold the truth," the President said.

He urged Filipinos to carry forward the map’s legacy by upholding justice, truth, and unity.

“Together, we hold the pen to write the next chapters of our nation’s history—chapters that uphold the principles of justice, truth, and unity,” he said.

HIGH SEA RESCUE. The Philippine Navy ship BRP Jose Loor Sr. rescues a lone fisherman found adrift and clinging on a piece of Styrofoam for dear life at the high sea off Andulingan Island in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday said a local courier service provider in Palawan has surrendered a parcel of suspected marijuana bricks.

The courier turned over the shipment to the PDEA after complying with company protocols.

Examinations of the parcel yielded two bricks of dried marijuana leaves weighing some 2,000 grams with estimated street value of P240,000.

The regional PDEA cited the courier for vigilance and quick action in handling the case.

It underscored the importance of public-private partnership to fight drug trafficking, and urged other courier services to stay vigilant. Rio N. Araja

Buses can use EDSA on Dec. 20-Jan. 2 PROVINCIAL buses will be allowed to travel along EDSA from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2 in a bid to ease traffic flow during the holidays.

From Dec. 20 to Christmas Day, these buses are permitted to use EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

From Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, they will be allowed to travel on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila 24 hours a day.

More than 2,100 buses are expected to benefit from this holiday traffic scheme.

All provincial buses coming from the North will end their trips in Cubao, Quezon City, while the end of the road for those coming from the South will be at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange or in Pasay City.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Romando Artes said the volume of vehicles traversing EDSA has already reached 464,000 and is expected to swell to 480,000 during the second to third week of December.

Travel speeds have averaged 18 kilometers per hour (kph), significantly lower than the normal 21 kph.

Artest predicted that travel time will drop further to about 15 kph as Christmas approaches. Joel E. Zurbano

NEWS

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Garcia: Register socmed accounts

By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections reminded all qualified candidates for the 2025 national and local elections to register their online campaign platforms on or before December 13, 2024.

T

This as almost 4,000 candidates running for various posts have already registered their social media accounts with the poll body.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said

the December 13 deadline for the registration of candidates’ or parties’ social media accounts will no longer be extended.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 11064, all candidates, parties, and their

campaign teams are mandated to register all of their official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online and internet-based campaign platforms before the Comelec education and information division within 30 calendar days after the filing of certificates of candidacy.

An election task force will review the applications, which will then be endorsed to the Commission en banc.

Approved registration will be published on Comelec’s official website

and social media accounts The Comelec said the move to register social media accounts of candidates and political parties aims to prevent disinformation and misinformation during the campaign period.

If a candidate fails to comply with the requirements and fails to meet the registration deadline, the Comelec will issue a notice of removal or notice to explain, based on the Task Force Katotohanan Karapatan Katarungan (KKK) for the election.

IN BRIEF Lagman to campaign for Rosal vs. Salceda FORMER Albay governors Noel Rosal and Grex Lagman teamed up under the newly formed “Save Albay Alliance” which aims to challenge powerful political forces in the 2025 gubernatorial race in the province.

In a press conference on Thursday, Lagman announced his decision to withdraw from the 2025 gubernatorial race as he offered his full support to Rosal’s candidacy as one of his campaign managers.

Lagman said this move was not an abandonment of his vision for Albay, but a strategic step to strengthen Rosal’s bid against incumbent Rep. Joey Salceda, who is eyeing the governor’s seat next year.

He described his decision as a “sacrifice to fight powerful forces,” who want to “control the province.”

Rosas Olarte

10 LGUs lauded for climate project THE Department of Social Welfare and Development lauded 10 municipalities for their exemplary contributions and creativity in showcasing the impact of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished).

Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) Maria Isabel Lanada said these local government units were the winners of a recently-concluded reel-making contest initiated by the DSWD. Lanada said the competition aimed to raise the importance of community-based projects in alleviating poverty, food insecurity, and the greater issue of climate change. Maricel V. Cruz

Santa Rosa unveils revitalized city plaza FIRST MOBILE SOIL LABORATORY.

Garin hits past DOH heads for expired meds

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joins Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel and the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management in inaugurating the country’s first-ever Mobile Soil Laboratory at the Malacañan Palace on Friday.

The ten-wheeler laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment, facility, resources and safety features that aim to provide accurate and timely results. PPA Pool

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin said the Department of Health leadership under the past administration must be held liable for the expired vaccines that were not utilized, which cost billions of pesos.

Garin, a former Health secretary, made the statement after the Commission on Audit released a report that over P11 billion worth of drugs, medicines, and medical supplies expired without being utilized.

The expired supplies included some 7,035,161 vials of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The audit reports that were seen and flagged by the COA are due to the weak leadership and management of the Department of Health during the previous administration,” Garin said.

To ensure that no vaccines and medicines would be wasted, she said DOH program directors should monitor the usage of these medical-related items and ensure these are properly utilized.

“Whoever is the program director, after purchasing vaccines and medicines, it is your obligation to use them immediately and monitor them,” she said.

COA auditors said the wastage was a result of “inadequate procurement planning and poor distribution and monitoring systems.”

SANTA Rosa City celebrated the official inauguration of its newly transformed city plaza in a festive event that also marked the city’s annual Christmas Lighting Ceremony. Led by City Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas, the occasion showcased the city’s commitment to blending heritage preservation with modern urban development.

The revitalized City Plaza, a historic and cultural landmark situated in Santa Rosa’s Heritage Square, now boasts a sophisticated redesign.

Key features include an elegant amphitheater for public performances, beautifully landscaped gardens, a state-of-the-art fountain system, and vibrant spaces that evoke both nostalgia and progress. Roy Tomandao

Gov’t agencies to combat agri smugglers, hoarders KEY government agencies mandated to implement the recently enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act are now gearing up for an intensified enforcement of the law.

On Tuesday, members of the AES Council and the AES Enforcement Group, alongside relevant government agencies, gathered for the first time in a forum organized by the Stratbase Institute.

The AES Act or Republic Act No. 12022 classifies agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and engaging in cartel as acts of economic sabotage. Violators risk life imprisonment and fines up to five times the value of the goods involved under the measure that was signed into law in

September.

During the forum, the AES Council and the Enforcement Group pushed for greater inter-agency collaboration and stronger enforcement measures to ensure the effectiveness of said law.

Department of Agriculture’s Director for Inspectorate and Enforcement Felicisimo Madayag Jr. highlighted their commitment to action as crucial in boosting the efficiency of the law’s mandate.

“Our success will not be measured solely by laws passed or penalties imposed. It will be measured by the trust we rebuild in our agricultural sector, the livelihood we safeguard, and the food security we ensure to every Filipino family,” said Madayag.

2 OFWs killed in Kuwait house fire—DMW

By Vito Barcelo TWO overseas Filipino workers died in a recent fire that broke out in Al Adan, Kuwait, the Department of Migrant Workers.

The DMW said the two Filipinos, whose identity was not revealed, succumbed to death due to inhalation of harmful gases following a fire on Dec. 2, 2024.

Labor Attaché Manuel M. Dimaano of the DMW Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Kuwait said they are currently handling the legal procedures and addressing concerns related to the incident.

The MWO is also facilitating the processing of documents for the repatriation of human remains to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the DMW Regional

Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Western Visayas visited the families of the OFWs in Capiz and extended financial assistance to support the affected families during this difficult time.

The Department of Migrant Workers extends its heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and assures them of its full support.

HOLIDAY TRANSFORMATION. Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas leads the

inauguration of the city’s newly-transformed plaza in a festive event that also coincided with the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Roy Tomandao

OPINION

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2024

MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM

EDITORIAL

Arizona’s Grand Canyon faces threats GRAND CANYON, Arizona –—The Grand Canyon, declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1979, visited annually by nearly five million local and foreign tourists, tops bucket lists across the world.

But this home to 11 federally recognized tribes, traditionally associated with what is now the Grand Canyon National Park, is confronted by threats from every direction, according to authorities and climate change experts.

For instance, uranium mining risks contamination of precious water sources, and proposed developments threaten the natural, cultural, and scenic values of the canyon.

After several decades of reduced activity due to depressed prices, uranium mining is making a comeback – including on the edges of one of the United States’ most treasured wild places, the Grand Canyon, where uranium mining has left a toxic trail across the West – including at the Grand Canyon itself, authorities say.

The Canyon, world renowned for its breathtaking iconic views but a spectacular example of erosion, is also affected by air pollution from coal-fired power plants from nearby states, mining, oil and gas sources, transportation, as well as urban and industrial pollutants from Mexico and California.

We were there last month and were told that in 100 million years the Grand Canyon will be a deeper and wider valley, in the event uplift of the Colorado Plateau continues like today, with the Colorado River continually chopping down the valley bottom.

Almost five million tourists visit Grand Canyon National Park to see this immense chasm stretching 447.7 kms long, 29 kms wide and a depth of 6,000 feet.

The US Congress officially established Grand Canyon National Park in 1919, with the Grand Canyon National Park Act signed by then President Woodrrow Wilson, to protect the land and the resources within it and managed by the National Park Service.

The park’s area was greatly enlarged in 1975 by the addition of adjoining federal and other lands. In 1979 the park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the only American representation of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and a UNESCO National Heritage Site, the Grand Canyon admittedly is a giant American icon.

But poor visibility due to human-caused haze activities continue to impact the natural resources of Grand Canyon National Park in many ways, with observers saying humans have introduced non-native plant and animal species into the park, which overwhelm native flora and fauna for space, food and water.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity say hikers die each year on their Grand Canyon trip because they underes-

timate the dangers – cardiac arrest, falls, dehydration – of the wilderness, noting the chance of falling into the depths is about one in 400,000.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Grand Canyon National Park has five climate zones; Cold SemiArid (BSk), Humid Continental Dry Cool Summer (Dsb), Humid Continental Dry Warm Summer (Dsa), Warm Summer Mediterranean (Csb), and Hot Summer Mediterranean (Csa).

Cold semi-arid climates (type “BSk”) tend to be located in elevated portions of temperate zones, typically bordering a humid continental climate or a Mediterranean climate.

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Access to the mine and surrounding areas is restricted to protect the cultural and spiritual significance for Native American populations Dsb is Mediterranean-influenced warmsummer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below 0 °C or −3 °C, average temperature of the warmest month below 22 °C and at least four months averaging above 10 °C. Dsa is Mediterranean-influenced hotsummer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below 0 °C or −3 °C, average temperature of the warmest month above 22 °C and at least four months averaging above 10 °C. Csb is warm-summer Mediterranean climate; coldest month averaging above 0 °C or −3 °C, all months with average temperatures below 22 °C, and at least four months averaging above 10 °C. Hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa). The dry summer climate is found throughout the warmer middle latitudes, affecting almost exclusively the western portions of continents in relative proximity to the coast.

There isn’t an agreed scientific explanation for what caused this huge area of rock layers to disappear. Some geologists say it may have been caused by an ice age during that time but others think there may be more mysterious forces at play.

Deep canyons and rough terrain strongly influence solar heating and air circulation, thus many different microclimates are found throughout the canyon. In general, temperature increases -15°C with each 1,000 feet loss in elevation.

Access to the mine and surrounding areas is restricted to protect the cultural and spiritual significance for Native American populations.

Side hustlin’ COTABATO CITY – I’m trying to learn the administrative nuances of the newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and I’m finding out there is so much I do not know. I’m also determined to find out whether my safety apprehensions about coming here even have basis at all. We’re based in the city but yesterday we traveled a few hours to areas around the river basin. Adapting to disasters is real, whatever your landscape or location is.

This is for a case study I’ve been engaged to write for a group of NGOs. One could say it’s the gig economy in action, but the sideline – also known as “labada,” or side hustle, or among the generation before mine, “abogading” – has always been an option for writers who have decided to make a living out of the word.

It’s not a luxurious living, to be sure. I lived for 16 years on a newspaper’s salary, and because I had serious financial responsibilities as a parent, I always had to find additional means to augment that income – provided, of course, that said side hustle did not compromise my main job in terms of time, priority, or potential conflict. The writing and editing opportunities were many, and if you did a respectable job and did not burn your bridges, repeats and referrals went a long way. They still are many, and they still do go a long way. Ultimately, word of mouth is one’s ally, and one’s work is the best ambassador.

And so it came to be that at any given time I was able to work on a great range of

projects – books, reports, and case studies, among others. There are corporate projects but a company’s posh conference rooms hardly tell us who the company is. So while it is always good to talk to top executives, it is equally, if not more, engaging to talk to people on the ground. There is much to learn from CEOs, and talking to the privileged gives me a peek into their interesting world – I’ve spoken with collectors whose homes look like museums. But my favorites are the simple folk who are even bashful at first to tell their story, like they were in disbelief that someone would like to hear their voice. I’ve been in the company of embalmers, coffin makers, calamity victims, community leaders, among others.

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In praise of the ‘abogading’

(Gay Talese, in the book “Telling True Stories,” said: “I wanted to spend more time with the people who were not necessarily newsworthy. I believed then – and I believe now even more – that the role of the nonfiction writer should be with private people whose lives represent a larger significance.”)

This need for side hustles has not changed even when I’ve gone into full-time teaching, even with its dash of administrative work. These days at least, now that the

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Impeachment complaints vs. VP

ITH the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte filed by civil society organizations before the House of Representatives on Dec. 2, and a second one filed by the Makabayan bloc only days later, the stage is now set for the possibility of the second highest elective official in the country to be ousted from office.

