Manila Standard - 2022 December 24 - Saturday

circulation@manilastandard.net

SWS survey: 7 of 10 Pinoys expect ‘happy’ Xmas celebration this year

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this coming Christmas to be “happy.” Meanwhile, 7 percent of those surveyed expect it to be “sad,” and 19 percent expect it to be “neither happy nor sad.”

“The 73% expecting a happy Christmas is 8 points above the 65% in 2021, and 23 points above the record-low 50%

Fishing pact with China eyed

NSA pushes regional interim move pending Code of Conduct in SCS

NATIONAL Security Adviser Clarita Carlos suggested Friday a regional regulatory fishing agreement with China amid the latter’s alleged continued activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Carlos pointed out that there should be a fishing agreement for the meantime since the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea had yet to be finished.

“I hope I will finish my draft since the Code of Conduct, which is already long overdue, is not yet finished. For the meantime, we should have a fishing agreement,” Carlos said.

With the agreement, Carlos said all concerned countries, not only China, would decide when it would come to the declaration of a fishing holiday.

She made the statement following the reported new constructions and reclamations being made China in some unoccupied features in the WPS. The Chinese embassy in Manila has dismissed the report as “fake news.”

Meanwhile, Carlos said the Philippine government preferred not to make hasty conclusions on the reported latest reclamation activities in the hotly contested South China Sea.

This was after Carlos was informed by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Thursday that it was Vietnam that was reclaiming land

DTI cites P23.6b investment pledges raised from PBBM foreign travels

ippines.

By Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has brought home $23.6 billion in investment pledges from his foreign visits to

Customs foils P171m agri smuggling

By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

the

Port (MICP) have seized more than P171 million worth of smuggled agricultural products, including fresh red and white onions from China.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) said it conducted a series of examinations from Dec. 6 to 22, which resulted in the seizure of some 20 container vans consigned to one company.

The containers, which arrived at the Manila North Harbor from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3, were all consigned to Taculog J

various countries, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in its accomplishment report Friday.

According

Singapore, the United States, Cambodia, and Thailand brought billions of pesos in investments as part of the administration’s campaign to attract more foreign businesses to come to the Phil-

Holidays may spike COVID at 5k daily

6 more charged with kidnapping of sabungeros

By Rey E. Requejo

SIX more persons have been charged with kidnapping after a spate of mysterious disappearances in the country’s massive cockfighting industry, authorities said Friday, with dozens of victims feared dead.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement that apart from the six – all cockpit security personnel -prosecutors had found probable cause to file charges against three former police officers, Police Staff Sgt. Daryl Panghangaan and patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas, for allegedly robbing

Diesel price rollback set, gas to go up

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONSUMERS can expect mixed movements in the price of oil products on Tuesday, with unleaded gasoline and kerosene prices going up.

Local oil firms, however, are expected to cut diesel prices by P0.50 to P0.70 per liter to reflect the price movement in the world oil market.

The Department of Energy said that based on the four-day trading period, gasoline may go up by P0.30 to P0.60 per liter, while kerosene will increase

Revilla champions ‘period’ leave for female workers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

In filing Senate Bill 1545 or the proposed Sanitary Leave Act, Revilla noted it has been scientifically proven

CUSTOMS agents assigned at

Manila International Container

to DTI’s year-end report, President Marcos’ visits to Indonesia,

Meanwhile, the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) had combined

WOMEN workers in government and in the private sector who have their

menstrual cycles – read this.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is pushing to give a menstruation or period leave for them.

CHEAP AGRI PRODUCTS. At 7 a.m. on Friday, a crowd gathers at the ADC Kadiwa ng Pasko store at the Department of Agriculture offices in Quezon City. The government-run stores nationwide offer fresh agricultural products at low prices. Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

LAST-DAY RUSH. People flock to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Friday, packing the queues at their designated bus gates for their holiday vacations to their provinces on the last working day before Christmas Day. The scene was replicated at Manila North Harbor Port as about 700 passengers boarded MV 2GO Maligaya sailing for Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City. Norman Cruz

DAILY COVID-19 infections may reach up to 5,000 in January due to the current holiday activities, an infectious diseases expert said on Friday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante said however that fresh infections may not exceed that figure amid the population’s immunity.

This developed as Philippines has detected its first four cases of the BF.7 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus, the Department of Health said, adding that it projected daily cases of COVID-19 to reach more than 4,100 by January 15.

THUMB-SIZED BELEN. The smallest Belen or Nativity Scene figurine of 100 pieces from the collection of theologian and professor Father Genaro O. Diwa are on exhibit inside the Manila Cathedral Basilica in Intramuros on Friday. The exhibit will continue past Christmas. Norman Cruz

MORE Filipinos are expecting a “hap

py” Christmas celebration this year compared to 2021, a new survey from private polling firm Social Weather Sta

tions (SWS) released Friday revealed.

Some 73 percent, or 7 out of 10, adult Filipino respondents in the non-com

missioned survey said they anticipate

FB pays $725m in privacy lawsuit

FACEBOOK parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a long-running lawsuit that accused the social network of allowing third parties, including Cambridge Analytica, to access users’ private data.

The amount was disclosed in a court filing late on Thursday.

“The proposed settlement of $725,000,000 is the largest recovery ever achieved in a data privacy class action and the most Facebook has ever paid to resolve a private class action,” lawyers for the plaintiffs said in the filing.

approved investments of P402 billion, which could generate some 54,217 local jobs, the DTI said.

Under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the BOI’s approved projects as of August this year stand at P46.7 billion, with the investment board also assisting 1,994 investors wanting to do business in the country.

The BOI also generated 90 foreign investment leads worth P204.9 billion, which could result in 98,393 local job opportunities.

As a result of the administration’s active export recovery efforts, the DTI reported $17.7 billion in service exports, a 13.5 percent increase over the previous record.

The country also posted $58.3 billion exports in goods, which grew by 4.7 percent. The DTI said it assisted 3,922 exporters.

The department indicated that the country’s investment and exports are expected to rebound next year as a result of the passage of the Public Service Act (PSA) and CREATE Act.

The DTI also included in its accomplishment report the approval of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) and guideline issuance last August through Memorandum Circular No. 2022-07.

The plan was approved on May 24, 2022, through Memorandum Order No. 61.

Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), said the DTI report does not cover Mr. Marcos’ recent trip to Belgium, where he participated in the Association of Southeast Asian NationsEuropean Union Summit.

Facebook has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which must still be approved by a judge in the San Francisco division in the US District Court.

It was reported in August that Facebook had reached a preliminary agreement, although the amount and terms of

in the SCS.

There was no immediately available comment from the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila.

Carlos said she told Huang that China and the Philippines need to change direction in their relationship, especially since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was set to visit China in January 2023.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that China was building new constructions and reclamations in at least four unoccupied

the settlement were not then announced.

The lawsuit was initiated in 2018, when Facebook users accused the social network of violating privacy rules by sharing their data with third parties that included the British firm Cambridge Analytica, which had been linked to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Cambridge Analytica, which has since shut down, then collected and exploited the personal data of 87 million Facebook users without their consent, the lawsuit alleged.

features in the Spratly Islands, namely Eldad Reef, Whitsun Reef, Lankiam Cay, and Sandy Cay.

Eldad and Whitsun Reefs are 48 and 60 nautical miles, respectively, from Pag-asa Island and are within the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

The Chinese embassy in Manila and the China-based South China Sea Probing Initiative have denied Bloomberg’s report, calling it “fake news.”

Carlos noted that during her meeting with Huang, she emphasized the importance of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

nay, Rizal at 1 p.m. to go to the Manila Arena but were forced to board a gray van at around 7:30 p.m.

That information was allegedly used to develop software to steer US voters in favor of Trump.

Facebook has since removed access to its data from thousands of apps suspected of abusing it, restricted the amount of information available to developers, and made it easier for users to calibrate restrictions on personal data sharing.

Federal authorities fined Facebook $5 billion in 2019 for misleading its users and imposed independent oversight of its personal data management. AFP

China, as one of the signatories to UNCLOS, must honor the international treaty that lays out a comprehensive legal framework governing all activities and uses of the world’s seas and oceans, Carlos said.

Carlos said she also relayed to Huang the Philippines’ concern over China’s reported activities in SCS, despite that Manila already sent over 100 notes verbales to Beijing.

Carlos expressed hope President Marcos Jr. would raise the SCS issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China next month. Rey E. Requejo

tive identification (of the suspects) and credible testimonies of the complainants’ witnesses,” the Justice Department said in its statement.

Marcos OKs P5k gratuity for gov’t COS, JO workers

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the grant of up to P5,000 in gratuity pay for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) government workers as a “well-deserved” recognition of their hard work.

The President signed Administrative Order No. 3 on Friday, the Office of the Press Secretary said.

According to the Civil Service Commission, there are over 642,000 JO/COS workers in the government as of June 30, 2022.

The order states that all workers in government whose services are engaged through COS and JO, who have rendered an aggregate of at least four months of actual satisfactory performance of service, as stipulated in their respective contracts, as of Dec. 15 this year, and whose contracts are still effective as of the same date, may be granted a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000.

“Granting a year-end gratuity pay to COS and JO workers is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work in implementing programs, projects and activities and pivotal role in the delivery of government services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and present socio-economic challenge,” the order reads.

and abducting a man from his house.

Police said the victim – Ricardo Lasco, accused of operating a fake betting website -- was taken from his home in August last year.

Last week, the Justice Department said it found sufficient basis to indict the three police officers for robbery and kidnapping following the disappearance of the “sabungero” in Laguna in August 2021.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said five officers were dismissed over the case, including the three being charged.

The cockpit security personnel are also being charged with kidnapping after witnesses saw them bundle six players into a van against their will during a cockfight in January.

Prosecutors said they found sufficient basis to indict farm manager Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion, and Roberto Matillano Jr.

The DOJ prosecutors said the six conspired in the kidnapping of John Claude Inonog, James Baccay, Marlon Baccay, Rondel Cristorum, Mark Joseph Velasco, and Rowel Gomez on Jan. 13.

The cockfighting enthusiasts left Ta-

Venancio Inonog, the father of one of the victims, told the DOJ that his son had told him on the phone that they were forced to board a van. Venancio said he also heard screaming before the call was cut off.

The six cockfighting enthusiasts were never seen again, and their vehicle was found abandoned in Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal.

Prosecutors said the respondents were the last persons positively identified by a witness to have forcibly taken the victims.

A Senate investigation found the players were suspected of sabotaging their roosters so they would lose, while secretly betting on their opponents.

There are at least 27 people still missing in other suspected kidnappings linked to cockfighting around Metro Manila. State prosecutors are investigating some of the other cases but have yet to file charges.

Police have said that many of the victims were last seen alive inside the cockpits.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said all 34 people missing in the cases are likely dead.

Prosecutors decided to press charges against the police officers and the cockpit security guards “in light of the posi-

Authorities said they expected to bring charges in the other missing persons cases but hopes of finding the victims alive were fading.

“I wouldn’t even want to call them missing cockfighters, but probably dead cockfighters,” Remulla told reporters this week.

“The probability of them coming out (alive) is not very high.”

Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of pesos on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs.

The sport, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more bettors who use their mobile phones to place wagers.

The abductions shone a spotlight on the seedy underbelly of the online cockfighting industry, in which fights were held in empty arenas and livestreamed to millions of bettors.

Taxes from the fights helped to replenish government coffers depleted by the pandemic, but then-president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming shortly before he left office on June 30, while allowing traditional cockfighting to resume. With AFP

For those who have rendered less than four months of actual satisfactory performance of service, they may also be granted a one-time gratuity pay on a pro-rata basis: an amount not exceeding P4,000 for three months but less than four months; an amount not exceeding P3,000 for those who have rendered two months but less than three months; and an amount not exceeding P2,000 for those who have rendered less than two months.

The order covers workers whose services are directly engaged through COS and JO by national government agencies (NGAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), governmentowned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local water districts.

Local government units (LGUs), on the other hand, are enjoined to adopt in their respective offices the grant of gratuity pay to their COS and JO workers. Vince Lopez

SWS...

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in 2020. However, it was still 6 points below the pre-pandemic level of 79% in 2019,” the SWS noted.

by P0.40 to P0.60 per liter.

Reuters reported on Friday that oil prices went up by more than $1 as traders expect a drop in Russian crude supply. These offset concerns of lower US transport fuel demand over the Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, higher COVID infections in China raised concerns over demand.

On Dec. 20, 2022, PH oil companies implemented a per-liter increase in gasoline by P0.70, diesel by P2.90, and kerosene by P1.65.

These resulted in year-to-date total adjustments at a net increase of P13.95/ liter for gasoline, P27.50/liter for diesel, and P20.80/liter for kerosene.

On December 13, the oil companies hiked the price of gasoline by P1.70, diesel by P3.40, and kerosene by P4.40.

Pump prices are adjusted every Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. Prices vary depending on the brand, location, and market forces.

According to the agency, BF.7 is said to be a sublineage of the globally dominant BA.5 – the one fueling the current COVID surge in China -- and has been flagged by researchers “due to its potential to be more transmissible than the wild-type BA.5 and immune evading properties.”

But available evidence for the new sublineage does not seem to suggest worse disease severity compared to the original omicron subvariant.

“If I’m going to give my projection or possible estimate based on previous events and gatherings, I think we will not reach the 25,000 or 30,000 cases

last January of this year because of the Omicron variant,” said Solante during a public briefing.

In a statement, the DOH said: “The Department of Health reiterates the need to put more emphasis on other factors such as wearing of best-fitting face masks, isolating when sick, doubling-up protection via vaccines and boosters, and ensuring good airflow because these are the measures that we can address and control, rather than focusing on the presence of a transmissible variant.”

In related developments, the DOH said severe and critical admissions were also expected to reach 2,252 admissions by mid-January.

“However, we reiterate that there are

were found to contain frozen squid flowers and fresh white onions worth P38 million.

many factors or measures to consider as to whether an area’s increase in COVID-19 cases and projections may or may not happen. This means metrics such as transmission rate, contact rate, and longer durations of infectiousness are not sole drivers of transmission,” the DOH said in a statement.

“Our situation now is more stable because a lot of us are vaccinated and already had booster shots. And despite that we have variants [of Omicron], our hospitals are not being filled with COVID-19 patients because we have population immunity and if there are cases, there are mild, except in vulnerable population where an infection [of COVID-19 go with other [complications],” Solante said. Willie Casas

The Customs chief commended the CIIS-MICP team and the cooperation from the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

The pollster added that those expecting a happy Christmas “rose to majorities in all areas.”

It is highest in the Visayas at 78 percent, followed by Mindanao at 75 percent, Balance Luzon at 71 percent, and Metro Manila at 71 percent, SWS said.

The face-to-face survey conducted last December 10 to 14 revealed that 49 percent indicated that Christmas 2022 is happier compared to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But 28 percent reported it is the same now as before, while 21 percent said Christmas now is not as happy as before.

The SWS’ national survey, released Friday or two days before Christmas, also showed that 61 percent will be attending in-person gatherings with family and friends coming from other homes while 38 percent will not be doing so.

International Consumer Goods Trading based in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The containers were improperly declared to contain mantou (steamed buns), frozen food products and noodles.

