Manila Standard - 2025 April 22 - Tuesday

Next steps in choosing the papal successor

THE death of Pope Francis yesterday sets in motion centuries-old traditions which will culminate in the election by cardinals of a new pontiff—but with a few changes. Here is how the process unfolds:

Sede Vacante

The Catholic Church enters a period known as “Sede Vacante” (Vacant See) during which a senior cardinal takes over day-to-day affairs until a new pope is elected.

The cardinal, referred to as the “camerlengo” (“chamberlain”), in this case will be Irish-American Kevin Farrell, appointed to the role by Francis in February 2019.

POPE Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88.

Dubbed “the people’s Pope,” the Argentine pontiff will go down in history as a radical pontiff and a champion of underdogs who forged a more compassionate Catholic Church while stopping short of overhauling centuries-old dogma.

The first pope from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, Francis staunchly defended the most disadvantaged, from migrants to communities battered by climate change, which he warned was a crisis caused by humankind.

The leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, he spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover, leaving the facility on March 23.

By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable and Vito Barcelo

THE country’s leaders joined its estimated 86 million Roman Catholics in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, still fondly remembered for his visit to survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in Leyte province.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), meanwhile, called on all churches in the nation’s 3,656 parishes to ring their bells in remembrance of Saint Peter’s 265th successor.

In a Facebook post yesterday afternoon, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said Filipinos are one with the Catholic commu-

nity worldwide in grieving the Pontiff’s loss, calling it “a profoundly sad day.”

“A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten,” the chief executive wrote.

“By example, Pope Francis taught us

that to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another. His humility brought many back to the fold of the Church. As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ

WORLD leaders remembered Pope Francis as “a beacon of compassion,” reacting with sadness after the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics died on Monday.

“Rest in Peace, Pope Francis,” the US presidency wrote on X, accompanied by photos of the pontiff meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on separate occasions. Vance, a Catholic convert who just

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine and United States militaries yesterday kicked off three weeks of joint

met with the pontiff in the Vatican on Sunday, said his “heart goes out to millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”

The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia in a Rome hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the fa-

cility on March 23.

Care for both people and planet

King Charles III said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Pope Francis, and that he had been “greatly moved” to visit him earlier this month with his wife Queen Camilla.

“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly

PH junks China’s allegations of intrusion in Scarborough Shoal

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippines yesterday rejected China’s accusation that Manila had illegally intruded into the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal.

“These are all part of shaping or malign info operations more likely for their internal audience,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the Wet Philippines (WPS) Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said im a statement.

“Only the Philippine Navy and other Philippine flagged law enforcement

ships have the authority and legal bases to challenge any ship within maritime zones,” he added.

This statement was in response to a wire agency report quoting China’s Southern Theatre Navy, which alleged that a Philippine frigate had “illegally intruded” into Scarborough Shoal’s wa-

communities,” he noted.

personnel, including support staff.

State-of-the-art US weapons, including the “highly mobile” NMESIS antiship missile system, will also be deployed, including near a crucial choke point in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan.

This year, representatives of 20 other militaries are participating as observers, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Romeo Brawner, Jr. said as he officially opened the 40th iteration of the annual war games traditionally held only between the Philippines and the US.

“Our operations span complex joint endeavors, including missile defense, counter-landing live fires and maritime strike capabilities, alongside humanitarian efforts and infrastructure projects that directly benefit our local

Observers include Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Australia sent a 200-strong contingent, Japan sent 56, and the UK deployed 11.

The AFP earlier said the participation of friendly nations in the exercises could develop into multilateral engagements, signaling a growing alliance.

“We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defense treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so,” US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said during the Balikatan opening ceremony.

“Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity,” he added, without specifying a common threat.

ters on Sunday. China further accused the Philippines of “seriously violating” its sovereignty and laws.

Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, lies 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tensions remain high as Beijing continues to assert its claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital trade route for over $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce. These claims overlap with territories asserted by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Philippine government has renamed parts of the South China Sea within its territory as the West Philippine Sea to assert its claim. This area includes the waters west of the Philippine archipelago, encompassing the Luzon Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s claims in the South China Sea as having “no legal basis.” However, Beijing has consistently refused to recognize the ruling.

loved us,” Mr. Marcos added.

For his part, Senate President Francis Escudero called Pope Francis “a true shepherd of Christ’s flock,” saying the pontiff stood out for his efforts to foster peace and inclusion, which “reshaped the Church’s role in promoting unity across religious and cultural divides.”

The Senate chief praised the Pope’s lifelong dedication to the poor and marginalized, pointing out how he brought their voices to the forefront of the Church.

“His words of ‘mercy and compassion’ continue to guide the Filipino people in building a society rooted in empathy and understanding,” said Escudero.

In a statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said, “It is with a heavy heart that I join the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom we in Leyte—and across the Philippines—lovingly called Lolo Kiko.”

“To us, he was more than a Pope. He was a father, a friend, a guiding light in times of darkness. I will never forget how he came to Tacloban in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, when our people were suffering beyond words,” he added.

“He braved the storm, stood with us in the rain, and spoke not just as a leader of the Church, but as someone who truly felt our pain. His presence alone gave us strength. His words reminded us that even in loss, we were not alone. That God had not abandoned us,” Romualdez recalled.

Pope Francis traveled to Tacloban and Palo in Leyte to meet with survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda during his visit to the Philippines in 2015, an encounter that the Senate chief found most memorable.

It was during this occasion that the Pontiff urged all Filipinos to take care of the most vulnerable among them.

Meanwhile, CBCP President Archbishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David explained that the ringing of church bells is a gesture by which the faithful can honor the legacy and contributions of Pope Francis to the Catholic Church and the world.

touched the lives of so many,” said King Charles, who is also the head of the Church of England.

The Church of England’s most senior cleric hailed Pope Francis’s “desire to lead and build the church in new ways.”

Hailing the deceased pope’s “service of the poor,” Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said Pope Francis was “acutely aware of the divisions between our churches and how they stand in the way of seeing Jesus Christ more fully”.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a “faithful friend of the Palestinian people.”

“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Abbas said, noting that Pope Francis “recognized the Palestinian state and authorized the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the deceased Pope Francis as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.”

“He rightly saw great importance in fostering strong ties with the Jewish world and in advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect,” Herzog said in a post on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Catholic leader had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.”

“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

‘A great man has left us’ Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni added: “Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s home. It is deeply sad news, because a great man has left you.” Spain will observe three days of mourning to honor Pope Francis, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said in a televised address.

“We regret the death of a good man and a great pope. Therefore, the government of Spain will declare three days of official mourning,” Bolanos said, praising Francis’ “reformist” 12-year papacy that “will leave a legacy for history.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the late pontiff as a “defender” of “humanism and justice,” and praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. AFP

He is the only top official in the Church hierarchy to remain in post, with all others required to resign following the death of the pope.

Traditionally, his main role has been to certify the death, once done by tapping the pontiff’s forehead three times with a special silver hammer and calling out his birth name.

The camerlengo is also charged with destroying the “Fisherman’s Ring,” a gold signet ring specially cast for each new pope which once was used to seal documents.

Originally its destruction was to prevent forgery but today the act—in the presence of the cardinals at their first

gathering of the Sede Vacante—simply symbolizes the end of a papacy.

Simpler funeral Cardinals from around the world will hold a series of meetings known as “general congregations.”

They will decide on a date for the burial, which must take place between the fourth and sixth days after death, and on the organisation of the “novemdiales,” the nine days of mourning.

Francis’s immediate predecessors were buried in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, but he asked to be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

His body will be placed inside a single coffin of wood and zinc—again breaking with tradition, with previous popes interred in three coffins in cypress, lead

and elm, placed one inside the other.

The change in funeral rituals was better reflect what Francis sees as the role of the pope as “a pastor and disciple of Christ, and not of a powerful man of this world”, a top official said.

Francis’s open coffin will be laid out for veneration by the faithful in St Peter’s Basilica, putting an end to the display of papal bodies on a raised platform, propped up by cushions as per tradition.

The conclave

The general congregations are also a good way of vetting “papabili”—potential successors to Francis.

The congregations will set the date for a conclave to begin no less than 15 and no more than 20 days after the death of the pope. AFP

“Please ring the bells of our churches and call our people to pray for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Francis,” David said in a social media post of the Diocese of Kalookan.

“It is with profound grief that we received the news that our beloved Holy Father Pope, our dear Lolo Kiko, has passed from this world to return to the house of the Father. Together with our universal Church and all persons of goodwill, mourn his death,” Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said in a statement.

“We will always remember his visit to our country in 2015 – a moment of grace forever etched in our national memory. Under the rain in Tacloban, standing with the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain,” he added.

Love over doctrine

His death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance, looking frail, on the balcony at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel.

“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church,” said the statement.

Pope Francis’ body will be laid in a coffin in the chapel at the Saint Martha residence where he lived at 18:00 GMT (2 a.m. Tuesday, Manila time), the Vatican said.

“His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin,” the Holy See said in a statement.

His death sets in motion centuriesold traditions that will culminate in the gathering of a conclave of cardinals to choose a successor.

In the meantime, the day-to-day running of the tiny Vatican City state will be handled by the camerlengo, currently Dublin-born Farrell.

At the Vatican on Monday, a hush seemed to descend on the normally boisterous Saint Peter’s Square as the

sound of bells rang out.

“He lived this Easter and then he went,”

Cesarina Cireddu from Sardinia said with tears in her eyes. “He’s actually returned to the Lord -- and god speed.”

Tour groups continued to walk through the sprawling plaza as quiet groups of people leaned against a barricade to pray.

Venezuelan Riccardo Vielma, 31, who is studying to be a priest, said “we have lost our spiritual father.”

“This is the moment for all of humanity to unite and pray for him.”

Humble pastor

Francis, whose real name was Jorge Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit to lead the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics and the first from the Americas.

He took over after Benedict XVI became the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to step down -- and cut a sharply different figure from the German theologian.

A football-loving former archbishop of Buenos Aires who was often happiest among his flock, Francis sought to forge a more open and compassionate Church.

Francis’ pontificate was also marked by pushing through governance reforms and tackling the scourge of clerical sex abuse of children.

But critics accused him of creating doctrinal confusion and failing to defend traditional Catholic beliefs on key issues such as abortion and divorce.

Francis’ desire to chart a different path was evident right to the end, with his decision to be buried not in St Peter’s Basilica but in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.

He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican.

Francis also rejected the tradition of popes having three coffins, instead choosing to be buried in just one, made of wood and zinc, to reflect his role as a humble pastor.

Health issues

Francis had maintained a busy schedule, right up to hosting the prime minister of Slovakia shortly before his hospital admission.

The pope, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, was visibly breathless in the days before going to the Gemelli, delegating aides to read his homilies at public audiences.

Even after he was released from hospital and ordered to rest for two months, Francis did not wait long before making public appearances.

He had been admitted to hospital with a respiratory infection in March 2023. That same year he also underwent surgery for a hernia, and in 2021 he had colon surgery.

He suffered knee pain that required him to use a wheelchair, and had fallen twice in recent months.

Yet he never took a day off and made frequent trips abroad, including a fournation Asia-Pacific tour only last September.

Huge crowds gathered wherever he went, a testament to his popularity and human touch, which saw him finish his Sunday Angelus prayer each week urging followers to pray for him and to have a good lunch.

When Francis took over, the Catholic Church was mired in infighting and beset by a global scandal over clerical sex abuse of children and decades of cover-ups.

He promised an end to impunity and changed Vatican law to help tackle abuse, though victims said he could have gone further.

More widely, he initiated a major shake-up of the Vatican’s powerful governing body, including improving financial responsibility and allowing lay Catholics to lead Vatican offices. Throughout his papacy, Francis championed the poor and vulnerable and emphasized love over doctrine.

“If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” he said at the start of his papacy.

However, his detractors accused him of failing to uphold established Church doctrine, and his final months were marked by increasingly outspoken attacks by senior cardinals.

Tensions with conservative Catholics marked the Synod congress that met at the Vatican at the end of 2023, part of a years-long global consultation on the future of the Church -- that Francis now leaves unfinished.

Kissed prisoners’ feet

Before his first Easter at the Vatican, he washed and kissed the feet of prisoners at a Rome prison.

It was the first in a series of powerful symbolic gestures that helped him achieve enthusiastic global admiration that eluded his predecessor. AFP

BALIKATAN 2025. Lt. Gen Jame Glynn, United States Marine Corps (USMC), US Exercise Director and Gen. Romeo Browner Jr., PA, Chief of Staff AFP unfurl the Balikatan 2025 flag in official ceremonies yesterday at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. This year’s Balikatan will be observed by 19 countries, including Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and will feature full-scale joint training designed to test interoperability and enhance operational readiness in diverse scenarios. Danny Pata

IN BRIEF

Comelec to start deploying ballots

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will start the distribution of official ballots for the May 12 midterm elections starting today.

“The ballots will be directly deployed to the city or municipal treasurers’ offices,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday. Garcia said the initial ballots to be distributed will be for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Caraga region, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and Batanes.

Each of the 68.5 million ballots was subjected to both manual and machine verification to confirm that they met the required standards for color, timing marks, alignment, and other specifications. Vito Barcelo

Lakas bets lead in all 3 Albay districts—SWS

CANDIDATES of the ruling Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (LCMD) are leading the congressional races in all three districts of Albay, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. Conducted from March 29 to April 5 2025, the survey shows that Rep. Raul Angelo ‘Jil’ Bongalon has overtaken his rival, Tabaco Mayor Krisel Lagman (Liberal Party), for the 1st District seat.