This is a first in the nation’s political history.

The impeachment complaints against the sitting vice president are in accord with Article 11 of the 1987 Constitution that says the President, Vice President, members of the Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman may be removed from office for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

The 50-page impeachment complaint filed by religious leaders, sectoral representatives and families of drug war victims, endorsed by the Akbayan party-list representative, cites all the reasons for impeachment enumerated in the fundamental law, except for treason, and contains a total of 24 articles.

The second impeachment complaint drafted by the Makabayan bloc and other progressive groups focuses on a single issue—betrayal of public trust by the VP, specifically her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

The next step is for the House Committee on Justice to determine whether the impeachment complaints are sufficient in form and substance. If it does so, then these will be forwarded to the Senate for trial.

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Not to forget, there could even be more impeachment complaints filed against the VP in the days ahead The filing of the impeachment complaints against Sara Duterte immediately follows President Marcos Jr.’s statement that he would prefer not to have the vice president impeached as this would take up too much time and derail efforts by the legislature and the government as a whole to focus on addressing economic issues.

But the vice president may have had it coming ever since the House committee on good government and public accountability unearthed various issues at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Last month, the House panel discovered that the special disbursing officers of OVP and DepEd had left the disbursement of confidential funds to her security officers, which is tantamount to technical malversation.

Prior to this, legislators also found possible irregularities in the acknowledgement receipts for OVP and DepEd’s confidential fund expenses.

But the calls for Duterte’s impeachment mounted after her recent online press conference where she said she has contracted someone to kill the President, First Lady and House Speaker if she is targeted for assassination.

If the House plenary endorses the impeachment complaints against Sara Duterte, then it becomes a numbers game in the Senate where it would take threefourths of 23 sitting senators or 16 of them to convict her and remove her from the vice presidency, which would prevent her from getting elected or appointed to any public office in the future.

Which way will it go? Well, no one can tell at this point.

We’ll have to wait and see whether the House does its part in record time and the senators vote according to the available evidence, not on political grounds.

Not to forget, there could even be more impeachment complaints filed against the VP in the days ahead.

US-SK proxy falls, PH to follow?

MUCH like the Philippines, two years ago after its 2022 presidential elections, South Korean politics turned from the independent and sovereign foreign policy under President Moon Jae-in’s “unification with North Korea” theme, to the rabidly pro-American and pro-Japan country under President Yoon Suk-yeol whom the American defense industry Think Tank Rand Corporation tagged as “Biden’s Perfect South Korea Partner.”

This week President Yoon shook up the world’s attention from the absorbing events in Ukraine, Lebanon and the new geopolitical hot spot Syria, by a sudden declaration of an “emergency martial law” in his country “to safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements...”

The SK parliament and people did not and never did buy Yoon’s governance and his alibi for Martial Law, and the fall of this US proxy is now imminent.

Yoon is a political tyro who won only by a margin of 0.8 percent in the 2022 presidential elections over Lee Jae-myung of Moon’s then ruling Democratic Party as the popular Moon could only serve one-term under their Constitution.

Within two years, Yoon’s public approval rating crashed to 20 percent as reported by Gallup Korea with respondents angered over corruption of Yoon’s wife (13 percent), worsening economic conditions (15 percent), foreign policy disappointments (4 percent) among other factors.

The most controversial factor in Yoon’s foreign policy is his unpopular push for close defense ties with former Korean colonial master, Japan, a policy following US initiative to organize bloc politics aimed at encircling China.

Ties with China soured in 2023 after Yoon opined that “The Taiwan issue is not

simply an issue between China and Taiwan but like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue...” China strongly rejected the linkage and declared Taiwan as purely an internal issue.

The US has been exerting all sorts of pressures to stop SK from exporting semiconductor components to China and on other trade matters, at the time Yoon was clearly distancing from China diplomatically.

While China remained very popular among the South Korean people, the Yoon government was clearly following the sway of the Americans which took its toll on trade and diplomatic ties with China, although in late 2024 efforts to mend fences were underway.

Breaking Defense website of Northrop Grumman’s report on Dec. 4, 2024 titled “South Korean crisis likely to have military, geopolitical reverberations” warned if the more liberal opposition wins the struggle “Japan-Korea relations will go down the drain” and, by implication from my pointof-view, the US encirclement of China with offensive missiles would go down with it.

“Once Yoon is forced out, there may be retrenchment against tighter relations with Japan,” the report states.

The report goes on, “... the impeach-

ment resolution (against Yoon) introduced in the National Assembly specifically calls out Yoon’s approach to Japan as part of the reason he should be forced out, including accusations he ‘adhered to a peculiar Japan-centric foreign policy,’” a US policy imposed on Yoon and very unpopular with the SK people.

Yoon’s impeachment has some ways to go but it is almost certain he will be ousted.

The US plot to wreck the Asian Century with war will suffer a major blow.

There are many similarities between the SK situation and the Philippines today, both US proxy states with one just transitioned from an attempted coup d’etat by presidential decreed martial law and reversed in one day by the SK opposition parliament, in the Philippines a “pre-emptive” coup against an imminent 2028 government under Sara Duterte via impeachment initiative of the Leftist and the Rightists.

The Iglesia ni Cristo rally has momentarily paused the impeachment at the moment.

Meanwhile, the US “gray zone” proxy war in the South China Sea has faltered after two years against China’s “Great Wall of ships.”

Tarriela is getting it restarted with the latest fabricated “China Coast Guard dangerous maneuvers vs. PCG in WPS” story, but the PCG video itself showed the PCG cutting from the portside the Chinese Coast Guard ship – a violation of the international anti-collision regulation – but Tariella is counting on the public not knowing this.

The US Ukraine proxy Zelenskyy will be a political cadaver in a matter of a few months, and South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol is likely facing the same fate.

The Philippine situation may take a year longer but the same fate seems to be looming for its president – unless he changes course away from US vassalage.

semester is winding down, students are given time to do their own field work for their respective assignments. My previous main job at the paper has taken a backseat, but I find that it is important – no, essential – to do journalism while teaching journalism.

And then, in my exhaustion, I struggle to free up a few minutes to write something I am not supposed to/ paid to submit. This writing that I don’t have to do, I always do with joy and fulfillment, and not without a little guilt.

The result of having these side gigs while

trying to do well in the main one is apparent to everyone around me. One is always busy, during office hours and outside office hours. The fact that one is a night owl is a happy coincidence. There seems to be no respite. Work-life balance is evasive, unless one puts one’s foot down and deliberately disconnects and sets a no-work day. Or hour/s.

Sometimes I envy people who go to one office, clock in, work the whole day, and then come home. Their evenings and weekends are free. The boundaries are clear.

Their mind is singularly set on that one job,

and they don’t think of anything else they should be doing while they are already doing something in the first place.

Surprise, surprise. I would not have it any other way. To have all these opportunities to practice different forms of writing, to meet a great variety of people, be privy to the most intimate, fascinating stories, not to mention earn an honest living – is grace. It’s never easy, but it’s a full life I’m leading.

In the end I am always grateful, because not everybody gets the chance to make a living out of something that keeps them alive. adellechua@gmail.com

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

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

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Yoon’s impeachment has some ways to go but it is almost certain he will be ousted

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Joyce Pangco Pañares Virgilio Galvez

Managing Editor News Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Aytch dela Cruz

Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Editor Online Editor

WORLD

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2024

MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM

Ruling party: ‘Dangerous’ Yoon must go S

EOUL — South Korea’s ruling party chief demanded Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol be stripped of office, warning there was a “significant risk” he could try to impose martial law again.

V

COMMERCIAL HUB SEIZEED. A Syrian anti government fighter shoots against a large banner bearing a picture of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, hanging on the facade of a municipal building in the west-central city of Hama on Dec. 5, the day Islamist-led rebels captured the central Syrian city of Hama, days after seizing the country’s commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. AFP

IN BRIEF Strikes hit bridge linking Syria’s Homs, Hama 1H

Taiwan’s Lai ‘confident’ of deeper ties with Trump KOROR, Palau – Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Friday he was “confident” of deeper cooperation with the next Donald Trump administration, a day after his call with US Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson that angered China.

Like other world governments, Taiwan has publicly congratulated Trump on his victory in November’s presidential election as it seeks to get onside with the next US leader.

The United States does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but Washington has long been Taipei’s biggest backer and provider of arms.

Trump caused jitters during his campaign by suggesting Taiwan should pay the United States for its defense and accusing the island of stealing the US semiconductor industry. AFP

BEIRUT — Air strikes targeted a bridge on the highway linking the Syrian cities of Homs and Hama, a war monitor said Friday, as government forces scramble to secure Homs after Islamist-led rebels captured Hama and commercial hub Aleppo.

“Fighter jets executed several airstrikes, targeting Al-Rastan bridge on (the) Homs-Hama highway... as well as attacking positions around the bridge, attempting to cut off the road between Hama and Homs and secure Homs,” the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched their offensive a little more than a week ago, just as a ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon took hold between Israel and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ally Hezbollah.

To slow the rebel advance, the Observatory said Assad’s forces erected soil barriers on the highway north of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city which lies just 40 kilometers south of Hama.

Tens of thousands of members of Assad’s Alawite minority community were fleeing Homs on Thursday, for

fear that the rebels would keep up their advance, the Observatory said earlier.

The rebels captured Hama on Thursday following street battles with government forces, announcing “the complete liberation of the city” in a message on their Telegram channel.

Rebel fighters kissed the ground and let off volleys of celebratory gunfire as they entered Syria’s fourth-largest city.

Many residents turned out to welcome the rebel fighters. An AFP photographer saw some residents set fire to a giant poster of Assad on the facade of city hall. AFP

Defiant Macron seeks new PM, Arsonists set Melbourne exit from crisis synagogue ablaze

MELBOURNE – Mask-wearing arsonists set a synagogue ablaze in a pre-dawn attack Friday in the Australian city of Melbourne, police said, sparking widespread condemnation.

The fire broke out at 4:10 am in the Adass Israel Synagogue when some congregants were already inside, police said, gutting much of the building in the southeast Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea.

No serious injuries were reported.

A witness entering the synagogue for morning prayers saw “two individuals wearing masks”, Detective Inspector Chris Murray of the Victorian police arson and explosive squad told reporters at the scene.

“They appeared to be spreading an accelerant of some type in the premises,” he said.

The synagogue was “engulfed in flames”, he added.

“We believe it was deliberate. We believe it has been targeted. What we don’t know is why.”

Police will increase patrols as they hunt for the arsonists, who were wearing dark clothing, he said. AFP

Sao Paulo police brutality cases raise pressure SAO PAULO, Brazil – Hundreds protested against a series of police brutality cases in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state on Thursday (Friday in Manila), ratcheting up pressure on its governor, who is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2026.

Governor Tarcisio de Freitas -- an ally of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro -- has been under increased criticism since a video of a police officer throwing an arrested man off a bridge went viral online.

The suspect survived and the officer was himself arrested and faces being kicked off the force.

The incident was one of a number of acts of police violence in recent weeks that have stirred public indignation in the state, Brazil’s most populous, and also nationally.

In downtown Sao Paulo on Thursday, hundreds of protesters demonstrated against the brutality, some holding a banner reading: “Who polices the police?” AFP

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron on Friday was to hold talks with political factions as he seeks to name a new prime minister and find a way out of France’s political crisis.

Macron adopted a defiant tone in an address to the nation late Thursday, 24 hours after Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote.

Macron vowed to name a new prime minister in the coming days, rejected growing pressure from the opposition to resign and blamed an “anti-republican front” of the hard left and far right for France’s woes.

Contemporary France’s shortestserving premier, Barnier resigned after Wednesday’s parliamentary defeat in a standoff over the budget forced his government to step down, the first such toppling of a French administration in more than 60 years.

“I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days,” Macron said, adding this person would be charged with forming a “government of general interest” with a priority of passing a budget.

The French presidency said earlier that Barnier and his ministers would remain “in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government”.

Macron is on Friday to meet leaders of the parliamentary factions of his own centrist forces, the Socialist Party and the right-wing Republicans to continue the search for a compromise, presidential sources said. AFP

Yoon late Tuesday declared martial law before being forced into a U-turn after lawmakers dramatically faced down soldiers at parliament and voted to overturn the measure, as thousands protested outside.

“Considering the newly emerging facts, I believe that a swift suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s duties is necessary to safeguard the Republic of Korea and its people,” said Han Dong-hoon, the head of Yoon’s People Power Party, who only a day earlier had said he opposed Yoon’s impeachment.

If Yoon remains, “there is a significant risk that extreme actions similar to the martial law declaration could be repeated, which could put the Republic of Korea and its citizens in great danger,” Han said.

Han said “credible evidence” suggested that Yoon had ordered the arrest of “key politicians” and for them to be placed in a holding facility.

Yoon “does not acknowledge that this illegal martial law is wrong” and has failed to act against the military officials who “illegally intervened,” Han added.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his South Korean counterpart Friday Washington was confident in its ally’s “democratic resilience,” in their first conversation since President Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law.

Blinken “spoke with Foreign Minister (Cho Tae-yul) following deeply concerning developments in (South Korea).

He welcomed the lifting of martial law, expressed confidence in the country’s democratic resilience, and reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to our Alliance,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on social media platform X. A separate statement issued by the State Department said Blinken told his opposite number that he “expects the... democratic process to prevail.” AFP

DAYLIGHT MURDER.