Meanwhile, the shipments that arrived on Nov. 18 and examined from Dec. 6 to 20 were found to contain fresh red and white onions worth P79.02 million.

that women experienced constipation, abdominal cramps, leg pains and other illnesses during their monthlies.

He also said the premenstrual tension usually would last for 10 to 14 days due to high estrogen.

But until now, there is no law in the Philippines which gives consideration or rest to women experiencing these conditions during their monthly period, according to Revilla.

In his proposed measure, there will be a monthly menstruation leave except for those pregnant or are already in the menopause stage.

The proposed measure also mandates that a woman on menstrual leave should be given 100 percent of her salary.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said his men monitored the activities of Taculog J International Consumer Goods Trading following a report on the real contents of the containers.

“We are not only practicing our mandate to investigate, examine, and seize such contraband. This is for the good of the country and our people. We have been suffering from the high cost of onions in the markets, so we are especially on the lookout for these kinds of operations because it hurts not only the economy, but it directly impacts our farmers, the people, and the agricultural sector itself,” he said.

Containers that arrived on Nov. 12 and examined from Dec. 14 to 21

On Nov. 20, another batch of containers arrived at the MICP. Upon examination from Dec. 19 to 21, authorities found undeclared fresh red and white onions with an estimated total value of P35.079 million.

Containers that arrived on Nov. 25, 2022 and examined on Dec. 22 were found to have undeclared frozen boneless buffalo meat after declaring only frozen lobster, frozen prawn balls, and frozen crab stick. The estimated total amount of the goods found was P14.72 million.

Another container arrived on Dec. 3 and was examined on Dec. 22, 2022. This was found to have undeclared fresh carrots amounting to an estimated total value of P4.5 million being declared only as udon noodles.

Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said the bureau was well-positioned to do more.

“We are on track to meet our goals in bringing these perpetrators to justice, as well as answering the call of our President to better protect the borders and put a stop to agricultural smuggling. We have been at the forefront of this battle for years, but even more so in the past months when we intensified our campaign against these kinds of operations,” he said.

Earlier, the BOC said it seized tons of smuggled agricultural products from China worth more than P81 million that arrived in the Port of Subic.

Seized were 44 container vans onions, carrots and frozen seafood consigned to Asterzenmed Inc.

The confiscated shipment also yielded frozen items like shabu-shabu balls, whole mackerel, boneless buffalo meat, and boneless beef.

Ruiz issued an alert order against the shipments belonging to Asterzenmed Inc. and Victory JM Enterprise OPC after receiving reports that agricultural products would be smuggled into the country.

Meanwhile, four container vans declared as bread consigned to Victory JM contained mostly fresh red onions and some mantou, and soft French bread were also seized.

The consignees may be charged for possible violations of the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 18 series of 2000 and Department of Agriculture Department Circular No. 4 series of 2016.

Also on Friday, Senator Christopher Go called on the government to further safeguard the welfare and interests of small farmers and agricultural workers.

He also appealed to the government to address the reported agricultural smuggling, and to file charges against all those involved.

“Put them in jail because the most affected here are our small farmers,” he said.

Denmark cites PBBM assurance PH will comply with European maritime safety

By Mervin Vince Lopez

DENMARK on Thursday praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assurance that the Philippines will comply with the standards set by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for Filipino seafarers.

Philippine government’s efforts to comply with the standards set by the EMSA for Filipino seafarers.

In a Facebook post citing a recent interview, Mellbin said Denmark is happy with Filipino maritime professionals as he expressed concern on the issue of

IN BRIEF

compliance with European maritime standards.

He said that failure to comply would be a great loss to the maritime industry and to the Philippines in general.

With various Danish shipping companies being one of the major employers of Filipino mariners, President Marcos’ assurance on the Philippine government’s intention

to resolve the certification issue during his recent trip to Belgium is a very welcome development, according to Mellbin.

The Danish Maritime Authority paid courtesy visits to Philippine maritime authorities last month to explore possibilities of further strengthening maritime cooperation including the protection of the seafarers’ rights.

Earlier this year, the EMSA flagged the Philippines for deficiencies in local seamen’s education, training and certification.

In his recent official visit to Brussels, Belgium, Mr. Marcos reiterated that his administration will do everything to address these deficiencies to prevent job losses among Filipino seafarers deployed to work for European Union (EU) vessels.

“It’s not something you can debate about. You comply. We’ll have to comply. So that we will be accredited… it’s not discretionary,” the Philippine leader said in an interview in Brussels.

Mr. Marcos has ordered the creation of an advisory board to address deficiencies identified by the EU concerning Filipino seafarers.

The Chief Executive issued the directive during a meeting with International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) chief executive officer (CEO) Francisco Gargiulo and several business executives and leaders of European shipping companies, as well as representatives of shipowners associations in Brussels on Dec 13.

Group assails use of foreign ships in Manila Bay project

AN ORGANIZATION of Filipino seamen has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order an investigation into the alleged involvement of several Chinese vessels in an

The Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Marinong Pilipino (SNMP) made the appeal even as they gave assurance they are one with the President in protecting the rights of Filipino seafarers.

In a letter dated Dec. 15, 2022 addressed to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, the SNMP said that they are fighting the same fight of President Marcos, and that is protecting the Filipino sailors wherever they may be.=

Suarez said that the measure seeking a sovereign wealth fund is expected to further speed up the economic train that the Marcos administration has started running.

The lawmaker noted that the proposal underwent exhaustive review and rigorous plenary discussions and “fortified with safeguards and safety nets to ensure that fund managers will not be able to dip their hands into the fund’s investments.”

“The approval of the bill went through congressional surgery. We made sure that not only is it compliant to local laws but congruent to international standards as well,” Suarez said.

“I am pleased that even members of the House of Representatives who were initially opposing the bill are now co-authors of the final version that was approved by the lower house. That is proof that the measure was well-thought of and sufficiently deliberated upon,” Suarez said.

He added that the public should not be misled into believing that the proposed MIF will be disadvantageous to the public and would benefit only the administration and its allies.

“Our people need more information about the MIF so that they can see that the benefits outweigh the unwarranted fear.

This is why I am appealing to all Filipinos to support measure. There are 79 sovereign investment funds from other countries, of which 78 were successful. It is an issue of management and with so many brilliant minds in the Philippines, the Maharlika fund will be successful,” he said.

PCUP underscores people empowerment

PRESIDENTIAL Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chairman Undersecretary Elpidio Jordan Jr., on Friday stressed the importance of empowering the urban poor to achieve viable livelihoods, citing the P6.4-million allocation for 429 beneficiaries of the Marcos administration’s sustainable livelihood program.

The government should not only focus on providing much-needed services to the country’s marginalized and underprivileged sectors but must target livelihood programs for the poor through constant work and coordination with other government entities that promote the welfare and interests of every Filipino household, Jordan said.

“This is the surest way for us to support and be successful in our beloved President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of our poor countrymen,” he added.

In November, 16 sustainable livelihood program associations representing over 400 beneficiaries received P6.435 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development as seed capital for their chosen enterprises.

According to PCUP Visayas area coordinator Julito Layon, the beneficiaries went through a meticulous process by the DSWD to pass and qualify based on criteria set by the agency in order to receive their startup funds.

The ceremonial pay-out to the recipients was held in Barangay Opao in Mandaue City. Rio N. Araja

Taguig police seize P70m in fake dollar, peso bills

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Taguig City government has commended the local police for their latest operation resulting in the arrest of two foreigners for alleged illegal possession of firearms, explosives and P70 million in counterfeit money.

Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano viewed the accomplishment as a “testament to our zero-tolerance policy for crimes.”

Arrested last Dec. 16 were Marcel Tezock Wenong, 38, and Patian Leboucan Achi, 40, both Cameroonian nationals.

Seized from the suspects were 15 bundles of counterfeit US dollar bills, four bundles of P1,000 bills, a cal. 38 revolver, five live bullets, a hand grenade, and three different identification cards, among others things.

Follow-up operation conducted by

the Taguig Police in coordination with the Makati City police in the suspects’ residence resulted in the recovery of more counterfeit US dollar bills amounting to $1.35 million or P67.5 million, fake peso bills amounting to P2 million, for a total haul of bogus money at some P70 million.

“We at the Taguig Police take our job to serve and protect seriously. Criminals have absolutely no place in the city,” said Taguig police chief Col. Robert Baesa.

From Dec. 1 to 13, the Taguig police also seized more than P20 million worth of illegal drugs in separate police operations.

On Dec. 13, the police seized the biggest haul and arrested Basser Utto, 32, and Normina Datuan, 25, in a buy-bust operation along Pendatun Street corner Old Housing Street in Barangay Maharlika.

Las Piñas gov’t gives away Christmas food packs

The packages consisted of assorted food products fit for Noche Buena.

The local police also confiscated more than P347,000 worth of shabu in over 21 anti-drug operations, which also resulted in the arrest of at least 28 suspects.

An estimated P88,400 worth of shabu (13 grams) was seized from Johncliff Macapaz, 21, and Ruby Mendoza, 41, who were nabbed in another buy-bust operation on December 5, on General Santos Ave. in Barangay Lower Bicutan.

With the huge amounts of illegal drugs seized, authorities believe criminal gangs were involved, and they are now being dismantled by the Taguig Police.

Just recently, the Taguig Police arrested Nico Argamosa Parra, 18, Ruel Cayme Garcia, 31, and Michael Cuevas Blanca, 30, in a follow-up operation in Barangay New Lower Bicutan over a robbery at Alfamart on VP Cruz Street in Barangay Lower Bicutan the day before.

“Kami po ay humanga sa inyong ipinakikitang pagmamahal sa aming mga mangagawa sa barkokaming mga Marinong Pilipino. Labis ninyong ipinaglalaban ang aming karapatan mula sa: (1) pagsusulong ng Magna Carta for Seafarers; (2) pagpapatupad ng Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) sa Pilipinas; at (3) ang pagtiyak na hindi mawawalan ng trabaho ang mga Pilipinong Marino dahil sa patuloy na kapabayaan ng MARINA na maisa-ayos ang mga findings ng EMSA bagay sa education and training ng mga marino,” the SNMP letter stated.

The group revealed that while several Chinese vessels are currently operating here in the Philippines, majority of the crew being non-Filipinos.

“Maraming mga banyagang barko ang dumating sa ating bansa. Hindi mga Pilipino ang may ari nito. Hindi rin mga Pilipino ang nagparating sa kanila dito. Ito ang mga barkong ginagamit ngayon sa reclamation sa Manila Bay,” SNMP noted.

“Para magamit ang mga foreign vessels, ayon sa aming pagsasaliksik, ay kumukuha sila sa MARINA ng special permit o bareboat charter permit.

Kung sila ay naka special permit, foreign flag pa rin ang barko at pwede pa rin na foreigners ang mga crew nito. Pero kung naka bareboat charter ang mga barko, dapat ay lahat Pilipino dapat ang crew. Pero hindi ito ang nangyayari,” the group explained.

“Talaga bang walang kapareho na barko o walang kakayahan ang mga local shipowners na magkaroon ng barkong kaparehong dinadala ng mga banyaga dito sa atin? Pwede ba nating hingan ng paliwanag ang balitang palusutan sa MARINA?” the SNMP asked.

FIERY CHRISTMAS.

Fire ghters inspect a burnt wall of a residential building razed on Thursday night in Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City, dislocating three families residing in the damaged structure.

Las

She added that in light of the rising prices of goods, the gifts were “our way of helping families enjoy a merrier Christmas this year.”

Vice-Mayor April Aguilar obliged to lead the distribution of the food packages to the residents of 20 barangays in the city.

Each pack containing groceries such as spaghetti, fruit cocktails, two kilos of rice and more that will also help residents to have something to prepare on their table during the Christmas Eve.

Vice-Mayor Aguilar said the distribution of ‘Pamaskong Handog’ were conducted at covered courts in the barangays.

She said the mayor, acting as a real mother to all Las Piñeros, “wanted to make senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs) and the poor residents in the city happy during the Christmas season.” Joel E. Zurbano

Court workers given half-day work on Friday

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has suspended work in all courts nationwide starting at 12 noon Friday, Dec. 23, “to give personnel, parties, and litigants the necessary time and opportunity to attend to their personal engagements for the season.”

The Manila City government likewise ordered a half-day work on Friday (Dec. 23) and on Thursday (Dec.29) to enable its personnel to prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The SC, through Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, said the suspen-

sion of work does not apply “to court

personnel who need to process bails, orders of releases or other writs of liberty, those who need to serve protection orders within the day, or those attending to other urgent matters at the discretion of judges and justices.”

The half-day work covered the SC, the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Tax Appeals, and all trial courts across the country.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is on official leave.

In an executive order, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said work will be suspended from 1 p.m. onwards.

“To prepare for Christmas and New

Year celebrations after a year of hard work and dedicated public service, city government employees of the City of Manila deserve a little time and opportunity to aptly prepare for the holidays in order to have a meaningful celebration of the season with their families, friends, and loved ones,” it read.

However, personnel or offices involved in peace and order, public services, traffic enforcement, disaster and risk reduction management, and health and sanitation are excluded.

The suspension of work in national government offices and private companies is left in their discretion, according to the order.

Danish Ambassador Franz-Michael “Dan-Dan” Mellbin reaffirmed Denmark’s support for the

ongoing reclamation project at the Manila Bay area.

THE Las Piñas City government has distributed Noche Buena package to thousands of families in line with its ‘Pamaskong Handog’ program.

Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the distribution of the food packages was part of her administration’s commitment to ensure that residents can enjoy a meaningful and happy Christmas.

FREE AGAIN, BUT STILL NO REASON TO BE HAPPY. Activist Reina Mae Nasino o ers prayers and lights candles at the tomb of her child, Baby River at the Manila North cemetery  following her release on bail, along with fellow activists Ram Carlo Bautista, and Alma Moran. Nasino gave birth in jail, but the baby died three months later. Danny Pata

PRIVATE-PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECT. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) o cials and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) executives, wearing hard hats, join Senator Mark Villar (4th from right) underneath a yover connector which is part of a P23-billion private-public partnership road project underwritten by the Metro Paci c Tollways Corp. on Friday. Manny Palmero

Robert Oswald P. Al ler

Solon lauds Speaker for pushing MIF bill

QUEZON Rep. David Suarez has lauded Speaker Martin Romualdez for vigorously pushing the approval of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Boost in contributions extends SSS fund life until 2054

THE Social Security System (SSS) announced that an additional 22 years have been added to the SSS fund life with the help of contribution rate increases since 2019.

SSS president and CEO Michael G. Regino explained how after implementing the additional P1,000 pension benefit in 2017, the SSS fund life would have lasted until 2032 only.

However, with the help of gradual contribution rate increases mandated by Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, the fund life was extended by another 12 years or until 2044.

Recently, the latest SSS actuarial valuation has shown that the fund life was boosted by another 10 years to which Regino has credited to the SSS’ efforts to boost its membership and coverage.

The SSS now projects the fund life to be extended until 2054. This means an additional 22 years wherein all SSS members and pensioners can enjoy their various benefits.

Starting January 1, 2023, the SSS will then implement the third step of its four-tier contribution increase. The SSS contribution rate would become 14 percent – up by one percentage point from the current 13 percent.

