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Unpredictability makes slides, floods deadly
LBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
ANDSLIDES, flash floods and the unpredictability of when and where these will happen are a deadly combination, especially for the Philippines, tagged as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world.
On Monday, landslides in Antipolo, Rizal claimed the lives of seven people following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Enteng amid the prevailing southwest monsoon that induced huge volumes of water.
Oddly, some parts of Antipolo
and Rodriguez which sit on highelevation areas in the Province of Rizal, were flooded, along with low-lying areas in Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon. Photos of logs being washed down a street-turned-river in Rodriguez, Rizal circulating on the internet is fueling anger over the government’s failure to stop forest denudation in the Marikina Watershed.
Landslide: Deadly geological hazard
LANDSLIDES , according to experts, are a deadly geological hazard and can be triggered by strong
A broader look at today’s business
earthquakes or heavy rain. Like flashfloods, it can bury an entire community underneath mud, or rubbles of rock and soil.
Rain-induced landslide happens when the soil loosens because the volume of rain exceeds the soil’s capacity to absorb it, Dr. Arturo S. Daag, an Associate Scientist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) explained. When nothing is holding the thick soil buildup like rocks or roots of trees, the tendency is to fall, he added. Days of rain, he said, usually degrade the soil, thereby
losing its strength, and making it prone to landslide events. This, he said, could have been prevented with a proper early warning system in place, citing an ongoing initiative of the DOST called Dynaslope Projet, which installed an early warning system for deep-seated and catastrophic landslides, through landslide sensor technology and community participation in the Philippines. There are 50 pilot sites around the country which the Dynaslope Project implementers in the DOST is monitoring.
PHL’S DEBT RISES 10.1% TO P15.7T BY END OF JULY
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
DEBT papers and the increase in loans for various government programs caused the country’s debt to rise to P15.69 trillion by the end of July 2024.
Based on data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), there was a 10.1-percent increase or an addition of P1.45 trillion in the year-on-year level of the national government’s debt.
Compared to June 2024, the national debt increased 1.3 percent or P206.49 billion; compared to December 2023, there was a 7.3-percent or P1.07-trillion increase in the national government’s debt.
“The NG’s debt portfolio has increased by P206.49 billion or 1.3 percent from the end-June 2024 level, primarily driven by the net issuance of both domestic and external debt,” BTr said in a statement.
Based on the data, the country’s total debt stock comprises 68.54 percent domestic debt and 31.46 percent external debt.
BTr said the national government’s domestic debt reached P10.75 trillion as of July 2024. This was 9.6 percent or P940.78 billion higher than the P9.81 trillion posted in the period ending July 2023.
See “Debt,” A2
CARVING A LEGACY Ramer Magana, 57, skillfully carves a life-sized Virgin Mary statue in his workshop along Paete, Laguna’s national road—a craft that has long been the pride of his town. As a manguukit (wood carver) for over three decades, Magana has mastered this revered art. However, a deep concern lingers: the future of this cherished tradition. With the new generation turning toward modern careers, his children, despite possessing the skills, have chosen different paths. This shift puts Paete’s once-flourishing legacy of manguukit at risk of fading away. BERNARD TESTA
Processing all Marawi siege claims entails ₧5B-₧6B budget
DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO BREAK RECORDS IN 2024–LEECHIU
DOMESTIC travel in the Philippines is expected to break records this year, exceeding prepandemic levels. In a recent presentation at the recent Hotel Sales and Marketing Association general membership meeting, Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) Director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure Alfred Lay projected domestic trips to reach close to 130 million this year, exceeding the 122 million in 2019 by some 6.6
percent, and even higher than the 93.5-million domestic trips projected by the Department of Tourism (DOT). “In six short years [from 2022 to 2028], we could see a doubling of domestic tourism, hitting 195.7 million,” he said. He attributed the surge in domestic trips to the overall improvement in the general welfare and standard of living of Filipinos. “Increasing gross domestic product (GDP) per See “Leechiu,” A2
IF the government intends to address all the claims filed at the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB), the board needs additional manpower and a budget of P5 billion to P6 billion every year.
The MCB, which is tasked to operate for four more years to address the claims of Marawi Siege victims, estimates that assuming the board can decide on 180 cases monthly, it requires a budget of P5.87 billion in a year.
This was based on the actual decisions made by the MCB in August 2024. The 180 cases led to a total award of P488.97 million in one month.
“From July 3, 2023 until July 4, 2024, we received 14,495 [claims], almost 15,000 people who incurred property damage, lost homes, or had loved ones dy -
ing,” MCB Chairperson Maisara Dandanum-Latiph said, partly in Filipino, during a Senate Hearing. However, in order to continue their work and meet their target of deciding on 3,000 cases annually, Dandanum-Latiph said, the board would require another 51 plantilla posititions. Currently, there are 122 plantilla positions for the MCB. Without the additional personnel, the MCB may not be able to address all the claims. This means, the work of the government, particularly the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), would increase when the MCB ends its run. She added that the P50-million per year budget for MCB would be insufficient in terms of capacity building, which is needed by the
staff as well as equipment and office space.
The MCB is also undertaking a social cartography which helps as additional basis for the verification of demolished structures. Meanwhile, total claims received by the MCB were broken down according to multiple claims, including property claims, which reached 8,292 as of July 4, 2024.
This was followed by other property claims which reached 5,702; death claims, 192; structural property claims, 210; and multiple claims with death claims, 99.
The total claims filed at the MCB would require the government to extend a total of P36.08 billion. This is broken down into P31.56 billion for structurerelated claims; P4.44 billion for personal properties; and P71.4 million for the loss of lives. In order to address all these claims, Dandanum-Latiph said the MCB aims to process 45 claims weekly, which will require an estimate of P122.24 million worth of award. As of 2024, the MCB has awarded a total of 271 claims worth P485.76 million. This is broken down into 164 multiple claims worth P445.5 million and 107 death claims worth P40.25 million. In terms of claims that have yet to receive the actual awards, the
CLIMATE
left) Amb. Laure Beaufils (UK Ambassador to the Philippines), Mayor Joy Belmonte (Quezon City), Hon. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone), and Shruti Narayan (Managing Director, C40) at the C40 Cities Southeast Asia Regional Academy Global Workshop on September 3, 2024. Mayor Belmonte and Mayor Aki-Sawyerr lead a crucial dialogue on integrating Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) into city governance. This Regional Academy, running from September 2 to 6, is part of the Climate Action Implementation Programme, supported by the UK's Urban Climate Action Programme. NONOY LACZA
‘Miru,
Sequent Tech cleared in transparency, threat issues’
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Commission on Elec -
Ttions said on Tuesday that its partner firms for the 2025 midterm elections have been cleared insofar as issues related to transparency and potential security threats are concerned.
Following controversies surrounding the South Korean firm Miru Systems, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the allegations were baseless and only aimed to damage Miru’s reputation.
“During the post qualification, kasama po yan sa aming mga inimbestigahan… mali po yung kumalat na information,” Garcia said during the Comelec’s budget hearing for 2025.
(That was included in our investigation during the post-qualification…The information that spread was incorrect.)
Compared to the period ending June 2024, the July figure represented an increase of P180.03 billion or 1.7 percent; while compared to the end-December 2023 level, it increased by P735.22 billion or 7.3 percent.
“The rise in domestic debt was mainly due to the P180.52 billion net issuance of government securities, although partially tempered by the P0.49 billion downward revaluation effect of peso appreciation on US dollar-denominated domestic securities,” BTr said.
In March, election watchdog KONTRA Daya raised their concerns about the partnership of Comelec with Miru after several reports showed the Korean firm was involved in fraud and failed elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq.
According to the Comelec, it secured a certificate from the electoral commission of Congo, confirming that no irregularity happened during its partnership with Miru.
“In Iraq, the very committee created by the United Nations for Iraq’s assistance can certify that the machines from Miru functioned properly,” Garcia added, partly in Filipino. However, it remains unclear whether the Comelec also sought inputs from the electoral critics in the concerned countries.
Meanwhile, in terms of Comelec’s joint venture with United Statesbased firm Sequent Tech to roll out a
The BTr noted that the Philippine peso appreciated against the US dollar to P58.488 as of end-July 2024, from P58.658 as of end-June 2024.
Meanwhile, the national government’s external debt amounted to P4.94 trillion as of July 2024. This was 11.4 percent or P504.91 billion higher than the P4.43 trillion external debt posted in the same period in 2023. Compared to the end of June 2024, BTr said the external debt in the period ending July 2024 was P26.45 billion or 0.5 percent higher while the country’s external debt in July showed an increase of P338.5 billion or 7.4 percent from the start of the year or as of the end-December period.
new online voting tool for overseas Filipino voters, Garcia assured the public that hacking incidents are unlikely. “A source code review will still be conducted. It’s not limited to the machines but will include online voting and transmission,” the chairman said.
Despite Sequent Tech’s lack of experience with elections, Garcia said they “could not do anything” about it given that the firm had complied with the bidding procedures and won.
The chairman also confirmmed that Sequent Tech is already cleared in its tax delinquency case, making it suitable enough to become Comelec’s partner.
Calls for hybrid elections
AMID concerns over Comelec’s foreign partners, some minority lawmakers revived calls to have a hybrid electoral system in the country.
“Our problem is that we rely on
“The rise in external debt can be attributed to the net availments of project loans of P5.25 billion and third-currency upward revaluation of P35.44 billion, albeit partially attenuated by the P14.23-billion impact of peso appreciation against the US dollar,” BTr said.
Meanwhile, BTr data showed the national government’s guaranteed obligations reached P344.79 billion as of July 2024. BTr said this was a contraction of 5.1 percent or P18.6 billion from the P363.39 billion posted in the period ending July 2023.
The national government’s guaranteed obligations, however, posted an increase of P1.14 billion or 0.3 percent from its end-June 2024 level pegged at P343.65 billion.
Leechiu. . .
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foreign entities every election…We can actually tap local experts and technologies instead,” said House Rep. Arlene Brosas in Filipino.
Rep. Raoul Manuel added that having a slightly slower yet accurate vote counting process is preferable to having a faster one where integrity might be compromised.
If such an initiative will push through, the Comelec chairman said they will “definitely support” it.
“There should be a law amending Republic Act 9369 … If there will be an attempt by the Congress to institutionalize a hybrid system, we will support,” Garcia added.
Currently, the Comelec is guided by RA 9369 which mandates the use of an automated election system.
House Bill 210, already filed in the 19th Congress, seeks to amend such law and to allow for a manual-automated hybrid election system.
“The rise in NG guarantees was mainly due to the P3.57-billion effect of thirdcurrency adjustments against the US dollar, which outweighed the P1.96 billion reduction from domestic and external net repayments, as well as the P0.47-billion downward revaluation brought about by peso appreciation,” BTr said.
Compared to the start of the year or the period ending in December 2023, guaranteed obligations in July 2024 decreased by P4.65 billion or 1.3 percent.
Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the government’s outstanding debt is seen to balloon to a record-high P17.353 trillion next year.
The state will borrow P2.545 trillion in 2025 to finance the national government’s programs and projects, while it will shell out P2.051 trillion to pay off its debts.
capita will boost domestic tourism,” stressed Lay, as he projected this to reach P4,130 this year from P3,720 last year. He also predicted GDP per capita to steadily rise to P5,460 by 2028. He added, “The long weekends are absolutely helping propel domestic tourism, especially in August, when it is generally low season for most locations.”
The long weekends, aka “holiday economics,” adopted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., was a policy begun by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in July 2007, where the observance of certain public holidays was moved to the closest weekend, to boost tourism.
Nearby destinations main beneficiaries
DESTINATIONS within driving distance of major populations centers will benefit most from the Filipinos’ domestic vacation mode, said the LPC executive. He noted that last year’s domestic trips level of 119.6 million was already 98 percent of the prepandemic 2019 level.
Separate data from the Tagaytay Tourism and Cultural Development Office, for instance, showed the city received some 4.15 million same-day tourist arrivals in 2023, almost 88 percent of the arrivals in 2019, while overnight travelers reached close to 1 million, some 77 percent. Among the popular destinations within driving distance from Metro Manila, as per DOT data for 2023, included: Batangas at 3.3 million, Rizal at 3.04 million, Zambales (including the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City at 1.94 million, and Benguet (including Baguio City) at 1.37 million.
Lay recently cast doubt on the Philippines’s reaching the DOT’s foreign arrivals target of 7.7 million this year with
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Landslide, flooding in Rizal explained DOST Secretary Renato Solidum told the BusinessMirror via Viber that as general guidance, landslides can occur at around a threshold of 100 millimeters or rai per day and more so if rain is more intense or high rainfall in a short period.
“Calabarzon was projected in Pagasa Bulletin 5 of September 1 to receive 50 to 100 mm for 24 hours and hence, there was the possibility of landslides, especially in mountainous or hilly areas like Antipolo,” explained Solidum, who is currently outside the country for a highlevel meeting.
Further, he explained that if an area has been experiencing rains before the moderate to heavy rains, then the threshold can be lower. “So the occurrence of the landslide in Antipolo was possible based on the forecast,” he said.
According to Solidum, the same threshold is also used for floods that can be lower, especially in urban areas. “So flooding in Antipolo was also possible,” he said.
Unpredictable ‘new normal’
INTERVIEWED on radio, DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Science Carlos Primo David said the problem is no longer just about climate change triggering intense typhoons and excessive rain, but because of their unpredictability.
“Our weather pattern has become very unpredictable,” said David, an environmental scientist and licensed geologist.
To prepare for disaster, he stressed, accurate forecasting of the country’s weather pattern is needed.
“In other countries, they are somehow more accurate,” he said, comparing the capacity of concerned agencies in the country in terms of accurate weather forecasting. He said for the Philippines to be prepared, it needs to know exactly when, where, and what should the government be preparing against.
inbound tourists from China continuing to remain significantly below prepandemic levels. (See, “Weak peso, balikbayans won’t help PHL hit ‘24 arrivals goal,” in the B usiness M irror , August 19, 2024.)
Global recession’s impact AS some economists predict a possible global recession this year due to softer labor data and slowing economic growth, Lay said this will surely affect the Philippines, and tourism stakeholders should prepare.
For one, he sees a decline in demand for leisure travel: “Consumers tend to cut back on spending, including travel and tourism spending.” He added that corporate budget cuts will inevitably focus on travel spending. All these will result in lower hotel revenues, as he cited the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, when such properties reported a decrease of 15-20 percent in revenues. A global recession “can also lead to a decrease in investments in the tourism industry, until interest rates are lowered to spur activity.”
JP Morgan Research in its paper on August 15, 2024 said there was a 35 percent probability of a global recession that will start before the end of the year, up from 25 percent in its mid-year outlook.
(https:/tinyurl.com/bjm23ab)
“Important elements of our growth forecast are being challenged. US news hints at a sharper-than-expected weakening in labor demand and early signs of labor shedding. The latest business surveys also suggest a loss of momentum in global manufacturing and in the Euro area—weak links in the expansion that we have expected to lift this year,” said Bruce Kasman, Chief Global Economist at JP Morgan. “On the other hand, these forces are being tempered by solid continued gains in overall activity, led by the service sector.” Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
“First and foremost, accurate forecasting of our weather pattern to prepare for it.
In other contries, they are quite accurate. I think preparation is a big thing, and for proper mindset of our people,” he said.
According to David, historical records or historical weather patterns can no longer be used to predict future events as extreme weather events become frequent, more intense, and unpredictable as to when they will happen, or where.
Mindanao, which has not experienced such extreme weather events in the past, is not being spared by the occurrence of strong typhoons and is now experiencing severe flooding.
Level up weather forecasting system
The official, who also heads the geospatial database office of the DENR, cited a need to level up in the face of the new normal.
“We need to tell the people what to expect,” he added.
According to David, while flood control is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs), the DENR is also responsible for ensuring the reforestation of critical watersheds, to prevent flooding.
“For instance, in Sierra Madre, we can cause rainwater to slow down from reaching the plains,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Reacting to the denudation of the forest in Rizal, which caused severe flooding, he explained the misconception about the Marikina Watershed. He said almost half of the Marikina Watershed is a Protected Area, referring to the Uppmer Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL), wherein only about 3 percent of which has no forest cover.
However, below it or about 60 percent of the entire Marikina Watershed is already urbanized, and has no forest cover for flashflood or slope protection.
He added that in the Marikina Watershed, there is an ongoing reforestation effort, but this is just half of the entire river basin, as half is already bald as a result of housing and other development activities.
Urbanization or quarrying?
HE also noted that quarrying in Rizal adds up to the woes but compared to urbanization, its contribution to flooding is miniscule. There are 11 quarrying operations in Rizal, but most of these have been operating for decades, even before Ondoy.
Under the Marcos administration, he said, the DENR has canceled at least four quarry permits in the UMRBPL. “Actually, we canceled all quarry permits in our forest areas. None is left in UMRBPL,” he said.
But again, he said this is just half of the story. Below it, quarrying activities continue, with permits issued both by LGUs and the DENR, and they have been operating even before Ondoy.
“The policy is no new permit in the area, but existing quarry operations are allowed,” he said.
Still, he noted, quarry operations in Rizal have disturbed only about 1 percent of the whole Marikina Watershed, and the majority is the built-up area or urbanized area, which comprises about 60 percent of the total.