This handout image released by the New York Police Department via X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 5, 2024 shows the firearm recovered at the scene of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson the day before by a masked gunman outside a New York hotel in an apparently targeted hit.

Thompson was gunned down as he prepared to address investors with the gunman firing several times before using a rented bike to flee in the direction of Central Park, police said.

AFP/NYPD

NY police hunt brazen Manhattan gunman NEW YORK — Police released a new security camera picture Thursday (Friday in Manila) of the man believed to have shot a top health insurance executive at close range in a brazen daylight murder outside a Manhattan hotel.

The latest picture, in which the suspect’s face is uncovered and he is smiling or laughing, indicated progress in the manhunt after Wednesday’s shock killing.

In a hit conducted in front of bystanders and seen by millions on TV replays

of security camera footage, the masked killer used a pistol to gun down Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare -- one of the country’s largest medical insurers.

Thompson was attending an investor conference in the Midtown business district.

Police have yet to suggest a motive and would not confirm a New York Times report that the words “delay” and “deny” -- often used by insurance companies to reject claims -- were written on shell cas-

ings found at the scene.

Video footage shows Thompson on the sidewalk outside the New York Hilton Midtown when a man in a hoodie, and with his lower face covered, approaches from behind, then fires several shots at his 50-year-old victim, who crumples to the ground.

Camera footage showed the suspect fleeing on foot, before getting on a bicycle -- which police initially said may have been a rented e-bike. Police said he went in the direction of Central Park. AFP

Lavrov: Russia ready to defend itself in Ukraine by ‘any means’

MEMORIAL SERVICE. Seashells are pictured during a commemoration ceremony for ancestral, human remains of the Ugaram Le Omasker, that were part of the Ethnologisches Museum (Ethnological Museum) collection, before their restitution to Australia, in Berlin, Germany on Dec. 5, 2024. AFP

WASHINGTON, DC – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said he hoped Ukraine’s allies took “seriously” Moscow’s recent use of a hypersonic missile in the conflict there, and warned that Russia was ready to use “any means” to defend itself.

The United States and its allies “must understand that we would be ready to use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call strategic defeat of Russia,” Lavrov said in an interview with US

media personality Tucker Carlson.

Two weeks ago, Russia fired its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in an escalation of the almost three-year war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has since threatened to use the weapon on Kyiv in response to Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s territory, which took place after the United States authorized use of its ATACMS weapon system in such attacks. AFP

SPORTS

A7

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

Paris Olympics is most followed ever, says IOC L

AUSANNE, Switzerland —The Paris Olympics were the most followed Games in television and social media history, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday.

“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were the most followed Olympic Games ever,” IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters at the end of an executive board meeting in Lausanne.

“84% of the potential audience -- that means around 5 billion people around the globe -- followed these Olympic Games.”

Bach added: “Every viewer watched, on average, nine hours of coverage, a 20% increase on the previous Games.”

In the home market of France, 95 percent of the potential audience watched an average of 24 hours of coverage of the Olympics.

“Engagement with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on social media went, literally, through the roof,” Bach said.

“There were 412 billion engagements, an incredible 290% increase on the previous edition of the Games.”

Bach said that Paris 2024 had “demonstrated the unprecedented global appeal of the Olympic Games”.

“Audiences are following and interacting with the Olympic Games like never before.”

“The independent surveys also demonstrate that people believe that the Olympic Movement’s mission to unite the world in peaceful competition is more important than ever in a divided world; and that the Olympic values truly resonate with younger generations.

“These were Olympic Games of a new era.”

The brand tracker, broadcast research, and consumer and athlete surveys were conducted by Nielsen, Ipsos and Publicis Sport & Entertainment.

Across all consumer studies a total of more than 55,000 people in 18 countries were surveyed, with all respondents aged between 13 and 65, according to the IOC. AFP

THE most awaited event of the year by the bayang karerista is coming this December 8, Sunday at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.

The Philippine Racing Commission, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, celebrating its 90th anniversary, have joined forces in bringing the P12-million 2024 Presidential Gold Cup, the biggest purse in Philippine horseracing history.

With 13 equally talented runners fielded by the biggest stables and ridden by the best jockeys of the land vying for the top prize of P7.2 million, this year’s PGC to be run at the lung-busting distance of 2000 meters will be a race every horseracing afficionado must watch.

The horseowners have even placed substantial seed bets (minimum of P12,000 each) in the Win betting pool which will make the race even more interesting for the bettors.

For their part, the host club has even provided busses to bring the karerista from Manila to the venue.

“The Presidential Gold Cup is the pinnacle of each calendar year in horseracing and our long time partnership with the PCSO has made it possible to elevate the event to further heights by providing the biggest prize money in local horseracing history,” said Philracom chairman Reli de Leon.

“The bayang karerista is enjoined to witness the event this coming Sunday. I hope to see you at the races,” he added.

Paris’ mayor Anne Hidalgo (center) waves the Olympic flag next to IOC president Thomas Bach and president of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet (right) during the handing over of the flag as part of the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis. AFP

Madis, Aludo reach Philta International Juniors 2 semis FILIPINOS Tennielle Madis and Stefi Marithe Aludo downed separate rivals Friday to reach the semifinal round in the Coca-Cola PHILTA International Juniors 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The top-ranked Madis defeated No. 6 Naomi Hagi of Hong Kong, 6-0, 6-4, to advance against No. 4 Alexandra Cheishvili of Russia, who walked over Shinar Zahra Shukayna Heriyadi Sunggoro of Indonesia.

Aludo, seeded third, conquered Kannchaya Chungwatana, 6-1, 6-3, to advance against No. 2 Jihun Oh of Korea.

Oh, the first leg champion, pulled off a 6-1, 7-5 win over compatriot Seojin Park.

In the boys singles category, No. 6

Top seed Tenielle Madis makes a doublebackhand return in the quarterfinal of the Coca-Cola PHILTA International Juniors 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Friday.

PHILTA photo

Miguel Iglupas lost to No. 2 Lin HaoYu, 0-6, 3-6, in the ITF J60 event supported by official ball Technifibre.

Hao-Yu will face No. 7 and Koki Nara of Japan, who won over No. 4 Luke Koh of Singapore, 7-6, 1-0 (ret.).

Top seed Jay Lin Gibson of Canada survived unseeded Japanese Yoshito Oda, 6-7, (8), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), to forge a semifinal showdown with Fu Wang Choi of Hong Kong, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Luke Jie Xi Ho of Singapore.

Madis is seeking a sixth singles title this year. Her other victories were at the J30 PHINMA Week 1 and 2 in Makati City in July and J60 events in Colombo (Sri Lanka) in September, Nonthaburi (Thailand) in October and Changhua City Chinese Taipei (November). She also has three doubles titles with Aludo.

Madis and Aludo are both training at the Philippine Tennis Academy under SEAG Games medalist and former Davis Cupper Bobbie Angelo.

New Era Junior Hunters keep NAASCU crown NEW Era University outclassed Our Lady of Fatima University, 83-51 and annexed its second straight juniors title in the NAASCU Basketball Tournament held recently at the Novadeci Convention Center in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The NEU Juniors Hunters once again banked heavily on Divine Adili and Richmond Montejo to extend their reign for another year in the 8-team league.

Imposing his will inside the paint, Adili sparked a telling breakaway in the third to take

Rich P12m Presidential Gold Cup set

a 64-37 lead and never looked back.

Adili was almost unstoppable, tallying 29 points on a remarkable 13-of-16 shooting apart from grabbing 22 boards, 9 of them offensively, to win clinch his second straight MVP award.

He and Montejo, who had 13 points, 9 assists and 7 boards, also made to the Mythical Selection.

In advancing to the final, the Junior Hunters defeated St. Clare, 52-43.

New Era’s Den Velez was named Coach of the Year for the second straight year.

The New Era Junior Hunters display their championship banner

Local talents hog spotlight at PPS Cotabato THE Cotabato City National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Sports Plaza courts saw local talents dominate the scene, clinching six out of nine agegroup titles recently.

The unranked players, demonstrating both skill and determination, made the tournament memorable in this leg of the Palawan Pawnshop nationwide talent-search with Princess Obaniana emerging as the standout, defeating the tournament’s top two seeds in the girls’ 14-and-under category.

Princessa Obaniana (right) and Chad Globasa

Obaniana outclassed second-seed Dominique Calingasan with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the semifinals, then delivered a masterful 6-0, 6-2 win over Isabel Calingasan.

Although Obaniana also competed in the 16-and-U category, she eventually fell to top-seed Dhea Cua in the semis. Cua, another Cotabato native, breezed past her opponents, including a flawless 6-0, 6-0 triumph against Claire Daga-as in the finals.

Sanschena Francisco from Sultan Kudarat made her mark in the girls’ 18-and-U division, defeating her doubles partner Mikyla Mori of Cotabato City, 6-2, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Kathryina Makabangkit from Pikit edged out Maria Lucia Calingasan in a close 7-5, 6-4 match to claim the girls’ 12-and-U title.

In the boys’ competition, Globasa stole the spotlight in the 16-and-U category. After upsetting top-seed Anthony Cosca, he swept past Tom Songcayauon and later beat fellow unranked competitor Aljaven Lumambas, 6-2, 6-3, for the title.

SPORTS

A8

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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

Risa Pasuit of the Philippines (right) rattles Sri Lanka’s Kasthuri Keshani Hansika with a right rook.

ASBC

Cards seek title, Blazers eye equalizer

By Peter Atencio THE College of St. Benilde Blazers will need to get their acts together when they meet the Mapua Cardinals in Game 2 of the 100th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball finals on Saturday, 2:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Last Sunday, the Cardinals coasted to an 84-73 demolition of the Blazers in Game 1 at the same venue.

“We know what we’re supposed to do, we just didn’t do the job of doing it, so we have to make sure that we’re focused and don’t let the big moment get to the players because that really was the problem for us,” said Blazers’ coach Charles Tiu. Tiu spoke about their performance, moments after after the Cardinals took the momentum, going into their second game of their best-of-three finals affair on Saturday.

The Blazers played an error-prone game, committing 23 turnovers, which was off their average of just 15.72.

The Cardinals, led by Clint Escamis, capitalized on the Blazers’ turnovers as they converted 34 points from this.

“Basically, we gave them the game.

They outworked us,” added Tiu. Both squads are hungry, with the Cardinals out to end a 33-year title drought, while the Blazers are seeking to get past a 24-year dry spell.

Escamis put up a big show in Game 1 with 30 points and Tiu knows that they need to stop him.

“Clint Escamis was great as always. It was a tough game for us, I guess the guys were a bit nervous as this is their first time in the finals, so hopefully we can be better next game,” added Tiu.

PH boxers Pasuit, Bautista shoot for gold-medal round

By Randy Caluag

R

IZA Pasuit is set to face Uzbekistan’s Uktamova Nigina in the women’s 57kg semifinals on Saturday (December 7) at the 2024 ASBC Elite Men and Women Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, looking for a victory that would secure her a spot in the gold-medal match.

The Philippines has secured at least two bronze medals in Thai-

land, thanks to strong performances by featherweights Ian Clark Bautista

and Pasuit in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

Bautista, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, earned a dominant unanimous decision victory over Turkmenistan’s Muhanov Dovlet in the men’s 57kg division, advancing to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Pasuit, a Thailand Open medalist, delivered an impressive performance in the women’s 57kg category, outclassing Sri Lanka’s Kasthuri Keshani Hansika with quick and precise exchanges to secure

another unanimous decision win.

Filling in the shoes of two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio, Pasuit demonstrated her skill and composure, keeping the Philippines’ hopes alive for a potential gold medal.

However, it was a tough day for lightweight Mervin Lucky Alcober, who fell to Kyrgyzstan’s Ryspek Bektenov in a 0-5 defeat in the men’s 60kg quarterfinals.

Bautista will take onon Uzbekistan’s Mirzakhalilov Mirazizbek in a bid to reach the finals.

Charles Tiu

Pampanga Giant Lanterns eye historic MPBL crown in Dubai

HD Spikers aim to stay unbeaten vs.

Chameleons Games Saturday (Cebu) 4 p.m. – Nxled vs Cignal 6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs Galeries Tower

THE record-breaking six-month Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference hits its fifth week, electrifying Cebu’s Minglanilla Sports Complex for the first time. This milestone marks a new chapter for the league as it ventures in the Queen City of the South with the enthusiastic Cebuano volleyball community expected to pack the venue.

Cebu has long been a hotbed for volleyball talent, producing legends like Thelma Barina-Rojas and current PVL stars such as Sisi Rondina and Deanna Wong of Choco Mucho, Akari’s Grethcel Soltones and ZUS Coffee’s Thea Gagate. This makes the PVL’s stop in Cebu not just a showcase of high-level competition but also a nod to the region’s rich volleyball heritage.

With the local crowd’s unyielding support and the presence of volleyball luminaries, today’s matches promise to inspire the next generation of Cebuano athletes.

Highlighting the day’s doubleheader is a showdown at 4 p.m. between the redhot Cignal HD Spikers and the struggling Nxled Chameleons.

Cignal, riding high on a three-game win run, hopes to build on its strong momentum, led by the reliable trio of Vanie Gandler, Ces Molina, Jackie Acuña and Gel Cayuna. With two close runner-up finishes in the 2022 Reinforced and 2024 Invitational conferences, the HD Spikers are determined to finally clinch the elusive crown.