In the meantime, Regino shared how the SSS is still working towards further extending the fund life in response to its mandate of providing social security protection to its stakeholders which should transcend within generations.

“It is important for us to implement the contribution rate increase together with other social reforms so we could achieve this goal and ensure that we have sufficient funds to provide the short- and long-term benefits, including the immediate financial needs, of our members and pensioners especially in times of contingencies,” Regino added.

GMA files bill to allow dual citizens to run for public office

ABILL has been filed in Congress allowing Filipinos with dual citizenship to run for public office or be appointed in public office without renouncing their foreign citizenship.

Former president and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has filed a bill saying “it is the fair thing to do.”

Arroyo made this proposal under House Bill 486 which seeks to amend Republic Act 9225 or the Citizen Retention and Reacquisition Act by providing that those seeking public office, whether in an elective or appointed post, would be deemed qualified based on the requirements set by the Constitution at the time of the filing of the candidacy or at the time of nomination for the appointment without having to make personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath, ABS-CBN News reported.

In pushing for the bill, Arroyo said the Citizen Retention and Requisition Act was passed to give a way for Filipinos residing abroad, natural born or naturalized in the country where they reside, to retain and re-acquire their Filipino citizenship subject to certain conditions, not to restrain them for participation in Philippine politics.

“While dual citizens are given the right to vote in the Philippine elections under the existing Iaw, those seeking public office or appointment to public office are given a disincentive under RA 9225 by ‘requiring them to make a personal and sworn renunciation of any

and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath.’ To them, it is irrelevant and out of context since it clearly discriminates against Filipinos living abroad,” Arroyo, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.

“It also belittles their strategic role in sustaining the national economy through their hard-earned money in the form of remittances,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo also argued that the existing law preventing dual citizens from being appointed in or running for public office without renouncing their foreign citizenship cuts off long time proven linkages with several Filipino organizations abroad who continue to bring home exemplary knowledge, special skills and huge donations and different kinds of assistance especially medical missions which serve a great number of indigent Filipino communities back in the Philippines.

“As catalysts of development in the Philippines, it would be a disservice to our kababayans abroad if they are not accorded the same rights as those staying in the country. While present laws allow them to exercise their right to vote and make their voice heard in Philippine elections, it is only fair if they are given the chance to participate in local elections and be appointed to public office without jeopardizing the citizenship they have acquired from their host country,” she further said.

MIAA vows to improve services after NAIA named ‘stressful’ airport

AIRPORT authorities vowed to improve services at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after it was named the third “most stressful” airport in Asia and Oceania.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) senior assistant general manager Bryan Co, quoted by a GMA News report, issued the remark after the website Hawaiian Islands recently reported that 57.81% of reviews for NAIA indicated stress.

“We accept all of these as constructive inputs for us to improve these services at NAIA,” Co said.

The official said the MIAA is “doing a lot of things including the terminal reassignment to balance the capacity in order to avoid congestion.”

“The number one complaint in terms of being stressful is the length of the queue or the congestion, but as you’ve noted one of the things that we removed is the initial screening as well

DTI releases list of certified fireworks, firecracker makers ahead of New Year

A LIST of certified fireworks and firecrackers manufacturers has been released as guidance for consumers as New Year’s Eve draws closer.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released the list and advised the public to only purchase fireworks and firecrackers manufactured locally that bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark for guaranteed safety and quality, GMA News reported.

“The purchase and use of uncertified fireworks and firecrackers may result to damage to properties and cause fatalities. Hence, the DTI is here to remind all consumers to only buy and support certified fireworks produced by licensed and authorized manufacturers with Philippine Standard (PS) License,” said DTI-Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, quoted by the report, said.

The DTI said the said list contains only PS-Licensed companies as Republic Act (RA) No. 7183 or the Law on Pyrotechnic Devices prohibits the importation of finished firecrackers and fireworks.

The DTI further said the following information should be clearly printed on a single-colored background on the package of each firework for the guidance of consumers.

The information includes: name of firework; classification and intended use; brand or trade Name; name and address of manufacturer; the words “Made in the Philippines;” warnings and precautionary signs; appropriate instructions for use effects; and Philippine Standard (PS) Quality Mark with License Number

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) meanwhile reported that it has monitored 19 fire incidents related to firecrackers and fireworks so far ahead of the New Year celebration.

BFP spokesperson Superintendent Annalee Atienza said BFP personnel are ready to respond to fire incidents.

On Thursday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged local government units to create a common area for fireworks display to welcome the New Year.

as the vehicle checkpoint so it is really slowly being implemented in our programs,” he said Co also said on delayed baggage and baggage carts, the MIAA is coordinating with the major airlines and ground handlers to make sure that they have enough personnel in order to prevent delays, especially for the arriving passengers.

The website Hawaiian Islands came up with the rankings after looking

through 1,500 Google reviews for over 500 airports around the world and ranking based on the percentage of reviews that indicated stress.

The MIAA meanwhile said it logged around 125,000 passengers per day this December - the peak season for air travel. Co said the airports are currently in the middle of the peak of what they anticipated for this month.

The official said the MIAA recorded around 125,000 passengers per day,

compared to around 100,000 passengers per day in November. He said he expects the number to increase.

Co said most of these passengers arrived from other countries including the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.

In a related report, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it monitored 21,995 outbound passengers in all seaports across the country ahead of Christmas Eve.

Greenfield District gathers influencers in ‘car boot’ sale

IN CELEBRATION of the Food Truck Fest’s first anniversary, the Greenfield District Corp. (GDC) gathered celebrities and influencers in the recently concluded “Car Boot Sale” at the Mayflower Parking Area of Greenfield District.

Atty. Duane A.X. Santos, GDC executive vice president, said the Food Truck Fest is the biggest gathering of food trucks parked regularly in one venue in Metro Manila.

IN BRIEF

House Bill

proposes to limit venue on libel cases

LTO reminds public on use of commemorative plates

THE Land Transportation Office on Friday reminded the public on the unauthorized use of commemorative license plates in their motor vehicles or risk being meted with fines and other penalties.

“We added the Car Boot Sale to complement the Food Truck Fest, which offers a unique and safe al fresco dining experience to the public with 18 food trucks set up at the heart of Mandaluyong’s Greenfield District,” he said, adding strict health protocols are in place to ensure the safety of the public.

Del

ness of the accused journalist or publication is located.

At present, del Mar stated in her bill’s explanatory note, libel cases are filed in the area where the office of the complainant, if he or she is a public officer, is located.

“If he or she is a private person, the venue is his place of residence at the time of the commission of the offense,” she said.

“Thus, a newspaper or broadcast station in Aparri or Jolo, Cebu or Davao can be made to answer a complaint filed in Metro Manila where the complainant resides although the subject, the issue or the incident published which is the cause of action did not arise in Metro Manila,” she added.

She also pointed out that “the prevailing legal rules on venues place these community journalists and local broadcasters in a situation where they have to answer complaints or charges filed, rightly or wrongly, in remote or distant places, deliberately filed far away from their place of business or work.” “In this context, the element of oppression is there.”

She also cited the inconvenience, financial or otherwise, “is often more onerous and burdensome than the penalty or fine prescribed by the law.” Maricel V. Cruz

Its chief, Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade, said LTO has not recommended any form of commemorative license plates in either private or public vehicles, and encouraged the public to remove them if they are still using it.

The unauthorized commemorative plates should no longer be displayed in any motor vehicle, he said.

“The current administration of the LTO has not recommended commemorative license plates to be issued to motor vehicle owners, thus its use is therefore prohibited. If vehicle owners are caught by law enforcers still using commemorative plates whose effectivity dates have already expired, they will be apprehended and fined,” he added.

Under DOTC Joint Administrative Circular No. 2014-01, operating a motor vehicle with an unauthorized license plate will result to a fine of P5,000 on the motor vehicle owner and confiscation of the unauthorized plate.

Tugade reminded the public that commemorative license plates should not be used to intimidate traffic enforcers and stop them from making apprehensions for traffic violations.

Commemorative license plates are those whose use is limited to the observance and/or commemoration of events that bear national significance, and with a validity of only one year as approved by the Department of Transportation. Rio N. Araja

Santos said GDC invited celebrities and influencers, including Maxine Medina, Kim Baranda, Jome Silayan, Louise delos Reyes, Ashley Rivera, David Guison, Debbie Garcia and Kevin Ty, to sell pre-loved items, food, and other products.

“We wanted to have a shopping component that would go well with the Food Truck Fest, so we came up with the concept where vehicles will serve as merchants’ stores,” he explained.

“We are exploring other themes and will be coming up with more exciting concepts next year.”

Santos also encouraged entrepreneurs, including startups, to sell their products and test the market.

He said the event also aims to raise awareness among the public on supporting local sellers and protecting the environment by using reusable bags.

“Soon, we intend to come up with more interesting and fun activities and offer a possible venue for outdoor corporate events like product launches, especially since it already has a captured market,” Santos added.

The Food Truck Fest runs daily from Monday to Thursday, from 4pm until 10 pm, and Friday to Sunday, from 4pm until 12 midnight.

CEBU Rep Rachel Marguerite del Mar has proposed to limit the venue of libel cases filed against a community or local journalist, publication or broadcast station.

Mar, in filing House Bill 139, said such cases should be filed with the regional trial court of the province or city where the principal office of the busi

SUPER CIRCUS. Circus fans enjoy the thrilling and jaw-dropping acts of the world-famous Super American Circus at the Newport World Resorts. The Super American Circus do not use any animals in their shows. Some of the winners of the popular talent search ‘America’s Got Talent’ are members of the circus. Danny Pata

PETRA HALIMUYAK. Ashley Rivera, a.k.a. Petra Halimuyak, shows off her wares at the recently-concluded ‘Car Boot Sale’ at the Mayflower Parking Area of Greenfield District in Pasig City. The Greenfield District Corp. (GDC) gathered celebrities and influencers in the said sale.

FOR NOCHE BUENA. Baskets of Noche Buena items are on display at the entrance of one of the supermarkets in Metro Manila. Joseph Muego

Rationale on the disposition of sovereign wealth fund

THE concept of sovereign wealth came about because commercial banks demand exorbitant interest rates.

Even the concept of developmental loans by counties have been taken over by big international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Bank, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank to lend credit to countries in need of capital fund to finance their own developmental projects.

The race to acquire credit has become so tight that often countries borrowing from these banks end up biting the conditionalities imposed to finance their needs.

Worse, they impose high interest rate on the loans.

In the Philippines, there is no much choice for us.

Local commercial banks have streamlined their interest rate alongside with the interest of private commercial banks.

Once their so-called financial managers are entrapped into this game called “debt trap,” only then will they realize the calvary of servicing the loans that often end up exceeding the amount they loaned and the period to pay the loans to finance the developmental projects.

The concept of sovereign wealth fund (SWF) notably came about by the eagerness of newly independent states to speedily achieve progress at the fastest possible time.

SWF is the fastest way to acquire huge capital using the mode of financial capitalization to attain the country’s desired objective called progress.

Finance managers see the acquisition of capital as an achievement itself.

Fear of corruption is more apparent and real for, often, they treat public funds as their own not to be treated with extra care and diligence

This has led to the creation by countries of their respective SWF, having in mind the idea of getting away with the standardized interest rate, unaware of the enormity of capital equally imposed.

Many countries thought that by creating their own SWF that would substitute the original practice of borrowing from banks instead of striving to achieve their own trade surplus encouraged by innovative production of new products that has since time immemorial been proven as the surest way to the creation of wealth.

Countries subsisting on SWF seldom allocate their own foreign currency reserve because of their obligation to pay the loan.

The Philippines is a rare breed of exporter.

Instead of relying on our export, we relied more on f foreign currency remitted by our overseas workers.

Local capitalists often lack the capital to generate more funds or make reservations to pay their loan obligations to international lenders or like servicing their loan instead of allowing them to accumulate wealth in the concept of savings.

Many communist states today resort to creating or they apply their SWF because many of them today adopt the system of state capitalism instead of the conventional approach to socialism.

Socialism, strictly interpreted, is geared towards the development of the country in the concept of applying the common good.

The concept of private business is prohibited if such is geared for the benefit of the private individual and not for the common good. Everything is for the good of the people.

This in turn deprives the people of their talent, creativity and innovativeness which is essentially the harbinger to the creation of wealth.

This ideological approach to development denies the people their incentive to create more goods and from there produce more surplus for the people to be enjoyed by the greater number of people.

The very concept of SWF came about by our acceptance of state capitalism.

The concept of free enterprise as seen by many Marxist ideologues a revision to socialism.

In state capitalism, the concept of SWF essentially means the state runs the business except that this time they are no longer concerned in earning for the state but more in making profit.

Profit becomes the main preoccupation that gives incentive to those running the business.

Nonetheless, the objective of free enterprise under traditional concept of capitalism is akin to state capitalism or for the fact that it is the state servers as employers to the people and provides the business.

Some say, in socialism, people are employed by the state since it is the state that engages them.

In state capitalism, the SWF business is essentially operated like a private business and officials are forewarned to avoid corruption and financial losses.

State capitalism became a fad among socialist and developing countries: first, as part of the continuing ideological race between capitalism and socialism.

Second, to provide developing socialist countries easy access to big capital for developmental projects.

Third, to compete with those big and institutional financial institution in financing developmental and selective projects but often offering generous interest rate.

Fourth, the system of finance capital offered by capitalist countries have been weaponized

such that often the funder selects the project to be funded.

That usually projects are selected on the basis that will benefit the funder than the recipient state. SWF is often funded and guaranteed by the state such that SWF is readily dissipated.

The twist about the application in the trust funds is the use of sovereign wealth fund as capital.

The trust fund generally comes from the contribution by employees from the private sector (the SSS) and from the employees in the public sector (the GSIS).

Some question the fact that contributions to the trust fund partake that of a loan.

Many argue that to interpret the trust fund as a loan by the contributors can be constitutionally questioned.

To re-loan it is to essentially capitalize a private business which is unconstitutional because this partakes of a second loan without their consent.

From an original borrower, which is the state, the loan is taken without their consent capitalized by the use of SWF that erases the nature of the loan to be guaranteed by the government.

Besides, to use the fund to capitalize a private endeavor is to open the capital to possible business loss.

Many have their anxiety, knowing that borrowers of the SWF are identified cronies of the administration and are suspected to be merely using their connection with the administration to have access to the SWF to acquire added capital.

This now reverts us back to the cycle, that when a capital is re-loaned for the second time, the original owner of the capital expects a higher interest rate.

They cannot get the same interest rate, aside from the unconstitutionality of the second relending. Members of the trust fund will be the first to revolt to this new policy.

Many socialist countries today resort to state capitalism.

Many of them allowed private entrepreneurs or capitalists to undertake developmental projects often entering into an agreement with the state in funding their project but surrendering what they accomplished to the government.

This way the socialist nature of the state is not transformed to capitalism or that only a handful of the elite will benefit from the loan provided by the government.

The system of state capitalism in China is an example where capital has grown enormously large to finance a continuing system of development.

On the other hand, many are opposed to the use of the trust fund to provide loan, for, strictly speaking, they form part of their own savings, reason why caretakers are required to provide loans to members out of their own contributions for their needs like housing, education for their children, hospitalization for the members of the family, calamities, etc.