“Quarry is a factor but we have to analyze by scale,” he explained, adding that while the DENR or the government can stop all quarry operations, it will also impact an important industry—the construction industry—which is highly dependent on gravel for construction of roads, buildings, and even housing.
He said in urban areas, which usually are already cemented, the soil is unable to absorb, explaining how water flows faster down to low-lying areas nowadays, causing severe and often fatal flooding events in supposedly safe urban dwellings.
Legislator slams DepEd for serving pest-infected nutribuns to children
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
AN assistant minority leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday assailed the Department of Education (DepEd) for its disastrous management of the P5.69 billion School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) that saw undernourished children fed with moldy and insect-infested nutribuns.
Intended to combat malnutrition and provide nourishment, House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas said the program instead distributed expired and pest-infested nutribuns to schools in 2023, putting children’s health at serious risk.
“Where else will you see a feeding program that distributes spoiled food? The education budget is already meager, and yet they’re feeding our children with leftovers,” Brosas said. “Vice President Sara Duterte treated the youth like outcasts. Instead of addressing the reports, she allowed the distribution of spoiled food just to claim they had implemented a feeding program.” Duterte was the Secretary of Education when the feeding program was implemented.
The Commission on Audit’s findings paint a disturbing picture across 21 school divisions in
10 regions, where children were served moldy, insect-infested bread, alongside late deliveries and dubious food manufacturing practices, Brosas said.
She demanded that the Department of Budget and Management and the Government Procurement Policy Board release the procurement and liquidation reports of DepEd’s feeding program, going beyond the COA audit.
“This issue not only highlights administrative lapses but also underscores a grave injustice against children, who are left vulnerable to malnutrition and its detrimental effects on their growth and development,” Brosas said.
“We demand accountability from Vice President Sara Duterte and an overhaul of the procurement and delivery processes,” she added.
The lawmaker called for immediate corrective actions and a thorough, transparent investigation into these failures.
“We must ensure that every peso allocated for nutrition reaches our students in the form of safe, nutritious meals. An urgent investigation is needed regarding this matter,” Brosas added.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the government is set to allocate P11.7 billion for the agency’s school-based feeding program for 2025.
Gatchalian hits law enforcement’s intel failure on Alice Guo escape
By Butch Fermandez @butchfBM
SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday signalled readiness to challenge the intelligence funds of law enforcement agencies, citing an apparent intelligence failure related to the escape from the country of Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, and cohorts, who left undetected.
“Talagang may pagkukulang ang ating mga [There was really a shortcoming on the part of] law enforcement agencies pagdating sa [on matters of] intelligence,” Gatchalian lamented.
Gatchalian said “once we deliberate on their budgets for 2025, I will definitely ask these agencies how their intelligence funds are being spent and how they build an efficient intelligence network.”
He said the intelligence community should have monitored the whereabouts of Alice Guo after her last appearance at a Senate hearing on May 22. “Malaya silang nakalipat ng iba’t ibang lugar o nakarating ng pantalan. Ano ang nangyari doon sa network na binuo ng mga enforcement agencies?” Gatchalian asked referencing a claim
by Sheila Guo, also known as the Chinese national Zhang Mier, that they managed to leave the country via an unidentified port in Luzon.
“Whether there was collusion or a failure of intelligence, there should be accountability on this issue,” Gatchalian stressed.
In addition, the senator also signaled his readiness to also criticize the snail-pace process of filing charges against Alice Guo and her cohorts responsible for the illegal Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations (Pogo) hubs in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga.
At the same time, he pointed out that without the orders of arrest issued by the Senate and the House of Representatives, there would have been no basis for bringing Sheila Guo and Katherine
Cassandra Ong back to the country.
“This is a learning process, and it is important for our agencies to expedite the gathering of evidence for the immediate filing of cases,” he said.
“[Ang] importante na mapanagot natin ang mgataongresponsablesamgakrimennanangyari
saloobngmga [What is important is to make accountable the people responsible for the crimes committed in the] Pogos,” he concluded.
BI deports 2 South Koreans wanted for fraud
TEnteng
intensifies as its exits, leaves 10 dead, 10 missing
By Jonahan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
TEN people were killed while 10 others at still missing due to the heavy rains that caused floods and landslides brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat and Tropical Storm Enteng, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.
Enteng has intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm as of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, the weather bureau reported.
In its Situation Report issued at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said 37,867 families in 338 barangays in six regions in Luzon and the Visayas were affected by the storm, the fifth severe weather disturbance to affect the country this year.
NDRRMC reported that 8,866 families or 38,058 persons are being assisted in 218 evacuation centers while 411 families or 1,756 individuals are being assisted outside these centers.
The rains brought about by the prevailing weather conditions are expected to continue until Thursday threatening to cause more flooding in low-lying areas that were already affected by the
non-stop rains since August 31.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration dam monitoring report as of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday said all major dams being monitored in various parts of Luzon are nearing spilling level.
These include Angat, Ipo La Mesa, Ambuklao, Binga, San Roque, Pantabangan, Magat and Caliraya.
Dam managers have been opening and shutting down gates to manage the water levels such as in Ambuklao Dam.
The NDRRMC said seven of the 10 fatalities were from Calabarzon, two from Central Visayas, and one from Western Visayas.
Those reported injured were all from Central Visayas.
As rain and strong wind continue to batter Luzon, the Manila Electric Company reported on Tuesday that some 4,000 customers were experiencing service interruptions, mostly in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Rizal.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the airports that it operates remain operational and have reported no damage amid the onslaught of Typhoon Enteng in the country. However, for safety, CAAP has
reiterated Memorandum Circular 013-2023, issued by CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo prohibits aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 5,700 kilograms or less from flying under Storm Signal 1.
Additionally, all passengers and crew on both commercial and general aviation flights must undergo security clearance and procedures in the passenger terminal building at CAAP-operated airports.
The CAAP Operations Center recorded 38 domestic flight cancellations at various airports due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Enteng on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces said it has activated its disaster response units in the National Capital Region (NCR) and mobilized personnel and assets to typhoonaffected areas.
“The troops are on high alert and ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice. The Armed Forces is fully committed to supporting disaster response efforts and ensuring the safety of our citizens during this challenging time,” Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of staff, said in a statement.
The military has on standby 11 search, rescue, and retrieval teams, composed of six officers and 98
enlisted personnel, equipped with 19 land and seven water transport assets.
Military units are also closely coordinating with local governments and other government agencies to ensure a swift and coordinated response.
Pagasa reported that the eye of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng was spotted 165 kilometers West Northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Enteng is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the entrance, with gustiness of up to 115 km/h. It moving west-northwestward at 10 km/h.
Pagasa said that as of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1 is in effect in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Santol, San Juan, Bagulin, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan, City of San Fernando), and Abra.
Enteng will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tomorrow morning.
The tropical cyclone may also reach its peak intensity by late Friday or early Saturday before making landfall in mainland China. With Nonie Reyes, Lenie Lectura and Rex Anthony Naval
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
agents only in May and June this year, respectively.
HE Bureau of Immigration announced yesterday the deportation of two South Koreans to face trial for financial fraud case in their country.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the South Koreans as Kwon Hyuckkeun, 41, and You Hyun Tea, 53.
They were deported to Incheon, South Korea, on a Korean Air flight the took off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“Our counterparts in Seoul were informed about their impending arrival there... Korean policemen apprehended them upon their arrival,”Tansingco said.
The BI chief noted that the two were already ordered deported as early as 2021 for being undesirable aliens and being fugitives from justice. However, they were arrested by immigration
Go
S
Both Koreans were placed on the immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the country.
Red notices issued by the Interpol showed that the two are subjects of criminal cases accusing them of violating Korea’s electronic financial transactions law.
You is accused of conspiring with an accomplice to operate an illegal sports gambling site on the internet.
The suspects allegedly managed to borrow money from their victims who were promised 30 percent of their profit but were instead defrauded of more than 100 million won, or about US$82,000.
Kwon, on the other hand, allegedly operated a call center that employed voice phishing to defraud victims who were duped into sending their debit cards to the suspects who promised their money would yield profits in low-interest loan transactions.
extends support to senior citizens in Biñan City
EN. Christopher Go provided support to various impoverished residents consisting of non-pensioner senior citizens in Biñan City, on Monday, September 2. Despite the inclement weather, Go was represented by his Malasakit team during the visit. The outreach underscores the senator’s unwavering commitment to uplifting affected sectors through direct government support.
“Our senior citizens are vital to our nation’s progress, yet they frequently encounter hurdles and challenges that we, as public servants, must address. Through initiatives like this, we aim to bridge the gap and provide the support they rightfully deserve,” Go stated. A total of 2,000 beneficiaries received grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, shirts, masks, basketballs, and volleyballs. There were also select recipients of shoes, bicycles, and mobile phones.
Go acknowledged the significant contributions of the elderly to their families and their communities while underscoring the government’s responsibility to support them, particularly those of the underprivileged. He highlighted the Filipino cultural value of caring for the elderly, stating that giving back to senior citizens is a gesture aligned with Filipino traditions. Meanwhile, through the partnership of Senator Go and the local government led by Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr. and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, each qualified beneficiary received financial support. Go also acknowledged the support of Congresswoman Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat, Governor Ramil Hernandez, Vice Governor Karen Agapay and councilors, among others.
Go vowed to continue supporting the welfare of senior citizens in the country, especially the indigent ones, as he co-authored Republic Act 11916 or the law that doubled the social pension of qualified poor senior citizens from P500 to P1,000.
Pest threatens to worsen corn crisis, food security
THE combined impact of Fall Armyworm (FAW) and locust infestations is expected to reduce corn yields and drive up food prices, an August 22 market advisory by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) said.
FAW, known locally as “Harabas,” has severely affected corn fields in 12 regions of the country, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) reporting damage to 5,279 farmers and 3,237 hectares, and losses amounting to P57.03 million as of August 16.
Western Visayas, particularly Negros Occidental, has been identified as one of the hardest-hit areas.
Locusts have also been reported in Negros Oriental, specifically in Siaton and Pamplona. Although damage is currently minimal, the DA has deployed teams to apply insecticides and introduce biological control agents to prevent larger swarms.
On August 14, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported a 20.35 percent drop in corn production for the second quarter of 2024, reducing output to 1.17 million metric tons (MT) from
1.47 million MT during the same period last year due to El Niño, FAW and tropical cyclones.
This production decline has led to a 5.75 percent increase in corn product prices, with the average cost rising from P54.10 per kilogram (kg) in the second quarter of 2023 to P57.30 per kg in the same period this year.
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. warned that ongoing declines in corn production could result in higher prices for meat products like chicken, eggs and pork.
In response, the DA has implemented various interventions, including the distribution of biocontrol agents and insecticides, and providing pest management training, while the Bureau of Plant Industry has introduced crop management strategies.
The DOST-PCAARRD is testing Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter to boost crop resilience and reduce pesticide use.
Another DOST-PCAARRDfunded project has developed a nanobiopesticide with a 100 percent mortality rate against armyworm larvae in lab trials, offering a potentially sustainable solution for managing FAW and other pests in corn. Bless Aubrey Ogerio
Marina entices European groups with investment opportunities
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) presented a range of investment opportunities to several European chambers of commerce during the recent Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) Meeting.
In a statement, Marina said its administrator, Sonia Malaluan, presented on August 29 the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028 to the German-Philippine Chamber of
Commerce, Nordic Chamber of Commerce, French Chamber of Commerce, Dutch Chamber of Commerce, and the PhilippineNorway Business Council, among others.
The plan outlines the government’s strategic legislative agenda and high-impact projects aimed at driving growth and innovation within the maritime industry.
Malaluan emphasized Marina’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for maritime investments, highlighting key initiatives such as the rollout of the Marina Blockchain Enabled Automated Certification System (BEST). This system aims to streamline certification processes, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and transparency in the maritime sector.
Additionally, Malaluan discussed efforts to expand Marina’s ISO 9001:2015 certification, bilateral agreements on the recognition of Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping
Scientific probe needed to determine cause of ‘stronger than usual’ waves at Manila Bay
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
AFISHERMEN’S group on Tuesday blamed seabed quarrying and reclamation for what it described as “stronger than usual” waves hitting coastal communities around Manila Bay.
However, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said only a scientific investigation can establish if the group’s theory is correct.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said that at the height of Tropical Storm Enteng on Monday, a barge was washed near the shore of Rosario, Cavite, nearly slamming makeshift homes of a coastal community in the area.
The “stronger-than-normal” waves in coastal communities were mainly caused by the seabed quarrying or dredging carried out in several areas in Manila Bay, Pamalakaya’s Ronnel Arambulo insisted.
In his Facebook post, Arambulo shared the photo of a barge that is just a stone’s throw away from the homes of a community.
“The waves hitting our shores are not ordinary since the massive dredging in 2021. We see no other reason other than the seedbed quarrying for the sand to be washed down from the shores,” Arambulo said.
He said it is for this reason that the waves hitting the shorelines are now stronger because of beach landslides slowly happening in Manila Bay shores.
‘No scientific basis’ SOUGHT for reaction, Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Integrated Science Carlos Primo David said further investigation is needed on the impact of land reclamation and seabed quarrying on the strength of waves hitting the shores of Manila Bay.
David said while he is not discounting the possibility that quarrying and reclamation are to blame, only with a scientific investigation
(STCW) certificates, and ongoing collaborations with various government agencies and maritime stakeholders.
She also spotlighted the Philippines’ inclusion on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Whitelist, which underscores the country’s adherence to global standards in maritime education, training, and certification. Likewise, Malaluan covered legislative proposals aimed at improving the ship registry, shipbuilding, and ship repair sectors.
Marina’s efforts in promoting maritime safety, operational flexibility, and the adoption of alternative fuels were also discussed, underscoring the agency’s holistic approach to industry development.
can the claim of Pamalakaya be considered conclusive.
“If they are saying there is a change, then it calls for an investigation,” he said.
Pamalakaya said that the companies involved and the government are “equally accountable over the worsening impacts of typhoons that increase the vulnerability of the fishermen and coastal residents.”
He said the landscape on the ocean floor was also altered by seabed quarrying, which hauls sand to be used as filling materials for reclamation projects.
The group has been calling on the Marcos administration to permanently stop and cancel the reclamation and seabed quarrying permits issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay alone.
Winds affect waves
AN environmental science graduate and a licensed geologist, David said tidal waves is affected by wind, and the prevailing south -
west monsoon alone could have not caused stronger waves and he is not discounting that the strong wind brought about by Enteng on Monday could have been the culprit.
As to how a barge was swept near the shores of Rosario, Cavite, David maintained that an investigation is needed to arrive at any conclusion.
Last month, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia-Yulo Loyzaga told members of a Senate panel investigating the flooding in Metro Manila that changes have been observed in Manila Bay following reclamation projects before the suspension of all activities last year.
“Just to summarize, the findings are that any physical change in the configuration of the embayment that is included in this area will also change the way the water and the pollutants as well as the other elements that are chemically-present and biologically present in the bay; it will change the way these behave,” Loyzaga said. She added that reclamation projects will generally slow the flow of water and change the circulation and retention of pollutants and organic materials already in the bay.
Only 10% of budget request for
creative industries given–DTI
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
ONLY P50 million or 10 percent of the requested budget has been earmarked for the Philippine creative industries under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba told the B usiness M irror that the agency originally requested P500 million for the creative industries for 2025.
However, when asked how much was inserted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the National Expenditure Program (NEP) 2025, she told this paper, “About P50 million.”
The originally requested budget of P500 million, she noted, would have encompassed programs such as the building of creative cities, among others, which she said would require ample funding as it would entail putting up of infrastructure.
“There’s a lot [of programs]. There will be voucher programs, continuation of building creative and innovation centers. Those are not yet in place now, but which we want to pursue,” Aldaba told the BusinessMirror, speaking partly in Filipino, on the sidelines of the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) Opening Ceremony on Tuesday.
She explained that the building of so-called “creative cities” requires a hefty funding because it involves “infrastructure plus financing.”
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the creative economy in 2023 amounted to P1.72 trillion, contributing 7.1 percent to the Philippines’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The creative economy is composed of the following industries: Audio and audiovisual media activities; Digital interactive goods and service activities; Advertising, research and development, and other artistic service activities; Symbols and images and other related activities; Media publishing and printing activities; Music, arts and entertainment activities; Visual arts activities; Traditional cultural expression activities; and Art galleries, museums, ballrooms, conventions and trade shows, and related activities.
In 2023, there were 7.26 million persons employed in creative industries.
Meanwhile, during the PCIM Opening Ceremony, DTI Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut underscored that the Philippine game and animation sector has witnessed a 7 to 12 percent increase in revenue and employment. In addition, Baluyut said, “From years 2021 to 2026, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) projects a 7.5-percent growth.”
The DTI Assistant Secretary said this will largely be due to the “already strong” digital footprint worldwide of the Philippines in IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) services, such as IT and Software development which she noted is projected to grow at $58.9 billion by 2028.
Another recent milestone within the creative industries is the rise of the Philippine pop (P-POP) in the global music industry.