On the other hand, the winless Chameleons are eager to claw their way out of the cellar. Despite their 0-4 record, they’ve shown flashes of brilliance, particularly through Chiara Permentilla, who dropped 23 points in their last match against the Capital1 Solar Spikers.

THE Pampanga Giant Lanterns shoot for the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season crown when they tangle with the Quezon Huskers at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Game Three of the National Finals at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

After sweeping the Huskers in historic Game One, 88-81, and Game Two, 79-60, both held in Dubai, the Giant Lanterns appear poised to cut short the best-of-five series at their homecourt and become the MPBL’s first back-to-back champions.

Justine Baltazar is certain to retain the MVP plum, averaging 18.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks in the Finals, where the Giant Lanterns, the North Division champion, have proved better than the Huskers, the South Division titlist, in all aspects.

Pampanga paced Quezon in total rebounds (101-88), assists (51-44), steals (17-16) and blocks (7-3) and committed fewer turnovers (29-31), reasons why the Giant Lanterns led for an imposing 39 minutes and 18 seconds in Game One and 36:11 in Game Two. The Huskers seized control for only 24 seconds in Game One and 1 minute and 30 seconds in Game Two. Other key players for Pampanga head coach Gov. Dennis Pineda are

All eyes will be on Pampanga’s Justine Baltazar. Dennis Mallari

Archie Concepcion, MJ Garcia, Encho Serrano, Kurt Reyson and Brandon Ramirez.

Following his 20-point explosion in Game Two, Reyson is averaging 14 points, 6.5 assists, 4 rebounds and

1.5 steals while filling in the role of Serrano, who got ejected in the first quarter of Game One and suspended for Game Two. Concepcion is averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists and Ramirez 8.5 points plus 9 rebounds.

Jhaymo Eguilos, Raymond Binuya and Rence Alcoriza have also stepped up for the Giant Lanterns, who are pouncing on the Huskers’ manpower shortage and shooting woes.

Already feeling the absence of skipper Gab Banal due to a hurting groin, the Huskers were further hampered by LJay Gonzales’ jaw injury in the first quarter, resulting to a zero output in Game One and two points in Game Two. Sniper Judel Fuentes is also struggling, averaging 10 points while making only 3 of 24 triple attempts plus 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Huskers, who are also getting sub-par performances from Ximone Sandagon (6.5 points, 4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1 steal), Jason Opiso (4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals), and Mon Abundo (3.5 points. 4 rebounds, 5.5 assists).

Raising their game for Quezon Coach Eric Gonzales in the Finals are Rodel Gravera (14.5 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal) and Al Francis Tamsi (9.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal).

Ateneo grade school booters to represent QC in NCR tourney THE Ateneo Grade School Palarong Pambansa Football Team is the official Quezon City representative to the National Capital Region Divisional Meet.

The team successfully won all its games at the Quezon City level held last November 23 and 24 at the FEU Diliman Football Field.

The boys faced several public school elementary teams, including Old Balara Elementary School which they met at the finals for the second consecutive year. The team scored a total of 38 goals and conceded none during the entire tournament.

Special awards were given to Ryan Moti as the Best Defender and Jacob Navarro as the MVP and Golden Boot awardee.

Now, the team will need to prepare for the NCR Regional Championship in March 2025 and earn the right to represent the region to the National Palarong Pambansa Football Tournament.

The team is led by team captain Sancho Bautista and co-captain Ryan Moti, under the guidance of esteemed coaches, Paul Madrona and Rafael Cruz.

Shown here are (top row, from left) coach Paul Madrona, Red Alminar, Miguel Tagarda, Jose Bernal, Ryan Moti, Zac Diaz, Niall Enciso, Sancho Bautista, Daniel Guerrero, Migo Achas, Matt Diaz, Coach Rafael Cruz, (bottom row, from left) Marcus Cuyugan, Jacob Navarro, Altis Villaseñor, Miggy Pineda, Max Unson, Anton Landicho and Ram Tuazon.

BUSINESS

B1

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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

RICE FOR ALL.

The Department of Agriculture intensifies its Rice-for-All program by launching KADIWA ng Pangulo Rice-for-All kiosks in major public markets across Metro Manila on Dec. 5, 2024. KADIWA ng Pangulo Rice-for-All kiosks are now available in Kamuning Market, Guadalupe Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market and Pasay City Public Market. These kiosks will operate from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Philex extends Padcal mine life

B2

PH jobless rate declined to 3.9% in October—PSA 1.97 million U 3.9%

Unemployment rate in October 2024

Jobless Filipinos in October 2024

48.2 million Employed Filipinos in October 2024

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NEMPLOYMENT rate in October 2024 slightly dropped to 3.9 percent from 4.2 percent in the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.

This translates to an additional 369,000 Filipinos with jobs compared to October 2023, bringing the fullyear employment creation to about 845,000.

The figure, however, rose from a record low of 3.7 percent registered in September 2024.

The PSA said that in terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed individuals in October 2024 reached 1.97 million, lower than

2.09 million in October 2023. It was, however, higher than 1.89 million in September.

The year-on-year reduction brought the full-year figure down to 4.3 percent from 4.6 percent, better than the 2024 target set by the Philippine Development Plan of 4.4 to 4.7 percent.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said this means that the labor market continues to improve, and the country

TOURISM REWARD. Helen

Grace Arceo, who registered as a sponsor for her husband and invitee, Juan Arceo III, emerges as the grand prize winner during the second Bisita, Be My Guest (BBMG) raffle draw in December 2023. In addition to the house and lot from Amaia Land, she also received a four-day, three-night stay at The Marison Hotel in Albay and international and domestic roundtrip tickets to Legazpi courtesy of Cebu Pacific. Arceo shared how her family enjoyed their travel prize by exploring Albay, reaffirming her role as an ambassador for Philippine tourism.

Air Canada set to launch Manila-Vancouver service AIR Canada is expanding its international network with a new non-stop route between Vancouver and Manila starting April 2025.

“We are thrilled to add Manila to our global network with new, year-round, non-stop service from Vancouver, Air Canada’s Pacific gateway hub. We continue to pursue our international network strategy of expanding to large, fast-growing markets that are presently unserved directly by Air Canada,” said Mark Galardo, executive vice president for revenue and network planning of Air Canada.

“The Philippines is an important market reflecting longstanding family ties between our two countries with growing business connections and tourism opportunities,” he said.

“With an extensive domestic and transborder network in Vancouver designed to connect seamlessly to our

international flights, we are making travel between North America and the Philippines even more convenient for leisure and business travelers alike. It is with great excitement that we look forward to welcoming our customers onboard next spring,” said Galardo.

Air Canada is the only Canadian carrier scheduled to serve the Philippines, presently the largest market in Asia without direct Air Canada service.

The new route will operate four times weekly beginning April 2, 2025, using the airline’s flagship Dreamliner aircraft.

It will be Air Canada’s 12th route in its transpacific network from Vancouver, which includes Japan, South Korea, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, leveraging Vancouver’s geographic position as the closest major North American city to Asia. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH manufacturing volume declined 1.8% in October THE manufacturing sector contracted 1.8 percent in October 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.

This was slower than the 5 percent year-on-year decline in September 2024 but reversed the 1.4 percent increase seen in October 2023.

“This brings the average growth rate of the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing from January to October 2024 to 1.7 percent,” the PSA said.

The slower year-over-year decline in the VoPI for the month was primarily driven by the 6.8 percent annual growth rate of the beverage manufacturing industry division in October 2024, up from an 8 percent annual drop in September 2024.

Beverage manufacturing contributed 29.7 percent to the VoPI trend for the manufacturing sector in October 2024.

Other key contributors to the slower annual decline in the VoPI in October 2024 included: A 26.4 percent annual increase in the manufacture of wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles, and related products in October 2024, up from a 24.3 percent annual drop in the previous month.

A faster 6.7 percent annual increase in the manufacture of transport equipment during the month, compared to 3.2 percent in the previous month.

Ten of the 19 remaining industry divisions posted annual increases during the period, while nine industry divisions saw annual declines in October 2024. (Tables D and 2) The top three industry divisions contributing to the overall year-on-year growth rate of the VoPI for manufacturing in October 2024 were basic metals, coke and refined petroleum products and other nonmetallic mineral products.

is on the right track. “But we won’t stop because the government will continue its programs to provide more quality jobs and help Filipinos increase their income and lift themselves out of poverty,” Recto said.

Total employment reached 48.2 million in October 2024, marking an increase of 369,000 employed Filipinos from the previous year.

However, the underemployment rate experienced a slight uptick, increasing to 12.6 percent from 11.7 percent in the same month last year.

This translates into 486,000 additional underemployed individuals seeking more working hours, primarily from the wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, and forestry sectors.

New Clark City to have public park

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PH, Chile to start free trade talks

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BUSINESS

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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Stocks rise on jobs data, peso closes at 57.7 a dollar PHILIPPINES shares advanced Friday, rising above the 6,700 level as investors digested the inflation and jobs data.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 38.37 points, or 0.57 percent, to close at 6,729.14, while the broader all-shares Index inched up by 13.79 points, or 0.37 percent, to settle at 3,790.68.

“Philippine shares climbed back above 6,700 after a sluggish week, as investors discounted the latest November CPI [consumer price index] data,” Regina Capital Development Corp head of sales Luis Limlingan.

He said that while headline inflation rose to 2.5 percent in November, driven by food price increases following a series of typhoons, it remained within the central bank’s target range for 2024.

“Inflation for the year averaged 3.2 percent, with projections indicating it will remain within the BSP’s target range. Risks include potential wage hikes and electricity rate adjustments, while declining import tariffs on rice may temper inflation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the peso strengthened further to finish at 57.73 against the US dollar Friday, up from 57.88 Thursday on positive employment figures, showing that the jobless rate remained below 4.0 percent in October.

At the stock market, US equities fell overnight as investors awaited the November jobs report as this could influence the US Federal Reserve’s rate decision. Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted the economy’s strength allows cautious moves on rate cuts.

Total value turnover at the PSE reached P4.52 billion, with 91 gainers, 83 decliners and 62 names unchanged.

SM Investment Corp. rose 2.81 percent to P915, while Ayala Land Inc. declined 2.07 percent to P28.40.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 276, Quezon City E-mail: rtc2qzn076@judiciary.gov.ph Contact No.: (02) 8292-1185; (02) 8529-2349

Philex extends mine life of Padcal project by a year

By Jenniffer B. Austria

G

OLD and copper producer Philex Mining Corp. extended the mine life of Padcal mine in Benguet province by another year to December 2028.

Philex said that based on a study, the life of the Padcal mine could be extended for another year from December 2027 to December 2028, with remaining mineable reserves estimate of 30.25 million tons and an average

gold and copper grades of 0.20 grams per ton (g/t) and 0.18 percent, respectively.

The total recoverable gold is estimated to be 137,600 ounces, while the total recoverable copper is esti-

smooth transition to the start of the commercial operation of the Silangan project estimated to commence in early 2026 in response to the global demand for green metals and the government’s call for mineral resources development to be a driver for national growth and economic recovery.

The latest mineable reserves estimate was prepared by Engr. Julius Bayogan and Engr. Ricardo Dolipas II, both competent persons under the definition of the Philippine Mineral Reporting Code (PMRC).

MSD’S AWARD. MSD Philippines receives the Great Place to Work certification, in recognition for the company’s success in fostering a purpose-driven, inclusive, united and empowering work environment where employees feel valued and engaged. The certification reflects the feedback of MSD’s employees, with 89 percent affirming that ‘taking everything into account, MSD is a great place to work’ and 96 percent expressing pride in working at MSD.

Okada Group drops backdoor listing plan, sells stake in Asiabest GAMING resort operator Okada Group dropped its backdoor listing plan after selling its entire stake in listed dormant company Asiabest Group International Inc. to a consortium led by PremiumLands Corp. owned by businessman Francis Lloyd Chua for P510.4 million.

Asiabest said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday its major stockholder, Okada-owned

Tiger Resort Asia Limited (TRAL) signed a share purchase agreement for its 66.67-percent stake in the company to PremiumLands at P2.55 per share.

No other details were disclosed.

The shares of Asiabest started going up in October, making it one of the best-performing stocks in 2024.

From a 52-week low of P2.66 per share, the stock price of Asiabest surged more than 900 percent to a 52-

ANNIE CHEN CHUA, Petitioner,

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Case No.: R-QZN-24-06136-SP

CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL,THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICSAUTHORITY, LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, REYNALDO A. PEREZ,SPS. BENSON CHUA & CHEN MAI YU, DIANNE CHEN CHUA AND KIMBERLY KYLA CHEN CHUA, and all other persons who Claim interest in the instant petition.

Respondents. x-----------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a verified Amended Petition filed by the petitioner on 23 September 2024 praying for a judgment ordering the Civil Registry of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority to correct Entry No. 1 and Entry No. 18 in the Certificate of Live Birth of the Petitioner.

Finding the petition sufficient in substance and form, the same is set for hearing on 3 February 2025, at 8:30 in the morning, before this Court, sitting at Room 201, 2nd Floor, Hall of Justice Annex Building, Diliman, Quezon City, at which time and place, the petitioner shall appear and prove his petition, in that all other persons having or claiming any interest thereon shall also appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted, if any.