Bongalon’s voter support surged from 36 percent to 44 percent, giving him a 3-point advantage over Lagman, who now stands at 41 percent.

In the 2nd District, former Ako Bicol Rep. Christopher ‘Kito’ Co (Lakas) has jumped 13 percentage points to 49 percent, positioning him far ahead of his opponent, Caloy Loria (PDP-Laban), who has dropped to 27 percent.

Maricel V. Cruz

Alyansa bets dominate race for Senate seats in May polls

By Rachelle Tonelada

LESS than a month before the 2025 midterm elections, nine out of 12 Senate seats are expected to be won by candidates under the administration’s senatorial slate, Alyansa Para

Sa Bagong Pilipinas, based on a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by Stratbase Group.

Despite the recent boost in popularity of Duterte-aligned candidates following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the exit of Senator Imee Marcos from the Alyansa slate, administration bets continue to dominate the Senate race.

This is mainly attributed to “increased visibility and popularity,” according to Stratbase president Dindo Manhit.

Duterte-backed candidate Christopher Go, who is running under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban), is the top forerunner, with 45% of respondents expressing support.

ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo followed closely in second place with 43% voter preference.

Senator Lito Lapid secured third place with 34%, followed by former Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Pia Cayetano, who are tied in the 4th and 5th spots, both with 33%.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa ranked 6th with 32%, while Senator Bong Revilla and broadcaster Ben Tulfo shared the 7th and 8th spots with 31% each.

Abby Binay climbed to 9th place with 29%, while Camille Villar landed in 10th with 28%.

Former Senator Ping Lacson dropped to 11th place from last

month’s 7th–8th spot, as his support slid from 31% to 26%.

Completing the top 12 is former Senator Manny Pacquiao, who garnered 25% voter preference. With many frontrunners being incumbents, Manhit said, “Access to government machinery and wellorganized local networks amplifies their visibility and reach, especially in the provinces, while media leverage, particularly among candidates with broadcasting backgrounds, ensures sustained exposure across platforms.”

The survey was conducted from April 11 to 15, with 1,800 registered voters participating and a margin of error of ±2.31%.

7 ways SM Supermalls is making every day Earth Day!

SM SUPERMALLS continues to champion the mindset that sustainability isn’t just a one-day commitment—it’s a lifestyle. In celebration of Earth Day 2025, SM invites everyone to be part of simple, everyday actions that make a big difference for the planet. Through innovative programs, eco-friendly infrastructure, and community engagement, SM’s malls have become leading platforms for greener living.

“Our malls are more than shopping destinations—they’re spaces where people and the planet can thrive together,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director of SM Cares for Environment. “Through programs that are easy to join, SM makes it possible for every visitor to take part in a more sustainable future.”

Here are 7 sustainable ways SM is turning its pledge into everyday impact—and how you can take part:

1. Plug in Your EV—for Free. With 123 EV charging stations across 69 malls, SM has disbursed over 14,500 kWh of clean electricity to electric vehicle users, with 50 more chargers planned in 2025. It’s free, easy to access, and part of SM’s commitment to lowemission mobility.

2. Walk into Solar-Powered Spaces. SM currently operates 47 malls and properties with solar installations, generating 27.6 GWh of clean energy in 2024 alone—the equivalent of removing over 4,100 cars off the road. With a goal of 100MWp rooftop solar capacity by 2027, more solar rollouts are planned for 2025.

3. Experience Greener Malls with Natural Lighting. From Sky Gardens and

4. Support a Waste-Free Future. Launched in 2023, SM’s #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign enforces proper waste segregation across all mall tenants through RDC (Recyclable, Disposable, Compostable) bin systems. Internally, SM is also building a culture of sustainability among employees, proving that change starts from

Wild birds foraging in a fish pond in Binmaley, Pangasinan. Dave Leprozo

PBBM eases travel restrictions for Taiwan

PRESIDENT Ferdi-

nand R. Marcos Jr. has eased decades-old travel restrictions for Philippine government officials visiting Taiwan, in a move aimed at boosting opportunities in the country’s key investment sectors.

On April 15, Mr. Marcos signed Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 32, which relaxes limitations originally imposed under Executive Order (EO) No. 313, issued in 1989 during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. A copy of the memorandum was released to the public on Monday.

EO 313 had barred all government officials from making official visits to Taiwan, receiving Taiwanese officials, or engaging in any formal activity involving Taiwan without prior clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Under the newly signed MC 32, those restrictions will now apply only to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of National Defense.

Other government officials are now permitted to travel to Taiwan for economic, trade, or investmentrelated purposes, provided they do so using their ordinary passports and refrain from using their official titles.

Officials must also coordinate their visits with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan. The new policy likewise allows Philippine officials to host Taiwanese delegations for economic discussions, as long as MECO is notified at least five days in advance.

However, the circular maintains a key restriction: no official agreements, memoranda of understanding, or similar documents may be signed with Taiwanese counterparts without prior approval from the DFA and, when necessary, the Office of the President.

OVP breaks silence, confirms support for Imee, Camille

By Rachelle Tonelada

THE office of Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed she is endorsing reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, citing a shared vision for the country as the unifying reason behind the support. “The #Duter10 senatorial candi-

Petition filed vs. Samal-Davao connector plan

By Pot Chavez

A PETITION for a Writ of Kalikasan was filed on Monday before the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the construction of the Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) project, which allegedly threatens two critical coral ecosystems in Davao City. In a press conference, petitioner Mark Penalver emphasized that the coral reefs deserve the protection guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We are witnessing 400-year-old coral reefs being reduced to rubble in a matter of weeks. Paradise Reef is not just beautiful—it feeds us, it protects our shores, it teaches us balance,” said Penalver, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Interfacing Development Initiatives for Sustainability, Inc. Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Davao City are both located in the ecologically significant Davao Gulf. The SIDC project, funded by China, was signed during the Duterte administration and has been allowed to proceed under the current administration, the petitioners said, despite opposition from environmental groups and local communities.

The project includes a four-lane extradosed bridge spanning 4.01 kilometers, with a vertical clearance of 47 meters.

dates, running under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s PDP–Laban, together with reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos and Representative Camille Villar, are united by a common vision—a peaceful and prosperous Philippines,” the OVP said in a statement.

“This vision is solid enough to break through the walls of the exist-

ing political division in the country,” it added. Online buzz surrounding the endorsements began after Senator Marcos posted an official campaign video titled “ITIM,” or “Inday Trusts Imee Marcos.” The video featured Marcos and VP Duterte exchanging the signature Dutertestyle fist bump, with the VP herself

encouraging the public to vote for Marcos. The endorsement follows Marcos’ earlier move to exit her brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s senatorial slate, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, shortly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Coast Guard: 506 passengers rescued

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday reported that a total of 506 passengers were rescued from a ship that ran aground in the shallow waters off Jagna Port in the province of Bohol.

“In a swift and coordinated maritime response, the Coast Guard District Central Visayas (CGDCV) successfully ensured the safe transfer of all 506 passengers from MV Lite Ferry 5, which ran aground in shallow waters off Jagna Port, Bohol, on the night of 19 April 2025,” the CGDCV said in a statement.

The vessel, which was en route to Cagayan de Oro, was maneuvering to depart when it drifted into shallow

waters due to low tide—approximately 200 meters from the port. A concerned citizen alerted the Coast Guard Substation in Jagna.

“Verification with the vessel’s Master confirmed the situation, prompting an immediate deployment of response teams. All passengers were safely returned to port by dawn on 20 April, with no reported injuries, through the coordinated efforts of the PCG, Philippine Navy, MDRRMO Jagna, Bantay Dagat, and local fisherfolk,” the CGDCV added.

Initial inspections conducted by the CGDCV revealed no internal hull damage. However, a full marine safety and environmental assessment is currently underway.

IN BRIEF

Agents nab Korean wanted for fraud

A SOUTH Korean citizen, wanted by Interpol and law enforcement in Seoul for leading a large-scale telecommunications fraud operation amounting to P70 million, was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents in Pampanga. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitive as Choi Hojun, who was cornered at his home in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Angeles City, by the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

Choi arrived in the Philippines on August 15, 2022, and has not departed since. A red notice from Interpol was issued in April 2024 following the release of an arrest warrant by a district court in Incheon, Seoul. Viado said Choi had been hiding in the Philippines for over a year and a half to evade prosecution in South Korea, and was arrested based on a mission order issued following a formal request from the South Korean government. Vito Barcelo

Order to destroy

Matabungkay bldgs. stays

THE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld an order to demolish illegal structures along Matabungkay Beach in Lian, Batangas. In the case of Sps. Calimlim v. Goño, penned by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the Court’s Second Division found that the structures—including videoke machines, sari-sari stores, carinderias, and billiard tables—were built without permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and qualified as public nuisances.

Villa Alexandra Beach Resort and Restaurant owners filed the case against Pablo and Patnubay Isla Calimlim, who had operated informal structures on the beach for over 50 years. The resort claimed these structures disrupted operations, inconvenienced guests, and caused financial losses. Pot Chavez

BOC condemns illegal vape worth P3.26b

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has condemned illegally imported vape products worth over ₱3.26 billion, citing lack of regulatory approval and safety concerns that render them unfit for public use. According to customs regulations, such products must be destroyed to protect public health and uphold trade standards.

STOP SIDC.

Residents, environmental defenders, youth, and marine scientists file a Petition for Writ of Kalikasan before the Supreme Court in Manila to stop the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project. Norman Cruz

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the destruction is part of the government’s intensified anti-smuggling campaign, particularly targeting unauthorized vape products. He emphasized that smuggling not only endangers public health but also undermines the integrity of local industries and the domestic market.

These efforts are in line with Section 1146 of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which authorizes the disposal of goods under customs custody, including the destruction of prohibited or hazardous items. Vito Barcelo

VENDORS’ PLEA. Nominees of the Samahan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (Vendors) party-list led by Malu Lipang, Lorenz Pesigan, and Diwata, accompanied by their legal counsel, Edward Gialogo, file their response at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to address the complaint lodged by Dr. Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya. Norman Cruz

BEATING THE HEAT. Tourists continue to visit the cold waters of Balagbag Falls in Real, Quezon in Barangay Malapad. Teddy Brul

OPINION

My years at MOPC and 365 Club

AT MY age of 97, nearing 98, my biggest regret as a journalist is that I can no longer be involved, as much as I want to be, with two news organizations -- the Manila Overseas Press Club and the 365 Club. The MOPC is Asia’s first and oldest press club, founded by the press corps that accompanied General Douglas MacArthur to liberate Manila from the Japanese Occupying Forces, which had occupied the Philippines for almost four years. Its current chairman is Tony Lopez, owner of BizNewsAsia.

I joined the MOPC in the 1960s, many years before Martial Law in 1972. It was then already, and still is, a prestigious newsmen’s organization.

When Martial Law was imposed on Sept. 21, 1972 – declared nationwide on television and radio two days later – I was then president of the MOPC and also vice president of Channel 9, owned by Roberto Benedicto, a crony of Marcos Sr. It was for that reason why I was not among the journalists arrested when Martial Law was declared and the press was censored.

In fact, when Martial Law was declared, I was appointed president of the MAC or Media Advisory Council to handle affairs of the press.

My gulay, as a member of the MAC with recommendatory power to the President and the administrator of Martial Law, then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, it was my belief that the broadcast media, both radio and television, should be outside the ambit of Martial Law.

My recommendation was immediately approved by then President Marcos Sr and JPE.

Then I gathered all the members of radio and television broadcast media to tell them of my idea, to make broadcast media outside the ambit of Martial Law. We called ourselves the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. As the organizer of the group, I was elected president of KBP. Our first item in the agenda was to regulate how many hours and minutes would be contained in advertising in radio and television programs. That recommendation still prevails till today. It started what I called “truth in advertising.”

On Sept. 21, 1972, I got a call from the Chief of Security of Channel 9. He said, “Sir, na-Martial Law na tayo. Channel 9 is closed.”

There was a big poster on the main door entry containing Proclamation 1081, which closed all media outlets in the country. So when I reached Channel 9, all the employees and officers of the channel were gathered in front of the building. I stayed there till 6 am in the morning commiserating with them.

When I decided to go home to take a rest, as I was passing along EDSA, I saw the Intercontinental Hotel and thought of taking a cup of coffee at its Jeepney Bar coffee shop.

When I entered the Jeepney Bar, I saw sitting at a round table then Makati Mayor Nemesio Yabut and Doroy Valencia, the famous columnist.

When I asked them what they were meeting about, since I saw Yabut had beside him a big duffel bag, Yabut said, “I am ready to be picked up by the military, but I have here Ka Doroy as my insurance.”

There was then a report that Yabut was involved in the killing of military people under Marcos.

When Martial Law was declared, I was appointed president of the Media Advisory Council to handle affairs of the press

Then Ka Dory said to me, “Emil, please go gather all the journalists who are out of a job and tell them henceforth to come to the Intercon coffee shop and have breakfast everyday at my expense.”

Yabut smiled, for he knew he would be the one footing the bill.

I informed my media colleagues about it. The problem was most of them started having their lunch and dinner there also, charging everything to Yabut.

Soon Mayor Yabut complained because the food bill was getting too enormous.

So Doroy said, “From now on, I declare “Proclamation 1082”: Everyone will pay KKB (kanya- kanyang bayad) (or each one pays his own).”

That gave birth to the 365 Club.

Since 1972, we have met everyday for breakfast , hence the name The 365 Club.