This explains why massive funding is required to provide greater social benefits to the greater public.

Most important, the concept of sovereign fund was conceived to finance anything that will benefit the public good.

The public cannot itemize everything that is good for the people.

The turnover of public-funded services is necessary to trim down government bureaucracy.

If not, it might result in corruption and the employment of sinecure employees.

Fear of corruption is more apparent and real for, often, they treat public funds as their own not to be treated with extra care and diligence.

(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

THE Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) cadets as a source of future national athletes is an idea whose time has come.

In an effort to promote the ROTC program for college students, Sen. Francis Tolentino hatched the sports program in collaboration with the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The ROTC Games is seen to become a new spawning ground for outstanding athletes for international competitions, aside from fostering active participation in sports by school cadets.

“Personally, I have always believed that the ROTC program of the country has been a potent tool for attaining the country’s overall integrity, honor and health” Tolentino said.

“This competition will not be a glorified intramurals but we aim to develop a pool of disciplined elite athletes.”

The competitions among ROTC cadets will involve three phases: sports clinics where cadets

EDITORIAL

ROTC Games

will learn the sports basics, regional meets and the National Games.

Included in the inaugural season of 2023 are athletics, obstacle sports, swimming, boxing, arnis, weightlifting, kickboxing, e-sports, basketball, volleyball, target shooting, and the demonstration of gymnastics.

Senator Tolentino has the vision of enhancing the country’s military force in the face of an apparently increasing threat in the West Philippine Sea

Competing athletes represent their schools and the three major branches of the Armed Forces -Army, Air Force and Navy.

Noble idea? It’s actually deeper than that.

Tolentino, who holds the rank of Brigadier General in the Army Reserve Command, is actually boosting the country’s reserve command in the face of China’s continuous bullying in the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the Philippine government’s ultramodest reaction to China’s alleged intrusion into Philippine waters, the biggest military in Asia is seemingly gravitating towards full control of the contested parts of waters and islands.

China is increasingly becoming aggressive by continuously building what seemed like facilities in the area.

Tolentino is the most vocal among Philippine senators in reacting to China’s aggressive stance.

It was Tolentino who recently revealed a video that showed the Chinese Coast Guard, forcibly confiscating debris found by Filipino coast guards inside the waters of the Philippines.

It was Tolentino who was actively campaigning against the phalanx of 20 Chinese vessels swarming the Sabina Shoal within our territory.

He initiated the bill that will make ROTC a mandatory program in the college

The good senator has the vision of enhancing the country’s military force in the face of an apparently increasing threat in the West Philippine Sea.

The youth should start thinking about solidarity, patriotism, and love for the country.

The ROTC Games is just the start.

Economic crisis

hugely respectable compared to the projected 4.8 percent of Indonesia, 4.3 percent of Malaysia, 4 of Thailand, and 2.3 percent of Singapore, per ADB figures.

THAT is a very strong possibility for the Philippines in 2023.

Major corporations are reporting dramatic declines in sales – both in volume and value (with a price increase). Christmas sales this year are apparently weaker than last year’s, indicating weakening consumer spending.

Sales of San Miguel beer for 2022 are down 18 percent in volume and 20 percent in value, compared with a 5 percent increase in volume and 8 percent rise in value in 2021.

Sales of SMC processed foods are also down significantly, compared with 12 percent growth in 2021 over 2020.

Refined petroleum products are likewise down. San Miguel is the country’s largest corporation. Its revenues are equivalent to 5 percent of total economic output in value.

SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang notes that in 2023, the biggest contributors to the global economy – the United States, China, India, and Europe – will have a slowdown if not a recession. And nearly all countries are reporting high inflation and high interest rates.

“I see an economic crisis,” RSA frets. “In a crisis, it is very difficult to achieve growth.” Still, in 2022, the Philippines will be lucky. Its growth this year will be 7.7 percent, a significant increase from GDP growth of 5.7 percent in 2021, the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By today, COVID has sickened 4.04 million Filipinos; of that, 65,000 died.

Government poured massive funds into the economy to beat the pandemic; P2.3 trillion by the estimate of the Bangko Sentral.

That money translated into spending revenge by consumers, powering a once dying economy into one of the strongest performances in the region.

In the ASEAN, the Philippines will show the highest growth in 2022 – 7.7 percent, beating Vietnam, 7.5 percent; Malaysia 7.3 percent; Indonesia 5.4 percent; Singapore 3.3 percent; and Thailand 3.2 percent.

Per Asian Development Bank, three main headwinds continue to hamper recovery in developing Asia: recurrent lockdowns in the People’s Republic of China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and slowing global growth

“Rising employment, tourism recovery, expanding production and retail sales, and public investment will continue to support growth.”

In 2023, Philippine economic growth will slacken dramatically, to 5.7 percent, per the World Bank, or to 6.0 percent, per ADB.

“The GDP growth forecast for 2023 is revised down to accommodate monetary tightening, a sharper growth slowdown in the advanced economies, and continuing uncertainty arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” says the Manila-based ADB.

A 5.7 percent or 6 percent growth in 2023 will be lower than Vietnam’s 6.3 percent but still is

The most beautiful Christmas

IN ONE of his Christmas addresses, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that the birth of Christ must be seen as an opportunity for us to grow closer to God to be more virtuous.

He urged us to contemplate the scene of Christ’s birth, reminding Christians that God loves people even when they fail; that God loves us unconditionally even as we are called to love him in the same way by worshiping him.

The Pope said: “This is the recipe against selfishness and a thirst for power, against the inordinate desire for fame and worldly pleasure.

“It goes without saying that celebrating Christmas goes beyond the superficial external trappings that come with it.

“It does not only mean gifts and merrymaking or family reunions. Christmas is to celebrate the enormity of Christ’s love for us.”

Jesus Christ, being the King of Kings, came into this world clothed like a beggar.

He was born in a stable and in the most humble way, without pomp and fanfare, but in a most nondescript manner with angels and poor shepherds in attendance.

Imagine heaven declaring the birth of Jesus, the king of kings, to the poorest of the poor.

By his birth and death, God has shown to us the enormity of his love for us.

Christmas, according to Cardinal Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, offers us a chance to receive “the infinite gift of God’s love” with “amazement and gratitude.”

Let us make this the most beautiful Christmas ever for us and everyone around us. Together let us sing Don Moen’s ‘Emmanuel Has Come’

For the good Cardinal, we must become like children to believe in love, since life’s disappointments tend to make us cautious and even cynical about love.

He said: “Children believe in love, but not based on reasoning. By instinct, by nature. They are born full of confidence in the love of their parents.

“They ask parents for the things they need, perhaps even by stamping their feet, but the unspoken assumption is not that they have earned it; rather that they are the children and that one day they will be the heirs of everything.”

Despite everything that is happening around

us, we can turn this Christmas into the best and most meaningful one yet, if we only recognize the hidden face of Christ amidst the humdrum of the world’s troubles and struggles -- if we recognize that the baby Jesus on the manger has the power to heal all afflictions, to transform our lives for the better.

Let us, therefore, try to find more meaning this Christmas by seeking Christ on the manger, not by ignoring him much like the people in our story, so that by his words and example we can build a better foundation for ourselves, our families, and our community as a whole.

We only need to humbly acknowledge our wretchedness and unworthiness before his eyes, knowing that all human afflictions that we face are ultimately rooted in our own failings and sinfulness.

This way, we will come to realize and fully understand what God has done for us and is doing for us, in our lives, even as we celebrate Christmas despite pain, sickness, and suffering.

We can move forward in the troubled months and years ahead with confidence knowing that we are built on a strong and solid foundation in Christ.

In concluding his third Advent sermon, Cardinal Cantalamessa recalled that the Child Jesus comes to the door of our heart this Christmas to knock, offering Himself and God’s love as His gift.

He shared this story to illustrate how the Virgin Mother seeks to offer Jesus to the world and how

One thing good about 2022. Tourism recovered mightily.

The Philippines hit its 1.7-million whole year foreign arrival target in the first 10 months of 2022.

Of course, a 1.7 million target is underwhelming; it’s a joke, because our ASEAN neighbors routinely drew, pre-pandemic 2019: 39.9 million (Thailand); 26.1 million (Malaysia), 19 million (Singapore); 18 million (Vietnam). And 16 million (Indonesia). The Philippines in 2019 attracted just 8.3 million.

This year, the Philippine target is just 4.8 million. Paltry. Why? Blame our Manila airport. It is the worst in the world.

Blame our prices. They are the second highest in ASEAN.

Blame our reputation. We are a land of terrorists and drug lords. And corrupt politicians.

I am digressing. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine,Asia, and indeed, the world has been in crisis.

Per ADB, three main headwinds continue to hamper recovery in developing Asia: recurrent lockdowns in the People’s Republic of China, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and slowing global growth.

ADB has revised down from the 4.3 percent forecast for 2022 made in September 2022 to 4.2 percent made this December to 4.2 percent in 2022 and from 4.9 percent to 4.6 percent in 2023.

“These external challenges have channeled through the Philippines in the form of high inflation, peso depreciation, and capital market volatility,” explains the World Bank. My overall outlook in 2023: Worse than 2022. Prepare for a possible economic crisis marked by high inflation, high interest rates, severe food and power shortages, and crucially, job losses.

Philippine economic growth will decline from 7.2 percent in 2022 to a 5.7 percent average in 2023-2025. biznewsasia@gmail.com

we need to become children to receive Him:

“A legend says that among the shepherds who went to see the Child on Christmas Eve, there was a shepherd boy so poor that he had nothing to offer his Mother, and he stood aside in shame. Everyone competed to give Mary their gift.

“The Mother could not hold them all, having to hold the Child Jesus in her arms. Seeing the little shepherd next to her with empty hands, she then takes the Child and puts Him in his arms. Having nothing was his luck. Let’s make this luck be ours too!”

Yes, indeed, let us make this the most beautiful Christmas ever for us and everyone around us. Together let us sing Don Moen’s

Emmanuel Has Come:

“Christmas is about his glory, Christmas is about his grace. Christmas is a gift of love our Father gave us. More than just another story about a special time and place, Christmas is a time to lift a song of praise.

For God is with us and we celebrate the glory of His presence.

Christ has come to fill our hearts with love, He came to save, King of kings and Lord of Lords. His name is Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel has come.”

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Says the Asian Development Bank: “The 2022 growth forecast for the Philippines is revised up after domestic demand spurred Q3 growth above expectations. GDP grew by 7.7 percent in the first three quarters of this year, driven by robust private consumption and investment and by sustained public infrastructure spending.

Chin

Rolando

Arctic storm brings holiday travel chaos to United States

CHICAGO—A “once-in-a-generation” winter storm with temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit (Celsius) caused Christmas travel chaos in the United States on Thursday, with thousands of flights cancelled and major highways closed.

Heavy snow and howling winds upended holiday plans at one of the busiest times of the year, as a huge cold front swept down from the Arctic and took freezing hold of the middle of the country.

Tens of millions of people were under winter storm advisories or warnings, with meteorologists saying it was so cold in places that anyone venturing outside risked frostbite within minutes.

“This is not like a snow day when you were a kid,” President Joe Biden told re-

porters. “This is serious stuff.”

Blinding whiteouts and hazardous road conditions were already spreading, even as 100 million people were expected to take to the roads, according to the American Automobile Association.

The I-90, a major highway running across the north was shuttered in South Dakota, with officials saying it would not reopen until Friday.

“Crews are using all available resources from across the state to clean-up and restore travel,” South Dakota Department of Transport said.

“Multiple highways are currently listed as ‘Road Impassable’... travel on the road segment is physically impossible due to widespread deep snow and drifts.” AFP

TikTok

admits using data to track journos

BEIJING—Employees of Chinese tech giant ByteDance improperly accessed data from social media platform TikTok to track journalists in a bid to identify the source of leaks to the media, the company admitted Friday.

TikTok has gone to great lengths to convince customers and governments of major markets like the United States that users’ data privacy is protected and that it poses no threat to national security.

But parent company ByteDance told AFP on Friday that several staffers accessed two journalists’ data as part of an internal probe into leaks of company information to the media.

They had hoped to identify links between staff and a Financial Times reporter and a former BuzzFeed journalist, an email from ByteDance’s general counsel Erich Andersen seen by AFP said.

Both journalists previously reported on the contents of leaked company materials.

None of the employees found to have been involved remained employed by ByteDance, Andersen said, though he did not disclose how many had been fired.

In a statement to AFP, ByteDance said it condemned the “misguided initiative that seriously violated the company’s Code of Conduct”.

Employees had obtained the IP addresses of the journalists in a bid to determine whether they were in the same location as ByteDance colleagues suspected of disclosing confidential information, a company review of the scheme led by its compliance team and an external law firm found, according to Andersen.

The plan failed, however, partly because the IP addresses only revealed approximate location data.

TikTok has again come under the spotlight in the United States, with Congress poised to approve a nationwide ban on using the wildly popular short-video app on government devices owing to perceived security risks. AFP

N. Korea sold arms to Russia’s Wagner group – White House

‘Sign of desperation’ In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean foreign ministry denied conducting any arms transaction with Russia, saying the story was “cooked up by some dishonest forces for different purposes.”

The United States will boost sanctions against Wagner following North Korea’s sale of infantry rockets and missiles to the group last month, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

“Wagner is searching around the world for arms suppliers to support its military operations in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters.

“We can confirm that North Korea

has completed an initial arms delivery to Wagner, which paid for that equipment,” he said.

According to Kirby the group, which is independent of the Russian defense establishment and is leading a bloody siege of Bakhmut, Ukraine, is spending more than $100 million each month in its Ukraine operations.

“Wagner is emerging as a rival power center to the Russian military and other Russian ministries,” Kirby said.

However, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK concurs with the American assessment that North Korea delivered arms to Russia for the Wagner group in violation of UN resolutions.

“The fact that President (Vladimir) Putin is turning to North Korea for help is a sign of Russia’s desperation and isolation,” Cleverly said in a statement.

“We will work with our partners to ensure that North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.”

The Wagner group is controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman once called “Putin’s chef” for his work catering dinners for the powerful leader before and after he became the Russian president.

A vocal critic of the Russian defense establishment’s handling of the war in Ukraine, Prigozhin, 61, runs a number of diverse businesses out of his Concord Catering group in St. Petersburg.

One is the Internet Research Agency, the notorious St. Petersburg internet “troll farm” that conducted a massive online operation to interfere with the US elections to help then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016.

For that Prigozhin and several others in the operation were indicted in the United States in 2018.

AFP

Mossad warns of Iran-Russia ties to supply advanced arms

JERUSALEM—Iran is seeking to expand the supply of advanced weapons to Russia, the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency said Thursday, according to local media.

The warning from David Barnea comes after the United States earlier this month expressed alarm over a “full-scale defence partnership” between Tehran and Moscow, which invaded Ukraine last February. Tehran in November admitted it had sent drones to Russia, but insisted they were supplied before the invasion.

Biden’s Christmas wish for America: a ‘fresh start’ and less political ‘poison’

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden delivered a Christmas address from the White House on Thursday, wishing an increasingly divided America a “fresh start” including a purge of “the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another.”