“Our expensive market coupled with recent milestones in P-POP in the global music industry is driving an impressive 800 percent increase in daily P-POP streams on Spotify since 2018,” Baluyut noted.
Moreover, she said the Philippine film industry is also “making waves” on the global stage, ranking among the top 20 film-producing economies worldwide, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo).
ALL SET FOR IMPORTATION OF 30K MT OF SMALL PELAGIC FISH
T’S all systems go for the importation of 30,000 metric tons (MT) of small pelagic fish during the closed fishing season, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Special Order (SO) 1272 which assigned Isidro Velayo Jr., officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), as the approving official for the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs).
Under the order, the DA said this would “ensure the timely issuance” of the online SPSICs.
“[Velayo is] designated as the approving authority for the SPSICs that will be issued under the Certificate of Necessity to Import 30,000 MT of frozen pelagic fish for wet markets during the closed fishing season of October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024,” the order read.
An SPSIC would certify that an inbound shipment is safe for human and animal consumption and would not bring in any pests that could harm the local agriculture sector.
Laurel said earlier that they sought the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council’s (NFARMC) approval of 35,000 MT of fish imports that will arrive in the country. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/08/14/30000-metric-tons-of-fish-imports-eyed/)
“What we asked from NFARMC is actually 35,000 [MT]. But the national NFARMC recommended 25,000 [MT]. I just decided na to be on the safe side in the middle,” he said, partly in Filipino.
The agriculture chief noted the problem with “depleted fishing grounds” when asked about the need to import if the volume of local production reached millions in the previous year.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the total volume of fisheries production reached 4.26 million metric tons (MMT) in 2023.
“Previous administrators have implemented a closed season for three months of every year when no commercial fishing is allowed,” Laurel said.
“If we banned the fishing, there will surely be a shortage; there’s a need to import,” he added.
He said the imports only need to fill the gap to be created from the ban, just so “our fishing grounds can recover.” Once the fishing grounds recover, he added, “maybe after a few more years, there would be no need to import or perhaps we can reduce importation.”
Lower fish unloading
Meanwhile, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reported that regional ports registered lower fish unloading volume in July owing to inclement weather and closed fishing season.
PFDA figures indicate that the fish unloading volume in July declined by 14.17 percent to 50,862.42 metric tons (MT) from the previous month’s 59,259.88 MT.
“PFDA RFPs continuously do what they can to supply their clients and stakeholders with enough and appropriately priced fishery products, despite occasional difficulties brought on by closed fishing seasons and inclement weather,” the agency said in a statement. Ada Pelonia
Netanyahu resists new pressure for Gaza cease-fire as mass protests erupt in Israel
By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pushed back against a new wave of pressure to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza after hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested and went on strike and US President Joe Biden said he needed to do more after nearly 11 months of fighting.
In his first public address since Sunday’s mass protests showed many Israelis’ furious response to the discovery of six more dead hostages, Netanyahu said he will continue to insist on a demand that has emerged as a major sticking point in talks—continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow band along Gaza’s border with Egypt where Israel contends Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza. Egypt and Hamas deny it.
Netanyahu called the corridor vital to ensuring Hamas cannot rearm via tunnels. “This is the oxygen of Hamas,” he said. And he added: “No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me.... No one will preach to me on this issue.’
Israelis had poured into the streets late Sunday in grief and anger in what appeared to be the largest protest since the start of the war. The families and much of the public blamed Netanyahu, saying the hostages could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas. A rare general strike was held across the country on Monday.
Late Monday, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in central Jerusalem, chanting, “Deal. Now.” and carrying coffins draped in the Israeli flag. Scuffles broke
out when police snatched away the coffins, and several protesters were arrested. Thousands more marched outside Netanyahu’s Likud party in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.
But others support Netanyahu’s drive to continue the campaign in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack into Israel and has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.
Netanyahu says the assault will force militants to give in to Israeli demands, potentially facilitate rescue operations and ultimately annihilate the group.
Key ally the United States is showing impatience. Biden spoke to reporters as he arrived at the White House for a Situation Room meeting with the US mediation team in the negotiations. Asked if Netanyahu was doing enough, Biden responded, “No.”
He insisted that negotiators remain “very close” to a deal, adding, “Hope springs eternal.”
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out months of negotiations by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over the Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza. Hamas has offered to release all hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release
of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants—broadly the terms called for under an outline for a deal put forward by Biden in July.
Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations. On Monday, he said he is ready to carry out the first phase of the cease-fire—a plan that would include the release of some hostages, a partial pullout of Israeli troops and the release of some prisoners held by Israel. But he rejected a full withdrawal from Gaza, saying he saw no other party that could control Gaza’s borders.
Israeli media have reported deep differences between Netanyahu and top security officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who say the time is ripe for a cease-fire.
An official confirmed a shouting match between Gallant and Netanyahu at a security cabinet meeting Thursday, where Netanyahu held a vote in favor of maintaining control over the Philadelphi corridor.
Gallant cast the lone vote against the proposal, saying Netanyahu was favoring border arrangements over the lives of hostages. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Gallant
on Sunday called on the security cabinet to overturn the decision.
Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas official leading the negotiations, told the Qatari network Al Jazeera late Sunday that Netanyahu had deemed keeping the Philadelphi corridor “more important” than winning the hostages’ release.
Al-Hayya also said Hamas had offered “great flexibility,” including reducing its demand for 500 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for each captive Israeli soldier to 50, and from 250 Palestinian prisoners or each Israeli civilian hostage to 30. He accused Israel of introducing new conditions including increasing the number of prisoners who would be deported upon release and banning the release of elderly or ill prisoners serving life sentences.
Israel said the six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces arrived in the tunnel where they were held.
Hamas’ armed wing, the alQassam Brigades, appeared to say in a statement Monday that it now had a policy of killing any hostages that Israel tries to rescue. It said that after Israeli troops rescued four hostages in a deadly raid in June, it issued new orders to its fighters guarding hostages on how
to deal with them if Israeli troops approach. It said that Netanyahu’s insistence on using military pressure instead of reaching a deal “will mean they (hostages) will return to their families in coffins.”
Three of the slain hostages were reportedly among those who would have been released in the first phase of the cease-fire proposal outlined by Biden in July.
Thousands attended the funeral Monday for one of the six, Israeli-American Hersh GoldbergPolin. He was one of the bestknown hostages, with his parents leading a high-profile campaign for the captives’ release, meeting with Biden and Pope Francis and addressing the Democratic National Convention last month.
The general strike, called by Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, ended early after a labor court accepted a petition from the government calling it politically motivated.
It was the first such strike since the start of the war, aiming to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking and health care. Some flights at Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion, either departed early or were slightly delayed.
“There’s no need to punish the whole state of Israel because of what is happening, overall, it is a victory for Hamas,” said one passenger, Amrani Yigal.
But in Jerusalem, resident Avi Lavi said that “I think this is fair, the time has come to stand and to wake up, to do everything for the hostages to come back alive.”
Municipalities in Israel’s populated central area, including Tel Aviv, participated. Others, including Jerusalem, did not.
Some 250 hostages were taken on October 7. More than 100 were freed during a cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Eight have been rescued by Israeli forces. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
Roughly 100 hostages remain in
Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants.
The war has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times, and plunged the besieged territory into a humanitarian catastrophe, including new fears of a polio outbreak.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its six-day raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. AP reporters saw bulldozers tearing up roads. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces were blocking their ambulances from reaching the wounded.
Palestinians in a town outside Jenin held a funeral for a 58-yearold man, Ayman Abed, who was arrested the day before and died in Israeli custody. The Israeli military said he died from a “cardiac event,” but did not provide details. Human rights groups have reported abuses of Palestinians detained by Israel, and the military has confirmed the deaths of at least 36 Palestinians in its detention centers since October.
Israel says it has killed 14 militants in Jenin and arrested 25 militants. Palestinian health officials say at least 29 people have been killed, including five children. Mohannad Hajj Hussein, a Jenin resident, said electricity and water were cut off. “We are ready to live by candlelight and we will feed our children from our bodies and teach them resistance and steadfastness in this land,” he said. “We will rebuild what the occupation destroyed and we will not kneel.”
The Associated Press writers Julia Frankel and Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.
Pope commences Asia odyssey with stop in Indonesia to rally Catholics and hail religious freedom tradition
By Nicole Winfield & Edna Tarigan
The Associated Press
J
AKARTA, Indonesia—Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday at the start of the longest trip of his pontificate, hoping to encourage its Catholic community and celebrate the tradition of interfaith harmony in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
After an overnight flight from Rome, Francis was wheeled off the plane in his wheelchair and onto the tarmac for a welcoming ceremony under Jakarta’s perennial hazy, humid and polluted skies.
Two children wearing traditional clothes handed him a bouquet of vegetables, fruits, spices and flowers.
Francis planned to rest for the remainder of the day, given the rigors of an 11-day
voyage zigzagging across time zones that will also take him to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. However, the Vatican said the 87-year-old pope met with a group of refugees, migrants and sick people at the Vatican residence in Jakarta. Outside the residence, he was greeted by well-wishers eager to catch sight of the first pope to visit since St. John Paul II in 1989. “When I saw him in the car I was so touched, goosebumps,” said Fanfan, a 49-year-old housewife from West Jakarta who uses only one name. “I hope he will hopefully appear in front of me to wave his hand again.”
Francis’ first full day of activities begins Wednesday with visits to the country’s political leaders and meetings with Indonesian clergy who are helping to fuel the growth of the Catholic Church in Asia.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the pope, saying in a broadcast
statement that “Indonesia and the Vatican have the same commitment to fostering peace and brotherhood, as well as ensuring the welfare of humanity.”
The highlight of Francis’ first stop will be his participation Thursday in an interfaith meeting in Jakarta’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
The mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, sits across a piazza from the capital’s main
Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of Assumption, and the two are so close to each another that the Muslim call to prayer can be heard during Mass.
Their proximity is not coincidental, but strongly willed as a symbol of religious freedom and tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution. The buildings are also linked by an underground “Tunnel of Friendship” that Francis will visit with the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, before they sign a joint declaration. While Francis will want to highlight
Indonesia’s tradition of religious tolerance, the country’s image as a moderate Muslim nation has been undermined by flare-ups of intolerance. In 2021, a militant Islamic couple blew themselves up outside a packed Catholic cathedral on Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island during a Palm Sunday Mass, injuring at least 20 people.
“We have no problem with the visit. He’s a guest and we will welcome him,” said Eldy, a 64-year-old retired government worker who uses one name and was out walking during a car-free day in Jakarta on Sunday. “He wants to visit our Istiqlal Mosque, he can do it.”
Even though Catholics make up only 3 percent of Indonesia’s population, the sheer number of Indonesians—275 million—makes the archipelago home to the third-largest Christian community in Asia, after the Philippines and China.
As a result, thousands are expected to throng to Francis’ events this week, which include a Mass on Thursday afternoon at Jakarta’s main stadium expected to draw some 60,000 people. City authorities have urged residents to work from home that day given roadblocks and crowds.
“It is a joy for our country, especially for us Catholics,” said Elisabeth Damanik, a 50-year-old housewife outside a packed Mass on Sunday at Our Lady of the Assumption.
“Hopefully the pope’s visit can build religious tolerance in our beloved country of Indonesia.” Care for the environment, conflict resolution and ethically minded economic
development are the major themes for the trip, and Francis may touch on them during his main speech to Indonesian authorities on Wednesday.
Francis has made caring for the environment a hallmark of his pontificate and has often used his foreign visits to press his agenda on the need to care for God’s creation, prevent exploitation of its natural resources and protect poor people who are bearing the brunt of climate extremes and pollution.
In Jakarta, he will find a metropolis of 11.3 million people choking under gray clouds of air pollution caused by coal-fired power plants, vehicle exhaust, trash burning and factories. Jakarta’s air pollution regularly registers eight to nine times above World Health Organization limits.
“Indonesia has the worst air pollution in Southeast Asia,” said Piotr Jakubowski, an air pollution expert and co-founder of Indonesian air quality monitoring company Nafas. “The visit of the pope is great because it provides a sounding board...from another, very well-respected world leader.” Residents, too, hope Francis will speak out about the issue.
“The pollution in Jakarta is at an alarming level. That’s why the presence of the pope can provide a benefit with the discussion of environmental issues,” said government worker Erik Sebastian Naibaho, 26. Helena Alves contributed from Jakarta.
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday, September 2, 2024. AP/OHAD ZWIGENBERG
POPE Francis is welcomed by Indonesia’s Minister for Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, center, after landing at Jakarta’s International airport Soekarno Hatta on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday at the start of the longest trip of his pontificate, hoping to encourage its Catholic community and celebrate the tradition of interfaith harmony in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population. AP/GREGORIO BORGIA
Venezuelan judge issues arrest warrant for opposition’s presidential candidate
By Regina Garcia Cano & Jorge Rueda The Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela—A
Venezuelan judge on Monday issued an arrest warrant for the opposition’s presidential candidate Edmundo González as part of a criminal investigation into the results of the highly anticipated July election that both the ruling party and its opponents claim to have won.
The warrant was issued at the request of authorities that accuse González, a former diplomat, of various crimes including conspiracy, falsifying documents and usurpation of powers. The move is the latest escalation of repression against the opposition in the month after election officials declared President Nicolás Maduro had won a third sixyear term in office.
Authorities sought the warrant after González failed to appear three times to answer questions from prosecutors. González, 75, has not made any public appearances since the day after the election. His campaign did not immediately respond to
a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Prosecutors have zeroed in on thousands of tally sheets known as actas—printouts measuring several feet that resemble shopping receipts—that have long been considered the ultimate proof of election results in Venezuela.
Each of the 30,000 electronic voting machines used in the July 28 election printed several copies of the sheets, whose information was also transmitted to the National Electoral Council.
Ruling party-loyal electoral authorities declared Maduro the victor hours after polls closed, but they did not publish results broken
down by voting machine as they had done in previous presidential elections. The National Electoral Council claimed it could not release the detailed information because its website was hacked.
By law, each party participating in the election has the right to a tally sheet from every machine. Government supporters attempted to block opposition representatives from obtaining copies of the crucial documents, but it managed to secure them from more than 80% of machines.
González and opposition leader María Corina Machado then stunned supporters and adver -
saries alike by announcing the documents showed Maduro lost by a wide margin against the former diplomat and publishing the records online.
As international pressure grew to release a breakdown of results, Maduro asked the country’s high court to audit the electoral process, drawing immediate criticism from foreign observers who said the court is too close to the government to produce an independent review. The magistrates of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice are proposed by federal officials and ratified by the National Assembly, which is dominated by Maduro
Military-run Myanmar to hold a census next month to prepare for election slated for 2025
By Grant Peck
The Associated Press
BANGKOK—Myanmar will hold a national census next month to compile voter lists for a general election and to analyze population and socioeconomic trends, the head of the military government said.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing’s announcement on Sunday comes as Myanmar is roiled by a civil war in which the army has been forced onto the defensive against pro-democracy militants as well as ethnic militias seeking autonomy in much of the country.
A group that leads the prodemocracy struggle, the National Unity Government, expressed skepticism that the military government intends to hold an election any time soon and advised people to use “caution” in complying with any census questions.
Min Aung Hlaing said the “ultimate mission” of the ruling State Administrative Council is to hold a “free and fair multiparty democratic election” and that the census would be used to build voter lists, but did not specify a date for polling. He previously has pledged to hold an election in 2025.
He also said the data would be used for present and future development projects.
In the text of his televised speech published Monday in the state-run newspaper The Mirror, Min Aung Hlaing said the census—which is taken every 10 years—will be carried out all over the country from October 1 to October 15, and that people need to answer all its questions without anxiety or doubt.
The ruling military has de -
clared that elections are its goal since seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It originally announced elections would be held in August 2023, but has repeatedly pushed back the date.
The military sought to justify its 2021 takeover by claiming that the landslide victory of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party in the November 2020 general election was marred by widespread electoral fraud, a charge rejected by independent election observers.
The army’s seizure of power was met with widespread protests, whose violent suppression triggered armed resistance, and large parts of the country now are embroiled in conflict.
The anti-junta National Unity Government, or NUG, decried the census plans and called the military government a “terrorist” group.
“If the people give their information to the terrorist organization, it will only use this infor -
mation to use other methods to terrorize the public,” NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt told The Associated Press. “The election is just an excuse. A terrorist group has no legitimacy to hold the elections. Therefore, it is important for the public to exercise caution when providing the information.”
Critics believe that any general election organized by the military would be an attempt to normalize its seizure of power through the ballot box.
Critics have already said that the elections would be neither free nor fair because there is no free media and most of the National League for Democracy party leaders have been arrested. Suu Kyi, 79, is serving prison sentences totaling 27 years after being convicted in a series of politically tainted prosecutions.
The country’s security situation poses a serious challenge to verifying voter lists, because the military is believed to be in control of less than half the country.
The Institute for Strategy and
Policy, an independent think tank, said in a July report that at least 14,374 clashes have occurred across 233 of Myanmar’s 330 townships since the military take-over. It said pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority militias have seized as many as 60 towns.
At a meeting at the end of July, Min Aung Hlaing said the datacollecting process for the census would be prioritized in areas under the military’s control. He also said that the election will be held in the peaceful areas first, staterun media reported.