After Mayor Yabut and Doroy Valencia passed away, I declared myself, being the last remaining founder-member, as Chairman for Life of The 365 Club.

It was a very active club, where journalists, broadcasters, rich businessmen, celebrities and even ambassadors used to attend our breakfast meetings because discussions were on political and business issues.

The 365 Club was a success, so much so that no less than the Wall Street Journal featured it as the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

During the COVID pandemic, we tried meeting via zoom to discuss political issues.

Juan Ponce Enrile and Tony Lopez would actively join those zoom meetings.

Unfortunately, the club died a natural death after the pandemic because many of our members were appointed to active government positions, including JPE who is now President Marcos Jr.’s Presidential Legal Counsel.

Kiko Pangilinan and the smear that threatens Philippine democracy

IN A modest carinderia in Pampanga, Kiko Pangilinan joined a boodle fight, eating rice soaked in carabao milk from a pot lid – a humble nod to Kapampangan tradition.

Captured by food vlogger Romeo Catacutan, the moment was meant to celebrate culture and connection.

Within hours, it was hijacked, twisted into a meme by a swarm of faceless accounts hell-bent on painting a reformist as a fool.

This is no trivial scandal. The “higup sabaw” controversy is a calculated disinformation attack, a microcosm of how shadowy online operatives are poisoning Philippine democracy.

This isn’t about a man eating off a pot lid; it’s about whether elections will be decided by voters or troll farms.

Kiko Pangilinan, a former senator and 2025 senatorial candidate, is a target because of his record, not his meal.

His Sagip Saka Act empowered farmers, giving them direct market access to combat rural poverty.

His advocacy for food security tackles hunger head-on.

Yet, in early April 2025, a video of him honoring his father’s Kapampangan roots

went viral, sparking a deluge of ridicule.

Pangilinan, in a Facebook Live on April 12, called it what it was: an “orchestrated” and “well-funded” smear, amplified by bot accounts with Vietnamese-sounding names and eerily identical reactions.

Philippine politics risks descending into a circus of viral gaffes, where algorithms outvote citizens

His appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate isn’t just selfdefense—it’s a stand for electoral integrity.

The mechanics of this attack are chillingly precise.

The video, shared innocently by Catacutan, was weaponized within hours. Bots and paid trolls—hiding behind foreign pseudonyms—flooded Meta and TikTok with mockery, framing a cultural act as a desperate stunt.

This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format of the planet Earth looking distressed and beaten up. The planet Earth

EDITORIAL

Dangerous decline

METEOROLOGISTS and climatologists are agreed the Earth, with an estimated 8.21 billion people by this date, is facing an ecological crisis.

This crisis is characterized by interrelated issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, all significantly impacting the planet’s health and stability.

Scientists say these challenges arise from human activities, with the consequences potentially leading to ecosystem breakdown and species extinction if current trends are not reversed.

Climatologists have all these years been saying human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have drastically increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising global temperatures, altered weather patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods.

They have deduced this warming trend is also contributing to melting glaciers and rising sea levels they say have risen 8-9 inches or 21-24 centimeters since 1880. In 2023, global average sea level set a new record high – 101.4 mm (3.99 inches) above 1993 levels.

They have also pointed to biodiversity loss, defined as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change which

This wasn’t spontaneous; it was scripted, a digital ambush timed weeks before the May 12 elections. Tribune.net.ph reported Pangilinan’s anguish, noting how he tied the act to his father’s legacy, a “core memory” of heritage.

The attackers didn’t just target him— they exploited cultural ignorance, gaslighting Filipinos into seeing tradition as farce.

It’s a playbook ripped from global disinformation campaigns, like the fabricated scandals that plagued South Korea’s 2017 election or the bot-driven smears against Mexico’s AMLO in 2018.

Pangilinan’s detractors, whether unwitting dupes or bad-faith operatives, are complicit in a broader assault.

The smear trivializes his work—legislation that lifts farmers, policies that feed the hungry—reducing a reformist to a punchline.

The cultural cruelty is stark: mocking a Kapampangan ritual isn’t just personal; it’s an attack on Filipino identity.

Social media amplifies this divide, with

are causing a decline in biodiversity, with a significant number of species facing extinction. This loss, according to scientists, can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems and have far-reaching consequences for human health and wellbeing.

The world is grappling with several environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and action

Then there is pollution in various forms, including air, water, and plastic pollution, which are impacting the environment and human health. Instance, plastic pollution has been a major concern due to its persistence and harm to wildlife.

While raising climate change con-

urban netizens sneering at what rural communities embrace. The result? A fractured discourse where authenticity is weaponized, and trust erodes. The stakes are existential. If a pot lid can derail a campaign, what hope is there for substantive debate?

Philippine politics risks descending into a circus of viral gaffes, where algorithms outvote citizens.

Pangilinan’s fight is a warning: unchecked disinformation makes democracy a race to the bottom. His call to Comelec—to sanction candidates tied to troll networks—is urgent. Meta and TikTok must suspend bot accounts that spread lies. But the real battle lies with voters.

Reject the smear machine that turns heritage into a joke.

Focus on Pangilinan’s vision: a Philippines where farmers thrive, hunger fades, and elections reflect ballots, not bots.

In Pampanga, a pot lid is a symbol of community.

cerns, scientists have also sift the interrelated issues which they say are not isolated, but interconnected, citing as an example climate change can exacerbate biodiversity loss by altering habitats and increasing the risk of extinction.

Pollution, beyond doubt, can additionally strain ecosystems already under pressure from climate change and habitat loss.

Indeed the world is grappling with several environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and action.

We are experiencing what scientists call call a dangerous decline in nature and people are causing it.

Experts from the United Nations are also saying “We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands, adding: One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction.

75 percent of the Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by human actions, including 85 percent of wetland areas.

66 percent of ocean area is impacted by human activities, including from fisheries and pollution.

Close to 90 percent of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted.

In 2025, it’s a battleground. The “higup sabaw” plot isn’t just an attack on Kiko Pangilinan—it’s an assault on democracy’s soul. Choose your side.

Sources: Tribune.net.ph (April 13, 2025): Kiko hits ‘orchestrated,’ ‘well-funded’ disinformation drive Kiko decries well-funded disinfo campaign Pangilinan to Comelec: Urge FB, TikTok to block trolls Manila Bulletin (April 2025): ‘Orchestrated, well-funded’: Pangilinan decries disinformation in viral pot video Politiko.com.ph (April 10, 2025): Lid service? Kiko Pangilinan mocked for eating off a cauldron cover X posts cite: X post by @XXXScribbles: https://x.com/XXXScribbles/status/1910960662421074276 X post by @itstherealTing: https://x.com/itstherealTing/status/1911748587048063013

Who am I to judge?

Francis in key quotes

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, an en-

ergetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday aged 88.

The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23.

Key quotes from his papacy:

Humility

“Pray for me” - pronounced at the end of every speech, because, he once explained, “I am a sinner too.” His first tweet and first post on Instagram were versions of the mantra.

Donald Trump

“Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian,” the pontiff said in February 2016, on the return from Mexico, when asked about the then-US presidential hopeful’s anti-immigration stance.

When Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Francis condemned the president’s migrant deportation plans as a “calamity” and a “major crisis.”

Migrants

“In this world of globalization we have fallen into a globalization of indifference. We are accustomed to the suffering of others, it doesn’t concern us, it’s none of our business” - railing against the world closing its eyes to the plight of migrants, on the Italian island of Lampedusa in July 2013. Common touch

“When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep,” he said in an episode of a Catholic TV2000 television program in Oct. 2017.

And every Sunday after leading the Angelus prayer, he wished the crowd: “Buon pranzo” — have a good lunch. The poor

“How I would like a poor church for the poor” - setting the tone for his pontificate, three days after his election in March 2013.

Tolerance

“If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” — groundbreaking signal of a more tolerant church, July 2013.

Inequality

“The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose” -- opposition to economic inequality spelled out in 2013 Apostolic Exhortation. Environment

“The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth” - from his June 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si. Clerical sex abuse

Speaking in February 2019 of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors, he said: “I am reminded of the cruel religious practice, once widespread in certain cultures, of sacrificing human beings — frequently children — in pagan rites.” And on his own failings, after initially defending a bishop accused of covering up abuse in a row that rocked the Church in Chile, he said in April 2018: “I have incurred grave mistakes of judgement and perception of the situation, especially due to the lack of truthful and balanced information.”

Developing world

“The land of the southern poor is rich and mostly unpolluted, yet access to ownership of goods and resources for meeting vital needs is inhibited by a system of commercial relations and ownership which is structurally perverse,” - advocating the cause of the southern hemisphere in Laudato Si.

Old Europe

“We encounter a general impression of weariness and ageing, of a Europe which is now a ‘grandmother’, no longer fertile and vibrant” - addressing the European Parliament in November 2014. Shooting from the hip

“Some people think, and excuse the term, that to be good Catholics, they must be like rabbits” - typically pithy, improvised comment to reporters on the papal plane, January 2015.

Church reform

“A Curia that is not self-critical, that does not stay up-to-date, that does not seek to better itself, is an ailing body... It is the sickness of the rich fool who thinks he will live for all eternity” - from his December 2014 attack on the Vatican establishment, which he accused in the same speech of suffering from “spiritual Alzheimer’s.”

(Mercy

“There is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father,” - extending permanently his decree allowing priests to grant absolution to women who have had abortions, at the end of his Jubilee Year of Mercy in November 2016.

Vaccines Pope Francis urged people to get the coronavirus vaccine in the middle of the global pandemic in early 2021, saying those who opposed it were in “suicidal denial.” AFP

Russia resumes attacks on Ukraine

FRAGILE EASTER TRUCE. This handout picture taken and released by press-service of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade shows chaplain father Sergiy blessing Ukrainian servicemen sitting atop a tank during an Easter service in Zaporizhzhya region on Sunday,

Polls point to Liberal lead a week before vote

MONTREAL – Conservative hopes of returning to power in Canada appear to be fading a week before its election, with polls showing voters view the Liberals as a stronger counter to Donald Trump.

The American president’s trade war, which threatens tens of thousands of Canadian jobs, and his talk of making the US’ northern neighbor the 51st state have upended a race the Tories once appeared likely to win. Liberal leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who replaced the unpopular Justin Trudeau last month, has argued his experience leading the central banks of two G7 economies — Canada and Britain — makes him the ideal candidate to steer the

country through a Trump-induced economic storm.

There are also signs the campaign ahead of the April 28 vote has galvanized voter interest.

Televised debates last week scored higher ratings than in previous votes, while nearly two million people cast ballots on the first day of early voting Friday -- a record number according to Elections Canada.

After voting in Montreal, Christine Bonenfant told AFP she had backed the party that, in her view, “will do the best against Donald Trump,” and restore “calm.”

The retiree voiced hope turnout would be high in the “important” election.

Voter Josee Fournier said “Canada has a

Sword of Damocles hanging over its head because of the situation with our southern neighbor.”

Five parties hold seats in Canada’s outgoing parliament but polls indicate this election is being disproportionately dominated by the Liberals and Conservatives.

The left-wing New Democrats (NDP), the Quebec separatist Bloc Quebecois and particularly the Green Party have struggled to gain traction in a race dominated by the challenge of dealing with Canada’s newly hostile superpower neighbor. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had built broad support as a withering Trudeau critic. AFP

HURTLING MILESTONE. This handout picture courtesy of NASA shows Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner (center) being carried to a medical tent shortly after he, and Roscosmos cosmonauts

Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner landed in their Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Sunday. But NASA’s oldest serving astronaut Don Pettit became a septuagenarian while hurtling towards the Earth in a spacecraft to wrap up a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station. AFP

US defense chief shared sensitive info in 2nd Signal chat — report

WASHINGTON, DC – US Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth shared information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times reported on Sunday. AFP was not able to independently verify the Times’ report, which detailed what would be the second time Hegseth has been accused of sharing sensitive military information on the commercial messaging app with unauthorized personnel.

Last month, The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor-in-chief was inadvertently included in a Signal chat in which officials including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the strikes, which took place on March 15.

The revelation sparked an uproar, with US President Donald Trump’s administration facing a scandal over the accidental leak. A Pentagon Inspector-General’s probe into that leak is ongoing.

On Sunday, the Times reported that Hegseth had shared information on the same March 15 strikes with the second Signal group chat.

The information shared “included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen,” the newspaper reported.

The outlet said that unlike the accidental leak where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the group, this group chat was created by Hegseth. The other chat was initiated by Waltz.

“It included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary,” the Times’ reported, citing unnamed sources.

Hegseth’s wife Jennifer is a journalist and former Fox News producer. The group also included his brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, both of whom serve in roles at the Pentagon. AFP Parlatore also continues to serve as Hegseth’s personal lawyer, the Times reported.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

Trump largely pinned the blame for the earlier leak on Waltz, but has dismissed calls to fire top officials and insisted instead on what he called the success of the raids on the Yemeni rebels. AFP

KYIV – Russia launched a wave of aerial attacks at Ukraine on Monday in an abrupt end to a fragile 30hour Easter truce between the two sides.

The renewed strikes, confirmed by both Moscow and Kyiv, cast doubt on Donald Trump’s hopes for a broader ceasefire between the two sides, hours after the US President said he hoped a “deal” could be struck this week.

“With the end of the ceasefire, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to conduct the special military operation,” the Russian army said in a statement, using its term for the military offensive.