Let this Order be published, at the expense of herein petitioner, in a newspaper of general circulation in Quezon City once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

Let copies of this Order, together with copies of this petition with its annexes, be furnished to the private respondents, the Solicitor General, the Quezon City Prosecutor, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, and all other persons who have or claim to have any interest that would be affected thereby. Any person having or claiming any interest under the entry whose cancellation or correction is sought may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition, or from the last date of publication of such notice, file its, his or her opposition thereto.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, 17 October 2024.

(Sgd.) RENATO M. PAMBID Presiding Judge Copy furnished: ATTY. BENITO O. CHING, JR. CHING MENDOZA CARIÑO AND ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM Counsel for Petitioner Suite 2502 Atlanta Centre, 31 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City ANNIE CHEN CHUA Petitioner Unit 21C Wharton Parksuites No. 1249 Masangkay St., cor. La Torre St.,Sta. Cruz, Manila SPS. BENSON CHUA and CHEN MEI YU DIANNE CHEN CHUA KIMBERLY KYLA CHEN CHUA Private respondents No. 1249, Masangkay St., cor. La Torre St., Sta. Cruz, Manila OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY East Avenue, Quezon City OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR City Hall Compound, Quezon City LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY City Hall Compound, Quezon City

(MStandard-Nov. 23, 30 & Dec. 7, 2024)

week high of P27.55.

“Considering that the financial performance of Okada Manila, the integrated resort operated by TRLEI, has been growing steadily and performing well in the past years, Tiger Resort Asia have judged that the necessity of Asiabest for TRLEI to be listed no longer exists,” said Japan’s Universal Entertainment in a filing Friday.

Universal Entertainment is the parent

company of TRAL. TRAL acquired Asiabest in 2019 as part of its plan to list its $2.4-billion integrated resort and casino Okada Manila in the local bourse.

Okada Manila is the third integrated resort and casino to open in Pagcor Entertainment City after Bloomberry Resort’s Solaire Resort & Casino and Melco Crown’s City of Dreams.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Terra Solar signs battery system deal with Huawei

IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF NAME (ENTRY NO. 1) AND DATE & PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS (ENTRY NO. 18) IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ANNIE CHEN CHUA,

-versus-

mated at 93.20 million pounds.

“Padcal Mine has been in operation for more than six decades and still has a remaining ore resource that can be mined depending on global metal price forecasts,” Philex said.

The new extension of the life of Padcal mine will provide the continuous employment of 1,879 Padcal employees and sustain the necessary assistance given to the social development of the host and neighboring communities, Philex said.

The extension will also allow a

CYBER PROTECTION. PhilCare, one of the country’s leading health maintenance organizations (HMOs), teams up with Globe Business to enhance its cybersecurity measures and deliver the dual gift of health and security to its members this holiday season. Shown are (from left) Alex Panganiban, assistant vice president, IT Group, PhilCare; Alex Aquino, vice president, CIO, IT Group, PhilCare; Raymond Tiangco, executive vice president for iperations, PhilCare; Cocoy Claravall, vice president for sales and account management, Globe Business; and Jovitt Bajar, vice president for sales, Globe Business.

TERRA Solar Philippines Inc. (TSPI), a unit of MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), signed a battery energy storage systems (BESS) supply agreement with Huawei International Pte. Ltd. (Huawei) on Friday to deliver the latest BESS for the MTerra Solar project.

This is Huawei’s biggest BESS project for an integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) and BESS facility.

“By combining MTerra Solar’s vast solar power generation capacity with Huawei’s cuttingedge energy storage solutions, we are creating a powerful synergy that will optimize grid operations, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted power supply,” said Meralco PowerGen Corp. president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio.

Meralco PowerGen, the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., is the parent firm of MGreen. The agree-

ment covers the entire 4,500-megawatt-hour capacity of the MTerra Solar project.

MTerra Solar will combine 3,500 megawatt-peak of solar PV with 4,500 MWhr of battery, capable of supplying clean energy to over 2 million households. The project broke ground in Nueva Ecija, signaling progress in developing the facility.

It is set to begin commercial operations in phases, with phase 1 scheduled for February 2026 and phase 2 in February 2027.

The collaboration reinforces the Philippines’ potential to be a global leader in renewable energy innovation, with MTerra Solar set to become the world’s largest integrated solar PV and battery storage facility.

Huawei’s expertise in large-scale renewable energy projects is exemplified by its work on the Red Sea New City solar storage microgrid in Saudi Arabia.

DITO raises P2b from follow-on offering

By Darwin G. Amojelar DITO CME Holdings Corp. said Friday it raised P2.05 billion from a follow-on offering (FOO), which was fully subscribed by both institutional and retail investors.

“We would like to thank the investing public for their steadfast support which enabled the success of this FOO,” DITO CME chairman Dennis Uy said.

“The bulk of the FOO proceeds will be used to fund the commercial roll-out of the network of its invest-

ee company DITO Telecommunity Corporation. This is for DITO Tel to maintain network superiority and remain a strong player in a very competitive Philippine telecom market,” he said.

Despite being in a highly competitive market, with two months left in 2024, DITO Tel is likely going to grow its revenues by around 45 percent on a year-on-year basis.

The entry of a new investor last year as well as the follow-on offer put DITO on a sounder financial footing and remains on the road to profit-

ability by 2027, the company said.

“We are very happy with DITO CME’ investment in DITO Telecommunity. In a short span of time and during a global pandemic no less, DITO Tel has been able build from the ground up a brand-new worldclass 4G-5G network,” said DITO CME president and chief operating officer Donald Patrick Lim. “Nearly 14 million Filipinos are now DITO users and enjoy fast and DITO CME chairman Dennis Uy reliable telecom services,” he said.

DITO CME earlier said it was aim- 2028 to address negative equity posiing to raise up to P40.26 billion until tions and finance its expansion plans.

BUSINESS

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Hann to develop 10-hectare public park in New Clark

By Othel V. Campos

S

TATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) acknowledged Hann Philippines Inc.’s expansion in New Clark City, which includes the first phase of a 10-hectare public park within the 450-hectare Hann Reserve, a luxurious resort destination.

The park will integrate Philippine folklore with the stunning backdrop of Mount Pinatubo, offering a space where nature and culture merge.

The park is divided into three phases. Phase 1, the Active Zone, will feature mountain bike trails, fitness areas, and treetop bridges, with completion expected by late 2026.

Phase 2, the Passive Zone, will provide shaded walkways and relaxing seating areas, set for completion by late 2028.

Phase 3, the Kids Zone, will include playful, folklore-inspired structures and climbing areas, slated for completion by 2030.

BCDA president and chief ex-

ecutive Joshua M. Bingcang views this development as a major milestone in New Clark City’s progress, emphasizing its role in promoting health, well-being and community connection.

“This park is a promise of a greener and healthier future for all our citizens. We believe that public spaces like these foster connection, well-being, and a sense of belonging. Let us appreciate and cherish this for generations to come,” he said.

Hann Philippines chairman and chief executive Dae Sik Han said the park would enhance the overall experience for visitors seeking wellness, nature-based leisure and entertainment.

AIR MONITORING. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau National Capital Region teams up with SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) to establish a real-time Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) in Quezon City. SMPHI, one of the largest integrated property developers in Asia, signed up for the Adopt-a-CAMS (Continuous Ambient Air Monitoring System) Program of the EMB to align with the Philippine Clean Air Act or Republic Act 8749, and advance the country’s sustainable development goals.

PH, Australia launch P1.5-b plan to boost inclusion THE Philippines, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, launched the P1.5-billion Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender Equality (SPRING) program Thursday in Makati City.

The initiative from the Australian government, unveiled during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) annual Partnership Forum, aims to strengthen social protection, inclusion and gender equality in the Philippines.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu and DSWD Secretary

Rex Gatchalian signed a subsidiary agreement for the SPRING program, which will run from 2024 to 2029.

The five-year program will see the Philippine and Australian governments collaborate as Strategic Partners to reduce poverty and create equal opportunities for all Filipinos.

SPRING will enhance the Philippines’ social protection systems through technical assistance, capacity-building, and evidence-based policy reforms. It will also focus on improving gender budgeting, disabil-

Nexif Ratch RE projects secure green lane endorsement from BOI THE Board of Investments (BOI), through its One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), awarded green lane certificates of endorsement to Nexif Ratch Energy Investments Pte. Ltd. (NREI) on Nov. 26, 2024.

“Our goal is to facilitate the timely and stress-free completion of your projects. We will be with you every step of the way,” said BOI Investment Assistance Service (IAS) director Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr. The approved projects include the 475-MW Lucena Wind Power Project in Quezon province and the 150-

MWp Bacolod Solar Power Plant Project in Negros Occidental.

The projects represent a significant step toward the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goal of achieving 50 percent renewable energy in the Philippines’ power generation mix by 2040.

Owned by ACX3 Capital Holdings Inc., a Philippine subsidiary of NREI, the Lucena Wind Power Project is set to generate 475 MW of clean energy through offshore wind turbines located in Lucena City and Sariaya, Quezon.

With an investment of P67 bil-

lion, the project is currently in its pre-development phase and is one of five offshore wind energy service contracts awarded to ACX3 by the DOE. Energy generated by the project will be sold through the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP), power sales agreements or the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM).

Negros PH Solar Inc., another NREI subsidiary, is developing the Bacolod Solar Power Project with an estimated cost of P6.9 billion.

Located in Bacolod and Bago City, the plant is expected to produce 150

MWp of solar energy. Construction began in October 2024, with operations slated to commence by Q4 2025.

The solar plant’s output will be distributed under a power supply agreement with AP Renewables and Adventenergy Inc., with additional capacity sold through WESM. The facility is designed for a 30-year operational life.

“NREI plans to embark on many more projects, and with BOI’s assistance, we will achieve our longterm vision,” said NREI Philippines project director and ACX3 president Nicolo Subido. Othel V. Campos

Gov’t to deploy first mobile soil laboratory THE Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, launched its first Mobile Soil Laboratory (MSL) Friday at Malacañang Palace.

Housed in a cutting-edge 10-wheeler truck, the MSL can analyze 42 soil parameters. It will initially serve San Ildefonso, Bulacan through the National Soil and Water Resources Research Development Lowland Pedo-Ecological Zone.

Farmers will gain access to accurate soil data, enabling better fertilizer management, improved yields, and increased productivity.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced plans to acquire 16 additional MSL units for deployment nationwide.

Laurel lauded the BSWM for upgrading its facilities, equipment and training programs to strengthen soil testing services.

He also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senator Cynthia Villar for their support for agricultural modernization and sustainability.

The MSL initiative is a key part of the government’s push for precision farming and sustainable practices. Othel V. Campos and Charles Dantes

GUSI AWARDEES. The Gusi Peace Prize, often regarded as the ‘Asian Nobel Peace Prize’ celebrates its 37th year with a grand awards ceremony on Nov. 27, 2024, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. This year, 17 distinguished laureates from 14 countries were recognized for their exceptional contributions to peace, human rights, science, business and the arts. The event further solidified its legacy as a global platform celebrating excellence and inspiring change.

ity data for better services, and access to resources for Indigenous Peoples (IP).

Yu emphasized the program’s significance in advancing the shared vision outlined in the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029.

“Australia is committed to working with the Philippines to achieve its development goals, and through SPRING, we are stepping up our support for the most disadvantaged Filipinos,” she said. Othel V. Campos

PAL ramping up domestic, foreign flights for holidays PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said Friday it is ramping up its domestic and international flights for the upcoming holiday season to accommodate the rising demand.

“With the Christmas and New Year holidays just round the corner, we continue to build up our network of flights, adding new routes and beefing up other routes with more frequencies, even as we plan for new connections in 2025,” said Capt. Stanley Ng, PAL president and chief operating officer.

“Our goal is to help people reunite with their loved ones, and we’re committed to expand our services to meet the needs of our customers and make holiday travel as convenient as possible,” he said.

PAL ushered in the holiday season by inaugurating a thrice-weekly Clark-Siargao service on Dec. 3 and relaunching its long-awaited CebuOsaka Kansai route on Dec. 22.

PAL’s emerging hubs will gain flights to Korea for the season, with Cebu-Seoul Incheon flights to run from Dec. 21 to March 4, while ClarkSeoul and Kalibo-Seoul services run from Jan. 2 to March 4.

The flag carrier is fortifying its popular network of direct flights from Australia and the U.S., with an additional weekly flight from Melbourne until Jan. 12, on top of a recently launched service from Seattle and an increase to daily services from Brisbane. Darwin G. Amojelar

Malampaya Foundation partner sites in Palawan, Mindoro sweep awards MARINE protected areas (MPAs) managed by communities partnering with Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) secured top honors at both the 2024 Palawan PEARL Awards and the Oriental Mindoro STAR Awards.

The awards recognize the effectiveness of grassroots conservation efforts and collaborative partnerships fostered by MFI with local communities, government units, and other stakeholders.