In January 2023, when elections were still expected later that year, the military had made an initial effort at compiling voter lists.
The three-week survey activities were attacked by resistance forces, and about a dozen people including two police officers and local officials were killed and four military government personnel captured.
The National Unity Government, which considers itself to be Myanmar’s legitimate government, at that time warned that those who helped collect survey information would face reprisals.
In a separate development, state-run MRTV television reported Monday night that three of the most powerful armed ethnic organizations that have been warring with the army have been declared terrorist organizations by the military government.
The report said that the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army have been committing terrorist acts causing serious losses of public security, lives and property.
sympathizers.
The court concluded on Aug. 22 that the vote counts published by the opposition were false and certified Maduro’s victory.
Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela refused to publish its copies of tally sheets.
González, who represented the Unitary Platform opposition coalition, was summoned to the prosecutor’s office as recently as Friday.
He has questioned the prosecutors’ actions for lack of due process guarantees and accused Attorney General Tarek William Saab, a longtime Maduro ally, of being a “political accuser” who “condemns in advance.” González rejected the interview summons arguing, among other issues, that they did not specify the condition under which he was expected to appear.
“Maduro has lost all touch with reality,” Machado wrote on X after the warrant was issued. “The arrest warrant issued by the regime to threaten President-elect Edmundo González crosses a new line that only strengthens the resolve of our movement. Venezuelans and democracies around the world are more united than ever in our quest for freedom.”
An AP review of the tally sheets released by the opposition indicates that González won significantly more votes than the government has claimed. The analysis
casts serious doubt on the official declaration that Maduro won.
The AP processed almost 24,000 images representing the results from 79% of voting machines, resulting in tabulations of 10.26 million votes. The processed tally sheets also showed González receiving more votes on 20,476 receipts compared to only 3,157 for Maduro.
The lack of transparency over the results, coupled with widespread arrests that followed antigovernment protests in the days after the election, has drawn global condemnation against Maduro and his allies. Among those who have been detained are Machado’s lawyer, opposition leaders, journalists, political organizers and poll workers.
The Chilean government on Monday decried the arrest warrant for González and reiterated its “condemnation of any form of repression against opponents of the dictatorial regime in Venezuela.”
“The Chilean government calls for respect for democratic principles, as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Venezuelans,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
contributed to this report.
PEOPLE wade through a flooded road after heavy rains in Vijayawada, India on Monday, September 2, 2024. AP
Heavy monsoon rains and floods kill 33 in south India and 5 children in Pakistan
By Omer Farooq The Associated Press
HYDERABAD, India—Heavy monsoon rains and floods have killed at least 33 people in southern India and five children in Pakistan over the past two days, authorities said Tuesday.
In India’s Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states, houses collapsed and were swept away by torrential downpours while floods disrupted road and rail traffic, officials said.
The weather service issued a red alert for 11 districts, predicting more rains in the region, Telangana’s top bureaucrat, Shanta Kumari, said.
More than 4,000 people have been moved to 110 government-run relief camps in Telangana since Monday, according to the state’s top elected official, A. Revanth Reddy. Overflowing lakes, tanks and streams have cut off some villages in Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts.
Vijayawada, the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh, is experiencing the worst flooding in two decades with the Budameru River flooding 40% of the city and stranding nearly 275,000 people in more than a dozen residential area.
Disaster relief teams are struggling to transport stranded families to safer areas, said Andhra Pradesh’s top elected official, N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Since June, at least 170 people have died
across India’s six northeastern states due to floods and mudslides brought on by the rains, according to official figures.
In neighboring Pakistan, flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains killed five children on Monday in southwestern Balochistan province, bringing the country’s overall death toll from rain-related incidents to at least 300 since July 1. The five deaths were reported in the Zhob and Khuzdar districts, according to a statement by the disaster management authority. In Balochistan alone, floods have killed 32 people, including 18 children and 12 women over the past two months.
The deluges have also inundated dozens of villages and blocked highways in parts of Balochistan, and damaged nearly 20,000 homes across the country, mostly in Balochistan.
Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in both India and Pakistan during the June-September monsoon season. Scientists and weather forecasters have blamed climate change for heavier rains in recent years.
In 2022, climate-induced downpours inundated one-third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people and causing $30 billion in damage.
The Associated Press writer Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
OPPOSITION presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez leads a demonstration against the official election results that declared that President Nicolas Maduro won reelection in Caracas, Venezuela on July 30, 2024. AP/CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ
Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer Nayara Batschke in Santiago, Chile,
GEN. Min Aung Hlaing inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar’s 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on March 27, 2023. AP/AUNG SHINE OO
Bluetongue outbreak in UK highlights need for strong biosecurity measures in PHL
TH e United Kingdom Department for environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) extended the restrictions on the movement of sheep and cattle after more animals tested positive for the deadly bluetongue virus (BTV). The BBC reported that Defra added essex to the restricted zone, which already included Norfolk and Suffolk. The agency said 27 animals on 10 premises had been infected and that it advised keepers of livestock including cattle, sheep and goats to remain vigilant.
According to veterinary research institute The Pirbright Institute, BTV infects wild and domestic ruminants and is responsible for causing the severe hemorrhagic disease, bluetongue. Pirbright said it can infect domestic ruminants and wild animals, such as buffalo, deer, antelope and camels. The institute noted that it can result in high rates of morbidity and even mortality in flocks and herds and can affect production and trade.
The latest BTV outbreak and the continuing threat of bird flu and African swine fever, depict the challenges confronting food-importing countries like the Philippines to ensure the safety of the agricultural products that they purchase from other nations. The emergence of a new variant of avian influenza, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, presents new challenges for scientists and public health. The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus, in particular, has begun infecting new wild and domestic animals. (See, “Rise in bird flu cases in Asia Pacific alarms experts,” in the BusinessMirror , July 31, 2024).
These developments also underscore the importance of having mechanisms in place, such as the Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture (Cefa), to minimize the threat of transboundary animal diseases. The government is banking on Cefa to combat smuggling and assure public health safety. (See, “Border inspection facility to rise in Bulacan,” in the BusinessMirror , July 20, 2023). Aside from Bulacan, the government plans to build a facility in Manila, Subic, Davao, and General Santos City.
The Department of Agriculture projected that the first Cefa in Angat, Bulacan will be operational by the first quarter of 2025. Cefas in other parts of the country will also be opened by next year. The government has set aside a budget for this and the private sector has even offered to host the facilities, which will reduce project cost.
We are hopeful that policymakers have addressed and resolved all the issues that could derail or delay the project. Apart from the threat it poses to the livelihood of local planters and animal raisers, smuggling could also harm public health. The Philippines needs a viable shield against products that may introduce harmful pathogens and diseases. Cefa is an imperative given the adverse impact of animal diseases not only on the livestock sector, but also on the cost of goods. Hog farmers and poultry raisers have already incurred billions of pesos in losses due to the onslaught of ASF and bird flu. And until now, consumers continue to pay for the high cost of these animal diseases in the form of more expensive meat products.
Our water resources
TMark Villar
THE BUILDER
He heavy rains being experienced by the country last week should be a boon to our farmers. They are assured of enough water in the next rice-planting season that starts this month until February next year.
Too much rain, however, is not ideal and may cause damage to our rice and other farms. An extended heavy downpour may also inundate our urban centers and disrupt economic activities.
Last week’s news about the overflowing of La Mesa Dam as a result of monsoon rains exposes our shortfall in water management. The water level at the dam topped the spilling level of 80.15 meters. The release of excess water is bad news for some residents living near along the course of the 27.1-kilometer Tullahan River.
One can just imagine the anxiety of some Metro Manila residents when La Mesa Dam discharged excess water to the Tullahan River and the waterway swelled. The river starts at the La Mesa Reservoir in Quezon City and flows through Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela and Navotas before emptying into Manila Bay.
The dam’s overflow may be temporary but the incident is proof that
OInc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila
we are not effectively managing our water resources well.
We could have conserved the excess water from La Mesa Dam to partly secure the drinking water requirements of Metro Manila residents in the dry season, instead of allowing it to just empty into the Manila Bay. The La Mesa Dam spillover exemplifies the mismanagement of water resources seen in various regions of the country, particularly in rural areas that rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods.
I believe the Philippines needs more impounding projects to conserve the ample water supply we get from heavy rains during the wet season. I am not referring to largescale dams, but rather to the Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP), which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) used to head.
The SWIP is a structure built between valleys to form into a reservoir that will store rainfall during the rainy season for current or
By Alex Vasquez & Maya Averbuch
UTgOiNg President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is poised to control the only branch of government that still eludes him in Mexico, ensuring the dominance of his Morena party for years to come. Such unchecked power would pose significant political and economic risks to a country that spent most of the 20th century under authoritarian rule.
The ruling party and its allies need to secure just one more vote in the coming days to completely overhaul Mexico’s judicial system, likely subjugating an institution that has blocked Lopez Obrador’s reforms time and time again. Their success, which started with a landslide victory by the president’s protégé Claudia Sheinbaum and continued with their winning of large majorities in both houses of Congress, presents a risk to “good governance,” said Jeffrey Weldon, a professor of political science at Mexico’s Autonomous Institute of Technology.
“Mexico had an authoritarian rule with this type of one-party control for decades,” he said. “The economic and social results from those years
are not considered good.” A court that poses no limits on a president threatens the basic tenets of democracy, critics say. It also poses uncertainty for investors after a six-year regime that’s been less than friendly to the business community. The peso tanked within hours of Morena’s landslide win in June, with traders anticipating that the party would seek to take full control of government. It has continued to slide since, hitting the lowest since late 2022 and becoming by far the worst emerging-market currency in the world in the span.
It’s a stark reversal for a currency that had become known as “super peso” in recent years—and analysts say there’s more to come.
The Small Water Impounding Project is a structure built between valleys to form into a reservoir that will store rainfall during the rainy season for current or future use. Unlike dams, SWIPs are easier to build and cost less. These are earthen dams with structural heights of not over 30 meters and volume storage not exceeding 50 million cubic meters.
future use. Unlike dams, SWIPs are easier to build and cost less. These are earthen dams with structural heights of not over 30 meters and volume storage not exceeding 50 million cubic meters.
I hope progress is being made on this less complex infrastructure project. I recall last year that the DPWH and the DENR agreed to study the construction of such water impounding systems and flood control structures as well, to mitigate flooding that dislocates farming and other economic activities.
The SWIPs can act as a multipurpose infrastructure project and provide the needs of the agriculture and power sectors, aside from supplying potable water to nearby residents.
Water infrastructure projects are no different from railways, toll roads, bridges, airports and seaports. The former also creates jobs and improve the production and incomes of farmers in the countryside.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The ruling party and its allies need to secure just one more vote in the coming days to completely overhaul Mexico’s judicial system, likely subjugating an institution that has blocked Lopez Obrador’s reforms time and time again. Their success, which started with a landslide victory by the president’s protégé Claudia Sheinbaum and continued with their winning of large majorities in both houses of Congress, presents a risk to “good governance,” said Jeffrey Weldon, a professor of political science at Mexico’s Autonomous Institute of Technology.
Marco Oviedo, a strategist at XP Investimentos in Brazil, said the peso would likely blow past 20 per dollar this week, from a current 19.82, if the reform is approved. He expects it to end the year around the 20.50 level. That compares to levels around 17 per dollar just before the election.
is very much aware of the benefits of water impounding projects. He has pushed for the establishment of a water retention infrastructure in Pampanga as a long-term solution to the perennial flooding problem in Central Luzon, especially in Pampanga and Bulacan.
Science Secretary Renato Solidum has also favored long-term solutions to problems caused by climate change and global warming. In one public forum, Mr. Solidum conceded that water retention basins would help in the management of the flow of water during heavy rains, such as what we experienced last week.
“You really need to control the large volume of water to be draining down right away, that is why the President mentioned the importance of the water impounding basin...,” he said during the same forum. I am glad government agencies are in full support of President Marcos’ vision to build water retention basins to mitigate flooding and conserve our precious water resources.
Sustainable water management will secure the food and water requirements of our population. Water retention or impounding dams in the long-term period will reduce the expenses of the government in coping with disasters. They offset destructive floods, save lives and offer hope to our farmers. They are the way of the future.
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Changing rules for the selection of judges is a strategy often used by leaders seeking to consolidate power. Recent examples include court overhauls in Bolivia, Venezuela and Hungary. But in many ways Mexico’s reform stands to go farther. The proposal submitted to Congress includes replacing the country’s current Supreme and Federal Court judges with popularly elected ones over the next three years. It’s likely that many if not most of the more than 1,600 judges will be from Morena given that the party has more popular support than ever.
“This is quite a revolution,” said Oviedo, who previously served as an adviser to former President Felipe Calderon. “It’s a change of regime and nothing stops this now.”
AMLO’s court woes AMLO, as the current president is known, has long had a rocky relationship with Mexico’s courts. When he claimed election fraud during his presidential runs in 2006 See “AMLO,” A11
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua
Harris says US Steel should remain American-owned
By Josh Wingrove
Vice president Kamala Harris joined president Joe biden in declaring that United States Steel corp. should remain domestically owned and operated, the latest headwind to the proposed sale of the company to Japan-based Nippon Steel corp.
“US Steel is an historic American company, and it is vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies,” Harris said during a Labor Day event with unions in Pittsburgh, home to both US Steel and the United Steelworkers union, which has opposed the sale. “I couldn’t agree more with President Biden—US Steel should remain Americanowned, and American-operated. And I will always have the backs of America’s steelworkers.”
The statement is her first on the proposed deal, and aligns with Biden, who has also pledged that US Steel will remain domestically owned, though he’s stopped short of outright blocking it amid a security review. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has also called for the transaction to be blocked.
It’s not clear whether a decision on the takeover will land on Biden’s desk or that of his successor—or even if it will proceed at all. Still, Harris’ comments add to the political maelstrom around the $14.1 billion deal—rooted in Pennsylvania, one of the election’s foremost battlegrounds. The state’s two senators have been among the most vocal in opposing the sale, as has Senator JD Vance of neighboring Ohio, who is Trump’s running-mate.
Biden, speaking before Harris at the same event on Monday, reiterated his stance. “I made it clear the last time I was in Pittsburgh: United States Steel, an iconic American company for over a century, is going to remain an American company,” Biden said.
The United Steelworkers welcomed Harris’ opposition to the deal.
The vice president’s comments on Monday “make it clear that she understands the crucial role of the steel industry, not only when it comes to safeguarding our national security, but also to ensuring a brighter future for the workers and communities that depend on good, union jobs,” USW leaders said in a statement.
Nippon Steel announced last week an additional $1.3 billion in investments in US Steel’s unionized mills to try and win over the union, which has voiced concerns about longer-term prospects for workers once the current labor agreement expires in 2026.
‘Unwavering commitment’
Re SPONDING to reports of the Harris campaign’s planned announcement, US Steel highlighted that pledge and emphasized that it remains committed to the deal.
and 2012, the electoral Court denied his challenges. During his presidency, the Supreme Court blocked some of his most controversial moves, including a reform of the electoral Institute and a reorganization that put the National Guard under control of the Defense Ministry.
One of the biggest blows came early this year, when the Supreme Court blocked AMLO’s nationalist electricity law, which prioritized using power from Mexico’s struggling state utility company over energy produced by private renewable firms.
A few days later, he proposed a constitutional reforms package, including the changes to the Supreme Court.
“Right now, the executive power
Corruption and dynasties as nation’s ills
cThe statement is her first on the proposed deal, and aligns with Biden, who has also pledged that US Steel will remain domestically owned, though he’s stopped short of outright blocking it amid a security review. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has also called for the transaction to be blocked.
Nippon Steel’s promise to invest is “evidence of its unwavering commitment to US Steel and all of our stakeholders,” not only to complete the transaction but also to protect and grow the company, Chief e xecutive Officer David Burritt said in a written statement Monday. “US Steel will be a much stronger company as a result of the transaction and these investments.”
Nippon Steel said in a statement that its purchase would “revitalize the American steel rust belt, benefit American workers, local communities, and national security in a way no other alternative can.” The company added that it believes “a fair and objective regulatory review process will support this outcome, and we look forward to closing the transaction as soon as possible.”
US Steel shares surged when Nippon’s bid was announced in December, before giving up much of those gains when Trump and Biden voiced opposition. The stock then outperformed peers as Biden withdrew from the electoral race, on bets a Harris-led ticket may put up fewer obstacles for getting the deal done. Trading was closed Monday for a US public holiday.
Debate over the takeover has intensified in the run-up to the November vote, though there’s little sign that the deal will conclude before then. It remains subject to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a panel chaired by the Treasury Secretary that more frequently targets US adversaries like China.
The status and timeline of that process are not clear. Biden’s administration has deferred to the ongoing review process so far.
Harris visited Michigan earlier on Monday for a Labor Day event, before traveling to Pittsburgh for the rally with Biden—their first joint campaign event since she became the nominee. The Pittsburgh gathering included members of the United Steelworkers and other major unions, according to a Harris campaign official. With assistance from James Attwood /Bloomberg
also controls the legislative branch,” said Judge Juana Fuentes Velazquez, head of JUFeD, one of Mexico’s main associations of judicial workers leading nationwide strikes against the reform. “If we elect judges by popular vote, we’ll have a majority of judges from the ruling party, which would become an absolute power.”