Both sides had accused the other of thousands of instances of violating the supposed ceasefire, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. Just hours after the truce ended at midnight local time (2100 GMT) Sunday, Ukrainian officials reported renewed drone and missile strikes on the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. Sergiy Lysak, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said Russia “launched drones” at the eastern region.

One home was damaged and a fire broke out at a food establishment, but no injuries have been reported, he said on Telegram.

Ukraine’s air force said it downed 42 Russian attack drones in an overnight attack starting at 2:00 am on Monday. The surprise 30-hour ceasefire was declared by Putin on Saturday, who said it was motivated by “humanitarian reasons”.

Both sides accused each other of numerous violations, but also reported a fall in the intensity the fighting.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday the ceasefire had seen a halt to air attacks, but accused Moscow of carrying out hundreds of front line raids.

Russia’s defense ministry in turn said it had “repelled” Ukrainian assaults and accused Kyiv of launching hundreds of drones and shells, causing civilian casualties.

But it too said the intensity of fire from the Ukrainian side had been “considerably reduced” across the entire front line during the truce. AFP

El Salvador offers to swap US deportees with Venezuela

SAN SALVADOR – Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele offered Venezuela Sunday a trade of 252 Venezuelans deported to his country by the United States for an equal number of political prisoners held by President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

The offer followed a broadside from President Donald Trump against US Supreme Court judges who on Saturday ordered a halt to removals like that of the Venezuelans, which the American administration has carried out under an obscure wartime law.

“I want to propose to you a humanitarian agreement calling for the repatriation of 100 percent of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported,” Bukele wrote to Maduro on X.

The prisoners would be sent “in exchange for the release and handing over of an identical number from among the thousands of political prisoners that you hold,” he added.

The Salvadoran leader, who was hosted at the White House last week, said that “all the Venezuelans we have in custody were detained as part of an operation against gangs like Tren de Aragua in the United States.”

In little more than a month, 288 migrants accused by the Trump administration of belonging to gangs including Tren de Aragua -now defined as a terrorist organization by Washington -- have been shipped to El Salvador.

The US is paying Bukele’s government to imprison them in the country’s notorious CECOT prison outside capital San Salvador.

The Trump administration has clashed with judges at home over the deportations.

The Supreme Court’s Saturday order at least temporarily halted what rights groups warned were imminent deportations of Venezuelan migrants being held in Texas, who have been accused of being gang members. AFP

ICC nixes proposal for stricter rules to identify drug war victims

By Rachelle Tonelada

THE International Criminal Court (ICC)

has rejected a proposal of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team to impose stricter requirements for verifying the identities of victims linked to his bloody war on drugs.

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I opted instead to uphold a more flexible approach, maintaining that the existing procedure is already sufficient in ensuring the credibility of the victim verification process. In a document released by the ICC dated April 17, the chamber said Duterte’s camp had asked for a more rigid framework, insisting that the “types

of documents that should be accepted by the Pre-Trial Chamber as proof of identity” must be limited to “a national identity card and or a passport containing an up-to-date photograph” or, in the absence thereof, to “those identification documents accepted in the staggered fashion mandated by the social security system of the Republic of the Philippines.”

The chamber declined this request and instead approved the Registry’s proposed list of identity documents, which included issuing entities and sample formats as sufficient proof of

identity for victim applicants.

“The Chamber considers that the Registry has provided sufficient information regarding each document that it proposes to accept as proof of identity for victim applicants, including the issuing entity and samples,” the document stated.

“This information, together with the procedure for admission of victims to participate in the proceedings adopted above, already ensures the ‘reliability of the identity verification process and significantly reduces the risk of fraud,’” it added.

Palace says no need to call in military intel on kidnappings

By Charles Dantes

MALACAÑANG sees no urgent need to involve military intelligence in the government’s response to recent kidnapping incidents, saying the situation remains under control and does not reflect a widespread security threat.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement Monday amid calls for President Marcos to mobilize military intelligence in light of the recent cases of abductions.

Five sent to jail for 2013 kidnap for ransom of two minors

By Pot Chavez

THE Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) on Monday announced the conviction of five individuals involved in the kidnapping-forransom of two minors along EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City in 2013.

In a 21-page decision dated April 8, 2025, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 94 presided by Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria ruled that the evidence presented by the DOJ was sufficient to convict three accused as principals and two others as accomplices.

“This conviction shows that the DOJ prosecution service continues to function effectively, even in complex cases. Our prosecutors remain focused on building strong cases and holding perpetrators accountable,” said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“This outcome reinforces the importance of thorough investigation and sustained case build up,” he added. According to him, the system was working and accountability is what the DOJ endeavors.

The prosecution was handled by deputy state prosecutor Olivia Laroza-Torrevillas and senior assistant state prosecutor Gino Angelo Yanga.

PNP creates committees on kidnapping, fake news

IN BRIEF

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has created two specialized committees, the Joint Anti-Kidnapping Action Committee (JAKAC) and the Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee (JAFNAC), to bolster its commitment of public safety and true information dissemination. In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the JAKAC will focus on identifying, investigating, and neutralizing organized kidnap-for-hire operations in the country. On the other hand, the JAFNAC will focus on worsening misinformation and disinformation that also threaten public trust, peace, and national stability. Marbil said the formation of the two committees were aligned with President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas vision, and reflects the PNP’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and proactive policing. Vince Lopez ‘Private schools may open classes June 16’ THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said private schools may also begin classes for school year 2025-2026 on June 16.

JOURNEY’S END. Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan greets the personnel of the PCG vessel BRP Gabriela Silang on their arrival at the Pier 13 in Manila, April 31, 2025, o cially ending their unprecedented three- country mission covering Vietnamm Thailand, and Malaysia. Norman Cruz

The respondents, John Mark Tamalla, Jomel Tamalla, and Bernard Pating were found guilty of kidnapping for ransom and were given life sentence without eligibility for parole.

Ma. Theresa Licay and Ma. Andrea Branzuela were convicted as accomplices and sentenced to 10 years to 17 years imprisonment. They were also ordered to pay the victims ₱100,000 each in civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.

A sixth respondent, Resty Branzuela died pending resolution of the case.

Two other accused, Rogel Domingo, Jr. and Ephraim John Evangelista, remained at large.

“At this point, there is no truth to claims of a widespread kidnapping spree in the country. That’s fake news,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

“In line with what PNP (Philippine National Police) chief (Gen. Rommel) Marbil has said, these are isolated, calculated acts rooted in personal and financial vendettas. The situation is firmly under control,” Castro said. She stressed that current law enforcement strategies are working and that criminal networks are actively being dismantled. Whether or not to involve military intelligence will depend on further assessment and the evolving strategy of the PNP, she added.

The issue came into focus following the arrest of three suspects in the kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.

One of the suspects is a Chinese national linked outlawed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) sector. All suspects face charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.

Castro said the swift resolution of the Que case was due to the direct orders of President Marcos and the quick action of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group.

The victim’s family has expressed gratitude to the President and law enforcement for their commitment to justice. In the same briefing, Castro also voiced strong support for the PNP’s newly formed Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee, emphasizing the threat of disinformation, especially in cases involving national security.

“There are still fake news peddlers claiming that the suspects are merely fall guys. That is dangerous,” she said.

“Fake news distorts public perception and decision-making. That’s why we must work together — government, media, and responsible content creators — to stop its spread,” she added.

NBI files criminal raps vs. Cebu vlogger

THE government’s drive against fake news was formally set in motion with the filing of a case against a vlogger based in Cebu City for allegedly spreading false and malicious information about National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago’s remarks on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The NBI filed the complaint against the still unnamed vlogger who posted on his social media page a picture of Santiago holding a microphone with the caption “Bagong pananakot sa mga OFW (New threat to OFW).”

The NBI charged that the video misrepresented Santiago’s actual statements and gave the false impression that he was threatening the OFWs. Santiago clarified that his remarks referred specifically to vloggers, either based

THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has partnered with three government agencies to expand support for urban poor communities in Mindanao. The PCUP recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Region 9’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Social Housing Finance Corp., and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, as well as with the Confederation of Zamboanga City Homeowners Association Inc. Lawyer Ferdinand Iman, chief of the PCUP operations division for Mindanao, said the tie-up aims to promote inclusive growth and equal empowerment through collaboration between government agencies and other stakeholders to beef up the capability of urban poor communities and homeowners associations. The arrangement will cover the provision of livelihood programs, skills training under TESDA, affordable housing from SHFC, and housing and urban development initiatives from DHSUD. Rio N. Araja

in the Philippines or abroad, who have pending legal cases.

“I was interviewed and I said vloggers who are overseas but facing legal issues in the Philippines and with outstanding arrest warrants will be apprehended upon their return to the country,” Santiago explained.

“Those who are already here, once we have filed the complaints will be arrested,” he added.

The assailed social media post also included several provocative statements: “Bakit sa’yo po ba ang Pilipinas? Bakit kayo ganyan sa mga nakakatulong sa ekonomiya ng bansa? (Why, do you own the Philippines? Why do you treat those who are helping the Philippine economy that way?”

The questioned post reportedly garnered around 58,000 views, resulting in public outrage and calls to withhold remittances.

TRAFFIC JAMS AS USUAL. The scenes along Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City are back to their usual attribute—bumper-to-bumper rows of vehicles in both directions. Manny Palmero

ON A NOT SO CLEAR DAY. With Lent over and normalcy returns, thick smog veils the Metro

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Eala rematch with Swiatek looms in Madrid Open

By Peter Atencio

FILIPINA sensation Alexandra Eala could

have an early rematch with world no. 2 and defending champion Iga Swiatek at the Mutua Madrid Open, which is set to begin with its main draw on Tuesday.

But the 19-year old Eala will first meet Viktoriya Tomova in the first round and have to beat the Bulgarian to be able to set up that rematch with Swiatek.

Both Eala and Swiatek, who drew a bye in the first round, sit at the bottom of the draw of the women’s singles.

Swiatek took the women’s singles honors last year after winning three championship points to squeak past world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals.

As Eala gets ready to face Tomova, she believes that her performance on clay will be affected by her game’s proficiency on hard court surfaces.

“I don’t think my game will change on clay. That it’s affected by the shots, that it’s affected by the weather, I can’t make it a big deal,” said Eala, who had a memorable encounter with Swiatek, whom she upset at the hardcourts of the Miami Open recently to enter the semifinals.

The world no. 64-ranked Tomova, just like Eala, has not won a women’s singles’ crown before and at age 30, will use her experience to try to get past the young and energetic Filipina.

Tomova also saw action the Miami Open and bowed to Sabalenka, 3-6, 0-6, in the round of 64.

At the Charleston Open two weeks later, Tomova took a 1-6, 3-6 setback to American netter Robin Montgomery.

Also in the same group in the first round with Eala is Petra Kvitova, who holds the record for the most Madrid titles with three (2011, 2015 and 2018).

Kvitova is still looking for the first win of her comeback bid since giving birth, as she faces Katie Volynets in the first round.

National team cyclists vying in Tour of Luzon

SOUTHEAST Asian Games medalist

Ronald Oranza and Jan Paul Morales are two of 10 members of the PhilCycling men’s national team who are seeing action in different teams in the Tour of Luzon: Great Revival that starts Thursday (April 24) in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Oranza, double bronze medalist at the Cambodia 2023 SEA Games, and Morales lead the International Cycling Union (UCI) continental team along with the veteran Junrey Navarra in the eightstage race presented by the MVP Group’s Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and organized by DuckWorld PH.

Reigning national road champion Marcelo Felipe and Nichol Pareja, meanwhile, are racing for another continental team, Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team, as well as Ruzzel Agapito for 7-Eleven Click Roadbike Philippines.

Steven Tablizo and Andrei Deudor are spearheaded of the Philippines Under-23

Tom N Toms squad, with Joshua Pacsual and Julius Tudtud donning the jerseys of Excellent Noodles and DReyna Orion Cement squads.

DIAMOND LEAGUE

AFTER two nights of “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” fans — this columnist included — were left not with satisfaction, but with suspicion. We scoured the aftermath, sifting through the spectacle in search of logic, clarity, answers. What we got were cliffhangers and question marks, as well as headscratchers and head-turners.

Don’t misunderstand me. WrestleMania 41 wasn’t a disaster. In fact, on several occasions, it flirted with greatness. But as the follow-up to the cinematic, emotionally charged masterpiece that was Wres-

Sarines, Suzuki target repeat junior golf wins

CONSISTENCY will be Lisa Sarines’ key weapon as she aims for a second straight victory in the Luzon Series of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour, which resumes today (Tuesday, April 22) with the ICTSI Sherwood Hills JPGT Championship in Trece Martires, Cavite.

Sarines dominated the tour’s opening leg at Eagle Ridge’s Norman course, carding a pair of 74s and beating her twin sister Mona by 13 strokes. She attributed her strong performance to excellent putting, which compensated for earlier struggles with her long game.

The two-week break has allowed her to refine her driving, making her a tougher contender in the girls’ 11-14 division for the 36-hole second leg of the seven-stage Luzon series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.

Mona Sarines, however, is deter-

mined to bounce back and spoil her sister’s title bid, along with strong contenders Arielle Espartero, Keira Que, Stella Pallasigui, Kendra Garingalao, Ma. Althea Bañez and Eliana Dumalaog. Lisa Sarines faces Bañez, Garingalao and Espartero in the 11:33 a.m. flight with Mona Sarines drawing Dumalaog, Pallasigui and Que in the earlier group at 11:25 a.m.

In the boys’ 11-14 division, Ryuji Suzuki is also seeking back-to-back wins after coming away with an eightstroke triumph over Race Manhit at Eagle Ridge.