The Palawan PEARL Awards honored MFI partner communities with several accolades. These include Bulalacao MPA (Coron), an MFI partner since 2012, which secured the top prize for Best-Managed MPA. San Miguel MPA (Linapacan), a partner since 2013, earned 2nd place

for Best Locally-Managed MPA. San Fernando MPA (El Nido), a partner since 2016, received 3rd place for Best Community-Managed MPA. Decabaitot MPA (Linapacan), established in 2019, was recognized as the 4th Best Emerging MPA. The Bulalacao MPA further distinguished itself with Minor Award for Best-Managed Coral Reef MPA and Minor Award for Best in Law Enforcement MPA. At the Oriental Mindoro STAR Awards, all three top provincial MPAs were MFI partner sites. These are Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary (San Teodoro) (1st place, MFI site since 2018); Sta. Theresa Fish Sanctuary (Gloria) (2nd place, MFI site since 2014); and Song of the Sea Fish Sanctuary (Pola) (3rd place, MFI site since 2016).

MINI FOREST. The La Mesa Ecopark (LME) opens to the public phase 3 of the environmental haven with a mini forest and team building area, further highlighting the need for environmental protection and the importance of being one with nature to well-being. Guests and visitors are also in for a treat this December as La Mesa Ecopark launches its Christmas celebration ‘Bring Back the Spark in La Mesa Ecopark.

BUSINESS

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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

Toyota launches new Tamaraw in 8 locations TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) on Friday introduced the Next Generation Tamaraw in a grand simultaneous launch across eight locations including Makati, Quezon City, Pasay, Pampanga, Laguna, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. The event, also streamed online, showcased the versatile new model designed for both business and personal use.

An iconic nameplate synonymous with reliability and durability, the Tamaraw has been reimagined for modern needs.

Locally manufactured at TMP’s Santa Rosa, Laguna plant, the new Tamaraw is built on Toyota’s global IMV platform, retaining its classic DNA while addressing today’s mo-

bility demands.

“We sat down and communicated with potential customers to ask what they look for in the Tamaraw. Hearing their comments and requests face-to-face regarding our vehicles inspired and reminded me and our team to make ever-better cars,” said TMP president Masando Hashimoto.

The Next Generation Tamaraw offers diesel and gas variants with customizable body styles, including utility vans, dropsides and aluminum cargo vehicles.

Highlighting its versatility, TMP also previewed special conversions such as ambulance, patrol van, refrigerated van, food truck, and camper RV. Othel V. Campos

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affair, Alberto van Klaveren sign an agreement in Makati City to signal the start of negotiations for a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

PH, Chile to start free trade negotiations

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Philippines and Chile signed an agreement in Makati City Friday to start negotiations for a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto van Klaveren signed the joint statement during the latter’s official visit to Manila on Dec. 5, 2024.

The agreement sets the stage for the

Philippines’ first bilateral trade negotiation with a Latin American country.

“Beyond trade, the CEPA should also be driven by a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and economic resilience,” said Roque, emphasizing its alignment with the Philippines’ economic goals.

DTI Undersecretary Allan Gepty outlined the roadmap for the negotiations, starting with finalizing the scoping paper by January 2025. Formal negotiations are expected to commence by late March.

Gepty highlighted the key areas of focus, including market access for goods and services, investment rules and trade facilitation.

Chile, a major exporter of copper and agricultural products, complements the Philippines’ strength in electronics, semiconductors and niche exports like fresh produce and coconut products.

“The CEPA presents opportuni-

ties for both nations, especially in leveraging Chile’s copper to support our electronics industry,” said Gepty.

The agreement aims to improve traditional trade, incorporating modern elements such as intellectual property rights, the digital economy and MSME development, alongside issues of labor, environment and trade inclusivity.

The signing was witnessed by officials from both nations, including Philippine Ambassador to Chile Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat and Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey.

Gov’t, World Bank, EU set to present review findings on major agri projects THE Department of Agriculture, the World Bank and the European Union will wrap up the review of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

PRDP, a collaboration among the three agencies, will conclude the 18th WB-EU Implementation Support Mission (ISM) to the PRDP and the 3rd WB ISM to the PRDP Scale-Up with a wrap-up meeting on Dec. 6 at the DA Central Office in Quezon City.

Led by WB Task Team leader Mio Takada, the meeting will present findings, assessments and overall ratings for the two projects following a three-week mission.

Both projects previously earned satisfactory ratings during the

17th WB-EU ISM in May. According to the DA, the original PRDP has benefited more than 3 million Filipinos through 1,170 completed subprojects valued at 34 billion pesos.

Meanwhile, the PRDP ScaleUp approved 75 infrastructure subprojects worth P11.44 billion, 30 of which are already under construction just a year after its launch.

The mission included field visits to infrastructure and enterprise subprojects in Bukidnon and Marinduque in November, where WB and EU delegates commended the quality and impact of the implemented projects.

Othel V. Campos

twice the government’s four percent target, in part due to huge spending on the offensive, while the value of the ruble has slumped in recent months.

“We are now seeing significant signals of economic slowdown, particularly in housing construction and investment,” German Gref, the CEO of state-run Sberbank, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies at an investor forum.

He cautioned the central bank

PALENG-QR IN PALAWAN. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launches Paleng-

QR Ph Plus in Narra and Brooke’s Point, Palawan on Nov. 17 and 28, respectively. The Paleng-QR Ph Plus program aims to widen the use of quick response (QR) codes in markets, public transport and other business establishments.

against “overshooting” on its rates policy, making it “harder to return to the rails of economic growth”.

The regulator is set to decide on borrowing costs at a meeting on December 20, with some analysts suggesting the bank could hike interest rates to as high as 23 percent.

Russia has massively ramped up military spending on its Ukraine offensive—expenditure that has helped the economy defy predictions of a lengthy recession, but also led to

deep labour shortages and persistent inflation.

Central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina has called interest rates a “powerful instrument for the fight with inflation”.

But economists say that because inflation is being driven by record state spending on the Ukraine conflict, higher borrowing costs have less of an impact on reining in price rises than in a more market-based economy. AFP

AF Payments, GHL Systems team up to expand beep card public acceptance

FINANCIAL INNOVATION. Orix Metro Leasing and Finance Corp., a leader in

the Philippine leasing and finance sector, announces a strategic partnership with CIBI Information Inc. (CIBI), the country’s pioneering and most established credit bureau.

Under the partnership, Orix Metro will integrate CIBI’s robust credit data and business intelligence solutions to better assess credit risk and enhance its financial offerings to clients. Sealing the agreement are (from left) Orix Metro president and chief executive Angelo Padua and CIBI president and chief executive Pia Arellano.

World Bank announces record $100-b support WASHINGTON—The World Bank announced Thursday that it had raised close to $24 billion to provide loans and grants for some of the world’s poorest nations, which it can leverage to generate a record $100 billion in total spending power.

Donor countries committed $23.7 billion to replenish the bank’s concessional lending arm, known as the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank spokesperson told AFP, marking a slight increase from the roughly $23.5 billion pledged during the last fundraising round three years ago.

The Bank can use this money to borrow on financial markets, allowing it to leverage the amount raised by around four times, unlocking around $100 billion in new loans and grants, up from $93 billion in 2021.

“We believe the historic success of this IDA21 replenishment is a vote of confidence and support from donors and clients,” a World Bank statement read, referring to the current IDA funding round.

“This funding will be deployed to support the 78 countries that need it most,” World Bank President Ajay Banga said in a separate statement, referring to the developing countries that are eligible for IDA support. AFP

Germany sees drop in factory output

Russian economy shows significant signs of slowdown, top banker warns MOSCOW—The Russian economy is showing “significant” signs of a slowdown in some sectors as it grapples with waning growth and high inflation, the head of the country’s biggest lender warned Friday.

Russia’s central bank has taken interest rates to a two-decade high of 21 percent as Moscow battles to stem the economic fallout from its military offensive on Ukraine and a barrage of Western sanctions.

Inflation is running at more than

IN BRIEF

AF PAYMENTS, Inc., the company behind the beep card, teamed up with GHL Systems Philippines, a nationwide payment service provider and payment acquirer.

The strategic alliance allows the beep card to be accepted as mode of payment across all GHL-operated payment terminals.

GHL employs its expertise and extensive network to ensure a seamless in-store transaction process for beep card users. This means that partner merchants of GHL—including Shell and Watsons—will now accept beep cards for payment, further enhancing convenience and accessibility for users. Simply tap to pay and enjoy your purchases.

“The partnership with GHL Sys-

tems Philippines highlights our dedication to innovation and enhancing the customer experience. By making transactions more convenient and accelerating the shift towards cashless payments, we are taking a significant step forward in our mission to elevate the digital payment landscape in the Philippines. More importantly, we maintain beep’s accessibility to Filipinos from all walks of life, thereby driving progress that is genuinely inclusive and equitable,” said AF Payments president and chief executive Jonathan Juan Moreno.

Beep is available for purchase at LRT 1, LRT 2 and MRT 3 stations, select convenience stores and retail outlets and online via the official stores on Lazada and Shopee.

FRANFURT—German factory output suffered a surprise drop in October, official data showed Friday, underlining the persistent troubles faced by Europe’s biggest economy.

Output fell by one percent monthon-month, according to seasonally adjusted data published by the Destatis agency.

That follows a two-percent drop in September, according to adjusted figures released by Destatis.

Analysts consulted by financial data firm FactSet had expected factory output to rebound in October, rising by one percent.

“Instead of the widely expected recovery from the sharp drop in the previous month we have seen another setback,” said Elmar Voelker, an analyst at the LBBW bank.

A steep drop was recorded in October in energy production, which fell by 8.9 percent month-on-month. AFP

India central bank holds interest rates MUMBAI—India’s central bank left interest rates unchanged Friday after judging inflation risks to outweighed concerns over a growth slowdown in the world’s fifth-largest economy.

The Reserve Bank of India said the benchmark repo rate, the level at which it lends to commercial banks, would stay at 6.50 percent, where it has been since February 2023.

Major central banks around the world have kicked off a global easing cycle in response to lower inflation -- including the US Federal Reserve, which in September cut rates for the first time in four years.

Retail inflation has stubbornly remained above monetary policymakers’ four percent target, reaching a 14-month high of 6.21 percent in October.

RBI governor Shatikanta Das said the bank’s monetary policy committee had taken note of the “recent slowdown in the growth momentum” but judged India’s outlook to be “resilient.” AFP

TECH

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

Predictions in 2025: Rise of agentic AI, scalable enterprise, sovereign AI

D

ELL Technologies held the Predictions 2025 Media Briefing in Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ).

The virtual briefing, hosted by Dell Technologies’ John Roese, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief AI Officer, and Peter Marrs, President, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, highlighted emerging trends poised to reshape the technology industry in 2025 and beyond. The discussion, driven by Roese’s vision for the future of technology, focused on how Dell Technologies is partnering with customers to navigate these trends and capitalize on the innovation opportunities in the region.

“No matter which technology you explore today, there is a connective tissue into the AI ecosystem,” said Roese.

“Every technology is now either enabling AI or is enabled by AI. We are evolving from static and reactive AI to a more dynamic, autonomous, interactive and profound set of tools that will allow us to go beyond what we have been able to do so far.”

The Rise of Agentic AI Architecture Roese predicted that Agentic AI signifies a paradigm shift in human-AI interaction. “The word of 2025 will be Agentic. It is a defining advancement in AI technology and will be a catalyst for significant progress in how we approach AI architecturally”.

The maturation of generative AI is giving rise to sophisticated AI agents capable of autonomous operation, natural language communication, and seamless collaboration with both humans and AI agents. These specialized agents will possess a diverse range of skills, transforming industries and revolutionizing workflows. Marrs echoed this sentiment, stating, “APJ is experiencing rapid advancements in AI

John Roese’s vision on the trends that are set to shape the technology industry in 2025 and beyond.

readiness and deployment, fuelled by substantial investments projected to reach $110 billion by 2028 .” He added, “This growth is evident in the burgeoning AI-ready data center market across the APJ region.” The increasing complexity of these agent systems, as envisioned by Roese, will necessitate the rapid evolution of technology stacks to support their diverse architectures.

Strategies for scaling enterprise AI success Building on Roese’s framework, the briefing addressed the crucial need for enterprises to scale AI effectively.

Organizations are increasingly prioritizing tangible return-on-investment and business value from their AI initiatives, often establishing dedicated AI committees led by Chief AI Officers

or CIOs. This pragmatic approach is reflected in the rising success rates of GenAI pilot projects.

“In our view, 2025 will be the year when we see enterprise AI truly scale and get into full production,” said Roese.

Marrs noted that “AI maturity varies significantly across APJ, with some organizations focused on scaling existing deployments while others are still addressing fundamental infrastructure, talent, and service needs.” He pointed to the financial services sector, where organizations are increasingly leveraging AI for fraud detection and deploying digital humans for customer service, as an example of more mature AI adoption. Conversely, some healthcare providers are still focused on building the foundational infrastructure and

data management capabilities needed to support AI-driven diagnostic tools and streamlined patient care. The Dell AI Factory is playing a key role in enabling this transformation.

Successfully scaling AI, as Roese emphasized, requires businesses to prioritize their most impactful processes and build a reusable, scalable AI foundation. Marrs showcased successful AI deployments in APJ, adding, “Organizations are leveraging AI to enhance cybersecurity, optimize cloud services, personalize learning, and transform film production,” validating Roese’s vision for enterprise AI adoption.

In APJ, Marrs observed increasing regulatory diversity and privacy concerns are driving enterprises to-

rumallari@thestandard.com.ph rier amallari@yahoo.com RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

ward privatized and on-premise AI adoption.

Embracing Sovereign AI for localized innovation A key trend highlighted by Roese was the rise of Sovereign AI efforts by countries to create localized AI ecosystems aligned with their culture, language, and data security needs. He explained that this concept focuses on a nation’s ability to generate AI value and differentiation using its own infrastructure and data, fostering ecosystems that reflect local intellectual property and priorities.