AMLO’s main criticism of the judiciary is that its judges are controlled by sectors with economic power, whether businesspeople or even organized crime groups. AMLO recently said Supreme Court head Norma Piña should be impeached for accepting challenges by Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas’s Grupo elektra in an attempt to evade taxes.
Days after his party’s victory in June, AMLO said he would seek to overhaul the courts, something his lawmakers said can happen before
Zoilo ‘Bingo’ Dejaresco III
Finex Free Enterprise
orrUptioN and political dynasties were tagged by the reformist group named ANim (Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang mamayan)—composed of six sectors that was launched at the historic club Filipino recently—as two of the most pervading sources of the nation’s woes. (the third one cited was “electoral fraud”)
Despite its robust natural resources and the so-called high GDP (gross domestic product) growth rates, the Philippines still has one of the lowest per capita incomes and the worst disparity between the “haves and the have-nots” within the Asean.
The Philippines’ $3,859 per capita income as of 2023, per World Bank statistics, is a poor 7th among 10 Asean members.
The group proponents averred that action must be taken against these ills for the “survival of the nation.”
Corruption
F ORM e R deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos once said that at least 20 percent of the national budget goes into the pockets of corrupt government officials and their private sector collaborators. Or theoretically P1.153 trillion of the 2024 budget of P5.678 trillion, a staggering amount.
Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong of the Mayors for Good Governance, who insisted he is not running for higher office, confirms official corruption has worsened from Cory’s time of 10 percent to 25 percent to 40 percent today going to public sector grafters. In the meantime,
our national debt had grown from a pre-pandemic level of P5.7 trillion to a projected staggering P17 trillion by next year.
The mayors’ group is just a small step since only about 200 of the over 1,000 mayors in the country signed up for the reformist group—the rest perhaps forthright enough to implicitly say they cannot preach against what they are doing.
Magalong computed why sometimes the total project value left after all the crooked deals and administrative slippages is only 15 percent to 30 percent of the total project cost. Can you imagine that? He itemizes the following as leaks: (30 percent) politician’s, (7 percent) VAT, (1 percent) inspection fees, (12 percent) agency share, BACollection (2 percent), and contingency (3 percent), leaving 55 percent for the project. After deducting the 45 percent contractor margins, only 15 percent to 30 percent is left.
Greedy politicians, he says, also pose as suppliers or contractors themselves (under the guise of friends and kin) and, therefore, corner 60 percent of the project. Would you still wonder why our infrastructure is one of the worst, our education system in the pits, and 16
The task of ANIM will be formidable as they endeavor to determine whether their analysis of the fundamental issues facing the nation aligns with the sentiments of the general public.
percent of Filipinos still live below the poverty line?
The former major general of the PNP also lamented the fact that corruption leakages in the budget contribute to the rise in the national budget from P15.9 trillion before the pandemic to about an estimated P17 trillion next year—a burden to be paid by the present and future generations.
Caritas (the social arm of the CBCP) President Bishop Colin Bagaforo, at the same launch, slammed that people who “make use of their power for personal gain are robbing the people not just of resources, but also of their dignity and future.”
Political dynasties
T He 1987 Constitution mandates the prohibition of political dynasties to be enabled by a law. To this date, no such anti-dynasty bill has been filed. Why?
Atty. Alexander Lacson, book author and civil society leader, said that based on the Ateneo de Manila study, 73.1 percent of the country’s congressmen belong to political dynasties—that’s why we cannot expect them to legislate against their own interests. The Senate has not been an exception.
The Ateneo study also bared that 78 percent of provincial officials and 56.2 percent of cities and town mayors emanated from political dynastic classes. (Good dynasties should not feel alluded to here).
But the bad dynasties (in the majority) are the “biggest obstacles to
progress,” per Lacson. He said they are responsible for poor infrastructure, corrupting Comelec officials, LGUs, judges, and voters, and even sometimes trying to maliciously influence the clergy (those vulnerable) with their tainted donations.
In his opinion, Bishop Bagaforo believes that once an anti-dynasty bill is passed, “this will stop 50 percent of the corruption that we face today.”
A group of UP lawyers recently petitioned the Supreme Court to press Congress to pass a bill mandated in the 1987 constitution against dynasties—but have been simultaneously opposed by some congressmen. In an act of redemption that might erase all his comical failings, Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a Senate bill for this purpose. Whether this will gain traction is another matter.
Lacson said it was time to use the People’s Initiative to go for the anti-dynasty law—requiring only 3 percent of the voters per district and 10 percent nationwide to pass the law. He believes this can be done with the backing of all the churches, lawyers, conscientized citizenry and even losing candidates who lost due to the presence of political dynasties. It’s people power at its best, Lacson said.
The task of ANIM will be formidable as they endeavor to determine whether their analysis of the fundamental issues facing the nation aligns with the sentiments of the general public. Only then can it have the critical force and moral ascendancy to marshal a united front for genuine, long-lasting reforms.
Bingo Dejaresco, a former banker, is a financial consultant, media practitioner, and author. He is a Life and Media member of Finex. His views here, however, are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Finex. dejarescobingo@yahoo.com
Treacherous September is leaving traders everywhere on edge
By Ruth Carson & Winnie Hsu
September has traditionally been a terrible month for traders and risks being even harder to navigate in 2024 given lingering questions about the Federal reserve’s anticipated interest-rate cut.
Bonds, stocks and gold have typically suffered losses in the month, as traders reassessed their portfolios after the summer break. The S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average have had their biggest percentage losses since 1950 in the month of September. Bonds have slid in eight of the last 10 Septembers, while bullion has dropped every time since 2017.
Investors may need to prepare for stormier weather this time, facing uncertainties including a crucial US jobs report seen key to the magnitude and frequency of the Fed’s future interest-rate cuts. Stocks trading near records and Treasuries enjoying their longest monthly winning streak in three years look vulnerable to data shocks or surprises from a tight US presidential race.
“Fall comes with falls — especially with markets pricing in so much for Fed cuts and people chasing the ‘Goldilocks’ scenario out there,” said
his term ends on the last day of September. “We are going to resort to the democratic method, so that it is the people who decide, the sovereign people, so that the judges act as public servants, that they are not at the service of a minority or of an economicfinancial consortium,” he said.
In addition to electing judges by popular vote, AMLO’s proposal would reduce the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and cut their term from 15 to 12 years. In his years-long battle against the justices, the president has always complained that they earn more than he does, so he has proposed that their salaries should not be higher than the salary of the president.
He also wants to eliminate the requirement that judges must be at least 35 years old, and halve the years of experience needed in judiciary
Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank in Singapore. “Markets would be more edgy than normal.”
Fresh from a hectic August that featured a brief but brutal global stock rout, investors now look to Friday’s employment data that may shed light on the health of the world’s No. 1 economy and shape the trajectory of the Fed’s upcoming monetary easing campaign.
With a hefty four quarter-point rate cuts currently priced in by the end of this year, there’s heightened risk for wild market swings if the Fed sounds less dovish than expected at its meeting that concludes on Sept. 18.
“September seasonality has a checkered record, with risk-off not uncommon and in election years more dramatic,” Bob Savage, head of markets strategy and insights at BNY, wrote in a note. “There is a sense that the US jobs report ahead
work from 10 to 5.
US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said that loosening the requirements in terms of qualifications and experience could also “make it easier for cartels and other bad actors to take advantage of politically motivated and inexperienced judges.”
Sheinbaum has said the government will act responsibly in the approval of the reform, however, she has emphasized that it will be approved since it’s a popular mandate.
“What we want is that in the judiciary there is also democracy,” she said in a video posted on X on Thursday. “Of course, the ones who should be selected are those who have a good public reputation, who are honest, and who have the knowledge to be judges.”
Consolidating power
AMLO’s proposal was inspired in
Bonds, stocks and gold have typically suffered losses in the month, as traders reassessed their portfolios after the summer break. The S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average have had their biggest percentage losses since 1950 in the month of September. Bonds have slid in eight of the last 10 Septembers, while bullion has dropped every time since 2017.
will determine the course for the rest of the year.”
The S&P 500 has fallen in each of the last four Septembers and this time the non-farm payrolls data may carry added weight for US stocks.
“The market is currently driven by a few mega-cap tech stocks, making it vulnerable to significant drawdowns if these stocks falter,” said Manish Bhargava, chief executive officer at Straits Investment Management in Singapore. “Any surprise could lead to a rapid unwinding of leveraged positions.”
Another source of volatility is
part by Bolivia’s efforts to reform its courts. Other countries had similar experiences: Having Supreme Court justices elected by popular vote is a high-stakes gamble, said Gustavo Flores-Macias, a professor of government and public policy at Cornell University. While judges may issue decisions that they perceive as more closely serving the interests of voters, they can also be a lot more vulnerable to political pressure from other branches of government.
“In Bolivia, where Supreme Court justices are also elected, the legislature screens applicants to generate a subset of candidates for voters to elect,” he said. “This step weeds out inexperienced candidates, but it also lends itself to the selection of finalists that political parties approve of.”
Approximately half of Mexico’s federal judges will be elected by popu-
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s first TV debate next week, an event considered pivotal to the momentum of their campaigns as the election enters its final stretch.
One risk is “the idea of a contested election like what we saw in 2000,” Amy Wu Silverman, head of derivatives strategy at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note. While Fed Chair Jerome Powell has “pretty much removed any debate of ‘Will they, or won’t they?’ for a September rate cut, the big question is ‘How much?’”
Given the high stakes, strategists say caution will be key to navigating markets.
Hedging has been looking “cheap for quite a while,” according to RBC Capital Markets, while LPL Financial sees opportunity in US communication services, energy and health-care stocks. For the current equity market trajectory to remain intact, growth and easy policy will be required, according to BNY.
“Buckle up and ensure extra protection is in place,” said Hebe Chen, an analyst at IG Markets Ltd. With assistance from Joanna Ossinger /Bloomberg
lar vote in 2025, including Supreme Court justices, and the rest in 2027, when the electoral Court judges will be elected, according to the latest version of AMLO’s proposal.
The Supreme Court justices would be given the option to resign before the election of new judges or run for their seat. The former would allow them to keep their full retirement pensions, while the latter would not. Flores-Macias underlined that neither appointed nor elected judges are a panacea for Mexico’s judiciary, since corruption and the politicization of judicial decisions can be present in both systems.
“The Mexican justice system is well known for widespread corruption resulting in generalized impunity, so it’s hardly an example for the rest of the world.” With assistance from Michael O’Boyle /Bloomberg
Gen Z player hits P303.5 Million
jackpot On Casino Plus Color Game
CLARK, PAMPANGA— A Gen Z woman won a staggering P303.5 million On Casino Plus Color Game, as revealed during a press conference on Friday.
According to this Gen Z, her jackpot prize will greatly benefit her family, and her dreams, including owning a house and lot, are now within reach.
During the press conference, the fortunate woman, dressed in a blue coat, face mask, shades, and cap, shared that her initial P50 bet on the gaming platform has remarkably grown to a prize 6 million times its original value. Despite facing financial challenges, she continues to engage with the platform due to the incredible transformation of her bet. Meanwhile, Casino Plus Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Evan Spytma stated that this is just the beginning of a series of jackpot prizes. He expressed confidence that, with ongoing community support, the jackpots will continue to grow in size and frequency.
Spytma advised their recent jackpot winner to invest her winnings wisely to further grow her wealth.
The prize was presented by Rodem R. Perez, CEO and CDC AVP for Business Enhancement. The company emphasized that this e-casino, licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
B1 Wednesday, September 4, 2024
SMC: Supreme Court junks ERC appeal on power deals
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said Tuesday the Supreme Court (SC) denied with finality an appeal filed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) against the power supply agreements (PSas) it forged with the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
The SC decision effectively junked an order that did not allow the power units of the conglomerate to invoke the “change in circumstance” (CIC) in terminating its PSAs with Meralco.
“(SMC) received yesterday afternoon, September 2, 2024, through Poblador Bautista and Reyes Law Offices, the counsel of South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) and San Miguel energy Corp. (SMeC), a copy of the Resolution issued by the
First Division of the Supreme Court dated July 10, 2024, which denied with finality the eRC’s motion for reconsideration of the Court’s April 3, 2024 Resolution as well as its prayer for issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction for lack of merit,” SMC's disclosure read. The SC found “no substantial argument to warrant a modification of this Court’s resolution, the Court further resolved to deny reconsid -
eration with finality.”
When sought for comment, eRC Commissioner Monalisa Dimalanta said her office will consult with government lawyers on how to go about the SC decision. For now, she said, the commission has yet to receive a copy of the SC ruling.
It can be recalled that the eRC did not allow the temporary rate relief petitions jointly filed by Meralco, SPPC and SM e C. They were supposed to implement a fixed-rate over a period of 10 years but SPPC and SM eC cited CIC in their previously approved power rates stated in their 2019 PSAs with Meralco.
The joint plea cited the “change in circumstance” provisions in their PSAs. They argued that the global increases in fuel and coal prices have led to SPPC and SM eC incurring significant losses in operating their power stations that justify their proposed rate increases.
SMC said the power plants have already posted staggering losses of P15 billion and it had already absorbed more than P10 billion.
The eRC ruled that SMC could not invoke CIC. After which, SMC brought the case to the Court of Appeals (CA), which later on reversed eRC’s ruling. The eRC then filed an appeal with the SC.
Dimalanta said the role of the regulator is "always a balancing act."
“The Commission deliberated on many occasions on these Joint Motions fully conscious that the consequences of the ruling go beyond the businesses of the immediate parties but will extend further and demonstrate how we, in the Philippine power industry, honor the sanctity of contracts, uphold the results of bidding process, and hold ourselves accountable to all stakeholders.”
As of press time, SMC did not say if it will pursue the collection of the amounts it claimed before as due to CIC.
For the eRC’s part, Dimalanta said her office will “study again” the implications of the CA decision, “if that is contemplated.”
InDrive sets sights on expansion
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
TRANSPORT network compa-
ny inDrive aims to double the number of its driver-partners to 16,000 from the current 8,000.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, inDrive Marketing Director for Asia Pacific Natalia Makarenko said the company is “growing’ in the Philippines, posting a 96-percent hike in terms of the number of drivers in the last three months.
“We’re working hard together with our partners to enlarge our drivers base because we understand that it’s not only for business development for us, but is also providing
S. Korea probes Telegram
The South Korean police began investigating messaging app Telegram for the first time for its alleged negligence over deepfake-related sex crimes, Yonhap News reported, citing a briefing from the head of National Office of Investigation.
The probe was launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Police and like in other countries, Telegram has been uncooperative in sharing materials with the authorities, investigation office head Woo Jongsoo said, according to Yonhap on Monday. South Korea is doing its best to deploy its own investigating tools to extract the materials, Yonhap said, citing Woo.
The investigation comes less than a week after the South Korean government asked Telegram and other social media companies to delete deepfake images from their platforms after an increase in such content. President Yoon
Suk Yeol last week described deepfake as a “clear crime” and ordered officials to take stern actions to counter it. Bloomberg News
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
Mopportunities of income for those drivers who want to earn a decent amount of money,” she said. however, Mohamed Khalil, inDrive's Regional Driver Acquisition Team Lead for Southeast Asia and Overseas, noted that this 16,000 driver pool is a “nice to have” rather than a hard target.
“We have plans to grow; the 16,000 will be something that we would like to achieve."
To attract more drivers, inDrive is offering a promotional zero percent commission. Down the line, it will start charging a commission rate of “zero to 10 percent.”
“By keeping our commission low, we can offer competitive
rates that benefit everyone involved while continuously innovating to serve all parties. This is what we mean by equitable business—creating a system that works for all, not just a few,” Makarenko said.
Aside from expanding its driver pool, inDrive has also noted an increase in active users, which grew by “86 percent.”
“Our monthly active user base is growing. We are not doubling, but we are growing with the 90-percent growth rate month-on-month. The numbers are increasing lately. Our monthly active user base by the end of the year would be a few thousands,” Makarenko said.
She noted that inDrive will expand to “two to three cities” in the Philippines within the year. earlier this year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued a cease-and-desist order against inDrive for operating with a different fare matrix.
InDrive officially resumed its operations in June, following its compliance with Memorandum Circular 2019-036 or the Fare Rates For Transportation Network Vehicle Services.
Prior to its compliance, inDrive operated under the bid-place fare matrix, which in a nutshell allows passengers to “haggle” fares with drivers nearby through its platform.
ercato Centrale, an outdoor food market in the Philippines, said it has renewed its ties with Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) and forged new partnerships at Bridgetowne Destination estates, a mixed-use township and business park development in Pasig City.
The Mercato Centrale Group said it has renewed its lease with RLC to continue operating at Bridgetowne.
“This renewal ensures the continued operation of the highly popular outdoor food market at Bridgetowne Destination estates, a mixed-use township and business park development located on the border of Pasig and Quezon City,” it said in a statement.
RJ Ledesma, Chief Innovation Officer of Mercato Centrale, cited the “strong and steady” foot traffic at Bridgetowne for the partnership, adding this “makes it the perfect venue for launching new food concepts by our small food business entrepreneurs.”