But with a 22-player field that includes Vito Sarines, Jacob Casuga, Matthias Espinas, and Rafael Hernandez, the Southwoods standout is bracing for a tougher challenge in scorching conditions. He slugs it out with Vito Sarines, Casuga and Ryuichi Tao at 7:36 a.m.

Obiena returns to action vs. world’s best vaulters

By Randy M. Caluag

TWO-TIME Olympian Ernest John Obiena will take on the world’s best as he returns to competition at the Diamond League’s Xiamen leg on April 26 in Xiamen, China.

Obiena last saw action at the Taiwan International Pole Vault Championships, where he clinched the gold medal despite challenging weather conditions. Competing under a thick fog at Sun Moon Lake, he cleared 5.50 meters on his third attempt to take the top spot on the podium.

Now, his focus shifts to the prestigious Diamond League, which spans 15 legs throughout the season and features many of the world’s elite athletes. Obiena is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation, training rigorously under the Philippine heat to reach peak form.

“Preparations and training have been done in the heat of the Philippines,” Obiena shared in a recent social media update.

The Xiamen leg promises intense competition, with a stacked 11-man field led by Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, the reigning Olympic and world champion, who holds the world record of 6.27 meters.

Obiena will also face off against other top contenders, including Tokyo silver and bronze medalists Sam Kendricks of the U.S. and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the world, respectively. Also in the mix are world No. 6 Kur-

tis Marschall (Australia), No. 8 Sondre Guttormsen (Norway), No. 9 Ben Broeders (Belgium), and No. 10 Menno Vloon (Netherlands). Obiena heads into the competition after completing a three-week training camp at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite, under the guidance of his world-renowned coach Vitaly Petrov. Ernest John Obiena

Thailand roars to AVC quarterfinals, ousts Queensland

THAILAND’S Nakhon Ratchasima QminC made an emphatic statement in its 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League debut, bulldozing past Queensland with a merciless 25-10, 25-16, 25-12 rout at the Philsports Arena on Monday to secure a quarterfinal spot in Pool D.

The Devil Cat left no room for doubt in the threeteam group play, sharing the lead while pulling the PLDT High Speed Hitters into the next round. Nakhon Ratchasima and PLDT are set to clash at 4 p.m. Tuesday to decide the group’s top seed.

The top two teams in each of the tournament’s four pools move forward to the next round, with Beijing Baic Motor nailing the first quarterfinals slot with a 2-0 record in Pool C.

While Queensland showed a flicker of resistance in the third set – threatening at 9-10 after a service error by Sasipapron Janthawisut – Nakhon Ratchasima promptly slammed the door shut with a punishing 10-0 run powered by Greek import Evangelia Chantava and Tichakorn Boonlert, ballooning the lead to 20-9 and sealing yet another dominant frame.

American opposite spiker Anyse Smith led the offensive onslaught with 13 points and five

Trying to make sense of WrestleMania 41

tleMania 40, this year’s show simply couldn’t recapture that same lightning in a bottle. Yet, there were flashes of brilliance — easy-to-spot five-star contenders. Night 1’s Triple Threat main event was a masterclass in storytelling and synergy among Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins. Three names, one ring, and infinite drama. Their chemistry was so electric that it could’ve powered Allegiant Stadium for the entire weekend. The crowd was unglued, the stakes felt biblical, and then came the swerve.

Paul Heyman — the wise man, the architect, the serpent in the garden — stabbed not one, but two of his former apostles in the back, aligning with Rollins in a move as shocking as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin shaking hands with devil himself, Mr. McMahon, at WrestleMania

X-Seven. This time, it was “The Messiah” forming an unholy trinity with Heyman. Night 2 answered with another Triple Threat masterpiece, this time in the Women’s division. Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley tore the house down, a battle of three titans where Japan’s “Genius of the Sky” soared once more, leaving with her Women’s World Title intact and her stock even higher. There were highlights sprinkled throughout: Dominik Mysterio seizing the Intercontinental Championship in a banger of a bout with Bron Breakker, Finn Balor, and Penta, Jacob Fatu finally getting his coronation as United States Champion against LA Knight, and Drew McIntyre’s no-holds-barred war with Damian Priest. But for every high, there was a low. Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Title win over Gunther didn’t land the emotional punch it aimed for. Tiffany Stratton’s

excellent digs. Chantava chipped in 12 points built on nine kills, two blocks, and an ace in an all-around performance that reflected the team’s laser-focused execution.

“I feel like our game, we came out on fire, we did what we needed to do, and we all believed in each other and we got the victory,” said Smith.

“We had a game plan from the start – to make sure we all did our part and contribute. We really focused on our serves, and I feel like we did great,” she added. Janthawisut contributed eight points and six excellent receptions. Kaewkalaya Kamulthala added five markers, while Sirima Manakij and Boonlert scored four markers apiece in the runaway win, which underscored Nakhon Ratchasima’s intent to contend for the crown in the tournament backed by Mikasa, Mizuno, Grand Sport, PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal and The Look Group, Queensland, a three-time champion in its home country, bowed out of the 10-nation, 12-team tournament organized by Sports Vision with a 0-2 record, after also falling to PLDT, 19-25, 12-25, 1225, on Sunday.

clash with Charlotte Flair felt like a missed opportunity. And Logan Paul versus AJ Styles? A marquee match that didn’t quite justify its billing. One of the most baffling booking decisions was having Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez — a tag team firing on all cylinders — drop the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Lyra Valkyria and the returning Becky Lynch. The kicker? Bayley was pulled from the match without explanation. The locker room’s iron woman unceremoniously written off — and we still don’t know why. Then there was the main event of Night 2 — the match that should’ve brought it all home. Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship. On paper, this was the passing of the torch. The retiring hero versus the ascending icon. The match was solid — no doubt about that — but something was missing. Someone was missing. Where was The Rock? After all the build, the teases, the promise of confrontation? Absent. Instead, we got Travis Scott, open-

ing the door for Cena to deck Rhodes with the title and walk away as champion to kickstart his farewell tour. Look, I get it. We all crave resolution. WrestleMania is supposed to pay off the year-long drama. But sometimes, it’s about planting seeds, not just picking fruit. Triple H has proven time and again he plays the long game. He’s not just booking matches — he’s crafting sagas. So maybe that’s what this was. A tease. A test. A tangle of emotions and expectations meant to keep us glued to our screens week after week. In 2025, that’s a masterstroke. After all, who saw that RKO from Randy Orton to Joe Hendry coming? TNA’s golden boy getting flattened in WWE’s ring? That’s not just crossover — that’s chaos. And in today’s world of sports entertainment, chaos sells. So buckle up. The story isn’t over. It’s only just beginning.

(For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail. com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)

The two-week break has allowed Lisa Sarines to refine her driving, making her a tougher contender in the girls’ 11-14 division for the 36-hole second leg of the seven-stage Luzon series

In The Red Corner

Nissi Icasiano

Evangelia Chantava

Global bank says PH may serve as ‘safe haven’ amid trade wars

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BOP deficit in first quarter of 2025

BOP surplus in first quarter of 2024

billion

GIR as of

BOP incurred $3-b deficit in first quarter

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines’ balance of payments (BOP) shifted to a $2-billion deficit in March 2025 from a $1.2-billion surplus in the same month last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Monday.

The BOP deficit reflected the national government’s (NG) drawdowns on its foreign currency deposits with the BSP to meet its external debt obligations and the BSP’s net foreign exchange operations. It brought the cumulative BOP level to a $3-billion deficit, marking a reversal from the $238-million surplus recorded a year earlier.

The first-quarter deficit reflected mainly the widening trade in goods deficit. This was partly muted by the continued net inflows from personal remittances, foreign direct investments and foreign borrowings by the national government.

The BOP position mirrored the decrease in the final gross international reserves (GIR) to $106.7 billion as of end-March 2025 from $107.4 billion as of endFebruary 2025.

Data showed that the latest GIR level still provides a robust external liquidity buffer, equivalent to 7.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

It also covers about 3.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity.

GLOBAL investment bank UBS maintained a positive outlook on the Philippines, citing the country’s low exposure to global trade tensions and strong domestic fundamentals as key factors supporting economic resilience.

UBS said in a report the Philippines may serve as a “relative safe haven” amid ongoing global trade wars and heightened recessionary risks. It said the country’s direct and indirect exposure to global trade and GDP growth remains limited, making it less vulnerable compared to its regional peers.

The administration of US President Donald Trump earlier announced a 10-percent minimum tariff on most US

trading partners, including ‘reciprocal tariffs’. For the Philippines, the reciprocal tariff came out to be 17 percent, which is the second lowest in ASEAN.

UBS also noted that the country’s minimal dependence on exports to the US, representing just 2 percent of GDP, significantly cushions the economy from the broader impact of US tariffs and global economic drag.

Meanwhile, UBS economists forecast three more policy rate cuts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in the second half of the year—likely in August, October and December— in line with expected moves by the US Federal Reserve.

With inflation at a low 2.4 percent, the rate cuts are expected to further support domestic consumption and investment.

The BSP cut the key rate by a quarter point early this month to 5.5 percent amid easing inflation rate.

UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. UBS managed $6.1 trillion of invested assets as of fourth quarter 2024.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Monday a Thailand-based coconut processor is investing P1 billion in a project within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority in Misamis Oriental. PEZA director-general Treso Panga said the project would involve over P1 billion in capitalization for a coconut processing facility and targets to export its products to Thailand, the

EU and the US. He said the construction of the facility would start by October 2025, and commercial operations by endDecember 2025 or early January 2026.

PHIVIDEC and Thai World Group of Companies affiliate PhilCo Food Processing Inc. signed a 20-year lease agreement on April 11, 2025.

The plant will occupy a 39,596-square-meter site in Mohon, Tagoloan and produce 78,000 tons of

ultra-high temperature (UHT) coconut milk annually, along with frozen coconut meat.

“This signing is a game-changer for PHIVIDEC and northern Mindanao,” said PHIVIDEC administrator and chief executive Joseph Donato Bernedo. The project is expected to generate over 1,000 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs.

PhilCo plans to source about 500,000 coconuts daily from farmers in Northern Mindanao and surround-

which is tasked with streamlining the collection, analysis, and reporting of critical livestock and poultry data to support planning, forecasting, and policy-making.

“We need up-to-date data on market trends and behavior to ensure that the policies we formulate and the actions we take safeguard and promote the growth of the industry, even as we protect consumers,” Tiu Laurel said. He cited the local market’s dynamism, thus the need for better and more reliable information for accurate forecasts and timely decisions. Othel V. Campos

NEW NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said Monday the Ninoy Aquino International Airport handled more than 1.17 million passengers during the Holy Week period from April 13 to 20, 2025, up 12.7 percent from the same period last year.

NNIC said the highest single-day volume was recorded on Easter Sunday, with 156,635 passengers, while the daily average for the week stood at 146,611.

Both international and domestic travel posted double-digit growth, with international passenger traffic up 11.21 percent and domestic up 14.19 percent year-on-year.

ing provinces.

PEZA granted PhilCo six years of income tax holiday and other incentives under the CREATE MORE Act. Fully owned by Lucky Force International Limited, a Hong Kongbased company under the Thai World Group, PhilCo has a pending registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Until registration is completed, Lucky Force will serve as co-lessee and guarantor under the agreement.

This was made possible by the combined efforts of key agencies and the operational improvements implemented by NNIC in recent months.

As part of coordinated Holy Week preparations led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under Secretary Vince Dizon, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) deployed additional personnel and opened more counters during peak periods. These efforts that were fully supported by terminal improvements designed specifically to enable faster processing and reduce congestion.

Despite NAIA operating beyond its original designed capacity, operations across all terminals remained smooth and orderly.

Darwin G. Amojelar

FOOD HUB. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon agree to fast-track the development of a food hub on land owned by the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC)

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025

extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH stocks up slightly after long holiday break; peso at 56.61 a dollar

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) eked out a modest gain Monday as investors treaded carefully following the Holy Week break and ahead of key economic data from the United States.

The 30-company index inched up by 3.38 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 6,138.00, while the broader all-shares index declined 11.68 points, or 0.32 percent, to end at 3,645.31, as selling pressure persisted in most sectors.

“Philippine shares started off tepidly as investors remain on the sidelines after the Holy Week break to gauge the price action movement of the market at the beginning of the week,” Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said. The peso also climbed to 56.61 against the US dollar Monday from 56.80 on April 16. Investors are awaiting the release

of key US economic data including the S&P Global Flash PMIs, new home sales and durable goods orders.

“These indicators will provide fresh insights into economic momentum, manufacturing activity, housing demand, and consumer confidence,” said Limlingan.

Sectoral performance was mixed, with mining and oil jumping 3.16 percent and financials gaining 1.45 percent.

The rest of the indices ended in the red, with property down 0.91 percent, services lower by 0.58 percent, industrials dropping 0.60 percent and holding firms inching lower by 0.08 percent.

Total value turnover stood at P3.814 billion. Market breadth was negative with 93 advancers, 109 decliners and 51 unchanged issued.

Jenniffer B. Austria

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors and Stockholders of EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION, a corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under SEC Registration No. 132910, with its principal office located at 11 B Sunrise Drive, Barangay Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City, has approved the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation on March 29, 2025.

The Corporation has ceased operations as of June 1, 2024, due to the prohibition issued by the Secretary of Education against the sale of its various publications in public schools. As part of the voluntary dissolution process, the Corporation is now in the process of filing the necessary documents with the SEC in accordance with the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.