He noted diverse approaches to Sovereign AI. Some are building national AI resources that serve both government and private sectors by providing access to compute power and data capacity. Others are pursuing collaborative strategies where governments, rather than creating infrastructure, encourage private industries to modernize and lead AI ecosystems through proactive co-design.

Convergence of AI technologies The convergence of AI with other emerging technologies was a key theme of Roese’s presentation. “AI’s true potential lies in its connections with other emerging technologies,” Roese stated, highlighting the synergistic potential of combining AI with advancements in areas like quantum computing, intelligent edge, Zero Trust security, 6G technologies, and digital twins. The combined power of quantum computing and AI will be a game-changer for numerous industries. It will provide the necessary computing power to apply AI to complex fields like material science, drug discovery, and optimization problems, areas where traditional computing methods face limitations.

Roese also pointed out AI’s broad impact across industries, from revolutionizing telecommunications network operations to transforming the PC into an integral part of the AI infrastructure. The proliferation of AI-optimized PCs, such as Dell’s own offerings, and the increasing adoption of on-premises AI solutions continues to demonstrate AI’s pervasive integration into the broader tech ecosystem.

Cashless and cardless: BDO Pay makes holiday shopping hassle-free IT IS the season to be shopping to avoid the Christmas rush! Thanks to the convenience of shopping totally cashless and cardless through the BDO Pay app, shopping for Christmas gifts will have a different kind of rush, not the frenetic kind.

BDO Pay, through its Scan to Pay feature, minimizes the hassle in paying for transactions by linking the shopper’s BDO Savings Account, Checking Account or Credit Card with the mobile app. This eliminates the need for ‘loading up’ their e-wallet account and spending for transfer fees, making purchases faster, easier, and more secure.

Mixing and matching to get the

latest deals Aside from the convenience of cashless and cardless shopping, BDO Pay lets shoppers enjoy BDO Deals on the app, allowing them to take advantage of exclusive promos, rewards, and rebates available for their cards and accounts.

For example, shoppers can use BDO Pay to charge their groceries to their bank account; and then charge to their credit card to treat their friends to brunch at the newest restaurant to enjoy a 50% discount or use another credit card or account to book flights and accommodations and enjoy the 0% installment plan.

To mix and match which account to charge for their purchases, shoppers simply need to choose via the BDO Pay app, then Scan or Show the QR code to the partner merchant when paying.

The BDO Pay app enhances your purchasing power by combining the perks of your credit cards and bank accounts with the convenience of digital transactions. To stay up to date on the latest deals, simply browse through the BDO Deals portion on the app.

For more information on BDO and the BDO Pay app, visit https://www. bdo.com.ph. Download the BDO Pay app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Shopping is more fun with BDO Pay. Avoid the Holiday rush with the convenience of shopping totally cashless and cardless through BDO Pay.

DITO caps off year with Philippines’ Fastest Mobile Network Award IN this season of love and thanksgiving, DITO Telecommunity, the fastest-growing telco provider in the country, sends its heartfelt gratitude as DITO ends the year with another significant milestone.

During the recently concluded DITO year-end thanksgiving, DITO Chief Executive Officer Eric Alberto announced that the young telco is now the Philippines’ Fastest Mobile Network* as awarded by independent mobile analytics company Opensignal, dominating in 14 categories and outranking the two telco giants in the speed race.

“I’m honored to share with all of you that independent mobile analytics Opensignal awarded DITO as the Fastest Mobile Network in the Philippines, where we excelled in the speed race.

These milestones are not just accomplishments nor mere awards; they are reflections of DITO’s dedication and affirm the strength and reliability of our network,” Alberto said.

Based on Opensignal’s October 2024 Mobile Network Experience report, DITO stood out in the awards, earning recognition across numerous categories. This achievement highlights the

DITO Executives with Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and Alamat

Eric Alberto, Chief Executive Officer of DITO Telecommunity

young telco as the country’s most awarded and fastest in 5G speeds and overall experience.

In terms of speed, DITO sweeps all four speed awards across overall and 5G. DITO confirms its superiority in 5G download speed, boasting a speed of 287.2 Mbps, nearly double Smart’s figure trailing with 147.5 Mbps and easily surpassing Globe’s 95.2 Mbps. Users also see the fastest overall download speeds on DITO’s network at 34.6 Mbps with the two telco giants Smart and Globe behind at 28.6 Mbps and 20.9 Mbps, respectively.

The year 2024 is indeed a break-out year for DITO. Alberto also shared the other significant milestones of DITO this year including the successful fifth and final technical audit with 86.3 percent coverage, capping off

the year with 14 million subscribers, and winning back-to-back Ookla wins as the Rated # 1 Mobile Network in the country (Q3Q4 2023 and Q1-Q2 2024) to now the Fastest Mobile Network*— DITO is indeed making strides in the Philippine telco landscape and its presence is highly felt and recognized.

As this year ends, Alberto remains steadfast in saying that DITO will continue to innovate and improve its technology because DITO’s mission remains clear— to bridge the digital divide and uplift Filipino communities.

“While our recent milestones validate the meaningful progress we’ve achieved so far, we understand that progress is not a one-time achievement—it is a continuous journey of building and improving. We at DITO remain committed to bridging the digital divide and contributing meaningfully to nation-building,” Alberto said.

GALING DITO SA PUSO KO This year, DITO also launched two of its biggest campaigns— Galing DITO, which champions Filipino talent and excellence, headlined by Pinoy pop boy group Alamat, and DITO sa Puso Ko, featuring power couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, a campaign that celebrates the love and trust of DITO subscribers nationwide.

Fittingly for the holiday season, DITO unifies these two campaigns into a powerful message that underscores DITO’s heartfelt service to the Filipino people.

“GALING DITO SA PUSO KO speaks volumes about who we are and what we stand for. Every campaign, every product, and every service we offer comes straight from the heart—ours to yours,” said Evelyn Jimenez, DITO Chief Revenue Officer for Consumer Business.

Jimenez also said the company remains committed to building on this momentum as DITO moves forward into the new year.

“Our work to expand and innovate our infrastructure is far from done. Together, we will continue to connect underserved communities, inspire dreams, and make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.” Jimenez concluded.

TECH

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

Pia Wurtzbach is brand ambassador UnionBank aids SMEs through for TECNO’s PHANTOM V Flip 2 5G partnership with

By Retail Lab

UNIONBANK, a champion for empowering Small, and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), has partnered with

By Retail Lab, a multi-brand lifestyle store that spotlights Filipino-owned small businesses, for Soiree By Retail Lab, the largest holiday fair in the Philippines.

Scheduled for December 6 to 8 and 14 to 15, 2024, at The Fifth at Rockwell in Makati City, this pre-Christmas event will feature over 170 merchants, celebrating the ingenuity and creativity of Filipino-owned businesses. UnionBank’s presence through its UB Negosyante program is meant to enhance participating businesses by helping them thrive in the increasingly tech-driven economy.

“UnionBank’s goal is to give Filipino entrepreneurs the “Power to Grow” by offering simple, accessible financial solutions tailored to their needs.

This makes it easier for their customers to support local merchants,” said Dino Velasco, UnionBank’s Head of Institutional Segment Marketing.

“Through the collaboration with Soiree, we are able to support businesses that form the backbone of the economy with forward-thinking practices one segment at a time.”

Soiree By Retail Lab provides entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their products while promoting a culture of shopping local. Through this partnership with UB Negosyante, shoppers will enjoy the convenience of cashless payments while the SMEs benefit from tools that streamline their financial processes and help them remain competitive in today’s fast-paced retail environment.

UnionBank has a wide array of tools designed to empower businesses and address their unique challenges.

The UnionBank BizStarter checking account lowers barriers to banking by requiring an initial deposit of just Php 5,000, making it accessible for small business owners. With the account is the ability to use the UB Negosyante App, an all-in-one mobile platform that allows entrepreneurs to manage, pay, and collect funds seamlessly, with QRPH code generation for efficient payment collection—essential for dynamic marketplaces like Soiree.

“Filipino entrepreneurs are resilient and resourceful, and our role is to provide the support they need to achieve their full potential,” Velasco said.

“UnionBank is proud to stand alongside these businesses, helping them flourish and contribute to a brighter future for all.”

With UnionBank’s innovative solutions and By Retail Lab’s dedication to uplifting local entrepreneurs, this year’s holiday fair is set to be more than just a shopping event—it’s a platform for progress, partnerships, and endless possibilities.

For more information on UnionBank’s efforts and offerings for SMEs, visit the UnionBank website at https:// www.unionbankph.com/msme, or follow for updates on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or Youtube.

Union Bank of the Philippines is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas https://www.bsp.gov.ph.

T

ECNO Philippines is thrilled to announce Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015 and globally celebrated Filipina icon, as the brand ambassador for its highly anticipated PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G in its media launch event on December 5.

Known for her elegance, confidence, and ability to inspire, Pia Wurtzbach perfectly ref lects TECNO’s vision of empowering users with technology that complements their dynamic lifestyles. As a leading figure in fashion and innovation, she represents the modern, aspirational audience that PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G is designed for—bold, stylish, and always on the move.

The PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G features an industry-leading 3.64’’ ultra-large external screen that brings unmatched convenience to users. Whether it’s checking notifications, replying to messages, or snapping stunning selfies, this outer display transforms the phone into an essential tool for busy, style-conscious individuals.

“I’m thrilled to collaborate with TECNO as the ambassador for the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G,” Pia Wurtzbach said. “The ultra-large external screen is a feature I absolutely love— Whether it’s checking updates, capturing the perfect shot, or staying connected, the convenience and elegance of this phone truly match my lifestyle. It empowers users to do more, express more, and live life on their terms.”

With Pia leading the campaign, TECNO aims to showcase how the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G combines technology and fashion into a single

Elegance and high technology in a single device

Pia Wurtzbach holds the PHANTOM V Flip 2 5G

powerhouse device. Her endorsement strengthens the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G’s positioning as the ultimate lifestyle accessory for modern individuals who value convenience, elegance, and self-expression. Pia’s association with the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G amplifies its appeal as more than just a smartphone; it’s a lifestyle statement.

TECNO Philippines invites everyone to celebrate this momentous partnership and experience the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 5G. Follow @ tecnomobileph Instagram and join the PHANTOM V FLIP 2 IG activity to have chance to win a PHANTOM V Flip 2 5G in this Christmas!

Chief to chef: Transforming his community through taste ESTABLISHING a new venture in today’s competitive landscape presents challenges.

Yet, CEO and Head Chef Richard Gomez and his restaurant, Chad’s Cafe, Bar & Grill distinguish themselves with their community-focused approach.

A former police officer, Gomez became an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), beginning his journey as a

dishwasher in Madrid. There he discovered his passion for cooking.

Late last year, fulfilled his dream by opening Chad’s Cafe, Bar & Grill in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. Gomez offers a glimpse into his business philosophy: “Hindi tulad ng ibang establisyimento, ang Chad’s Cafe Bar and Grill ay isang masiglang tahanan na nagbubuklod sa buong komunidad.” A claim supported by

Chad’s Cafe Bar and Grill CEO and head chef Richard Gomez

his many community-driven initiatives run through his restaurant. He hosts art workshops for the locals and transforms plastic waste into stylish furniture and tables to sell or donate.

Proceeds from these sales help fund his community clinic.

This approach quickly attracted sizable groups of 40 to 100 people from neighboring provinces.

However, this growth didn’t come without challenges.

“At first, it was hard to promote,” Gomez recalls. So, post lang kami ng post sa social media. Pinapa-like namin ‘yung Chad’s Cafe Bar and Grill.”

Limited connectivity made online interactions with clients difficult.

Still, these efforts strengthened their commitment to serving their growing community, laying the foundation for the warm and thriving venue Chad’s Cafe Bar and Grill is today.

The restaurant turned to Converge flexiBIZ to meet its connectivity needs. Commenting on the change, MGomez remarked, “Napakalaki ang tulong ng Converge as a service provider dito sa Chad’s Cafe, Bar, and Grill. Mabilis namin na sasagot yung inquiries” - enhancing the restaurant’s customer service through faster online query responses.

The faster internet has boost-

ed customer service and allowed them to offer free, reliable Wi-Fi to guests. This has also increased the restaurant’s visibility as customers share photos and videos online while supporting the promotion of their community initiatives through social media.

Gomez’s community-centric approach is not limited to his local community but also to his employees.

Empowering them through continuous learning, for reasons Gomez says best: “Dapat tuloy-tuloy ang pag-a-aral, kasi ng nagbabago yung technology sa paggawa ng pagkain.” Their education, now fiber-powered, enables him and his staff to continue to find new and exciting ways of cooking and food preparation- to the delight of their customers.

Gomez and his restaurant exemplify hard work and dedication, transforming not only his own life but also the lives of everyone, with his food and service touch. The restaurant’s partnerships with Converge have proven transformative, addressing a critical business aspect. This allows him and his staff to concentrate on their core strengths: delivering exceptional customer experience and serving their community with dedication and expertise.

URC’s state-of-the-art flour mill, set to commence operations in Q4 SARIAYA, Quezon—Universal Robina Corp. (URC), one of the country’s largest food and beverage firms, is set to open a new mill in Sariaya town, in Quezon Province, to further boost its production of quality flour.