The Democrat leader has recently taken a more aggressive stance against opposition Republicans, but with Christmas just three days away, his holiday message centered on themes of reconciliation and unity.

“My hope this Christmas season is

that we take a few moments of quiet reflection, find that stillness... at the heart of Christmas and really look at each other,” Biden said from a festive White House decked out with trees, garland, and white lights.

“Not as Democrats or Republicans. Not as members of Team Red or Team Blue. But as who we really are, fellow Americans, fellow human beings worthy of being treated with dignity and respect.”

The 80-year-old spoke often early in his term about the need for reconcilia-

tion amid the discord left in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Returning to that topic, the ardent Catholic delivered a message of empathy and calm.

“No one can ever know what someone else is going through, what’s really going on in their lives,” Biden said, as he invited Americans to “spread a little kindness” this Christmas.

Fifty years ago Biden lost his first wife and baby daughter in a car accident shortly before Christmas. He reminded Americans that in

addition to joy, “Christmas can be a time of great pain and terrible loneliness.”

The president has recently gained some valuable political momentum, including diplomatic and legislative successes as well as midterm elections that turned out better for Democrats than forecast.

He is expected to make a much-anticipated decision early in the new year on whether he will run again for president in 2024 after discussing his future over the holidays with his family. AFP

Rwandan role in east DR Congo rebel crisis—UN

Current frontlines lie just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Goma, a commercial hub of more than one million people.

“We warn against Iran’s future intentions, which they are trying to keep secret, to deepen and expand the supply of advanced weapons to Russia, to expand the uranium enrichment project and to intensify their attacks against friendly Muslim countries in the region,” Barnea was quoted as saying during a ceremony for the Jewish Hanukkah holiday.

In late October, Israeli President Isaac Herzog indicated that he had shared with Washington information which, according to Israeli intelligence, showed the utilisation of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.

On December 9, Washington described an extensive relationship between Iran and Russia involving equipment such as helicopters and fighter jets as well as drones, with the latter items resulting in new US sanctions.

Moscow’s United Nations envoy Vassily Nebenzia responded at the Security Council that Russia’s military industrial complex “doesn’t need anyone’s assistance” and said the drone allegations had been refuted multiple times.

The experts said there was “substantial evidence”

the Rwandan army directly intervened in Congo’s fight against M23 rebels, and that it had supported the group with weapons, ammunition, and uniforms.

A government spokesman in Kigali denied Rwanda supported the rebels and declined to comment on specific allegations until the findings were formally published.

The report comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23.

The militia has captured swathes of territory in the DRC’s restive east since it emerged from dormancy late last year.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied that it supports the rebels, but the United States and France, among other Western countries, have agreed with the DRC’s assessment.

According to the UN experts’ report, Rwanda’s military intervened to “reinforce” the M23 as well as to combat the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) -- a descendant of Rwandan Hutu extremist groups that carried out the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.

Rwanda provided troop reinforcements to the M23 “for specific operations, in particular when these were aimed at seizing strategic towns and areas,” the report added.

Rwandan troops also led joint attacks with M23 fighters against Congolese positions in May, according to the report. AFP

Last week, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the Tehran regime, which has seen more than three months of civilian protests, was “striking sordid deals” with Moscow “in a desperate attempt to survive”.

Iranian-manufactured drones supplied to Russia have played a “central role” in attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, Britain’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said.

Iran’s foreign ministry on Sunday said in a statement it would not “seek permission from anyone” to expand relations with Russia. AFP

WASHINGTON -- North Korea has delivered arms to Russia’s private military group Wagner, the White House said Thursday, calling the mercenary enterprise a “rival” for power to the defense and other ministries in the Kremlin.

KINSHASA—Rwanda’s army “engaged in military operations” against DR Congo’s military in the country’s troubled east, according to a report by a group of independent United Nations experts seen by AFP on Thursday.

that

GENERATIONAL SNOWSTORM. People cross a street in the Mile End, a borough in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as the snow comes down on December 22. A ‘once-in-a-generation’ winter storm with temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit caused Christmas travel chaos in the United States on Thursday, with thousands of flights canceled and major highways closed. AFP

LANTERN WORK.

A worker produces red lanterns ahead of New Year’s Day in Danzhai, in China’s southwestern Guizhou province on December 22. AFP

Close to Putin

NATIVITY ANGEL. An actress dressed as an angel performs

1 PRC 7 1.5 27.27%

2 JOH 5.99 0.99 19.80%

3 IPO 6.93 0.99 16.67%

4 DIZ 4 0.48 13.64%

5 ATNB 0.385 0.035 10.00%

6 CEU 6.5 0.38 6.21%

7 PPC 5.4 0.31 6.09%

8 X 0.26 0.014 5.69%

9 VMC 2.68 0.12 4.69%

10 PBB 9.52 0.42 4.62%

TOP LOSERS

LAST

1 OPM 0.01 -0.001 -9.09%

2 SEVN 68.05 -3.95 -5.49%

3 PNX3B 64.9 -3.75 -5.46%

4 PNX4 333 -17 -4.86%

5 CDC 0.65 -0.03 -4.41%

6 BCB 4.1 -0.18 -4.21%

7 STR 2.99 -0.1 -3.24%

8 FILRT 5.24 -0.16 -2.96%

9 HTI 1 -0.03 -2.91%

10 DFNN 3.4 -0.1 -2.86%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME VALUE (PHP)

1 TEL 377,870 466,049,220

2 SM 308,450 283,898,935

3 BDO 1,418,240 151,871,133

4 MONDE 13,265,500 151,015,092

5 ICT 750,890 150,438,330

6 JFC 618,820 143,249,126

7 ACEN 17,199,900 129,676,252

8 URC 684,710 94,140,099

9 DMC 8,016,300 90,495,948

10 GTCAP 204,050 87,897,496

EU countries cut gas consumption on energy crunch

BRUSSELS, Belgium—EU countries have cut the amount of natural gas they consume by 20 percent over the past four months as they adapt to an energy crunch, the bloc’s statistics agency said Tuesday.

Taken overall, the number was higher than the voluntary 15 percent target the European Union member states had signed on to in August.

It underlined the bloc’s drive to reduce demand for energy as it copes with greatly diminished supplies from Russia, which has turned off its gas taps in retaliation for EU sanctions over its war in Ukraine.

Finland led the dive, with gas consumption down 53 percent between August and November, compared with the average consumption for that period between 2017 and 2021, Eurostat said.

All but two EU countries showed declines, with major economies Germany and France slicing the amount of gas used by 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively, over that period.

Malta and Slovakia showed upticks in gas consumption of less than 10 percent over those four months. Cyprus was the only EU country not using natural gas.

The EU on Monday agreed on a gas price cap that would kick in if the cost of gas soared towards a historic high reached in August, as countries scrambled to fill storage ahead of winter.

After months of wrangling, the price cap was set at 180 euros per megawatt hour for futures contracts -- close to half of where it spiked to in August when it reached nearly 340 euros.

On Tuesday, the European benchmark for gas futures was trading around 107 euros per megawatt hour.

Safeguards apply to the price cap, to meet concerns by Germany and the European Commission that the ceiling might scare off gas suppliers and push them to sell in more profitable Asian markets.

The cap can only be triggered if it breaches the threshold for three consecutive days and then only if it were more than 35 euros over the global price paid for liquefied natural gas. AFP

Market retreats; PLDT falls on Moody’s report

STOCKS retreated Friday to end a three-day advance, after forecast-beating US data fueled expectations that the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates well into next year.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, lost 35 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 6,541.03, as four of the six major subsectors declined.

The broader all-share index also went down by 9 points, or 0.28 percent, to settle at 3,432.47 on a value turnover of P3.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 94 to 72, while 46 issues were unchanged.

Six of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by DMCI Holdings Inc. which climbed 4.55 percent to P11.48 and Monde Nissin Corp. which rose 3.54 percent to P11.70.

Meanwhile, PLDT Inc. fell 1.52 percent to P1,230.00, after Moody’s Investors Service said the P48-billion capital spending overrun reported by the telecom company highlighted its weaknesses in internal processes and

governance.

PLDT confirmed reports that the company might incur additional debt in the short term and planned to borrow P35 billion to P45 billion in the next two years for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to, payment of capital expenditures and dividends.

The company clarified that the P48 billion capex overrun included, but was not limited to, site roll out, transport projects and ports roll out.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan, president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio and chief legal counsel Marilyn Victorio-Aquino, in a special briefing on Dec. 21, assured fund managers, investment analysts and bankers that PLDT’s business remained healthy and robust even as it continued to address its elevated capex spend and underwent

a comprehensive process review.

Pangilinan said PLDT’s EBITDA for 2022 would remain unaffected by the capex overrun and was on track to hit P100 billion as originally indicated.

Pangilinan said PLDT’s ongoing review had uncovered no fraud, no anomalies, no evidence of overpricing and no unrecorded transactions in relation to the overrun. “The bulk of the P48-bullion capex overspend involves the procurement of network equipment necessary to provide stronger connectivity to subscribers, specifically 5G cell sites for our mobile network and fiber rollout. There will be no write-off of these assets,” Pangilinan said.

Panlilio said a confluence of factors occurred that led to the capex overrun including PLDT having to regain network leadership following years of underinvestment in capex; the threat from former President Rodrigo Duterte for telcos to shape up; intense competition in the telco sector with the entry of DITO funded by China Tel and the emergence of a competitor in the fiber space, Converge. With AFP

US economy expanded 3.2% in third quarter

WASHINGTON, United States—The US economy expanded 3.2 percent in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday, in a further upward revision of data reflecting stronger consumer spending and investment than earlier estimated.

The world’s biggest economy grew for the first time this year in the July to September period after two-quarters of contraction that worsened recession fears.

It earlier revised the GDP figure to 2.9 percent, annualized -- already an improvement from the 2.6 percent first reported in October.

Both adjustments “primarily reflected upward revisions to consumer spending” as well as non-residential fixed investment, the Commerce Department said in its final GDP estimate for the quarter.

But growth was partly offset by decreases in residential fixed investment and private inventory investment, it added.

Within consumer spending, a rise in services was partly held back by a drop in goods -- sales of cars and auto parts lagged as did food and beverage purchases, as households grappled with soaring costs.

An increase in government spending was led by upticks in staff compensation and defense spending, the Commerce Department said.

The data also showed that personal consumption expenditures picked up 2.3 percent, markedly higher than the 1.7 percent previously estimated. But it is unclear how long consumers will be able to keep up the current pace of spending.

“Despite a rapid increase in interest rates, the economy is growing, and importantly, households are still spending,” said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics in a note.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates seven times this year in an attempt to tamp down decades-high inflation, walking a tightrope to try to cool the economy without triggering a recession.

While the effects of the higher rates are rippling across sectors, consumer spending has proven more resilient than expected. AFP

Kyrgyzstan’s coal miners hopeful of regaining past glory on rising demand

By Bruno Kalouaz

SULUKTU, Kyrgyzstan—Hundreds of meters underground, Emylbek Umarov hacks out lumps of coal by hand with a pickaxe in a dank mine in a remote mountainous corner of Kyrgyzstan.

Coal may be falling out of favor elsewhere because of climate change, but Suluktu’s mines hope growing demand from neighboring Central Asian countries and beyond will help them return to their Soviet heyday.

For some, like Umarov, the mine is one of the few places offering work —despite the threat of accidents that have killed dozens of people in the area in recent years.

“It’s terrifying, it’s tough, but there’s no other work here,” said the 27-yearold, who has two degrees in computing and economics.

As he spoke, the coughing of miners with blackened faces echoed through the tunnels illuminated by a few lamps hanging from a ceiling dripping with water.

The men work with jackhammers, pickaxes, and explosives on 12-hour shifts day or night, 15 days a month, for a monthly salary of less than 150 euros ($160).

Before starting their shifts, they have to travel an hour to the mine in large Russian-made Kamaz trucks along a badly rutted road.

The hulks of Soviet-era machinery can be seen in the pinkish dawn.

TOKYO, Japan—Prices in Japan rose at their fastest pace since 1981 in November, data showed Friday, fueled in part by higher energy costs.

Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile fresh food costs, climbed 3.7 percent last month compared to a year earlier, data released by the internal affairs ministry showed.

Prices jumped the most for processed food items and were also higher for electricity and durable goods like air conditioners.

The November figure is well below the sky-high levels that have sparked

proud’ Tucked away in the mountains, the town of Suluktu was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest coal extraction hubs in Central Asia.

‘‘We

From the “miner’s bread” on sale in local bakeries to the local football team called “Shakhtar” (Miner) -- everything in the town is a reminder of its main industry, including the coal dust coating the ground.

Suluktu “heated Central Asia during Soviet times”, said its mayor, Maksat Kadyrkulov.

Like settlements across the former

Soviet Union, it suffered from deindustrialization after its collapse, leading to a sharp drop in population and coal output.

“There is no farmland here. We just dig coal and there is no family without a miner,” Kadyrkulov said.

The mayor said he hoped Suluktu would recover its “past glory” thanks to the growing demand for coal.

The Soviet era is a constant presence in the town.

On its outskirts stands a monument depicting two miners with a four-meterhigh hammer and sickle.

‘Everything by hand’ Trucks filled with coal file past the statues on their way to deliver their cargo to Uzbekistan and beyond since access to nearby Tajikistan is now closed off because of a flare-up of tensions along the border.

A mosaic nearby extols the glory of Soviet power, showing a miner with a red star behind him.

Before “we were proud to be miners”, said 64-year-old Nimadjan Abdulayevich, who spent 37 years in the mines, his voice hoarse from throat cancer. AFP

Japan’s inflation soars to 3.7%, highest since 1981, led by fuel costs

concern in the United States, Britain, and elsewhere but far exceeds the Bank of Japan’s long-term goal of 2.0 percent.

Even excluding fresh food and energy, the index was up 2.8 percent.

“Although low by international standards, Japanese consumer price inflation at three percent to four percent is high enough to feel uncomfortable with stagnant wage growth,” wrote Sarah Tan, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, in a note.

The headline core consumer price index (CPI) has risen consistently since

the beginning of the year, putting pressure on the Bank of Japan to tweak its longstanding monetary easing policies.

The US Federal Reserve and other central banks have sharply hiked interest rates this year to tackle inflation.

But Japan, which since the 1990s has swung between periods of sluggish inflation and deflation, has gone against the grain and continues to keep interest rates at ultra-low levels as it tries to kickstart its economy.

The Bank of Japan says it sees the recent price increases as temporary and that there is no reason to change course yet.

The starkly different approaches taken by the BoJ and the Fed have driven down the value of the yen against the dollar this year from about 115 yen per dollar in March to as low as 151 yen.

The currency has recovered somewhat, helped by government interventions.

This week, the Japanese central bank delivered a shock tweak to its ultraeasy monetary policy, prompting the yen to strengthen rapidly.