All persons having claims against the Corporation are requested to submit their claims in writing, together with supporting documents, to the Corporation at its principal office address at 11 B Sahrise Drive, Barangay Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City, within thirty (30) days from the date of this publication. For inquiries or concerns regarding this dissolution, please contact the Corporation at the same address

This notice is being published in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other relevant laws and regulations governing corporate dissolution.

Issued this March 10, 2025, in Quezon City, Philippines.

By authority of the Board:

(Sgd.) JOSE B. BILASANO President and General Manager Educational Resources Corporation

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) reported a net income of P16.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up by 9 percent from P15.3 billion in the same period last year, positioning the bank for another record earnings for 2025.

“Our plan is to have net income this year that will exceed last year’s net income, and if you take a look at our first-quarter results, I think we should be fairly on track,” BPI president and chief executive Jose Teodoro Limcaoco said in news briefing.

Limcaoco said while BPI is seeing headwinds, particularly due to developments overseas that could trigger possible global recession, the “Philippines should be better insulated” than most countries on the back of strong domestic consumption and easing inflation rate.

Meanwhile, Limcaoco attributed the solid performance to higher revenues, which more than offset the impact of the increases in operating expenses and provision for losses.

This result translated into a return on equity and return on assets of 15.35 percent and 2.05 percent, respectively.

SOME aspects of the current campaign to elect 12 senators of the incoming 20th Congress are astonishing. But no aspect can be more astonishing than the almost total failure of the nearly 65 senatorial candidates to take up the issue of Philippine agriculture in their campaigns. With the exception of a handful of the candidates – former Presidential adviser on agriculture Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino are two of them – the candidates in the 2025 Senatorial election have been thinking this country’s agriculture like a non-issue.

This is not to say that the senatorial candidates have been discussing unimportant issues in their encounters, at rallies and in various’ fora, with the electorate. The cost of living, minimum wages, unemployment and underemployment, health care costs, education poor public facilities and corruption that are very important issues. The candidates to engage with the Filipino people on these are other issues that will impact their personal living and shape their country’s direction. But leave the agriculture issue almost culturally out of the electoral discourse? That too bad . And it’s very sad.

It’s too bad because agriculture is about eating and feeding and food prices. We Filipinos, all 120 million of us, have to be fed, whether with domestically produced food or with imported food. Notwithstanding the billions of pesos that have been made available by the government to agriculture, including the 10 billion generated annually by the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and the palay-buying fund of the National Food Authority

Total revenues for the quarter climbed 13.1 percent to P44.7 billion, driven by a 15.3-percent rise in net interest income.

This was supported by an 8.6-percent expansion in the average earning asset base and a 30-basis-point improvement in net interest margin to 4.49 percent.

Non-interest income rose 6.3 percent to P10.3 billion, led by higher credit card fees and transaction-based service charges.

Operating expenses grew 12.7 percent to P20.3 billion, mainly due to increased spending on manpower, technology, and volumerelated costs.

Despite this, the bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved slightly to 45.4 percent.

BPI set aside P3 billion in provisions during the quarter. The bank’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio stood at 2.26 percent, with an NPL coverage ratio of 100.11 percent.

Total assets rose 6.9 percent year-on-year to P3.3 trillion.

Gross loans increased 13.2 percent to P2.3 trillion, led by broadbased growth, particularly in non-institutional loans.

Deposits also grew 6.3 percent to P2.6 trillion, resulting in a loan-to-deposit ratio of 89.4 percent.

Total equity reached P448.6 billion, up 11.3 percent year-onyear, with a common equity tier 1 ratio of 14.69 percent and a capital adequacy ratio of 15.43 percent.

It is the time for the senatorial candidates to give the Filipino people an idea of what they can contribute to the effort to make agriculture the robust, progressive sector of the Philippines economy that it once was and can be once more.

(NFA), the agricultural policymakers appear to have given up on the idea of national rice and self-sufficiency. Supply deficits naturally have been made up by imports. Almost by definition, imports have a dampening effect on domestic production of a commodity.

Imports of rice into the Philippines is the story of a string of government agencies mandated to undertake the activity of importing rice. First there was the National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC). NARIC was followed, in succession, by the Rice and Corn Authority (RCA) National Grain Authority (NGA) and, until its mandate was diminished by the RTL, rice importation was done on a government – to - government basis. Rice imports involve three elements, of which two are monetary in nature: the effect on the consumer

price index (CPI), the outflow of foreign exchange to foreigners and the possibility of corruption in the pricing of the imports.

I spoke above of sadness with regard to the Senatorial candidates’ failure or unwillingness to discuss Philippine agriculture with their campaign audience’s. The sadness stems from the fact that this country possesses almost all of the principal components of a successful agricultural development program. It has an abundance of fertile land, sufficient financing (the national budget , the RTL revenues and the Land Bank of the Philippines), a solid technological base (UP Los Baños, the International Rice Research Institute and the Philippine Rice Research Institute) and a corps of experienced and hardened farmers.

It’s saddening to contemplate that despite these endowments this country has for some time been the world’s No. 1 rice importer. And who knows? In time the Philippines might also become the world’s No. 1 importer of onions, garlic, etc. Now, when they are out campaigning for their votes, is the time for the senatorial candidates to give the Filipino people an idea of what they can contribute to the effort to make agriculture the robust, progressive sector of the Philippines economy that it once was and can be once more.

A concluding thought. The fact that almost all of the senatorial candidates don’t discuss agriculture on the campaign trail can mean one of two things: they don’t know or they don’t care. Take your pick.

(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)

CIC AWARDS. Concepcion Industrial Corp. (CIC), the industry-leading provider of reliable home and enterprise solutions, announces the recognition of its brands, Carrier and Condura at the 27th Annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Asia Awards. Carrier is the sole recipient of the Platinum Award in the air conditioner category, while Condura emerged as the only Filipino brand to receive gold in both the air conditioner and refrigerator categories.

BUSINESS

Alternergy secures P3.2-b

RCBC loan for wind project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ALTERNERGY Holdings Corp. said Monday the 64-megawattt Alabat wind power project in Quezon province received P3.256 billion in funding from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.(RCBC).

Alternergy said in a statement

RCBC released the funding out of the P5.3-billion project finance facility for the Alabat wind project. Alternergy will finance the remaining project cost through internally-generated funds.

“We are grateful to RCBC for this initial release of project funding for

LandBank sees surge in digital banking usage

LAND BANK of the Philippines said Monday it recorded a significant increase in digital banking transactions in 2024, led by the growing shift of customers to online banking services and the bank’s sustained investments in enhancing its digital platforms.

The bank said it facilitated 162.28 million digital transactions, marking a 67-percent expansion from 97.08 million in 2023, with a total value of P3.38 trillion, up 38 percent from P2.45 trillion.

“Digital banking is not just about convenience—it’s about inclusion. Through our digital banking channels, we are empowering every Filipino to take control of their finances. Our goal is to make safe, reliable, and convenient banking accessible to all, especially our farmers and fishers, business owners, OFWs and government agencies,” said LandBank president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz. The LandBank Mobile Banking App (MBA) led the growth in the total transaction volume, with a record 106.82 million transactions in 2024—or nearly double the 55.2 million transactions recorded in the prior year.

MBA allows users to perform a wide range of banking services including fund transfers, bill payments and investing in government securities. Among the app’s major enhancements last year was the straight-through account opening feature, which allows customers to open a digital account online via smartphones without visiting a branch. The bank’s corporate Internet banking platform, weAccess, recorded the highest volume of P1.36 trillion. This was up 43 percent from P952.14 billion in 2023.

our Alabat Wind Project, coming soon after RCBC’s release last month of P800 million for our Balsik Solar project,” said Alternergy president Gerry Magbanua.

The P7.1-billion Alabat wind project is the first wind project in the country located along the Pacific Ocean coastline and is the first wind project being

erected in Quezon province.

The wind project is being built under the 2nd Green Energy Auction Program undertaken by the Department of Energy in July 2023 and is eyed to be completed by end-2025.

Alternergy unit Alabat Wind Power Corp. (AWPC) took delivery of the first units of the largest wind turbines to be installed in the country early this month.

The 8-MW wind turbines, built by Envision Energy, each has three blades that are 90-meters long, or the length of a football field, for a total wingspan of 182 meters wide. A total of 8 turbines will be installed for the

Alabat wind project. The towers, once built, will have a maximum height of 195 meters.

Puyat Jacinto & Santos Law (PJS) acted as lender’s counsel and Tantoco Villanueva & De Guzman Law Offices (Tavidell) as borrower’s counsel, AFRY Philippines Inc. (AFRY) as lender’s technical advisor and AON as borrower’s insurance broker for the assistance in ensuring successful drawdown.

The Alabat wind project is one of five renewable energy projects under construction by Alternergy as part of its target to have 500-MW capacity by 2026.

ICTSI acquires stake in Brazil shipyard lot

By Darwin G. Amojelar

“The

for ICTSI for the development of the area and, thus, potential expansion of the total operational and logistics capacity of the port region of Rio de Janeiro,” ICTSI said.

The company allocated around $580 million for 2025 capital expenditure, an increase from $517.14 million it spent last year.

The planned investments will focus on several key areas. A significant portion will continue the development of the new Batangas project in the Philippines.

Expansions are also underway at CMSA in Manzanillo, Mexico (phase 3B), MICT in Manila and IDRC in Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Globe provides eco-friendly SIMs to prepaid users

GLOBE Telecom Inc. is extending the use of eco-friendly SIMs, introducing the product to Globe Prepaid and TM customers in a bold move toward sustainability, . The innovation makes eco-friendly SIMs available to Globe’s entire mobile base, with over 96 percent of mobile customers composed of Globe Prepaid and TM users. Globe earlier launched eco-SIMs in 2022 for Postpaid users, becoming the first Philippine telco company to use recycled plastic for its simbeds.

By transitioning from virgin plastic SIMs to SIMs made from 100 percent recycled plastic, Globe Prepaid and TM are taking a proactive stance in environmental responsibility.

The shift aims to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13 on Climate Action.

“Sustainability is at the heart of what we do,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer. “We continue to look for areas in the business where our practice leads to greater impact.” Globe’s Head of Consumer Mobile Business Eric Tanbauco said the launch of ecoSIMs “is just one of the many ways Globe is working towards a greener Philippines, and we invite our customers to be part of this journey.”

As sustainability becomes a key priority for consumers, Globe continues to integrate eco-friendly initiatives into its services. The move resonates deeply with today’s customers—especially Gen Z, who demand real action from brands on climate change. At the same time, TM remains the top choice for value-conscious consumers, proving that sustainability and affordability can go hand in hand.

With TM, users can contribute to sustainability in small but impactful ways, without added costs. This ensures that customers can enjoy a consistent connection while making a positive difference for the planet.

Beyond eco SIMs, Globe is continuously integrating green initiatives into its operations. These efforts include green network solutions, use of renewable energy, shift to electric vehicles and other climate action strategies that help minimize environmental impact. Globe Prepaid and TM’s eco SIMs will soon be available nationwide, making it easier for customers to participate in meaningful changes toward a more sustainable future. Through the initiative, Globe reaffirms its role as a leader in responsible and innovative telecom solutions—ensuring that every connection contributes to a greener tomorrow.

Holcim, Berde finalize accord to expand solar energy output

BERDE Renewables

Inc., a distributed renewable energy portfolio company of I Squared Capital based in the Philippines, announced the expansion of its partnership with Holcim Philippines Inc.

Building on the success of last year’s solar rooftop projects, the two companies are now taking their collaboration to the next level. Together, they will work to increase the renewable energy capacity at Holcim’s facilities in Davao City and Lugait, Misamis Oriental, further enhancing their sustainability efforts. Through the expanded partnership, Berde Renewables will take on the design, construction, and management of additional solar facilities on new Holcim sites, increasing the combined capacity to 12.79 megawatt-peak (MWp). These installations are expected to generate approximately 21,263 megawatt hours of clean energy annually, which will help reduce carbon emissions by approximately 14,000 metric tons per year. The project supports Holcim’s ambitious goal of reducing Scope 2 emissions by 65 percent by 2030.

Saving marine resources fights poverty—DENR

ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources

Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga stressed the critical role of restoring mangrove forests, which have been lost to fishponds and brackish water fisheries since the 1950s.

“We need to accelerate the planting of the right species in the right areas and increase protection of our remaining mangrove stands,” she said in a keynote address during a panel discussion with officials of the United Kingdom.

Loyzaga said conservation and protection are integral to the country’s economic development strategy, adding that these priorities are not afterthoughts or secondary concerns.

Loyzaga also expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for its strong support through the Blue Planet Fund (BPF).

UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy met last month with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and other officials to promote enhanced partnerships between the two nations.

“Although we may be small in terms of land mass, both the Philippines and the UK are large ocean nations with some of the longest coastlines in the world,” said Loyzaga.

The Philippines and the UK share the characteristics of being small, blue, archipelagic nations with vast ocean territories. For the Philippines, the development of the blue economy has enormous potential, as 86 percent of its territory is water.

Launched in 2021, the UK’s Blue Planet Fund supports developing countries in protecting marine environments and combating poverty.

In the Philippines, the fund focuses on climate adaptation, tackling plastic pollution, promoting blue carbon initiatives, and preserving natural systems and biodiversity.

Loyzaga cited two out of eight significant programs supported by the BPF. The first program centers on enhancing sustainable livelihoods by improving the management of marine protected areas in the Verde Island Passage, the Calamianes Islands in Palawan, and the Tañon Strait between Negros and Cebu.