“Bridgetowne is a family-oriented destination filled with fun outdoor activities like concerts, an obstacle course, a motorcycle riding academy, and FIFA-preferred turf football fields,” Ledesma said.
RLC said it supports the advocacy of Mercato Centrale for small food business entrepreneurship as it “adds another layer of excitement to Bridgetowne.”
In addition to the lease renewal, Mercato Centrale announced new partnerships as it aims to enhance the food market’s offerings.
A collaboration with Okane Kitchen, a company specializing in backend kitchen operations for SMes, will introduce new food concepts to Mercato Centrale's lineup, the food market noted.
“We share a common vision of supporting the growth of SMes, and we’re excited to create exclusive food concepts for Mercato,” said Fritzvon Capulong, CeO of Okane Ventures Corp. Mercato Centrale also said it partnered with Fly Ace Corp., one of the country’s leading food and beverage companies and the exclusive distributor of Franzia Wines.
It said this collaboration will bring the boxed wine experience to Mercato.
“We want to show that Franzia Wines can be enjoyed with any type of food, and Mercato is the ideal environment for this.
With its diverse range of offerings—from Japanese to Korean to Filipino regional and street foods— Mercato provides the perfect backdrop for showcasing the versatility of Franzia Wines," said Philip Opiasa, Senior Business Development Manager at Fly Ace.
Mercato Centrale was launched in 2011 at the Bonifacio Global City Tent. It was established by Ledesma, its co-founder, to support food entrepreneurs.
According to the Mercato Centrale Group’s website, the food market is present in Taguig City and Makati City.
“It has been a fantastic partnership. Mercato has consistently been open to exploring new concepts and initiatives at Bridgetowne," said Jubie Anne Villarte, head of Leasing at RLC Integrated Developments Division.
Photo from the facebook Page of mercato centrale
THE national government raised a total of P30 billion from the auction of Treasury Bonds (T-bonds) last Tuesday, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
The Auction Committee fully awarded the re-issued 20 year bonds that had a remaining tenor of 3 years and 1 day. The T-bonds fetched an average rate of 6.025 percent.
The BTr received P49.435-billion worth of tenders for the issuance which indicated that the T-bonds were 1.6 times oversubscribed. A total of P19.435 billion tenders were rejected by the Committee.
“With its decision, the committee raised the full program of P30 billion, bringing the total outstanding volume for the series to P121.1 billion,” the BTr said.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the average interest rate of 6.02 percent for the the T-bonds is the lowest since February 2024. Ricafort said this is also lower than the “immediate high” of 6.63 percent which was recorded last April 30, 2024. The lower interest rate for the issuance is consistent with the downward trend in inflation.
The latest inflation data for August will be released on Thursday. But the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expect that this will be within 3.2 to 4 percent, which is within the government’s targets for the year (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/08/31/lower-oil-riceprices-slow-august-inflation/).
“(This is) amid lower tariff rate on imported rice, thereby could justify/support further local policy rate cuts that could match future Fed rate cuts expected from 2024-2026,” Ricafort said. Last week, the national government reached its programmed borrowing of P140 billion from the sale of long-term T-bonds for the month of August.
Previously, the BTr raised P30 billion each from the T-bonds issued on August 1, 8 and 15, and generated P25 billion from last week’s auction.
On Wednesday’s auction and the last for August, the Treasury made a full award of the reissued 20-year Tbonds and borrowed P25 billion from the domestic debt market.
Cai U. Ordinario
Banking&Finance
Bangsamoro Govt given nod for ODA
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) can now negotiate and secure Official Development Assistance (ODA) financing for various projects.
This was after the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB) approved the guidelines on ODA loans for the Barmm on Tuesday.
The IFPB was created under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to deal with revenue imbalances and fluctuations in the regional financial needs and revenue-raising capacity of the Barmm.
AYALA-owned Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) was tapped by Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc (CCEP) to “partly finance” its acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Phils. Inc. (CCBPI).
The acquisition of CCBPI, the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the country, from the Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) in Atlanta, is a $1.8 billion-worth deal.
“With this collaboration, we take a significant step towards supporting growth strategies and job creation,” said BPI President and CEO Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco through a statement. “We strive to create more business opportunities as we con-
BANK of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterated last Tuesday that the central bank will continue to raise interest rates if the economy and prices perform as expected by the BOJ, a comment that supported further gains in the yen. Ueda made the remark in a document submitted to a government panel chaired by outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in which he explained the BOJ’s July policy decision.
The yen firmed against the dollar following the release of the comment, adding to gains for the day as Japan’s currency bucked a weakening trend among G-10 currencies.
The yen continued to gain ground to briefly reach 145.61 at around 5:36 p.m. in Tokyo.
The comments served to remind market
“With these ODA guidelines, we are equipping the Barmm with the tools needed to shape its future and write its own success story,” IFPB CoChair and Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said.
“This unlocks limitless opportunities for the Barmm––from infrastructure development to socioeconomic programs that
create jobs, boost incomes and lift communities out of poverty,” Recto added.
Pursuant to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the ODA guidelines authorize the Bangsamoro Government to contract loans, in cash or in kind. These loans can be secured from governments of foreign countries, their agencies and instrumentalities or multilateral institutions or organizations.
Under the guidelines, the Bangsamoro Government can take out loans to finance investment, social and economic development projects for the welfare of the people of the Bangsamoro.
“For us in [the] Barmm, this is more than just a tick on our to-do list, but a step-board on the ladder toward Barmm’s fiscal sustainability, toward the achievement of the Bangsamoro Development Plan, toward the advancement of the
tribute to building a better Philippines.”
The agreement involves a 60-percent to 40-percent ownership structure between the CCEP and the AEV. According to the BPI, the acquisition builds on CCEP’s expansion into Australia, the Pacific and Indonesia (API) in 2021.
This partnership is founded on mutual trust and shared goals, according to Limcaoco. He expressed gratitude to the AEV and the CCEP “for the trust and confidence” in the lender.
The CCBPI is engaged in the manufacturing, production, sale and trade of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages with brands including Coke, Royal
players that despite the meltdown in global markets that was partly triggered by the BOJ’s July rate hike, Ueda remains committed to raising borrowing costs provided the bank’s forecasts materialize. In the past, the governor has periodically updated the government panel on latest developments in monetary policy.
Around two-thirds of economists surveyed after the slide in markets last month still see the BOJ moving again by the end of the year with 41% of respondents flagging December as the most likely timing.
Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Japan unit expects the central bank to raise rates as soon as January. The company says it is ready to actively invest in ultra longterm government bonds as their yields rise
Pwelfare of the people in Barmm and toward our contribution to the achievement of our country’s sustainable development goals,” Barmm Minister of Finance, Budget and Management Ubaida C. Pacasem said.
The guidelines stated that these loans can be used to finance investments only in the absence of other financial instruments in the capital market and that it must contain a grant element of 25 percent.
However, ODA funds cannot be used for telephone programs, projects required by law to be handled by the private sector, or for financing private corporations that have access to commercial credit.
The guidelines also stated that the Bangsamoro Government’s instrumentalities that may be involved in the ODA loan process, the pertinent documents for technical and financial evaluation, as well as the
procedure for the approval of ODA loans to the Barmm will be done in coordination with the National Government.
Based on the National Economic and Development Authority’s ODA Portfolio Review, the Barmm received the fifth-largest amount of ODA commitments nationwide. The data showed of the $37.29 billion total ODA commitments received by the country, a total of $579.83
and Sprite. To date, the CCBPI operates 18 manufacturing facilities and almost 70 sales offices and distribution centers across the country.
On Tuesday, BPI shares closed at P123 per share, a three percent decline from the P126 per share close on Monday. During trading, BPI shares sold at a high of P127.4 per share and a low of P122.9 per share.
As of December 31, 2023, BPI has 709 branches across the country. Overseas, BPI has one branch in Hong Kong and two branches in London. BPI also has 1,743 automated teller machines and 343 cash accept machines. Cai U. Ordinario
to more attractive levels.
In Tuesday’s comments, Ueda again indicated that the economic environment remains accommodative even after the July hike, with real interest rates continuing to be significantly negative. He said that current rates are solidly supporting economic activity. Ueda’s unwavering position comes as Arif Husain, head of fixed-income at T. Rowe Price warned that there may be more market volatility ahead.
Four private-sector members of the government panel, including business lobby Keidanren head Masakazu Tokura, also submitted a proposal Tuesday suggesting there’s a need to manage macroeconomic policy steadily, citing last month’s market turmoil. Bloomberg News
Yen-shock predictor sounds alarm anew
ARIF HUSAIN says he was early in sounding the alarm on Japan’s rising interest rates last year, which he described as the “San Andreas fault of finance.”
The head of fixed-income at T. Rowe Price is now warning that investors have “just seen the first shift in that fault, and there is more” market volatility ahead after the nation’s rate hike in July helped trigger a sharp reversal of the yen carry trade.
While a hawkish Bank of Japan and concern around slowing US growth helped trigger strong demand for the yen on August 5, investors may be ignoring a deeper root of the global tumble on stocks, currencies and bonds, Husain wrote in a report. This includes loads of Japanese money invested offshore that risks getting shipped back home as rates climb ever higher in the world’s fourthlargest economy.
“The scapegoating of the yen carry trade ignores the start of a bigger and deeper trend,” according to Husain, whose firm oversees about $1.57 trillion in assets. “BOJ monetary tightening and its impact on the flow of global capital is far from simple, and it will have a large influence over the next few years.”
The sudden abandonment of the yen carry trade, which involves selling Japan’s currency to invest in higher yielding assets, helped sink the Nikkei 225 Stock Average by the most since 1987 and fueled a surge in the VIX index of stock market volatility. Economists briefly predicted the Federal Reserve would need to cut interest rates by half a point or act between meetings—the kind of step usually reserved for a crisis.
While the yen has settled in a mid-140s trading range against the dollar, volatility remains elevated. The Fed’s anticipated rate cuts and further BOJ tightening could jolt markets again sooner rather than later.
Husain, who has nearly three decades of investing experience, favors an overweight allocation to Japanese government bonds on the view capital is likely to flow back to the nation as yields climb. He also likes an underweight position in US Treasuries—securities he sees potentially coming under pressure as Japanese institutions move out of the US for home.
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
AYMENT systems operator Digido Finance Corp. announced the integration of QR Ph with the online payment gateway operated by Dragonpay Corp. Digido Business Development Manager Rose Arreco said the integration enables financial technology company’s clients to use a QR Ph code for cash loan payments and quickly repay their outstanding loans by scanning or uploading
a static or reusable QR Ph code through a wide range of electronic wallets or banking apps. This facilitates open banking and financial inclusion, ensuring seamless and stress-free transactions within minutes.
Under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular 1055, all participating payment service providers, including banks and non-bank electronic money issuers (EMIs), are required to adopt QR Ph, also referred to as the National QR Code Standard. Aside from ensuring the safety, reliability and efficiency of operations
of payment systems, having a national QR standard has transformed the fragmented QR-driven payment services in the country into interoperable payment solutions.
“This initiative gives our clients much more flexibility when using their cash loans as well as facilitating positive loan repayment behavior. The growing trust and preference for digital channels, including lending, should be met with integrations like these to increase access to timely financing options,” Arreco said.
“With the integration of QR Ph, this partnership highlights Dragonpay’s commitment to expanding digital payment access, aligning seamlessly with Digido’s mission to ensure underserved Filipinos gain safe and inclusive entry into the nation’s digital financial ecosystem,” Dragonpay CEO Robertson Chiang said. Arreco said Digido’s clients can monitor the repayment section of the platform’s official website as well as its official Facebook and Instagram pages for step-by-step procedures on using QR Ph as a loan repayment option.
Husain warned about the impact of rising Japan rates in June 2023, when the yen was trading around the 140 per dollar level. The currency fell to as low as 161.95 per dollar this July, handing carry trade investors a hefty return if they had used it as a source of funds and got out before the August melt-up.
Yields on Japan’s 10-year government bonds rose 1.5 basis points to 0.92 percent on Tuesday, the highest since August 6.
“At some point, higher Japanese yields could attract the country’s huge life insurance and pension investors back into JGBs from other high-quality government bonds,” Husain wrote. “In effect, this would rearrange demand in the global market.” Bloomberg News
and rates strategy at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore. “An in-line payroll outcome may be enough for the market to pare back some near-term Fed rates cut expectations.”
Bloomberg’s dollar gauge posted its first back-to-back monthly drop this year in August as Fed Chair Jerome Powell said “the time has come” to adjust policy.
Still investors are questioning whether US economic growth and inflation have slowed enough to lead the central bank into a 50 basis point rate cut at its Sept. 17-18 meeting. The first test for the market would be the August ISM manufacturing data due later Tuesday. The gauge will probably rebound for the first time since March, economists forecast. “The greenback remains at risk of further bullish extension should the US August ISM manufacturing surprise to the upside and spur a more material repricing of rate cut bets,” Malayan Banking Bhd strategists led by Saktiandi Supaat wrote in a note.
The dollar’s strength weighed on most Group-of-10 currencies on Tuesday. Australia’s dollar fell the most as iron-ore futures dropped and a key input for gross domestic product fell short of economist estimates. The yen outperformed after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda reiterated his plan to tighten policy further.
“The Fed says it is data dependent and thus the market has become heavily data dependent as well,” said Karl Steiner, head of analysis at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB. That makes it interesting to observe where market conditions are stretched, with positioning more neutral on the yen than in early August, he said. Bloomberg News
Unlearning in the workplace: Part 1
IN today’s fast-changing business world, unlearning is gaining importance for teams and leaders who need to swiftly adjust to these shifts. It involves letting go of outdated beliefs, behaviors and routines to better align with the evolving dynamics in an organization’s environment. While learning new skills and knowledge is often emphasized, unlearning can be just as important in adapting to a volatile, uncertain, complex and uncertain setting, especially in the field of technology. The faster people adapt to the changes, the faster they are to recover and maintain their competitive advantage. If you want your team to have personal and professional growth, organizational adaptability and long-term success, they need to know how to unlearn.
Unlearning is not simply the opposite of learning or forgetting. It is a conscious process of discarding old knowledge and behaviors that are no longer relevant or effective in doing your work. It involves evaluating long-held assumptions, challenging the status quo, or being open to new ways of thinking and working. In the workplace, unlearning means letting go of traditional methods that are no longer productive and useful with the current operational environment. There have been exponential changes in the past decade alone resulting in technological advancements, fluid market dynamics and evolving consumer preferences which require businesses to continually improve their products and services. In
such an environment, clinging to outdated knowledge and practices can hinder innovation which could possibly make your organization irrelevant. For instance, team members who are resistant to new technologies may struggle to keep up with their peers and are eventually let go for their inefficiencies. Organizations who stick to outdated business models may find themselves overtaken by more agile competitors. In order to thrive, leaders and teams need to unlearn what they used to know and adapt to new processes and learn new skills to succeed. Unlearning allows individuals and teams to remain flexible and responsive to change. It enables your team to embrace new ideas and approaches, developing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Clearly, unlearning is a key driver of competitive advantage.
For your team, unlearning is closely tied to personal and professional development and satisfaction. Many professionals have built their careers on specific skills and knowledge. However, as industries evolve, the skills that once made them successful may become less and less relevant to current conditions. Unlearning helps individuals shed these outdated skills and embrace new ones, allowing them to remain competitive in the job market. In addition, unlearning can lead to greater self-awareness and satisfaction. By examining and discarding outdated beliefs and biases, your team can develop a more open and inclusive mindset which is important in diverse workplaces where collaboration and mutual respect are essential for the team’s success.
For unlearning to be effective in the workplace, it must be supported by a culture that encourages curiosity, experimentation and risk-taking. Leaders play a crucial role in this by modeling the behavior they wish to see in their teams. This means being willing to admit when a strategy is no longer working, encouraging feedback from their team and other departments, and rewarding employees who embrace change. When leaders understand what is needed
to change and have the courage to do so, their teams benefit because they know that their leader will do whatever they can to prepare them for future challenges at work.
Teams can also support unlearning through continuous education and training programs. These programs should not only focus on teaching new skills but also on helping employees recognize when it is time to let go of old skills and process. Creating a safe environment where employees feel comfortable questioning established practices is key to fostering a culture of unlearning.
Despite its importance, unlearning can also be challenging. People naturally resist change especially when it threatens their established sense of competence and identity. Unlearning requires a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone and accept that they could fail. I remember a time in my previous team when we were using a new tool for making microlearning modules and everyone was hesitant to use it. It took one person who successfully made a module before everyone had the courage to use it. After some time, it became the only tool we used.
To overcome the challenges of unlearning, it is essential to approach unlearning with a growth mindset. Looking at unlearning as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat can help individuals and teams embrace the process. Additionally, providing support through coaching, mentoring and peer learning can ease the transition and reinforce the benefits of unlearning.
In a time of constant change, unlearning is a vital skill for both individuals and teams. It enables adaptability, fosters innovation, and drives personal and professional growth. By cultivating a culture that values unlearning, teams can better navigate the complexities of the modern business environment and position themselves for long-term success. For team members, unlearning opens the door to new opportunities and a more fulfilling career. Embracing unlearning is not just a choice but a necessity in today’s ever-evolving workplace. ■
6 tips on building and maintaining healthy relationships
STRONG personal relationships are essential for everyone’s overall well-being.