While the adjustment falls short of a rate hike, analysts said it could help arrest the yen’s declining value. AFP

NUCLEAR ENERGY MEETING. Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom general-director Alexei Likhachev (left) and International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi (right) speak during a meeting in Moscow on Dec. 22, 2022. The delegations examined the situation at the Zaporozhye NPP given the issue of improving the reliability of electricity and heat supply at the NPP site and the city of Energodar. AFP

Coalminers roll mine cart at the ‘Kara-Altyn ken’ (Mine Black-Gold) coal mine outside the town of Suluktu, some 1100 kilometers from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Dec. 13, 2022. AFP

were

Cosco Capital, The Keepers hike dividend payout

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LISTED companies owned by businessman Lucio Co declared higher cash dividends in 2022 following the strong recovery of their core businesses.

Cosco Capital Inc., the retail holding company of Co, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors declared P0.19 per share cash dividend to shareholders as of record date Jan. 18, 2023. The cash dividends would be paid on Jan. 28, 2023.

The amount represents a 58-percent year-on-year increase in annual cash dividends declared compared to the previous year. It also accounts for 20 percent of the company’s net income last year.

Cosco said it had paid yearly dividends to shareholders without interruption since 2014. Cosco has a portfolio of business interests in retail, real estate, wine and liquor and oil and minerals.

The board of The Keepers Holdings Inc., the imported liquor distribution company of Co, also approved cash dividend of P0.054 per share to common shareholders as of record date Jan. 10, 2023.

The cash payout, payable on Jan. 20, 2023, represents a 125 percentyear-on year increase in annual cash dividends.

It is also equivalent to 50 percent dividend payout from the company’s prior year net income.

The Keepers owns Montosco Inc., Meritus Prime Distributions Inc. and Premier Wine and Spirits which are engaged in the importation, distribution and marketing of imported alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

These firms distribute international liquor brands such as Alfonso, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich, Jose Cuervo, Jim Beam, Martell, Absolut, Red Bull and Jinro.

The company formed a new distribution firm, Fertuna Distributions Inc., early this month.

Reopening of economy expected to sustain rapid growth in 2023

By Julito G. Rada

THE growth prospects look bright for the Philippines in 2023 as the sustained reopening of the economy towards normalcy will boost business activities, an economist said Friday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report the resumption of international tourism from February 2022 and the return of face-to-face schooling since August were “the last remaining elements to complete the economic recovery story.”

He said these “would help the recovery in the right direction for many hardhit businesses and industries during the pandemic/lockdowns.”

“The economic reopening narrative fundamentally led to more jobs/ employment/livelihood and other business/economic opportunities that, in turn, led to higher sales/revenues, earnings, and valuations for some companies and industries,” he said.

Ricafort said the economy could ex-

pand between 7.5 percent and 7.7 percent in 2022, on lower base effects. He said the gross domestic product growth could normalize to around 6 percent to 6.5 percent in 2023 and beyond with the stabilization of the GDP base, taking into account the absence of lockdowns in 2022.

The National Economic and Development Authority said it remained confident about the economic prospects in the near term. “A robust domestic economy, propelled by sustained consumption and investment, will be key to attaining the 6.0 percent to 7.0 percent growth target for 2023,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in his yearend report.

“We aim to accompany this expansion with headline and food inflation

rates of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent and an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent to 6.4 percent. We expect poverty incidence to fall to about 16.2 percent in 2023 from its 2021 level of 18.1 percent,” Balisacan said.

Ricafort noted other important economic growth drivers in 2023, including the near record-high OFW remittances, higher exports, record-high employment, improved manufacturing output, increased government spending and the timely approval of the 2023 national budget.

He said the continued growth in business process outsourcing that generates more than $30 billion a year, resurgence in mining activities, intensification of productivity in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other priority sectors would help reduce poverty and enable the country to achieve middle-income status in the coming years.

Ricafort, however, warned that elevated inflation, higher interest rates and the risk of US recession could slow down global economic growth, global trade, foreign direct investments, remittances and employment.

Local cement makers laud DTI’s anti-dumping duty

THE Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines said Friday it welcomes the Department of Trade and Industry’s imposition of anti-dumping duties against Vietnam cement as a show of support for the investments and development of the domestic cement manufacturing industry.

The Department of Trade of Industry issued Department Administrative Order 22-17, imposing definitive anti-dumping duty against importations of Type 1 and Type 1P cement from certain exporting manufacturers and traders in Vietnam. The move is in line with the Tariff Commission’s recommendation to slap anti-dumping duties because of the existence of imminent threat of material injury to the domestic cement industry. CeMAP said there is sufficient domestic capacity to serve local demand for cement. “Even without cement imports, the domestic industry is highly competitive with 14 integrated cement plants operating in the country, with a couple more being constructed,” it said.

“With this boost received from DTI, the domestic industry is very much reassured of the partnering and unwavering support from the Philippine government in upholding fair competition in the market. It also increases industry’s resolve to continue pursuing investments, developing further this proudly-local industry in areas such as sustainable manufacturing and greener cement products, generating local employment and other socio-economic benefits for Filipinos, and ultimately contributing to economic recovery and overall nation building,” CeMAP said.

BIR announces lower tax for individuals next year

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said Friday individuals earning purely compensation income, including non-business and non-profession related income, can look forward to a higher take-home pay in 2023.

It said that under Republic Act No. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, those with annual taxable income below P250,000are would remain exempt from paying personal income tax, while the rest of taxpayers, except those with taxable income of more than P8 million, would have lower tax rates ranging from 15 percent to 30 percent starting January 1, 2023.

Meanwhile, the top individual taxpayers whose annual taxable income exceeds P 8 million would pay a higher tax rate of 35 percent in 2023, up from the previous 32 percent.

The BIR said compared to the tax rates imposed during the initial implementation of the TRAIN Law in 2018, the new rates for individuals decreased by 5 percent for those with taxable income of more than P250,000 up to P2 million. A 2-percent decrease in tax rate was also noted for individuals with taxable income of more than P million to P8 million.

“With the said reduction in the annual income tax rates, individuals earning purely compensation income will have lower withholding tax deductions from their monthly salary, thereby increasing their take-home pay,” said BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.

DBP bags regional award for energy efficiency program

STATE-OWNED Development Bank of the Philippines was recognized by an international association of development banks and financial institutions for its efforts to promote energy efficiency in the country, a top official said Friday.

DBP president and chief executive Emmanuel Herbosa said the bank’s Energy Efficiency Savings Financing Program was awarded a plaque of merit under the environmental development category of the annual Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific Development Awards held in Pasay City.

“We are truly grateful and honored to be a recipient of this citation for our development efforts under the DBP E2SAVE program,” Herbosa said. “This recognition from the ADFIAP is an attestation of the Bank’s continuing efforts for the unimpeded delivery of financial services to further drive economic growth.”

DBP is the eighth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy—infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.

The DBP E2SAVE Program is designed to help public and private institutions improve their productivity by harnessing available new technologies in the market for their energy efficiency and renewable energy (for own use) projects. It also allows loan repayment based on electricity savings to make investment affordable to end-users.

DOE ‘more worried’ over thin power reserves starting April

Guevara.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy said Friday it is more worried over Luzon grid’s thin power reserves in the dry months starting April on increasing demand at the onset of higher temperature.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said in a briefing the DOE was “more worried” about supply in the dry months of April to July 2023, than in February when the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan would undergo a 15-day regular maintenance shutdown.

“We are more worried in summer, starting April up to July. That’s where we are a little bit worried. We can say we have enough generation margin for the month of February even if Malampaya is down,” Guevara said in a briefing.

She said the DOE was looking at

the status of the power reserves in the next dry months, “and we see in those months the possibility of yellow alerts.”

Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines declares a yellow alert when there is insufficient operating power reserve.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the DOE was hoping that the power plants would be available during the dry months. “We are hoping that somehow the plants will be available, and what will refer to as the stranded power, power that is already available like those in Bataan, will be delivered to the Luzon grid,” Lotilla said.

The Hermosa-San Jose 500-kV transmission line in Bataan province is expected to be completed by the end of March 2023.

“For February, we don’t see the possibility of a yellow alert, so we are confident about the February maintenance shutdown of Malampaya,” said

DOE said the Malampaya maintenance schedule had been closely coordinated with energy stakeholders to ensure that Malampaya facilities and equipment operate in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner to avoid accidents that can potentially impact the continuous supply of gas to client power plants.

The DOE said that during this period, the gas supply to the Batangas plants would lead power plants to switch to alternate sources of fuel.

Prime Energy Energy Resources Development B.V., operator of the Malampaya project, said in an advisory to the DOE the scheduled maintenance was originally set for October 2022. It was supposed to be a followup maintenance operation to execute work planned in 2021, which was affected by COVID travel restrictions that prevented the deployment of foreign specialists.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SMART Communications Inc. said Friday it maintained its leadership in 5G roaming, serving customers across 62 countries through partnerships with 115 partners around the world.

“As travel restrictions ease, more Filipinos and their families are planning to travel overseas especially during the holiday season. Our goal is to enable our customers and those of our roaming partners to access our Smart 5G roaming services, so that they could stay updated with their work or lifestyle wherever they are in the world,” said Smart vice president for wireless core and international business group Chet Alviz.

The company said customers with 5G-capable SIMs and devices could enjoy live 5G roaming services in Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Hungary, Northern Mariana Islands, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan and Korea.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippines remains one of the more robust countries for dealmakers as mergers and acquisition deals in the Philippines reached $8.1 billion from 33 transactions in 2022, according to the latest report by business advisory firm PwC Philippines.

The report underscored investors’ growing interest in the Philippines as most inbound M&A deals came from China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries.

The biggest deal transacted in 2022 involved the $1.87-billion buy-out of minority shares at Eagle Cement Corp. by San Miguel Corp.

Technology and telecommunications are also among the top sectors in the Philippine M&A space, driven by recent reforms related to the open towers regulation and the accelerated digital transfor-

mation during the pandemic.

Deals in the Philippine tech and telecom sectors included five of the largest M&A acquisitions this year, involving Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.

Smart agreed to sell and lease back 5,907 towers for $1.5 billion. The asset deals include transactions with Axiata Group Berhad and edotco Group Sdn Bhd for $800 million and with DigitalBridge Group Inc. and EdgePoint Infrastructure for $667 million.

Globe will also sell and lease back 7,059 towers for $1.6 billion to PhilTower Consortium Inc., Frontier Tower Associates Philippines, Pinnacle Towers Pte. Ltd. and Miescor Infrastructure Development Corp. Proceeds from the separate transactions will help fund Globe’s network expansion program.

It said 5G roaming services are also available in Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, tourists from the said countries as well as those from Brazil, Malaysia, Russia and Sri Lanka can also enjoy Smart 5G roaming services when they visit the Philippines, it said.

Smart said it is also the 5G leader in the Philippines. Parent company PLDT Inc. operates the country’s most extensive fiber network, which spanned more than 1.09 million kilometers in international and domestic fiber as of end-September.

PH mergers and acquisition deals reached $8.1b in 2022—PwC report

Smart expands 5G roaming to over 60 countries

ASEAN STANDARDS MEETING. The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards, under the Consumer Protection Group, hosts the 58th ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality Meeting and its Related Meetings in Boracay, Malay, Aklan on Dec. 6 to 6, 2022. The meeting was attended by ACCSQ leaders from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam with the ASEAN Secretariat.

SORTING HUB. Building from key milestones in 2022, technology-enabled logistics company Ninja Van Philippines showcases its automated sorting hub in Cabuyao—a 21,000-square-meter facility that is the group’s largest in the entire region. The automated conveyor belts in the hub can process up to 300,000 parcels a day. Ninja Van complemented this by launching another sorting hub in Novaliches, Quezon City to serve the growing demand in North Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon.

Sports

Gin Kings embracing challenge of Dragons

By Peter Atencio

WHEN Bay Area brought down San Miguel Beer, 94-92, on Wednesday, coach Tim Cone knew he and his Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings will have to be at the top of their games when they clash with the Dragons for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.

While many Filipinos wanted a San Miguel Beer-Ginebra confrontation in the championship round, Cone said he was not disappointed of what he saw of the Dragons when they emerged as their finals’ opponent.

“We knew they’d be a great team. They will just play all the things that

we want them to be like. We weren’t certainly disappointed,” said Cone during a pre-finals’ media presentation featuring the Gin Kings and the Bay Arena Dragons at the Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday.

The guest team from Hong Kong has arranged a best-of-seven title

showdown with Barangay Ginebra, starting on Christmas Day at 5 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We’re bringing a new element into the PBA. Something new, something exciting,” said Dragons’ coach Brian Goorjian.

The Dragons enter the finals series, having won eight of their last nine games, while the Gin Kings emerged victorious in seven of eight encounters.

The Dragons finished their series with the Beermen, winning three games to one.

Cone felt from the start that the Dragons will dig in and fight their way to the finals, with Goorjian at the

helm and players, led by former NBA player Andrew Nicholson. And their semis encounter with the Beermen says a lot about the Dragons.

“They took down a really strong San Miguel team. It was a tough series. But they took them down. So we have our hands full and we’re embracing the challenge,” added Cone.

Goorjian believes that being in the finals is an opportunity for the Dragons to grow as a team.

“For us, this is an opportunity to grow this team and develop. And the PBA experience for my team to start with, as we go to the finals, is nothing but respect,” added Goorjian.

Ennahachi vs. Superlek II excites ONE fans

second World Title defense.

FIFA to probe Salt Bae’s undue access at World Cup

LONDON—FIFA are investigating how celebrity chef Salt Bae gained “undue access” to the pitch after the World Cup final where he enthusiastically posed for photos with surprised Argentina players including a bemused and irritated Lionel Messi.

Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gokce, was pictured holding and kissing the trophy after Argentina beat France in Sunday’s final in Qatar.

The Turkish entrepreneur was widely criticised for twice grabbing the arm of Messi, who tried to sidestep the unwanted attention.

He was also photographed with Angel di Maria, Lisandro Martinez and even seen sinking his teeth into another player’s medal.

FIFA rules state the World Cup trophy can only be held by the tournament winners and the likes of FIFA officials and heads of state.

“Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on December 18,” a spokesman told the BBC.

“The appropriate internal action will be taken.”

Salt Bae, 39, owns a chain of luxury restaurants around the world including Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and London’s swish Knightsbridge.

His technique for preparing and seasoning meat has become an internet meme.

Earlier in the World Cup, he posted a video of himself at a match sitting alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. AFP

Locals dominate PPS Mati jr. tennis

#2-ranked

Superlek Kiatmoo9 will have their highly anticipated

after the titleholder’s controversial win back in 2021.

The two flyweights will battle for Ennahachi’s belt at ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov on Saturday, January 14.

With both fighters confident in their abilities, the upcoming bout between Ennahachi and Superlek is sure to be an intense battle for the flyweight crown.

That said, we break down three reasons we’re excited to see the two face off again at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

They May Finally Settle The Score

The flyweights first met at ONE: FISTS OF FURY in February 2021, where the Dutch-Moroccan superstar in Ennahachi made his successful

Although he was declared the winner by unanimous decision, his victory was not without controversy, as some fans argued that Superlek should have won instead.

With almost two years having elapsed since their last meeting, both have had plenty of time to prepare for this rematch, which will finally determine who the true ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion is.

Superlek’s Superb Fight Skills

Superlek, the Thai powerhouse known as “The Kicking Machine,” has earned his formidable reputation with a career record of 131-29-4.