The second program, supported by the BPF, is the Philippines’ National Blue Carbon Action Plan (NBCAP), launched on February 26. The NBCAP outlines the Philippine government’s strategy for managing blue carbon ecosystems.

“The Philippines is committed to increasing investments in better mechanisms to observe, conserve and protect our ocean environments,” Loyzaga said.

The Philippines in 2010 joined the Global Ocean Alliance (GOA), an initiative launched by the UK to unite countries and organizations committed to achieving the 30×30 target set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The goal seeks to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030 to prevent biodiversity loss and address the climate crisis. DENR News

Coastal tourism hit by SC ruling on municipal waters

THE Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing inside the 15-kilometer municipal waters is feared to negatively impact the coastal tourism sector in the Philippine.

Marivic Verdadero Maramot, a scuba instructor, underwater photographer and owner of the Batangas SCUBA Academy, said activities such as scuba diving, island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking and other activities will be adversely affected.

“Coastal tourism has various recreational activities that will be hampered by the decline in marine biodiversity due to increased fishing pressure from commercial fishers within municipal waters, said Maramot.

“This may cause the destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds and will result in the decline of marine species and fish population that entice tourists to visit these islands and other coastal areas. We are afraid we will have fewer visitors and lower revenue from tourism activities,” she said.

Scuba diving hotspots, known for their diverse marine life, are especially at risk. As commercial fishing expands into these areas, the delicate balance of marine ecosystems could be disrupted.

“Divers and other tourists frequently

Countries reach historic deal to cut shipping emissions

AFTER years of intense negotiations, countrieslast week reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, setting mandatory fuel standards and introducing an industry-wide carbon pricing mechanism.

The framework--agreed during the just-concluded meeting of the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee—aims for net-zero emissions from the sector by 2050 and will be formally adopted in October before coming into force in 2027. They will apply to large ocean-going vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, which collectively account for 85 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from the marine shipping fleet.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez hailed the breakthrough,

emphasizing the collaborative spirit that led to the deal.

“The approval of draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI mandating the IMO net-zero framework represents another significant step in our collective efforts to combat climate change, to modernize shipping and demonstrates that IMO delivers on its commitments.”

MARPOL Annex VI refers to provisions in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, specifically addressing air pollution.

It already includes mandatory energy efficiency requirements for ships and has 108 Parties covering roughly 97 percent of the world’s merchant shipping fleet by tonnage.

Negotiations—which culminated on Friday in London—were particularly

challenging.

According to media reports, around a dozen countries—including the United States – were opposed to the framework. The proposal was ultimately put to a vote and passed. The framework introduces a dual approach: a global fuel standard that will progressively lower the annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity of marine fuels, and a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism requiring high-emitting ships to pay for their excess pollution. Under the new system, ships that exceed emissions limits will need to acquire remedial units to offset their excess pollution. Meanwhile, vessels operating with zero or near-zero emissions will be eligible for financial rewards, creating a market-driven push toward cleaner maritime transport.

look for spots rich in fish and coral reefs. The potential depletion of these resources could discourage them to dive and affect local dive shops and operators that depend on healthy marine environments,” said Jeru Pakingan Cajapin of Dive Plan Ph.

Cajapin added the Philippines has consistently ranked among the top scuba diving destinations in the world and commercial fishing can possibly jeopardize that distinction if dive sites get depleted and destroyed.

Island hopping tours, a staple of Philippine tourism, are feared to encounter similar challenges. Many popular islands are within municipal

waters. “Tour operators may need to modify their itineraries or explore alternative locations, potentially increasing operational costs and driving away tourists,” said Cajapin. As commercial fishing expands, larger vessels could interfere with boating, kayaking and other activities in coastal waters and may have safety concerns for smaller watercraft.

Scott “Gutsy” Tuason a renowned underwater photographer and an expert blackwater photographer (underwater photography conducted in the open sea at night to document rare and unusual marine life) expressed concern over the ruling.

Joining the Blue Horizon: Accelerating UK-Philippines Blue Economy Partnership panel discussions are (from left) British Embassy Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron, Asean Center for Biodiversity acting executive director Clarissa Arida, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Senator Loren Legarda, Asian Development director-general Cleo Kawawaki. Asian Center for Biodiversity

Shown (from left) are Philip Roxas, commercial director of Berde Renewables Inc.; Patrick Zhu, cofounder and president of Berde Renewables; Nicolas George, president and chief executive officer of Holcim Philippines; Jill Ramos, officer-in-charge and chief sustainability officer of Holcim Philippines; and Rainier Elepaño, category manager of Holcim Philippines.

EARTH DAY 2025: OUR POWER, OUR PLANET

Small steps, big impact: Manila Standard’s 14th IntegriTree sowing plants seeds of change

By Peter Paul Duran

AS THE world marks Earth Day 2025, Manila

Standard revisits its 14th IntegriTree sowing, held earlier this month in Brgy. Balibago, Calatagan, Batangas—a modest yet meaningful step in its long-running commitment to environmental stewardship.

The tree-planting activity last April 9, gathered 50 volunteers, including employees and partners, who joined hands to plant 600 mangrove propagules and conduct a coastal cleanup.

Now on its 14th iteration, the IntegriTree program has contributed over 20,000 trees, bamboos, and mangrove propagules to various ecosystems across Luzon.

“Seeing someone so young take part reminds us that we’re not just planting trees—we’re planting values,” said Edgar Valmorida, Circulations Head, referring to Pio Guinto, who at nearly 7 years old, joined the activity for the third time alongside his parents. “It’s his third time with us.”

Over the years, IntegriTree has evolved into more than just a corporate responsibility event—it has become a family affair. Sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, and even students from

Small acts, done consistently and sincerely, can create ripples that lead to lasting impact.

— Anita Grefal, OIC for Opertions, Manila Standard

partner communities have rolled up their sleeves to join Manila Standard’s call for environmental stewardship. Each new hand that plants a seed helps sow a deeper culture of responsibility, hope, and action for the future. Turn to C4

Aboitiz Renewables protects critical water sources, plants trees

GENERATING power from renewable energy sources cannot exist in isolation from nature. In the case of hydropower plants, they rely on a water flow that is regulated by a forest with a thriving ecosystem and healthy soil. Without the ecology, even the most advanced clean energy systems cannot be reliable, efficient, or sustained.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), recognizes the need to safeguard watersheds to ensure consistent hydropower generation and reforest degraded slopes to operate geothermal reservoirs responsibly.

Across its portfolio of clean energy power plants, Aboitiz Renewables integrates environmental conservation into its operations, protecting natural resources to preserve it for the future.

As such, through all its subsidiaries, Aboitiz Renewables has planted more than 6.4 million trees across its sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These were placed in critical watershed areas near hydro plants, along fireprone buffer zones, and on eroding slopes where vegetation is essential to prevent landslides and sediment runoff. These green buffers help regulate water cycles, reduce flood risk, and stabilize terrain.

“Protecting the planet is not a solo effort—it is something we build into every project, every partnership, and every team. At Aboitiz Renewables, sustainability is not an add-on— it is a shared responsibility,” said Aboitiz Renewables President Jimmy Villaroman. “Earth Day reminds us that

the future we are working towards is only possible if we build it together.”

Protecting vital waterways

In the heart of Mindanao lies Mount Apo, the Philippines’ highest peak and one of its most ecologically significant protected areas. It is also a vital watershed, feeding four runof-river hydropower units of Hedcor, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables. This enables them to produce clean energy for thousands of homes and businesses.

But like many critical watersheds, Mount Apo faces threats of deforestation and encroachment. Recognizing this, Hedcor has taken a long-term view of protecting the forest to sustain the flow of renewable energy.

In two years beginning in 2022, Hedcor reforested over 10 hectares of degraded land in the Mount Apo Natural Park, exceeding its goal with over 16,000 native trees planted and helping secure the watershed’s future. Hedcor also turned over five million pesos to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as part of its Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA), which is a binding agreement that allows for the use and/or development of a protected area. Through annual collections, the SAPA is able to fund environmental protection and conservation initiatives.

“Hedcor’s activities go beyond just complying with regulations— it is rooted in real, measurable action. The company is setting a benchmark for what responsible energy development should look like in protected environments,” explained

KEEPING WATERS DEBRIS FREE. Hedcor employees conduct conservation efforts in Mount Apo to help protect the area and pave the way for the efficient utilization of water and energy capacity.

Area Superintendent of the

Rivers within its host communities —being central to Hedcor’s clean energy operations—are also regularly protected through coordinated riverbank clean-up drives. In 2024 alone,

and its partners collected more than 700 kilograms of waste across priority waterways in Luzon and Mindanao. In 2024, hydro power accounted for 8.9% of gross energy generation in megawatt-hours nationwide, with around 59% of all allocated water being used. Conserving the rivers helps sustain

the water supply and also supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, among them Responsible Consumption and Production (12) and Life Below Water (14).

Forest recovery in geothermal zones In Tiwi, Albay and MakBan, Laguna, AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), AboitizPower’s geothermal arm, is tackling the long-term degradation of upland areas through slope reforestation and river rehabilitation.

In partnership with the National Power Corporation, APRI is restoring 20 hectares of streambanks and degraded land, with over 24,000 trees planted since 2022. These efforts directly support the health of geothermal power systems, which rely on stable underground water sources.

In the Philippines, around 8.2% of gross energy generation in megawatt-hours in 2024 came from a geothermal power source. The country is the third-largest geothermal producer in the world at 1,952 megawatts of installed capacity, making it an integral part of energy security and the energy transition.

Meanwhile, APRI continues to remove debris and waste from the Tigas River in Calauan, Laguna and Visitang-Naga River in Albay as part of DENR’s Adopt an Estero Program, which it has been part of since 2012. In 2023 alone, 81 volunteers from APRI and the rest of the community helped remove over 200 kilograms of solid waste, showing stewardship towards their environment and living out the message of “leaving things better than when we found it.”

“As stewards of our planet, we must take action and preserve our rivers. Through collaborative efforts, we are protecting the ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future for generations,” shared APRI Senior Assistant Vice President for Safety, Health, and Environment Mavic Arago. By integrating restoration, reforestation, and waterway protection into its operations, Hedcor, APRI, and the rest of Aboitiz Renewables demonstrate how environmental protection and clean power generation are under one unified mission. As the Philippines looks to expand its renewable energy capacity, Aboitiz Renewables will Transform Energy for a Better World by continuing to grow its clean energy portfolio while helping conserve the natural world that underpins its operations.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION. A Hedcor team member and his son participate in a tree planting activity in La Trinidad Hydro in Alapang, Benguet, which harnesses the Balili River.

RIVERBANK CLEAN-UP DRIVE. With the help of dedicated team members, Hedcor conducts coordinated riverbank clean-up drives within its host communities in Luzon and Mindanao, collecting over 700 kilograms of waste in 2024 alone.

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION. Despite their day off, APRI engineers render additional service for the community, dredging and collecting debris from the esteros of Tigas River in Calauan, Laguna.

Clint Michael Cleofe, OIC-Protected

Mount Apo Natural Park.

Hedcor

Nora Aunor stands in solitude against the golden cornfields, delivering a haunting portrayal in one of ‘Pieta’s’ final scenes

In reel memory: Nora Aunor’s ‘Pieta’ returns as farewell tribute

ACTOR and public servant Alfred Vargas paid tribute to Nora Aunor, calling her the “one and only Superstar” following her death.

The National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts died on Saturday due to acute respiratory failure. She was 71.

To honor the revered actress, Vargas shared a scene from their film Pieta, one of Aunor’s final screen appearances, and spoke about the experience of working with her.

“This scene was taken from one of Ate Guy’s last ever films, Pieta. I played Isaac, her long ‘lost’ son,” he said. “When Isaac finally returned home, he was greeted by a mother who couldn’t remember anything anymore. Instead of surprising his mother, he ended up being the one surprised… for the wrong reasons.”

He described Pieta as a story about “love, family, truth, mistakes, and forgiveness,” and said one of the film’s scenes left a lasting impression on him.

“This was a painful but loving scene at the same time. Painful because Rebecca, Nora Aunor’s

character—the mother of Isaac—couldn’t recognize her son at all. Loving because she still showed how much she cared for and loved her son despite the incomprehensible situation.”

Vargas said working with Aunor was among the most meaningful moments in his acting career

“As an actor and as a human being, you have touched my heart. You have taught me so much without saying anything, and you have inspired me tremendously by mentoring me through our scenes together,” he said. “Pieta will always be one of the most special and favorite films I’ve ever done in my entire life because of you.”

He also shared the most valuable lesson he learned from Aunor: “True stars shine because of their humility and generosity in everything they do and whoever they meet. I deeply felt this in you, Ate Guy.”

“Thank you so much for accepting me into

your heart and for giving me the chance to work with and get to know the one and only Superstar that we will ever have. Rest in peace, Ate Guy. I love you so much,” he added.

Vargas said he plans to organize a tribute screening of Pieta in selected SM Cinemas nationwide later this year.

“As a tribute to our one and only Superstar, I’m planning to show Pieta in selected SM Cinemas nationwide, for free, later this year. So Noranians can watch one of Ms. Nora Aunor’s final masterpieces,” he said. “Rest in peace, Ate Guy. I love you so much.”

* * *

Filipino-Chinese business group mourns passing of Nora Aunor

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) paid tribute to National Artist Nora Aunor, calling her a cultural icon whose legacy transcended generations.