Founded on trust, honesty, respect and communication, these bonds keep us happy and thus physically healthier. It lowers rates of anxiety and depression, strengthens the immune system, boosts self-esteem, and improves the quality of life.
The experts from the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) champions the significance of nurturing these social ties, from family and friends to members of the local community.
“However, it is not just about having any social connections. It is about the quality of these relationships that we build,” they explained.
“Having strong, stable and fulfilling relationships help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, and eventually improve our mental health,” they added.
To guide the general public, the specialists shared the top tips from the Mental Health Foundation, a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to researching, developing and promoting new ways to protect good mental health.
■ GET TO KNOW YOURSELF. Take time
to appreciate yourself. Get in touch with your emotions. Regulate your feelings to express yourself clearly and more effectively.
■ PUT IN THE WORK. Healthy relationships are not found but built. It needs commitment and willingness to accommodate each other’s needs.
■ SET AND RESPECT BOUNDARIES. Let the people around you know where your boundaries are. For example, respecting your time alone takes the pressure off your relationship.
■ TALK AND LISTEN. All relationships have disagreements. That is okay. What matters is how you handle it. Listen to understand—not to respond. Do not be afraid to articulate your sentiments or vulnerabilities with those you trust.
■ LET GO OF CONTROL. A lot of life is about how we react to our encounters and experiences. Remember: you can only really control what you do—save your time and stress.
■ REFLECT AND LEARN. If you have a healthy way of expressing your feelings, you can also react to other people’s emotions well. Anger often comes from a place of hurt. If you can recognize that, you can communicate it to establish better ties. Reflect on the qualities of relationships that work best in your life.
By Eugenia Last
HAPPY
be happy and do something energetic and fun to help you engage with like-minded people. Expand your awareness and interests; you’ll learn something new and discover your comfort zone. Trust your instincts, do what feels right and walk away from negativity and those standing in your way. ★★★
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Build a strong base, good friendships and a healthy lifestyle. Don’t leave details up to someone who doesn’t share your vision. Control situations, create opportunities and spare yourself the aggravation of uncertainty or disappointment. ★★★
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Broaden your outlook, expand your interests and engage in something that motivates you to participate more. What you discover about yourself will give you more confidence to strive for a better, more efficient lifestyle. ★★★★★
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take better care of yourself, your surroundings and your relationships with those nearby. Learn from experience, and you’ll find a unique way to handle sensitive situations. Refuse to let emotions cost you or cause setbacks you can avoid by thinking before responding. ★★★★
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Give a shout-out to those you agree with and join forces to ensure you contribute to making a difference. There is power in numbers, and participating in something you believe in will positively impact you and your stomping grounds. ★★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Think about the best way forward, unleash your energy and plan strategically to make every move count. Refuse to let outside interference come between you and your target. Trust in yourself, your ability and your inner force to get you to the finish line. ★★★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Refuse to let outside influences cause you grief or disrupt your peace of mind. Pay attention to what brings you joy and distance yourself from drama, chaos and those trying to engage you in something detrimental to your emotional well-being. ★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Help those less able or fortunate. Participate in events that encourage progress and a better life for everyone. Be the one to start a movement, make a difference or educate those who have lost their way. ★★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be the one to set high standards; ultimately, it will pay rewards. Detail, discipline and honesty will be less important to someone you least expect. Keep your guard up, keep your secrets to yourself and keep your progress top-notch. ★★★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Consider your next move, evaluate your choices and plan your actions carefully. The wrong move will be costly, and the time and effort you put into your decision will make a difference. Explore your options, reset your agenda and refuse to let emotional interference throw you off your game. ★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re in the groove and must trust your instincts. Look, see and do what feels right, and don’t waste time. Expect to go it alone and ignore those trying to deter you from what’s important to you. Consistency and preservation are your path to victory. ★★★★★
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The aim is to simplify your life, not make it more complicated. Indulge in heart-to-heart talks, gather information and insight into what’s possible, and stop waffling about what to do next. ★★★
BIRTHDAY BABY: You are clever, intense and speculative. You are detailed and influential.
Show BusinessMirror
Angelina Jolie dazzles Venice Film Festival with ‘Maria,’ a biopic about opera legend Maria Callas
CONTROVERSIAL GIFT
THE recent event where a fan gave a controversial gift to a popular artist has sparked several discussions online. The fan insists that she had management’s permission to give the gift. The security during the event was so tight that it was impossible to approach any of the artists if you weren’t proud of the program. This brings us to the question of whether someone in the artist’s management decided over the talent, who was happy with the gift but expressed surprise at it. Does the management make personal decisions for the girls now?
STINGY HOW true is it that the husband of a famous actress is so stingy to the point that he wants his wife to reduce her expenses even if she is basically spending her own money? The non-showbiz husband is the one managing the family’s finances and to be fair, he has done a good job. He has invested in good properties and his wife’s money is making even more money. However, he also controls what she does with her earnings. This must be difficult for her as she’s known for being generous to her family, friends and staff.
JUST LIKE DAD?
THE young star is the son of a A-list actor. He tried to make a name for himself abroad in order to get out of his father’s shadow, so to speak. But in a way, even away from the country, he has sort of followed his dad’s footsteps. The young star now has a boyfriend and he seems to be happy and thriving. Being openly gay is not something the young star cannot do openly in the Philippines without being ridiculed. The actor used to be the boyfriend of a starlet who is now famous.
SHE CHEATED
THE pretty starlet is now very happy with her beau, a male starlet, and they have a child. Not too long ago, when she and her lover were on a break, the pretty starlet hooked up with a then-married hunky actor who kind of fell in love with her eventually. However, things were not meant to be because the starlet prioritized her kid over her own wants. And to think that during this time, the public thought her lover had dumped her when it was she who cheated.
By Lindsey Bahr and Louise Dixon
The Associated Press
VENICE, Italy—For Angelina Jolie, portraying the famed opera singer Maria Callas meant more to her than she can put into words.
“I felt such a privilege to feel like I got to know this woman and got to be inside her skin a moment.
I really care for her deeply,” Jolie told The Associated Press a few hours before the film’s world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on Thursday. “I think I’ll carry that like a friend.”
Jolie looked every part the movie star on the red carpet Thursday evening in a champagne-colored gown custom made by Tamara Ralph with a fur stole.
Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín called on Jolie to take on the role as the legendary soprano in Maria, which was recently acquired by Netflix for distribution. The film focuses on the final week of her life in 1977, in Paris. She is deeply isolated, with only her butler (Pierfrancesco Favino) and housemaid (Alba Rohrwacher) looking after her—concerned about her health, the drugs and the devastating ripple effects of her diminished voice.
Larraín, a Venice regular, continues to explore the lives of very famous women with tragic narratives attached to them. In 2016, he came to the festival with his Jackie Kennedy portrait, Jackie, starring Natalie Portman as the first lady in the aftermath of her husband’s assassination. In 2021 he returned with Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana as she considered divorce over the Christmas holiday in Spencer. Both films earned their leads best actress Oscar nominations.
Maria is the so-called conclusion to this trilogy of historical women, though Callas may be a bit less known to younger generations who weren’t around for the headlines and scandals. Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in New York, the singer made her professional debut in Athens as a 17-year-old.
She was reluctant to compare fame in Callas’ time to the present moment. “I didn’t live then. I guess hard in different ways, easy in different ways,” Jolie said. “She was celebrated as one of the most wonderful artists and she also had food thrown at her and insulted and lied about. So I don’t know. She must have felt...she must have felt very alone.”
During her brief life she became one of the greatest opera singers of all time with her unparalleled voice and stage presence. But the accolades also came with the intense scrutiny of her life in the public eye, whether it was her exacting demands and “diva” behavior, her weight or her romantic life. Callas famously had a relationship with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis who left her for Jackie Kennedy. She died in Paris at age 53 after a heart attack.
“When I put her big glasses on and her Greek hair and I sat in my little robe as an older lady, I felt a [Maria] that felt like the private [Maria] that the world didn’t know,” Jolie said. “And I connected to her first and, and kind of loved her.”
Jolie made a grand entrance on the docks of the Hotel Excelsior, on the Lido, posing for photographers in a golden acid-colored Tom Ford jersey kaftan dress with hair long and loose. For the press conference, she’d changed into a slim black maxi dress.
Jolie trained for nearly seven months to prepare for the role. The singing in the film is a blend of actor and the real thing. “My first days, [Larraín] was very good to me in that we started in a more intimate first with very few crew members,” Jolie said. “And we ended at La Scala with everyone. So I had a little time to get my nerve. But this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was terrified.”
Larraín said it was “the only way to do it.”
“Opera requires a very particular style of singing— in the pitch, the color, the breathing, the posture,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a tiny bit of Angie and mostly Maria and then sometimes it’s more, but it’s always there. We needed to do that because it’s the only way that she could properly prepare the character, play it right and then create the right illusion.”
Jolie has twice been nominated for acting Oscars. She won for her supporting role in Girl, Interrupted, and was last nominated for her leading
NEWJEANS TO HEADLINE COKE STUDIO PHILIPPINES’ ‘THE ULTIMATE FANDOM CONCERT’
FOR the past seven seasons, Coke Studio (www.cocacola.com/ph/en) has been showcasing diverse Filipino artists, propelling both emerging and established artists to connect with their audience through the universal language of music. By uniting artists from different backgrounds, Coke Studio blends their passions into unique sounds that bridge generations and genres.
Now, with Season 8, Coke Studio is putting fans first, with many fan-centered activities lined up that both the artists and fans will surely enjoy. And for its big-bang festivity, Coke Studio will take center stage at The Ultimate Fandom Concert this September 5, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. In this exciting event, Asian pop enthusiasts will rejoice as P-pop meets K-pop like never before.
Headlining this year’s fanfest is global sensation NewJeans. Since debuting in 2022, the 4th generation group has won fans over with their nostalgic sound and modern Y2K aesthetic.
Raising the flag for OPM and P-pop are the Coke Studio Philippines Season 8 artists: P-pop powerhouse ALAMAT, Gen Z performer and actor Kyle Echarri, hip-hop hitmaker Nik Makino, and rising rebel rapper Illest Morena. They’ll be performing their collaboration songs for this season for the first time, which will surely be one of the main highlights of the concert. And as icing on the
and
role in Clint Eastwood’s Changeling. Netflix has not announced specific release plans for Maria, but Jolie’s performance already has awards buzz behind it.
The actor is also expected to depart Venice before her ex-husband Brad Pitt arrives for the premiere of his film Wolfs on Sunday. Though legally single since 2019, they are still fighting over issues like custody, finances and a winery in France.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, a journalist asked Jolie if there were surprising ways she related to Callas. “There’s a lot I won’t say in this room that you probably know, or assume,” Jolie said. But, she said, she feels they do both share a softness and a vulnerability. The film also made her reconsider her idea of the word “diva.”
“I’ve relearned that word through Maria,” she said.
“And I have a new relationship to it.” Larraín added:
“Whatever we think about a diva, a diva would never exist if there wasn’t excellence in what she does.” Maria is among the 21 features competing for the festival’s awards which will be announced on September 7. n
WHAT IS A HERO? FIND THE ANSWER IN ‘SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY’ THE man you knew, the story you didn’t. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story opens only in cinemas October 16. Tickets are now available.
Christopher and Dana Reeve’s dedication to curing spinal cord injury and improving quality of life for individuals, caregivers and families impacted by paralysis continues through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Individuals and the community can get involved today at www.christopherreeve.org/donate.
The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate the big screen today.
Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a nearfatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care—all while continuing his career in cinema in front of and behind the camera, and dedicating himself to his beloved family.
From the directors of McQueen, Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, this film includes never-before-seen intimate home movies and an extraordinary trove of personal archive material, as well as the first extended interviews ever filmed with Reeve’s three children about their father, and interviews with the A-list Hollywood actors who were Reeve’s colleagues and friends. The film is a moving and vivid cinematic telling of Reeve’s remarkable story. In cinemas on October 16, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.
RHEA Generics, Bayer Philippines Unite to provide quality, affordable Stroke-Prevention Medication
IN a milestone move that promises to transform healthcare accessibility in the Philippines, PHILUSA Corporation forged a partnership with Bayer Philippines to bring forth a new era of world-class quality medicines at affordable prices through RHEA Generics.
The ceremonial signing event was held at the Bayer Philippines Head Office earlier this year led by President and General Manager of PHILUSA Corporation Neogin Evangelista, Managing Director and Country Division Head of Bayer Philippines Angel Michaelo Evangelista, and Vice President for Merchandising of Mercury Drug Corporation Corazon Lim.
This partnership marks the 12th collaboration for RHEA Generics, with Bayer Philippines joining the roster of PHILUSA Corporation’s global pharmaceutical partners. Together, these industry giants aim to provide Filipino patients with an effective product for the prevention of stroke and treatment of thromboembolic events.
“We’re here to help Filipino patients in accessing affordable generic medicines while ensuring their quality, safety, and efficacy,” said PHILUSA’s Evangelista.
The Philippines, with its diverse demographic and varying lifestyle patterns, is witnessing an increase in cases of stroke. According to the Department of Health (DOH), stroke is included in the top three leading causes of death in the country, affecting both urban and rural populations.
Bayer Philippines’ Evangelista shared that there are more than half a million patients affected by this disease, and the partnership aims to redefine the standards of healthcare affordability and availability. “Our mission is health for all. We are committed to ensuring that
Alex Manzano (1st from right), NutriAsia Cabuyao Plant Operations Manager, received the token of appreciation.
Eastwood City: Born Ready for the Next Generation
EASTWOOD City, the iconic landmark in the heart of Quezon City, continues to lead the way in redefining urban experiences in the Philippines. Known for its groundbreaking innovations, Eastwood City is setting new benchmarks for the future of urban living with its forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence. At the forefront of its evolution is the Eastwood Next Gen initiative, a testament to Eastwood City’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the urban landscape. This initiative builds on its legacy of innovation, with a keen focus on integrating cuttingedge trends and meeting the evolving needs of its vibrant community.
One of the township’s standout initiatives is Eastwood City’s pioneering introduction as the first-ever pet-friendly retail space in the country. This innovative development allowed pet owners to enjoy shopping while bringing their furry friends along, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and convenience.
Additionally, Eastwood City continues to celebrate and promote Filipino culture through its Walk of Fame, a unique feature that pays tribute to the legends of Philippine cinema and entertainment — the first and only one of its kind in the Philippines. This display not only honors these iconic figures but also strengthens Eastwood City’s role as a cultural hub, highlighting its dedication to
further support and celebrate local talent.
As the originator of the township concept in the Philippines, Eastwood City remains at the forefront of urban development since its establishment. It integrated the aspects of retail, dining, entertainment, residential, and commercial spaces and set a new standard for urban living, influencing developments nationwide. This visionary approach has paved the way for future projects that continue to inspire innovation across the industry.
Eastwood City’s recent accolade underscores its success in adapting to contemporary trends and exceeding visitor expectations as it was named Retail Asia’s Mall of the Year for 2024. Looking ahead, Eastwood City is poised to continue its evolution, striving to enhance the urban experience and uphold its reputation as a cutting-edge destination. With a clear focus on the future, Eastwood City remains committed to delivering a dynamic and forward-thinking urban environment that sets the stage for the next generation of urban living.
For more updates on the latest happenings, visit megaworld-lifestylemalls. com or call their hotline at 8-4628888 or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram (@ MegaworldLifestyleMalls), and TikTok (@ megaworldlifestylemalls).
stroke-prevention medicine is available through our partner, RHEA Generics. This will provide enhanced patient access to high-quality and affordable medicine.”
The wide distribution reach of Mercury Drug is also instrumental in making public health within reach. Lim stated, “Our customers are assured of availability, affordability, and accessibility.”’
Launched in 2014, RHEA Generics is a uni-brand of innovative generic medicines developed in partnership with global leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, namely: Pfizer, Viatris, Sanofi, GSK, Otsuka, Merck, Fresenius Kabi, OEP Philippines, Lundbeck, Boehringer Ingelheim, and AstraZeneca. Its portfolio of medicines includes treatments for hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, respiratory infections, and chronic kidney disease, among others.
RHEA Generics are available at Mercury Drug Store branches nationwide. RHEA Generics products is a homegrown brand of PHILUSA Corporation and a pioneer in the generics industry with more than 40 years of experience in
producing world-class quality and affordable healthcare products. For more information and updates, follow
Sun Life Foundation boosts access to clean water in Palawan
CLEAN drinking water is now accessible to certain remote areas in Palawan, following the completion of a project led by Sun Life FinancialPhilippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) in cooperation with the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (Forest Foundation) and the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines (Canadian Embassy). Its completion benefits 4,362 households or a population of 18,904 individuals in three different barangays within Palawan, including Brgy. New Busuanga in Busuanga; Brgy. 6 in Coron; and Brgy. Malaking Patag in Culion.