His opponents are well aware of his powerful right kick, yet they are often unable to defend against it. In 2021 alone, the 27-year-old has demonstrated why he’s a feared force, defeating Panpayak Jitmuangnon, Walter Goncalves, and Taiki Naito in the Circle.

His fight IQ is as sharp as ever and will surely challenge the reigning ONE World Champion. Ennahachi’s Relentless Pressure Ennahachi is unbeaten in the Circle and owns a 37-3 professional record. The 26-year-old is an aggressive fighter who forces his opponents to fight at his pace. His debut fight against Petchdam Petchyindee at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD in August 2019 is the most visible highlight on his fight reel. Ennahachi defeated Petchdam by KO in the third round to capture the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title.

Ennahachi’s aggressive, hard-hitting style combined with Superlek’s technical precision and creative offense makes this a fight that’s sure to entertain. Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action at ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov on Saturday, January 14, at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tolentino: ROTC Games will be source of athletes’ pool

By Randy Caluag

AS a chief proponent of the Reserve Officer Training C orps Games slated for next year, Senator Tolentino aims to make the competition a venue for the selection of national training pool athletes.

“The ROTC Games will not be a glorified intramural, it will be home for high-level competitions that will develop disciplined, elite athletes,” Tolentino said during Friday’s launch of his brainchild.

“The launching of the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games signals the beginning of our quest for young Filipino athletes, who will not only excel in sports but, more importantly, showcase to the world that the Filipino has a heart of a champion,” added Tolentino, who has a rank of Brigadier General in the army reserve command.

Sports included in the program are athletics, obstacle sports, swimming, boxing, arnis, weightlifting, e-sports, basketball, volleyball, target shooting, gymnastics and kickboxing, under Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, which is headed by the Tolentino as president.

SKP will make the ROTC Games, a major part of its national grassroots program.

It will be the first time in the country’s sports history that ROTC cadets will be induced to compete in high-level sports, carrying not just their schools, but also their military units—the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The ROTC Games will be a year-round pro-

gram involving clinics in seminars in various provincial commands, regional tournaments and the national finals.

In collaboration with the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Com-

TOP seed Duane Batad and unranked Jerame Balaquit produced a pair of lopsided results to rule their respective divisions and lead the local bets’ romp in the PPSPEPP Mati City national juniors tennis championships at the City of Mati courts in Davao Oriental recently.

Batad yielded just two games in four matches to pocket the boys’ 16-and-under title, capping his domination with an 8-0 rout of Jolimar Prado in the finals, while Balaquit blasted Louise Plaza in a duel of unfancied bets and took the girls’ 14-U diadem via the same scoreline in the Group 3 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Balaquit also gained cracks at the 16- and 18-U titles but fell short against Stephanie Abos from Banay-Banay, 8-4, and bowed to fellow Mati native Jaden Orquia, 8-1, respectively, although those were enough to net her a share of MVP honors with Batad in the four-day tournament sponsored by Mayor Michelle Rabat and City of Mati tennis club president Rosendo Linsag.

Other homegrown winners were Martineto Bahay and Benedict Ukay, who bagged the boys’ 14- and 18-U trophies, respectively, while Dexter Salcedo topped the boys’ 12-U side and fellow Lupon native Roanne Garuda captured the girls’ 12-U crown in the non-ranking tournament which served as part of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Bahay, who ripped Anton Yee. 8-3, in the semis, trounced Dave Cero, 8-5; Ukay, who foiled Batad, 8-4, in the Final Four, repulsed Andrei Yee, 8-4; Salcedo trampled Martin Urboda, 8-2, after blanking Roy Cabanlit, 8-0, in the semis; and Garuda crushed April Cabanlit, 8-3, following an 8-0 romp over Julia Quimba in the Last 4 phase of the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Ilias Ennahachi and

contender

rematch

Shown here are (from left) Department of Defense Undersecretary and o cer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr., chairman Philippine ROTC Games Executive Organizing Committee, Senator Francis Tolentino, CHED chairman Dr. Prospero de Vera III and PSC chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala.

Members of the Barangay Ginebra team, led by coach Tim Cone, and Bay Area, headed by mentor Brian Goorjian, are shown with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial. Rudy Esperas

mission on Higher Education, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games was officially launched at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand inside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Speeding up urban transformation

PREMIER venture builder F(DEV) is currently deepening its work with global and regional partners to foster synergistic collaborations to help bring forward its vision to boost the Philippines’s digital economy and its local tech startup ecosystem.

F(DEV) recently tied up with Enterprise

Singapore’s (EnterpriseSG) Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) Manila

Acceleration program, in partnership with Plug & Play, to introduce Singapore startups to stakeholders in the Philippine startup ecosystem. EnterpriseSG is the Singapore government agency championing the development of Singapore enterprises.

Through the program, Singapore startups can get connected with the tech and business networks in the Philippines to further expand their presence in-market.

The program allows F(DEV) to identify and partner with Singapore startups with relevant solutions to pilot their technologies in the Philippines. Recently, F(DEV) worked

with Kinobi, a Singapore ed-tech startup, to tap on its career management platform to create a curriculum for student entrepreneurs on web3 and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The win-win collaboration allowed Kinobi to address knowledge gaps in the growing field of NFT, while F(DEV) was able to connect with young entrepreneurs and web3 advocates whom they can work with for current and future web3 projects.

DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS

EnterpriseSG will match Singapore enterprises to F(DEV), specifically those with innovative solutions that can address the interest areas of F(DEV) and its parent company Filinvest Development

World-class design in the spotlight

This

The Asia Pacific Property Awards is one of the biggest awards in the industry with over 1,200 entries received from countries across the region. Sponsored

Corporation, such as in fintech, smart cities, and sustainability. These enterprises can then work with F(DEV)’s network of seasoned entrepreneurs, product specialists, venture operators, data mavens, designers, and engineers to run pilots with the conglomerate.

F(DEV) will also draw on its extensive experience and network established through its parent company to support Singapore enterprises in their market entry and to facilitate the launch of new digital services and businesses in the Philippines.

“The Philippines is emerging as one of the fastest growing startup and innovation ecosystems in the region,” said Kow Juan Tiang, Executive Director for Southeast

Asia, Enterprise Singapore.

“Over the past two years, more than 50 Singapore companies have expanded into the Philippines and deepened their market knowledge and networks through our Global Innovation Alliance program in Manila, that has been run in partnership with Plug & Play and LaunchGarage,” he explained.

“The strong support from corporates including Filinvest and its corporate venture building arm F(DEV) in providing their extensive networks and valuable partnership opportunities, has enabled Singapore companies to offer complementary and innovative solutions that can accelerate digital transformation in the Philippines.”

Lighting up Capitol Hills

over 80% of homes produced annually in the country.

EXPLORING START-UP OPPORTUNITIES. F(DEV), EnterpriseSG and partners at the recently held executive meeting in Beaufort, BGC Taguig City. (L-R Front row) : Christine Wong, Executive Director of Urban Solutions & Sustainability Enterprise Singapore; Eunice Koh, Assistant Chief Executive; Png Cheong Boon Chief,; Josephine Gotianun-Yap, Director and CEO of Filinvest Development Corporation; (Second row): Xavier Marzan, Chief Executive Officer of FDEV Digital Innovations and Ventures Inc.; Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, President and Chief Executive Officer of FDC Utilities Inc.; Don Ubaldo, First Vice President for Townships.; Jerry Ngo, Incoming Chief Executive Officer of EastWest Bank; Jonathan Gotianun, Chairman of EastWest

Bank & Filinvest Development Corp; Koh Suwen, Deputy Director, Southeast Asia-Philippines & HQ Enterprise Singapore; Gerard Ho, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines; Kow Juan Tiang, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Enterprise Singapore; Joseph Yap, Former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore; JP Yap, Chief Technology Officer of Corporate Technologies Inc.; Melody Yapson, Vice President – Group Strategic Planning Filinvest Development Corp; Isabelle Gotianun Yap, Board Director of FDEV Digital Innovations and Ventures Inc.; Diana Bulawit, Senior Strategic Finance Manager of Filinvest Hospitality Corp; Mark Mulingbayan, Chief Sustainability Officer of Filinvest Development Corp.

to buyers in 33 projects located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Amaia was one of the best performing developers during the recent pandemic. Despite all the challenges brought about by the pandemic, Amaia successfully adapted quickly to digitalization, which enabled it to operate smoothly during volatile times.

SHDA BACKS ACUZAR AS HOUSING CHIEF. The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), recently expressed its support to the confirmation of the appointment of Jose ‘Jerry’ L. Rizalino Acuzar as Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). The Commission on Appointments (CA) panel approved the ad interim appointment of Acuzar as DHSUD Secretary last week. “We strongly believe that Secretary Acuzar can mobilize government resources, lead and muster the participation of national agencies, local government units and the private sector in the attainment of the goals and objectives of the National Shelter Program to address the housing need and backlog of 6.5 million housing units,” declared SHDA National President May Rodriguez. The largest housing organization in the country also reiterated its participation in the government’s ‘Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program’ (PPPP), which aims to construct a projected one million houses per year in select areas in the country. The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is the largest industry association for housing and urban development in the Philippines. With 350 members nationwide and eight regional chapters, SHDA members include the country’s top real estate developers players and a dynamic national network of small and medium developers. SHDA member-developers produce

WATER and housing products maker LIXIL recently organized a gathering of the country’s designers, architects, and developers to celebrate their big wins in various categories at the Asia Property Awards 2022-23.

by LIXIL Asia through its brands, GROHE and American Standard for the fourth year, the Asia Pacific Property Awards is the largest branch of the International Property Awards (IPA).

year, five designers and developers were given the Five Star, earning them a nomination on the regional level where they will be re-judged to determine Asia’s Best. At the awards (from left) were:

GROHE project sales leader Heide Lopez; LIXIL Water Technology marketing leader for Philippines Emily Besavilla; Santos Knight Frank director Ivan Ore and chairman and CEO Rick Santos; LIXIL Water Technology Philippines leader Hermie Limbo; and LIXIL Water Technology APAC, American Standard Philippines project sales leader Gloria G. Dingle

PRIMEHOMES Real Estate Development, Inc.

(PREDI) recently ramped up holiday festivities as it officially opened the giant Christmas lantern in Capitol Hills, Quezon City. The giant lantern is open to the public who wishes to view, or take photos. The giant lantern sits atop Casa Hardin, which is an interactive park for the residing community.

The space was designed to champion the rich culture of the country so visitors can feel the spirit of Christmas the way Filipinos celebrate it. Casa Hardinwas also spruced up with a thousand Capiz lights to heighten the holiday cheer, giving the park a daylight atmosphere even at night. Visitors are advised to visit Casa Hardin at dusk hours to chance upon the giant lantern at its peak alongside a view of the clear dark sky. It also serves as a perfect spot to visit right after Simbang Gabi to delight in the spirit of the holiday.

Primehomes’ Christmas lights display, including the giant Pampanga lantern, is on display until mid-January 2023.

By Julian Cardenas and Sheldon Angelo Cruz

THE giant Japanese automaker Honda has a long history of success dating back to its inauspicious beginnings 74 years ago.

With the insight and quirkiness of its founder Soichiro Honda, the firm demonstrated to the world what the nation of Japan was capable of by providing it with its spectacular vehicles and its fantastic VTEC system, a reliable and economical engine that went on to power motorbikes, boats, and cars.

Honda astonished the world with their outstanding motorsports performance - bagging several drivers and constructors crowns during the 80s under the hands of some racing icons such as the legendary Ayrton Senna, and just recently with reigning back-to-back F1 champ Max Verstappen, demonstrating that their engineering prowess would take them to global heights.

Then, one day, they made the decision to apply their extensive knowledge and expertise to building high-performance road automobiles, and in 1992, Honda introduced the NSX. It was a sleek vehicle with a design that evoked the aesthetics of Ferraris of the time, and its 3.0-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine, which produced 276bhp and allowed it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, gave it performance to match one.

This sports car also featured a name that would go on to become one of the most recognizable in the annals of JDM and performance cars.

Type R.

The Type R nameplate, now in its 30th year, conveys speed and power to any automobile lover who hears it, much like M does for BMW and AMG does for Mercedes-Benz. The NSX was the first of many amazing Type-R cars that was eventually followed by the Integra Type R, Accord Type R, and what is to become one of the most beloved JDM icons of all time - the Civic Type R, now in its sixth generation.

Over the years, the Type R nameplate attracted

Hot 30: The Type R story

“As for how the Type R became a status symbol, it’s basically how a beginner’s car such as the Honda Civic or a small sedan such as the Honda Integra can be jacked up in terms of power and torque for daily drives and for trackday weekends. It’s zippy, and you can get one for a price that won’t hurt your pocket,” said De Leon, which was nodded upon by Masangcay, saying: “They are special because they are made and designed for more driving enjoyment and performance over the Honda models on which they are based. The Type R treatment really adds lots of coolness and excitement to any Honda car it gets applied on.”

With the launch of the newly beefed up sixth generation Civic, the Type R identity will undoubtedly remain and live on indefinitely.

Cole Arcega, an admirer of the EK9 Civic and a Type R aficionado, stated his enthusiasm - not just for the badge, but also for the community: “Given how large the community is for Honda lovers, you continuously see a rise in its generational demand - making its vehicles and even replacement parts possess pleasant resale values. I personally believe that it’s not just a community today, but rather, a culture”

And this statement bares truth as the current civic and its recent predecessors continue to hold onto their values and followings.

Arcega, De Leon, Masangcay, and the rest of the local Type R community play a major role in continuing the line of fast Hondas. They have formed their own unique car culture that highly appreciates Honda’s talent as a car manufacturer. The Type R’s 30th birthday is more than just a signifi cant landmark for the Japanese automaker - it honors the vehicle that encouraged a new generation of auto enthusiasts to purchase, modify, and operate Honda vehicles.

And if we were to further discuss its magnitude, we can just simply label it as the “Type R effect”.

Design, performance, safety: Honda wins big at Auto

Focus People’s/Media’s Choice Awards

HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) received multiple recognitions in the recently concluded 20222023 Auto Focus People’s & Media’s Choice Awards (AFPMCA) held December 15, 2022.

Now in its 18th year, AFPMCA is an annual award-giving ceremony, organized by Sunshine Television and Marketing Services, Inc. (STV).

The Media’s Choice Awards aims to further recognize the automotive industry’s efforts by providing car buyers and owners information that would help them in their vehicle purchase decision. Select motoring media determine awardees in 4 categories: Best Design, Best Engine Performance, Best Safety Features, and Best Value for Money.

This year, five Honda automobiles received awards for Best Design, Best Engine Performance, and Best Safety Features. These are the Brio, City Hatchback, Civic, Accord, and the All-New HR-V. The awards signify Honda’s innovative design and dynamic driving performance that also delivers outstanding fuel efficiency. The recognitions garnered through the years affirm Honda’s commitment to a collision-free society, represented

by the global safety slogan “Safety for Everyone”.

Bagging three (3) awards, the Honda Brio won the Best Design, Best Engine Performance, and Best Safety Features in the Standard Mini Hatchback segment. With its sleek and sporty design, safety features, fun-to-drive character, and efficient fuel consumption of 24.39 km/l, the Brio proves to be a solid choice in the passenger car segment.