In a statement led by FFCCCII president Victor Lim, the group said Aunor’s body of work reflected the soul of the Filipino people — from their hardships to their resilience and hope. Aunor, known for her acclaimed roles in Himala Bona, and The Flor Contemplacion Story, was remembered not just as an actress but as a storyteller who gave voice to the nation’s collective struggles.

“She was a bridge between the personal and the political,” the group said, describing her films as parables that dignified everyday pain and elevated the human experience.

The FFCCCII extended its condolences to Aunor’s family, friends, and fans, and said her legacy will continue to inspire Filipinos.

“Even in darkness, art can ignite the path forward,” the group added.

‘Sinners’ makes a holy hit on Easter weekend

The first original film from Ryan Coogler, the director of the Oscar-nominated Black Panther, stars Michael B. Jordan as twins who encounter a sinister force as they return home to Jim Crow-era Mississippi. Hailee Steinfeld and Delroy Lindo also star in the musicdriven thriller. Riding on “near-perfect reviews,” according to the Hollywood Reporter Sinners outperformed another Warner Bros. blockbuster, A Minecraft Movie which kept up its solid run with $41.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported. Minecraft , co-produced by Legendary Pictures, has recorded $344.6

of $720.8 million in just three weeks out. Analysts say it could be the year’s first billion-dollar blockbuster. Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, Minecraft already ranks as the all-time most successful film adaptation from a video game.

The King of Kings, an animated telling of Jesus’s life from indie media company Angel Studios, did well over Easter weekend, scoring an estimated $17.3 million in ticket sales. Oscar Isaac, as Jesus, leads the voice cast, along with Kenneth Branagh,

Very Wang Nickie Wang

Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler during the production of hit thriller ‘Sinners’

From left: Veteran actors Gina Alajar, Nora Aunor, Jaclyn Jose, and Alfred Vargas reunite in a rare behind-thescenes moment from ‘Pieta’

In a powerful scene from ‘Pieta,’ Nora Aunor’s Rebecca fails to recognize her long-lost son Isaac, played by Alfred Vargas

Nora Aunor (left) and Alfred Vargas in a scene from the film ‘Pieta’

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

Revenge gets a makeover in upcoming drama ‘Beauty Empire’

PHILIPPINE media giant GMA Network, international film and TV production and distribution company CreaZion Studios, and leading panregional over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service Viu are set to deliver the revenge drama series Beauty Empire

The collaboration was made official during a contract signing held last March 17 at GMA Network Studios. Representing the three companies were GMA Network senior vice president for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and president and CEO of GMA Films Attorney Annette GozonValdes, CreaZion Studios president and CEO Anter “RJ” San Agustin and CreaZion Studios executive vice president and chief content officer Real Florido, and Viu Philippines country manager Vinchi Sy-Quia, and Viu Philippines creative content officer Garlic Garcia

In her message, Attorney GozonValdes underscored how the latest collaboration with two industry players is aligned with GMA Network’s vision of creating more content for diverse audiences.

“I would like to thank our partners, Viu and CreaZion, for uniting with GMA to bring you this very special project. Alam naman natin na ang lahat ng Pilipino ay nagsisikap, dumidiskarte, nagpapakahirap, at gustong umasenso para sa pamilya But in this particular series, we will show you, in a very different

Shticks

IN A recent interview for BB Gandanghari’s YouTube channel, Kylie Padilla admitted that she wasn’t able to find what she really wanted in married life during those times when she was with estranged husband Aljur Abrenica

“It’s true that I was in love then,” she said. “I got pregnant while I was doing Encantadia, and I temporarily left showbiz to focus on being a homemaker. I knew that many people, especially my loved ones, got disappointed with my decision, considering that my career was peaking at that time.”

Did she really want to get married then?

“Well, honestly, no! I wasn’t ready to tie the knots because, mainly, I didn’t believe in marriage. Live-in set-up is better for me. But just to make everyone else happy, we got married.”

Interestingly, what is her perception of marriage?

“I know that it’s a very deep commitment. You really have to go through everything together, even the worst. Like, in sickness and in health, right? When I was in the marriage, I didn’t feel that part.”

When did she realize that she was not happy with her marriage?

“During the pandemic! We didn’t have any choice but to be together. There was no break. It’s when I realized that it was not what I wanted. Aljur and I got tested, and we failed.

“But I wouldn’t say that our marriage was a huge mistake. Of course, it had its positive side. For one, we had our children, Alas and Axl. They’re my blessings.

According to the pretty actress, she’s more at peace now.

“I’ve forgiven myself in the process. And yes, I guess he has already moved on, too.”

For the next man she would fall in love with once again, what’s her criteria?

“If ever I’ll be in a relationship again, I want the guy to be a good provider. I didn’t really consider it when I fell in love then because I grew up privileged. But now, reality check.

“I’m a single mom. I have to earn for my children. It’s just tiring. I don’t want to be tired forever. It’s hard to juggle your time between your acting profession and being a mom. It’s painful to realize that because you’re

CreaZion Studios, Beauty Empire delves into the fierce rivalry among powerful women in the cutthroat beauty industry, where ambition, revenge, and power take center stage. The series is headlined by Barbie Forteza, Ruffa Gutierrez, Kyline Alcantara, and Gloria Diaz, who attended the contract signing together with cast members Sam Concepcion, Choi Bo Min, and Chai Fonacier Also part of the cast is Sid Lucero Also in attendance from GMA Network were Senior Vice President for GMA Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, vice president for GMA Public Affairs Arlene Carnay, senior assistant vice president for GMA Public Affairs Neil Gumban assistant vice president for GMA Public Affairs Joy Madrigal, officerin-charge for Program Management Mildred Zarah Garcia, senior assistant vice president for Program Management Concepcion Agnes, and assistant vice president for Corporate Communications Jojo

Gozon-Valdes. Created by award-winning filmmaker Real Florido and seasoned screenwriter Rona Co of CreaZion Studios, Beauty Empire is a fresh take on a Filipino story that inspires everyone to redefine their own beauty standards—while giving viewers an insider look into the local beauty industry.

For Viu Philippines, the collaboration with GMA Network and CreaZion Studios is part of its focus to bring high-quality Filipino entertainment to global audiences digitally. Produced by GMA Public Affairs, based on the original concept by GMA Network, CreaZion Studio, and Viu

drama

working, quality time with your kids gets sacrificed.

“The time I spend at work is the time away from my children. That’s the real struggle. That’s why I want to find a partner who is a good provider, someone who can tell me, ‘Okay, you can rest!’ When I hear that, I will marry that guy instantly!” Kylie ended.

* * *

After her guest stint in Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition recently, where she featured in a dating game with Ralph De Leon, will Sanya Lopez consider going back?

“Actually, I enjoyed my stint in the PBB House,” she averred. “The housemates were all welcoming, intelligent, and nice to be with. If given the chance, I would like to get to know each one of them better.”

How about being a housemate herself?

“Yes, if given the chance, why not? Anyway, according to Kuya, he’s not closing his door for me, so who knows?”

Meanwhile, the dusky actress stars in the currently showing potboiler Samahan ng mga Makasalanan, where she shares top billing with David Licauco, Joel Torre, Betong Sumaya, Liezel Lopez, Jay

By Chong Ardivilla

DROP (2025, directed by Christopher Landon) shows us the perils of modern-day dating. Two people matched on a dating app, and one is linked to a would-be corruption scandal from a government official.

Again, we must suspend our disbelief here and enjoy the frustrating twists of the reality of mobile phone swiping leading to disasters. This is a great cinematic display of a limited setting: the movie mainly revolves inside a fancy restaurant at one of an American city’s high rises.

Meghann Fahey delivers the exemplary role of a married widow ready for the dating scene. Opposite her is Brandon Sklenar, who is her date, a rugged, handsome man with some evidence of political wrongdoing.

At the start of the date, Fahey gets messages asking her to receive the photos “dropped” to her phone. The dropped images and texts instruct her to destroy the evidence and kill her date, or else her son and sister will be murdered. Even with the technological wizardry of closed-circuit cameras in the home, it becomes menacing. First, the restaurant’s production design is worthy of a Condé Nast cover story. The circular interior provides ample opportunities for confusion, helplessness, and worry. The tall glass windows show an eye-boggling skyline of bright lights, which is, at first, romantic, but then you realize you are trapped inside that beautiful restaurant like an expensive fishbowl.

The consistent involvement of circular features, like the oval bathroom, makes it feel like you are looking through a lens. This can have such a suffocating effect. It is a credible action flick without bombast.

Two of the film’s producers are known brands in filmmaking: Michael Bay for dynamic and pulsating action and Jason Blum of the Blumhouse reputation, which is known for abject horror strung with tense storytelling. Director Landon is famous for his filmmaking credits in the Paranormal Activity films, a comedy-horror film entitled Scout Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, and some mind-bending

‘Drop’ explores modern dating perils, involving a government corruption scandal

terror films like Happy Death Day. Taken together, these men produced a film that perfectly terrorizes a woman with a young child. Drop offers the notion that horror is constant, but how one becomes horrified changes. For now, mobile phone drops from strangers are perilous in presentday communication. This will grow old the same way as The Lawnmower Man, which has become a funny movie now, but it was a horrific proposition of being embedded by technology then. The drop shows us the motions of dating with technology. How does it feel if your date keeps checking their phone instead of conversing with you? One of the most incredible aspects of the movie is that the guy she was dating is still hanging on. Despite the red flags she has displayed throughout the film, he must like her. The characters’ motivation to gladly go into circles in a movie about establishing a possible relationship is exhausting. But at least it’s a Michael Bay–Blumhouse film, so we are assured of practical filmmaking.

You may reach Chong Ardivilla at kartunistatonto@ gmail.com or chonggo.bsky.social

executives with the stellar cast and crew of the upcoming drama series ‘Beauty Empire’

Actress Kylie Padilla

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025

Small steps,...From C1

For the media company, whose foundation lies in truth-telling and public service, the IntegriTree project represents a broader civic mission—one that goes beyond headlines and into the heart of community engagement.

“This is but a small step for environmental change,” said Anita Grefal, Manila Standard’s Officer-in-Charge for Operations. “But we believe that even small acts, done consistently and sincerely, can create ripples that lead to bigger, lasting impact.”

Grefal emphasized that environmental stewardship is a duty owed not only to future generations, but also to the present. “If we can persuade others—even just one person— to take that step, whether through a single social media post, a shared photo, or a short conversation, that’s already a victory.”

The initiative was supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Universal Robina Corporation (URC), the Bureau of Plant Industry, and Purple Store. Representatives from the DENR’s Batangas PENRO praised the effort for its consistency and grassroots engagement.

“Efforts like IntegriTree show that no contribution is too small. What matters is showing up, year after year,” said Ver Enriquez in Filipino. He is the president of the local People’s Organization under DENR Batangas PENRO.

IntegriTree has also expanded beyond tree planting. Advertising Solutions Head Baldwin Felipe shared that in 2019, IntegriTree launched its first grassroots event—an essay writing and photography contest for NCRbased college students aimed at raising environmental awareness. “We are excited to bring back the contest in the coming months,” Felipe said, adding that the new edition promises to be bigger, bolder, more interactive, and more attuned to today’s nextgeneration environmental warriors.

As Earth Day prompts reflection on how individuals and institutions can protect the planet, Manila Standard hopes its sustained CSR efforts can inspire other companies, corporations, and organizations to join in the fight for a more sustainable future.

OUR POWER, OUR PLANET

—“—

We’re not just planting trees—we’re planting values.

—Edgar

‘Our Power, Our Planet’: A call to action for a greener Earth

By Patricia Taculao-Deligero

EVERY year on April 22nd, the world pauses to recognize Earth Day, a crucial reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the planet we call home. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” resonates with a potent call to action: to unite and harness our collective strength to safeguard the environment.

At its heart lies a bold yet necessary goal: to triple the global electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030. It isn’t just an ambitious target; it’s a lifeline for our planet, a chance to steer away from the destructive path of climate change and embrace a future powered by clean, sustainable energy.

The urgency of this call cannot be overstated. The consequences of our reliance on fossil fuels are becoming increasingly apparent, from extreme weather events ravaging communities to rising sea levels threatening coastal populations. The science is precise: to limit global warming to manageable levels, a rapid and widespread transition to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro is essential. Tripling renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade is a critical step in achieving this, offering a pathway to a more stable climate, cleaner air and water, and a healthier planet for future generations.

“Our Power, Our Planet” emphasizes that this monumental task isn’t for governments and corporations alone. It’s a movement that requires the active participation of every individual, every community, every nation. It’s about recognizing the power we hold as consumers and citizens to demand and drive this change. It’s about understanding that our choices, from the energy we

use in our homes to the policies we support, directly impact our planet’s health.

A central focus of this year’s Earth Day is the urgent need to triple global electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030. That might sound like a big, complicated goal, but let’s break it down. Renewable energy comes from sources that naturally replenish themselves—think sunshine, wind, and water. Solar panels on rooftops, wind turbines dotting landscapes, and hydroelectric dams harnessing the flow of rivers are all examples of this clean energy in action. Why is tripling renewable energy so important? It’s a game-changer in the fight against climate change. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to generate electricity, we release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, warming our planet and causing the extreme weather events we’re increasingly witnessing.

Renewable energy, on the other hand, produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Switching to these cleaner sources means we can power our lives without further damaging the delicate balance of our Earth’s climate. It’s like choosing a healthy meal over junk food for our planet – one nourishes and sustains, while the other leads to long-term problems.

Valmorida, Circulations Head, Manila Standard