URC Flour Sariaya – set to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2024 – will raise URC Flour’s capacity, from 2,180 MT per day to about 3,500 MT per day.

“We are seeing an ever-growing demand for our products. This new flour mill will allow us to meet that demand, maintain the quality of our products and keep our price point competitive,” said Irwin C. Lee, URC President & CEO. The new facility will use a fully automated flour-milling technology that fully integrates the roller mill’s control and monitoring system in the main station, a first in the Philippines.

“This Php 5.4 billion investment is an affirmation of our confidence in our economy and the conducive investment climate in our country. It is also a concrete manifestation of our steadfast support in improving our nation’s food security, aligned to the priorities of His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen the grain sector” said Lance Y. Gokongwei, Chairman Universal Robina

stantial capacity and focus on community development, the plant is poised to become a cornerstone of URC’s progress and a catalyst for positive change in the area,” Lee added.

URC Flour is one of the Philippines’ top flour millers. It started commercial operations in 1970 with its first plant in Pasig. It opened its second plant in Davao in 1991.

URC FLOUR’S LARGEST. Universal Robina Corp. Flour Division inaugurated their largest flour mill in Sariaya, Quezon is equipped with state-of-the-art automated technology, which can process of up to 1,320 tons of flour per day.

Corporation. ““With the launch of this new flour mill, we are helping lay a solid foundation in advancing food production and security in our country” added Gokongwei.

URC Flour Sariaya will also have the capability to do fully automatic packing operations, which will speed up the production process and reduce wastage.

This technology upgrade maximizes efficiency at the plant, reduces costs and

overall cuts URC’s carbon footprint.

It is in line with URC’s push to bring down the amount of energy and other resources it uses to manufacture its products.

The mill sits on 10 hectares in Sariaya. When fully operational, it will provide at least 150 jobs.

“URC Flour Sariaya is a testament to our unwavering dedication to innovation, quality and growth,” said Lee. “With its enhanced technology, sub-

PRESSING FORWARD TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. The URC Flour Sariaya Plant is now operational which will bring the company’s total milling capacity to over 104,100 bags daily. L-R: Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., President Republic of the Philippines, Irwin C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Robina Corporation, Lance Gokongwei, Chairman Universal Robina Corporation, Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. , Secretary of Department of Agriculture and Conrado M. Estrella III, Secretary of Department of Agrarian Reform.

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SHOWBIZ

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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

Kuya Kim brings fun-filled trivia to GMA’s newest show GMA Network introduced its latest infotainment program, Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim Kim, on Nov. 30, with Philippine Trivia King Kuya Kim Atienza leading the show.

Airing every Saturday at 10:45 a.m., the program offers an engaging mix of entertainment and knowledge, catering to audiences of all ages.

The show features trending topics and viral videos, exploring the science and stories behind them. Its pilot episode featured a daring encounter with a king cobra, trivia about snakes, and a live adventure tracking a real-life snake sighting. Other segments included a TikTok user’s encounter with an unusual occupant in a bamboo coin bank and a stream appearing to catch fire.

During a media conference, Atienza described the show as a refreshing take on his signature style.

“This is still the same Kuya Kim, but with a new approach,” he said in Filipino. “At my age,

TV presenter and ‘Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim’ host Kuya Kim Atienza

‘Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim’ is an infotainment show exploring the science and stories behind trending topics and viral videos

staying flexible is key. I aim to deliver meaningful information that people can use daily.”

Known for his vast knowledge and dynamic presence, Atienza also shared his thoughts on the role of social media in education.

“Social media is a tool—it’s up to us to use it positively or negatively,” he said. “I strive to bring something uplifting and informative to my viewers online.”

Since joining GMA in 2021, he has become a regular on shows such as Dapat Alam Mo!, 24 Oras, Mars Pa

More, and TiktoClock. With this new program, he adds another dimension to his career by bringing entertainment and learning to viewers.

The program’s press launch on Dec. 2 coincided with Atienza’s contract renewal with GMA Network.

During the event, GMA executives, including President and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., commended his contributions.

“He has truly become a Kapuso in every sense,” Duavit said.

Annette Gozon-Valdes, Senior Vice President for Programming,

said, “Kuya Kim is one of our most versatile talents, with roles spanning Entertainment, Public Affairs, and News. We’re excited for his continued journey with GMA.” Atienza expressed his gratitude to the network and his supporters. “I’m honored to be part of GMA, where I can pursue my passion. To my fans, I promise to keep delivering my best and sharing knowledge in new ways,” he said.

Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim airs on GMA Network and is available internationally through GMA Life TV.

The cast and creatives of action series ‘Incognito’

Onscreen partners Maris Racal (left) and Anthony Jennings

‘Incognito’ trends as Maris and Anthony’s ‘cheating scandal’ stirs debate Very Wang

Nickie Wang

V

IDEOS and clips from the Incognito media conference on Nov. 29 at the Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City have seen a sudden resurgence in views following the alleged “cheating scandal” involving Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings.

The controversy turned social media users into self-proclaimed legal and relationship experts, making the event the hot topic of the moment.

In the highly anticipated actionpacked series, which will air on different platforms, Maris and Anthony join Daniel Padilla, who takes on a bold new character as an action hero.

At the conference, Anthony shared his excitement about returning to the screen with Maris.

“When I first read the script, it seemed okay—it still had glimpses of the lighthearted SnoRene vibe. Not too much, but the fun element was still there. I knew I’d be working with Maris again, and I’ve always enjoyed collaborating with her,” Anthony said in the vernacular.

Maris admitted feeling pressured to work on the series since her

character is required to be physically fit to perform the action sequences demanded by the storyline.

“I’m super happy to work with Anthony again,” Maris said. “When we found out it was an action project, we were excited. But there’s pressure because I’ve never done action before.

This required intense training.”

“We’re happy because the scenes we did together were funny. They’re really entertaining. I’m excited to work with him again,” she went on.

Daniel Padilla ventures into action Meanwhile, Daniel Padilla steps outside his usual genre with Incognito, his comeback series that also stars Richard Gutierrez, Ian Veneracion, Baron Geisler, and Kaila Estrada.

At the same event, Daniel explained what drew him to the project.

“When I first heard about the story,

Action series ‘Incognito’ is directed by Lester Pimentel Ong

I was immediately intrigued by the private military contractor storyline.

I expressed my enthusiasm, saying it was a compelling concept. Once I learned about the cast, I became even more excited, as it seemed like a refreshing mix compared to my usual genre,” the 29-year-old actor shared.

The cast underwent rigorous training over four months, mastering martial arts, Muay Thai, tactical combat, and war games to prepare for their roles.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done as a group. I’m excited for my dad to see this. I think I did well in this one,” he said.

Director Lester Ong and Star Creatives’ business unit head Des De Guzman gave a glimpse of what viewers can expect from the series.

According to them, the story centers on seven people battling personal issues and looking for a second chance in life. Their paths intersect as they engage in high-stakes missions

against a common foe.

“This is a story about seven individuals going through many challenges in their lives. This is the time of their journey when they’re aspiring for a second chance,” the director explained.

Incognito premieres on Netflix on Jan. 17, 2025, with subsequent releases on Kapamilya platforms: iWantTFC on Jan. 18 and Kapamilya Channel, Jeepney TV, TV5, and A2Z starting Jan. 20, 2025.

LIFE

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024

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

Lito Atienza thrives in politics with style

By Nickie Wang ALTHOUGH his fashion sense isn’t typically the focal point of his career, Lito Atienza has become renowned for his signature floral shirts. In fact, it’s become a playful running joke that when

Several vibrant floral print shirts fill Lito Atienza’s wardrobe

someone enters a room wearing floral prints, people often exclaim, “Uy si Mayor Atienza.”

Talk about the influence he’s had on both fashion and pop culture.

In previous interviews, Atienza spoke passionately about how floral prints can make the world brighter and more colorful. He said they not only affect your mood but also your work ethic, behavior, and well-being.

“We are in a tropical country, and isn’t it the most fitting style for us?” he said during an intimate lunch with the press earlier this week.

Speaking to Manila Standard Life, Atienza shared that he has three cabinets full of clothes, all in floral or Hawaiian prints.

“I buy locally and sometimes have them custom-made. I buy fabrics in Divisoria and have them tailored into shirts. I also buy in Bangkok and Hawaii,” he said. “I can’t tell you exactly when I started wearing floral shirts, but I’ve been wearing colorful prints since I was a child.”

“I would even save part of my allowance to buy flowery shirts that caught my fancy in department stores,” he added.

During our lunch, the former host of the drama anthology Maynila on GMA Network (1999 to 2020) arrived in a white shirt with red floral prints. The sharp-minded former Manila mayor was eager to answer any questions from his fashion sense to the brewing battle between incumbent mayor Honey Lacuna and former mayor Isko Moreno, who has filed his candidacy to challenge the current mayor in the 2025 election.

But Atienza said he has no plans join in the rumble, as it would take most of his energy. Instead, he prefers to focus on making laws that will help others by being the first nominee of the Buhay Party-list, which he established in 1999.

“Many people tell me, ‘Mayor, run again, you’ll win again.’ That’s my fear, I might win,” he said, laughing.

“I can’t handle the job of being mayor anymore,” he admitted to the Lito Atienza (left) with showbiz columnist Lolit Solis entertainment media he

Politician Lito Atienza

was speaking with.

“My daughter will run for vice mayor under Isko Moreno, who is making a comeback as mayor. I tell you, Isko is a very good politician.

Ask me why I know. I trained him,” Atienza said with a laugh.

Atienza would rather return to Congress with his Buhay Party-list, which he established in 1999.

As the first nominee of this pro-life party-list group, Atienza promised to block anti-life and anti-family bills, such as divorce and abortion, if they win in the 2025 elections.

Atienza served as the 21st mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007.

He was also the 30th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2009.

Kyline and Kobe

bring festive flair to the season’s hottest fashion picks ALORA, the leading name in online shopping for fashion, has officially launched its muchanticipated 12.12 Year-End Sale which offers shoppers the chance to find the perfect gifts for everyone on their Christmas list.

Z

Running from now until Dec. 15, the sale promises unbeatable discounts and exciting offers, making it the go-to destination for holiday shopping.

This year’s campaign is even more special, with celebrity couple Kyline Alcantara and Kobe Paras joining Zalora to celebrate their first Christmas together. As new faces of the brand, they embody the joy of finding the “Real Deal” during the holiday season, blending style, authenticity, and the excitement of gift-giving.

Zalora offers a curated selection of gifts from top global brands, including Adidas, Nike, New Balance, and Puma. Shoppers can find exclusive drops, such as the new colorways of the popular Adidas Terraces collection, and unique collector’s shirts featuring designs from local artists, available only on Zalora.

For those looking to give something truly special, luxury brands like Swarovski and Charriol are offering significant discounts, including up to 40 percent off on Swarovski items and a 3 percent discount on Charriol products, along with a free snow globe worth P10,000.

Other luxury options available include Coach, Dior Beauty, Jo Malone, and Dyson, perfect for adding some glamour to the holidays Fashion lovers can also find their favorite pieces from Mango, COS, H&M, & Other Stories, and Urban Revivo, while travel essentials from American Tourister, Samsonite, and Kamiliant make for great gifts. For the little ones, Gingersnaps, Mothercare, and Mini Melissa are just a few of the top brands included in the sale.

Many Sparkle artists grace the campaign’s festive launch

Perfect match Kyline and Kobe are the perfect duo to bring Zalora’s holiday campaign to life. The couple’s chemistry and authenticity make them an ideal fit to represent the brand, as they reflect the values of real connections and meaningful gifts.

“Whether it’s love or the perfect holiday gift, we always want the ‘real deal’—something authentic and meaningful,” Kyline said. “It’s crazy to think that four years ago, I had my first shoot with Zalora, and now I’m officially part of the family.”

Kobe shared his excitement about the partnership, adding, “Being here with Kyline makes it even more special. We’re thrilled to join Zalora for such an important moment.”

To kick off the sale, Zalora held a festive launch event at Manila House on Dec. 4, bringing together Sparkle GMA artists, media, and VIPs. The event featured a fun scavenger hunt, with gifts and surprises for guests, as well as signature cocktails from Diageo and a showcase of Adidas’ holiday collection. The evening perfectly captured the blend of style, celebration, and holiday spirit that Zalora champions.

Aashish Midha, CEO of Zalora Philippines and Indonesia, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Kyline and Kobe, noting that their fresh energy and values align perfectly with the brand. “They embody the joy of finding the ‘Real Deal,’ whether it’s a meaningful connection or the perfect gift,” Midha said.

Zalora’s 12.12 sale includes incredible offers, with discounts of up to 90 percent, generous cashback rewards, and free shipping on all orders. Customers across the Philippines can access these amazing deals, ensuring that the perfect gift is just a click away.

The company has also partnered with leading payment providers such as BPI, Metrobank, and Union Bank to offer additional savings of up to P1,000. Shoppers can also take part in a social media giveaway, with P120,000 worth of vouchers up for grabs.

Visit www.zalora.com.ph to shop the best deals and discover the “Real Deal” this 12.12.

Celebrity couple Kobe Paras (left) and Kyline Alcantara

Zalora offers numerous discounts and offers for its 12.12 Year-End Sale

From left: Kobe Paras, Kyline Alcantara, and Zalora Philippines and Indonesia CEO Aashish Midha