Winning the Best Safety Features award in the Standard Subcompact Hatchback segment is the Honda City Hatchback. Given its array of safety features such as the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, customers are offered top-notch safety performance with more peace of mind and joy for each drive.

The Honda Civic, on the other hand, received three (3) awards, namely, Best Design, Best Engine Performance, and Best Safety Features in the Standard Compact Sedan category. Its VTEC Turbo engine and Honda SENSING suite of safety features that come standard across all variants, with a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating, reflect the iconic se-

dan’s position as the leader in the Csegment over the years.

Recently launched in April 2022, the All-New Honda HR-V won the Best Safety Features award in the Standard Subcompact SUV/Crossover segment. The All-New HR-V comes with Honda SENSING across all variants and likewise earned a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, providing comprehensive protection for all vehicle occupants.

Once again proving its 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine capabilities that deliver a smooth and dynamic driving experience, the Honda Accord reclaims its position in the Standard Midsize Sedan segment with the Best Engine Performance award.

“We are grateful to everyone at the Auto Focus People’s & Media’s Choice Awards for recognizing Honda particularly the Brio, City Hatchback, Civic, All-New HR-V, and Accord. These awards give us more inspiration in our efforts to realize “Safety for Everyone” while also providing the joy and freedom of mobility through our products and services.” said Mr. Masahiko Nakamura, President of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.

NLEX ramps up operations for holiday season

TRAFFIC

p.m.), December 29 (4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight), and January 2 (12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.)

Any alternatives?

and abroad.

The transformation of how the car is made and what makes it move is a major change that the world has seen over the past several months and years.

IT’S the time of the year when the whole world celebrates the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ - truly, the most festive time annually. Merry Christmas to all of you!!! *

THE year 2022 is about to close and we have seen tremendous changes in the motoring scene - here

The electric vehicles, once a history in the evolution of cars, have made a considerable comeback these past 12 months. Although it has already been a decade since it was heralded that electric cars are making a major comeback, it was only these past few months that the world has seen the hard drive to perfect the electric cars as an alternative to the internal combustion engines.

Starting

To assist motorists and ensure efficient traffic flow, the NLEX management will field more than 1,000 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams, and toll lane personnel. It will also deploy emergency medical services and incident response teams at strategic areas.

Except for the Candaba Viaduct repairs, construction and lane closures along the mainline road of the NLEX-SCTEX will also be suspended unless safety repairs are necessary.

From December 23, 6:00 a.m. to December 26, 6:00 a.m. and from January 1, 2023 6:00 a.m. to January 3, 2023, 6:00 a.m., free towing to the nearest exit will be available to those traveling with Class 1 or light vehicles.

High traffic volume is being anticipated in the following major toll plazas: Balintawak and Mindanao on December 23 (12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight), December 24 (6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon), and December 29 (3:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight)

Tarlac on December 23 (2:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight), December 24 (8:00 a.m. to 2:00

The spiraling cost of fuel that was precipitated by the various worldwide political and economic changes suddenly gave a big push to the transformation of the cars from ICE to electric.

There may be several factors why the world has not fully embraced electric vehicles. Aside from the infrastructure, the biggest headache is still the ongoing search for a perfect battery that will steadily power the car and make the price of owning one go down signifi cantly. Another one is the continuing search for the minerals right from the bosom of the mother earth.

Yes, the electric cars of today are very much different from the electric cars of the 1900 era. The prolifi c batteries being used now can give

you enough mileage to go places compared with just a few miles in the past.

But with the various problems that are still hounding the production of the electric cars today and the significantly high price of owning one up to this day, consumers, and even car executives, are still having second thoughts on the electric cars.

Take Japan which is the main proponent of the ICE cars, it is still adamant on getting full steam ahead on electric cars. If you will remember, it is the fi rst country to re-invent electric batteries almost a decade back. But why was Japan overtaken very easily by the Europeans and the Americans in the manufacturing of electric cars?

Bocaue on December 25 (2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), December 29 (3:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight), January 2 (2:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight), and January 3 (5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.)

Motorists may check the traffic situation before heading to their destinations through the traffic advisories on NLEX Corporation’s social media accounts @nlexexpressways. They may also tune in to DWRW 95.1 FM for traffic bulletins. For inquiries or other concerns, motorists may also call the NLEXSCTEX hotline at 1-35000.

Cash-paying motorists are also encouraged to shift to RFID to avoid queuing at the cash lanes. Those who have no RFID may have the sticker installed for free and pay the initial load.

Existing RFID users are advised to ensure that they have enough load, while those having concerns should have their sticker checked at the nearest Easytrip station. For the complete list of installation sites and reloading options, motorists may visit the Easytrip website: www.easytrip.ph.

The NLEX management is likewise reminding motorists to check their vehicles before traveling as well as ensure that they are fi t to drive to avoid any untoward incidents.

There must be something that the Japanese had already seen on developing further and introducing back the electric cars. Virtually stopping and letting the competition move ahead on electric vehicles may not be a tactical gamble on the part of the Japanese. As we have said, they must have seen something that we have not heard or seen yet.

We certainly agree that it’s about time the world must now have an alternative to the ICEs as it really contributes a lot to polluting the earth. Second is to stop the Middle East countries from further controlling the world economy through their grip on the prices of oil.

But what alternatives do we have now aside from electric cars?

management measures are in full force in anticipation of the increase in traffic volume this coming Christmas and New Year holidays.

yesterday up to January 3, 2023, the tollway company will enhance its operations along the NLEX-SCTEX system as part of its “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program.

many fandoms and admirers from all over the world, even giving rise to a culture of cars called Kanjzoku that is dedicated to the Civic.

Filipino fans such as Carlito De-Leon Jr. and Edrian Masangcay share their story on how they became fond of the fast honda lines.

Do good while you shop with Globe, SMAC

IT’S that time of year again. The holiday season is in full swing and everyone is rushing to get their Christmas shopping done.

If you’re one of those last-minute shoppers, Globe and SM Advantage Card (SMAC) have some great news for you: you can now help put food on the table of underprivileged families while buying gifts for your loved ones.

The loyalty card of retail giant SM is the latest supporter of the Hapag Movement, Globe’s program against involuntary hunger. So every purchase of a new SMAC means P50 will be donated to the Hapag Movement and other SM Foundation programs.

But that’s not all. SMAC members who shop at select stores, including the SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso will earn up to 1,000 extra SMAC points.

And the best part? Half of those extra points will be donated to the Hapag Movement from December 15, 2022, until January 15, 2023.

This pioneering partnership between Globe and SMAC is a great opportunity for shoppers to share their blessings with the most vulnerable Filipinos, which is what Christmas is all about.

“Millions of Filipinos are suffering from involuntary hunger. By getting a SMAC or shopping at participating stores, you can help provide meals and assistance to those who are struggling. It’s a simple way to give back and bring joy to those who are facing difficult times and make a positive impact on these communities,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.

“As we do our last-minute shopping for our friends and loved ones for Christmas, may we also keep in mind our kababayans who have no means to do the same.

Let us help give them decent meals this holiday season through the Hapag Movement,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC SAVP Head of Sales and Marketing.

An estimated 15 million Filipinos regularly experience involuntary hunger, according to the Social Weather Stations. This makes it more important than ever to support programs like the Hapag Movement, which are working to alleviate hunger and provide assistance to those in need.

The Hapag Movement uses technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.

If you’re still doing your Christmas shopping, why not make a difference while you shop? By getting a SMAC and supporting the Hapag Movement, you’ll be able to contribute to a great cause while crossing items off your holiday shopping list. It’s not too late to start shopping while doing good!

To learn more about the Hapag Movement and the partnership between Globe and SMAC, visit the official Hapag Movement page or https://smac.ph/ or download the SMAC app.

Tech & Gadgets

Looking for perfect gift? iWanna brings new empowering experiences

NEW experience booking platform

iWanna softlaunched just recently, making it one of the newest and most unique gifts you can give your loved ones this holiday season.

The platform hosts experiences specifically for individuals to improve their skills, try out new hobbies, explore potential side hustles, and experience other careers.

Currently, iWanna offers day-long experiences, where experience-takers will be able to shadow and learn from professionals in many different industries for a day.

Its experience-givers distill what they’ve learned throughout the years, and even decades, to give its experience-takers the best learning and most empowering experiences that they can learn from and lean on as they go on their own journeys.

“It took me years to figure things out, to get to where I am today. Getting here was a rocky path but it was worth it because there were a lot of lessons learned that I would’ve never received if I didn’t go through what I did,” said Bettina Bernabe, Managing Director of B-Line IMC, Inc. and iWanna experience giver.

“iWanna is here to help people who are going through what I went through, what my friends and peers went through, but fast-tracking the process and their progress, their journeys, with the guidance of someone who’s possibly walked that path before,” added Bernabe.

A new way to upskill, explore new side hustles, get quality mentorship, and network iWanna’s experiences help anyone looking for the next steps in their careers, an opportunity to pursue their passion, ideas for potential side hustles, and quality mentorship to help them upskill.

This has been a critical unsolved pain point for many new graduates, early to midcareer professionals, and individuals aiming to start doing something new in life.

During the early stages of designing and building iWanna, the team interviewed millennials and Gen Zs and discovered that they were having trouble

finding ways to helpthem (1) advance in their careers, (2) find and jumpstart a side hustle, and (3) upskill and get experience.

These two groups also said that they didn’t know where to get quality mentorship from established professionals who have gotten through the exact same problems they are going through today.

And on-the-ground data backs this up.

A 2019 JobStreet survey showed that up to 71% of Filipino millennials and Gen Zs focus on an employer’s promotion op-

portunities, self-development programs, and skills development programs when looking for a new job. 63% of millennials and 65% of Gen Zs also found mentoring programs significant.

Furthermore, a separate study conducted by Deloitte revealed that on top of their primary job, 63% of Filipino Gen Zs and 61% of millennials have an additional part-time or full-time job.

By offering these day-long experiences, iWanna helps young professionals

and anyone looking for a change in life chase their dream careers, get mentorship to help them advance in their careers, and explore potential side hustles.

Each experience comes with A-plus mentorship with its network of career professionals and industry leaders.

iWanna has partnered with startup founders, chefs, fitness coaches, baristas, hosts, music producers, content creators, and financial advisors to take individuals on experiences that will give participants insight into their careers.

It firmly believes that one of the best and most efficient ways for young professionals and individuals to learn more about a certain career, hobby, skill, or life, in general, is to seek advice directly from those who have experienced and journeyed through it before.

iWanna’s experience-givers include boutique integrated marketing communications firm B-Line IMC, Inc. Managing Partner Bettina Bernabe, J.Cuppacakes owner & founder Chef Julianne Bernardo, POUND and Werq coach Madie Pfiffner-Dinglasan, founder of farm to kitchen platform Zagana Inc. Joshua Aragon, Host, TV Presenter & Journalist Lia Cruz, and Cherries to Cup Coffee Solutions, Inc. owner Coffee Specialist Mark Neil Madrelejos.

Binance joins Chamber of Digital Commerce to support building regulatory framework for crypto

BINANCE, the global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest exchange, announced it had joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain and cryptocurrency trade association.

Binance joins the Chamber’s Executive Committee with other industry players to move the blockchain industry forward.

“As an organization at the crux of the industry’s rapid growth and complex regulatory environment, working hand in glove with policymakers, regulatory bodies, and industry groups like the Chamber is imperative to our mutual mission of fostering the sustainable development of sensible regulations for cryptocurrency and blockchain which ensures protections for users,” said Binance VP of Public Affairs Joanne Kubba.

“Blockchain technology is the future of finance,” said Blain Rethmeier, VP of Public Affairs, Chamber of Digital Commerce. “Our members represent the leading organizations that are committed to building

the necessary infrastructure to enable a more sound and inclusive financial system. Binance has established itself as a leader in this emerging ecosystem and we are thrilled to welcome them and their contributions to our Executive Committee.”

“The Chamber has established itself as a leading voice in blockchain technology policy. We are looking forward to working with the Chamber and finding solutions together for the long term as we usher in Web3 and a new era of the global economy,” said Kubba.

Binance will work closely with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, its team, and its members to educate, advocate and bring forth solutions for some of the most pressing issues impacting the industry. Binance will participate in research, roundtables, working groups, and discussions with policymakers and regulators to help bring sensible regulations and policies that benefit society and users.

The Chamber’s Executive Committee sets the organi-

zation’s priorities and strategy. As the world’s first and largest trade association representing the blockchain industry, its mission is to promote the acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Through education, advocacy, and working closely with policymakers, regulatory agencies, and industry, the Chamber is working to establish a pro-growth legal and regulatory environment that fosters innovation, job creation, and investment.

Barangay Pinagtung-ulan in Batangas gets Christmas wish granted with Shopee’s renovation of its community church

IN the tight-knit town of Barangay Pinagtungulan in San Jose, Batangas, the San Rafael Church is where members of the community gather to celebrate mass and other special occasions together.

Since its establishment in 1982, the church’s structures have gone through infrastructural wear and tear. With his love for the San Rafael Church, youth leader Dan Joseph Ramos dreamt of having the church renovated for his community.

Back in September, Dan came across a post about Shopee’s Barangay Shopee initiative – a contest where a barangay could win a community project of their choice. With his dream of renovating their local church, Dan took his chances and submitted a video entry for Barangay Shopee on the last day of the entry submission period. Little did he know that out of hundreds of entries submitted nationwide, his would be chosen as one of Barangay Shopee’s two winners.

Over the last month and a half, the church underwent renovations – with restorations to its exterior, roof, ceiling, flooring, and other structures. Shopee employees and members of Barangay Pinagtung-ulan also volunteered to paint the fence surrounding the church to foster the

“Maraming, maraming salamat Shopee. Hindi namin inakalain na kami ay mananalo sa Barangay Shopee. Lahat ng mga ginagawa po dito sa aming barangay ay bunga po ng bayanihan kaya sumali kami sa Shopee Bayanihan.” shared Dan. Valentino Patron, Mayor of San Jose, Batangas, shared “Bilang ama ng bayan ng San Jose, ako’y nalulugod dahil sa dami ng naghangad na maging Barangay Shopee, napili ang Barangay Pinagtung-ulan. Ako ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa Shopee para sa patuloy nilang pagsuporta sa aming komunidad.”

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared

“We were inspired by Dan’s passion for serving both his church and community. His moving entry reminded us of our commitment to foster the community spirit of barangays all over the Philippines. We are grateful for the support of our communities all over the country, and we look forward to doing more for them with initiatives like Barangay Shopee.”

Through Barangay Shopee and all initiatives under Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee furthers its objective to bettering the lives of the underserved by helping communities benefit from the power of technology wherever they are in the Philippines.

Coffee connoisseur Mark Neil Madrelejos teaching the art of coffee. Mark Neil Madrelejos

Shopee helped renew the barangay’s beloved San Rafael Church in time for Christmas community spirit.

Last December 17, Shopee traveled to San Jose, Batangas to officially reveal the newly

renovated San Rafael Church and celebrate with the members of Barangay Pinagtung-ulan. Watch the story of how it all unfolded here.

Impact startup founder Joshua Aragon will give you an inside look into building your own startup. Joshua Aragon