Initiated in January this year, the project was launched to increase the capacity of the Calamianes Watersheds and improve the availability and resilience of clean water in the islands. This was done
Plan Your
via a two-pronged approach: by enhancing forest management and protection and by providing rainwater harvesting facilities
IT’S always exciting to travel, but finding the perfect vacation spot can become a stressful and pricey adventure especially if it involves getting a visa. Thankfully, there are many visa-free countries that Filipinos can visit, offering a joyful and hassle-free adventure. Finding the best flights and accommodations to these destinations becomes much easier with the right platforms such as a one-stop online booking platform like Airpaz that turns the travel planning process into a breeze, ensuring a seamless vacation.
Here are the top five countries Pinoy travelers can visit:
1. Thailand. Known for its iconic beaches, namely Phi Phi and Phuket islands, Thailand is the perfect destination for those seeking a balance between serenity and exciting nightlife. Packed
with stunning temples and fantastic food, Thailand is a beautiful holiday destination that is budget-friendly.
2. Singapore. One of the most prosperous countries in Asia, the Lion City is an upscale destination with stunning architecture and great food. In addition to visiting the world-famous Merlion, Filipinos can let out their inner child at Universal Studios Singapore.
3. Vietnam. A country full of scenic locations and a massive history, Vietnam is perfect for the curious and the adventurous alike. Vietnam boasts temples, beaches, the bustling city life found at Ho Chi Minh, and, of course, their world-famous coffee in Hanoi. Vietnam is a budget-friendly destination that will surely capture one’s heart.
4. Taiwan. With scenic locations such as the one found at the Taipei 101 and one of the few countries where Filipinos can
and supporting the application of the 3R (Recharge, Retention, and Reuse) water technologies.
With these measures, the project hopes to better safeguard the Calamianes’ forests and increase their watersheds’ capacity to sustain the water needs of the population.
“We are delighted to see the completion of this project, knowing the benefits it will bring our community beneficiaries. This not only brings to life our health advocacy but likewise our sustainability priorities, as it supports biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation,” says Kristine Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation. “We thank Forest Foundation and the Canadian Embassy for taking this journey with us and helping us touch more lives.”
Sun Life Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines.
experience snow without getting a visa, Taiwan is a foodie haven with history and culture. An excellent option for first-time travelers, this country has something for everyone.
5. Hong Kong. A crowd-favorite among Filipinos because of its proximity to the country and affordability, Hong Kong offers more than just Disneyland. Hong Kong has a vast culture, the best cable car experience that offers great sights at the Ngong Ping 360, and stunning outdoors. Simplify your journey by exploring these enchanting destinations where Filipino travelers can roam freely, unburdened by visa hassles. Planning the best vacation takes preparation, and this is where Airpaz can make holiday planning so much easier. Airpaz elevates travel booking with its user-friendly nterface, seamlessly guiding users through flight and accommodation options. Whether seeking budget-friendly or luxury stays, Airpaz offers a comprehensive variety of choices to suit every traveler’s needs. Security is paramount, with trusted payment methods ensuring peace of mind throughout transactions. Regular special offers and discounts make travel affordable without compromising quality. With excellent customer support and mobile accessibility, Airpaz emerges as the preferred app for smart travelers, facilitating effortless vacation planning from start to finish.
Traveling to these visa-free destinations is made easy with Airpaz. One’s next unforgettable trip is only a few taps away. Start traveling now by visiting the Airpaz website and downloading the Airpaz app, which is available on iOS and Android.
PHILUSA President & General Manager Neogin Evangelista; Mercury Drug Corporation VP for Merchandising Corazon Lim; Bayer Philippines Managing Director and Country Division Head Corazon Lim with the PHILUSA Team
the social media pages RHEA Generics PH on Facebook and rheagenericsph on Instagram.
CABUYAO CITY TOP TAXPAYER. On the occasion of the 12th Anniversary of the Cityhood of Cabuyao, the Local Government Unit headed by Mayor Dennis “DENHA” Hain (5th from left), recognized the city’s top corporate taxpayers in an evening of thanksgiving during the Taxpayers’ Night held at the Okada Hotel last August 5, 2024. NutriAsia, manufacturer of the Philippines’ best condiments and sauces, including iconic brands – Datu Puti, Silver Swan, Locally, UFC, Jufran, Golden Fiesta, and Mang Tomas, was among those recognized.
SUN Life Foundation Director Kristine Millete
Flights and accommodations made easy with Airpaz.
Editor: Tet Andolong
Flexible working space continues to grow
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
The co-working space, also known as the flexible working space, is considered to be a game changer in the office market. Moreover, it has now become a pervasive element in the local work culture as more companies are adopting flexible work solutions.
The pandemic saw the office sector transition leading to an incorporation of digital tools and platforms which have shown their effectiveness and convenience becoming essential components of modern business operations. Video conferencing software, cloud-based collaboration tools and virtual project management systems now play a role in routines offering flexibility and efficiency that traditional office setups struggle to match.
The flexible workspace industry is also a source of office demand, according to Lobien Realty Group CEO Sheila Lobien. She added that the flexible office setup will be a component of the office space strategy of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and traditional companies in terms of their business continuity, natural growth, and investment risk management strategies.
“More than 240,000 sq m are currently being occupied by flexible office space companies and more than 100,000 coworking office space have put up shop in the Philippines in the past three years. We expect this to continue, although at a slower pace, over the next three years,” Lobien said.
Showing impressive growth rate A CCELER 8 by UnionSpace, a key player in the flexible workspace industry, has shown impressive growth over the past few years and continues to meet the needs of the modern workforce.
Alleli Virtucio-Navalta, HR Manager at Loop Contact Solutions and a member of the Acceler8 community, pointed out that several companies still depend on the hastily implemented during the pandemic. In response to the changing trends in the workplace, Navalta said Acceler8 adapted its services to address the financial constraints faced by many businesses. A range of practical office solutions were provided, tailored to the needs of enterprises struggling with the economic repercussions of the pandemic.
The role of serviced offices for scalability and convenience N AVALTA said the adoption of the hybrid work model reflects the specific needs of different industries and roles. She observed that organizations that have embraced a flexible hybrid approach are increasingly turning to smaller, more affordable office spaces. This trend not only aligns
The houses would have the California Mission-style architecture.
The units would be selling between P7 million to P14 million at their initial selling.
Norte
By Manuel T. Cayon
PANABO CITY , d avao del Norte—The Floirendo-owned d amosa Land is cutting edges on its property here to construct a middle-end subdivision as follow through to its earlier housing enclave which is selling as fast as it projected to be.
The d amosa Land is opening the Agriya Gardens, just beside its recently carved Ameria residential subdivision, and its President, Ricardo F. Lagdameo announced late last week to its sales team that they can now start offering the units.
Agriuya Gardens has 404 units in four house models, the Magnolia, Jasmine, Caballero and Aurora, with Magnolia’s floor area of 72 square meters to Aurora’s 215 square meters. These will all be constructed in 12.3 hectares inside the d amosa Land property in Barangay New Pandan here.
with their operational demands but enables them to reduce overhead costs.
“We had our own office, unfortunately, most of our employees were transitioning to work from home. We had a very big office accommodating around 100 to 120 employees, so in order for us to put our funds to good use, instead of
paying for a big space, we looked for a plug and play office, so we found Acceler8,” Navalta said.
Mikko Barranda and Carlo Coronel, founders of Acceler8 by UnionSpace, shared their insights about the current status of office solutions adapting to the new normal. “We have been one of the pioneering coworking
PASAY CITY, Philippines, 22 August,
What set off this residential project from all its other projects are the dominant environmental and green technology applied, from a 1 -kilometer long linear park and retention of trees in the clubhouse and amenity areas to house units with vegetable boxes and community farms for residents.
The subdivision would also utilize permeable pavers for parks, playground and open spaces and the deployment of solar lights in its streets.
d amosa Land started to break ground for its mid-end subdivision in this city in 2017 with the America and completed it in 2020 with 177 units. Units were then sold at between P5 million and P15 million when the subdivision was launched, but the remaining units are current selling at P8.5 million to P27 million. Panabo City is 32 kilometers north of davao City and 20 kilometers south of the next city, Tagum City, which is the capital of this province.
2024—SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hotel operator of the SM group, rolled out a new technology called ORCA (Organic Refuse Conversion Alternative) Biodigester in Taal Vista Hotel that turns food waste into filtered wastewater under 24 hours, aligned with the group’s commitment to reduce waste.
Since the installation of the ORCA in Taal Vista, it has managed to divert over 40,013 kilograms of food waste to date equivalent to 20,406.63 tons carbon dioxide emissions saved.
“With the adoption of the ORCA Biodigester, we have transformed our food waste management process from a weekslong process to a streamlined green-friendly one-day cycle, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and our environmental impact,” said SMHCC Vice President for Quality and Sustainability Leah Magallanes.
Food waste poses challenges across the globe. In a recent report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), 783 million people are affected by hunger each year. In the Philippines, household food waste amounted to 2,954,580 million tons annually. The hotel industry often faces significant waste issues due to the challenge of managing inventory and excess food, particularly with the large number of customers served daily.
The biodigester is currently used at the Taal Vista Hotel. Similar responsible food waste reduction initiatives, such as bokashi composting, are underway across the SM Hotels portfolio.
Bokashi composting involves using specialized kits where food waste is layered with activators, or biological additives to
operators in the Philippines since 2015, and during this time, we've witnessed significant evolution in flexible workspaces. The pandemic has notably accelerated the adoption and importance of this sector. Many businesses are not only maintaining but also expanding their flexible workspace footprint,” Carlo added,
produce compost, which allows it to ferment for 10 to 15 days. The resulting liquid can be collected as natural fertilizer, while the solid residue can be composted or buried.
Since its introduction across 5 properties of SM Hotels, namely Taal Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Park Inn Bacolod and Iloilo, and SMX Manila, the bokashi composting technique has made a total diversion of food waste of over 198,640 kg, equivalent to 101,306.4 tons of carbon dioxide equiva
“This trend is really taking off because flexible workspaces offer great financial savings and more operational flexibility. As more businesses look for adaptable environments, coworking spaces are also becoming essential in meeting those needs.”
Supporting diverse needs
A SI d E from offering quality desk arrangements and chair arrangements, Navalta said Acceler8 also offers comprehensive benefits through workspace plans. Facilities include a range of amenities such as conference rooms, event spaces, and coworking areas, all available to the members. For companies that have adopted a fully remote work model, Acceler8 provides virtual office plans that feature a prestigious business address, professional mail handling services, and optional workspace access.
Another benefit for the Acceler8 community is the passport access to all of their centers, providing members with strategic access to valuable connections.
Developing real connections
B ARAN dA and Coronel pointed out coworking spaces are playing a crucial role in the resurgence of businesses. The sector's appeal is amplified by the networking prospects offered through a range of community events from traditional celebrations as well as community-generated activities. This includes wellness sessions, professional training, and seminars.
Acceler8 has also reinforced its dedication to health and wellness by forming a partnership with Rockwell Run Club. It has established its first official headquarters at Acceler8 Rockwell, marking a pivotal development in their mission to build a vibrant community centered around running and wellness.
Acceler8 by UnionSpace— rockwell center Branch
Bambol, POC reward Yulo not just one, but two lots
ANGEL MAE OTOM created a splash in her Paralympics debut by reaching the women’s 50-meter backstroke S7 final of swimming at the La Defense pool in Paris on Tuesday.
Smiling from the moment she plunged into action and emerged from the pool, Otom, 21, finished fourth with 44.03 seconds in the first heat behind China’s He Shenggao (41.31) and Liu Yu (42.59) and Turkey’s Summeye Boyaci (44.84).
She was seventh overall for the final set 6:34 p.m. (12:34 a.m. Wednesday in Manila) in the heats topped by defending champion and top favorite Liu Dong of China who timed 39.48 seconds, faster than compatriots No. 2 He and No.3 Liu.
Although slightly nervous, Otom relished being in the Paralympic spotlight for the first time.
“I was nervous all the time but happy at the same time,” she said. “The experience is great and I’m so proud I’m competing here.” Assistant para swimming coach Brian Ong said Otom didn’t go all out in the heats.
“The plan was to secure a berth in the final where we’re hoping for a better time,” Ong said. Ong added: “To think that this is Angel’s first Paralympics, it’s a great experience for her and we will use the time to mentally prepare her so she can go all out and do better in the final.” Providing encouragement for the armless Olongapo City pride, who won four golds in the Cambodia 2023 Asean Para Games, was the sixth-place finish of compatriot Ernie Gawilan in the final of the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 finals the previous day.
Tboxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will soon walk into their brand new bungalows in Tagaytay City.
“It’s now a tradition, first Hidilyn Diaz [Naranjo] deserved all the best for giving the country its first Olympic gold medal and now, it’s the turn of Caloy [Yulo], Nesthy and Aira to be feted with the same reward for their historic efforts,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.
For Yulo, his two 2-story homes would sit on a 500 square-meter lot appraised at around P15 million, according to POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan. These new homes will also be highlighted with gazebos, Tolentino said.
For Petecio, it would be her second home in Tagaytay City after the first one she received for her silver from
Akari-Creamline
AKARI tries to go unbeaten all the way to the crown while Creamline hopes to wield its vast championship experience in the knockout final for the Premiere Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown on Wednesday. The typhoon-delayed one-game final starts at 6 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Reinforced Conference had its share of delays from the power outage in Pasig City that postponed the semifinals and the final that was originally set Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum but was moved for two days because of Typhoon Enteng.
For Akari, the final is a culmination of what could be a Cinderella-run for a team that has won all its 10 matches in the conference, including a controversial fiveset semifinal encounter against PLDT over the weekend.
For Creamline, it’s another chance
of dawn, perhaps. Aren’t seniors known to be early risers? Look at Scottie Scheffler. He
Tokyo 2020—she’s neighbor to fellow silver medalist Carlos Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial in a compound aptly called Olympic Village in the city also courtesy of Tolentino and the POC.
Petecio and Villegas’s bungalows will rise on separate 200 squaremeter lots and just like Yulo’s, will be furnished with basic amenities, according to Tolentino.
“All the rewards and bonuses that go our medalists’ way are well-deserved, it’s not easy to medal in the Olympics, it takes years, it takes focus, discipline and determination,” Tolentino said.
“These athletes invested their lives into the sports they love and now, they’re reaping the fruits of their sacrifices,” he added.
Tolentino withheld announcing the locations of the homes but would be turning over the keys to the medalist Olympians in a ceremony fit for champions.
“The POC doesn’t think twice about these rewards, an Olympic medal, regardless of color, is the most precious medal in sports,” said Tolentino as he thanked the POC Board for showing full gratitude to the efforts of Yulo, Petecio and Villegas.
in KO finale
to prove its lofty spot atop the Philippine women’s volleyball hierarchy even without three of its star players— two of them sitting out in favor of the Alas Pilipinas squad.
The road to the final also wasn’t easy for Creamline, which had to survive a five-setter against Cignal in their own semifinal duel.
Akari’s star player Oly Okaro may have the edge over Creamline’s Erica Staunton in terms of firepower, leadership and consistency, but Staunton’s 38-point explosion against Cignal in the semifinals underscored her growing influence in the team.
Coach Sherwin Meneses emphasized Creamline’s uncanny ability to thrive in tough situations even with an incomplete roster.
Reigning champ San Beda vs Lyceum as NCAA centennial season unwraps
THE National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) turns a century old when the league opens shop this Saturday with a goal of reiterating its legacy bordering on sportsmanship, competitiveness, hope, valor, camaraderie and power.
With the theme “NCAA Siglo Uno: Inspiring Legacies Opening Ceremony,” general host Lyceum of the Philippines University hopes to bring the best out of the 10-team league beginning with a lavish opening ceremony at the SM Mall of Asia Arena starting at 12 noon.
“Ten decades have passed and the NCAA continues to grow and flourish, remaining strong and resilient,” Season 100 Policy Board president Atty. Roberto Laurel of Lyceum told Tuesday’s press conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“The country’s first collegiate league has already produced many icons and legends who exemplify the league’s 100 years of excellence in sports,” Laurel said. “As we celebrate the centennial season, we recognize everyone who is part of the journey.” Opening-day action pits reigning champion San Beda University against Lyceum at 2:30 p.m. and Mapua against College
De los Santos, Chan lead winners roster in JPGT Malarayat
“The wind and rain affected my game, especially my driving, but I was totally surprised to shoot five-under,” said Delos Santos from San Rafael, Bulacan. “I didn’t expect it because I’m just nine years old and still figuring out my yardage. So I’m very proud of my game.” Chan continued her winning streak with a 77, securing a seven-stroke victory over Maurysse Abalos, who shot an 84.
Quincy Pilac was third with a 90, while Georgina Handog (93) and Casedy Cuenca (97) struggled in tough conditions at the all-weather layout. The 8-9 and 10-12 tournaments were reduced to an 18-hole competition because of the typhoon.
Chan’s third consecutive leg victory in the Luzon swing of the nationwide series, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., strengthened her bid for a spot in the Match Play Championship set from October 1 to 4 at The Country Club in Laguna.
in the second and third holes at Mt. Malipunyo by sinking five birdies from the fourth hole to seize control. She added another birdie on the 14th (No. 5 of Mt. Makulot) before closing out with back-to-back birdies to finish with a remarkable 67. Kamilla Del Mundo from Makati City placed second with a 77, while Athena Serapio from Sampaloc finished third with a 79.
PARIS Olympics medalists Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.