BusinessMirror February 10, 2023

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INF LATION could outpace economic growth this year, especially if no steps are taken to mitigate supply side constraints, according to local economists.

In a presentation at the ADR Stratbase Economic Outlook for 2023 virtual forum on Thursday, Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics Chairperson Alvin P. Ang said inflation could remain elevated at above 7 percent this year if supply side issues are left unchecked.

Ang added that these efforts to address supply side issues should be trained on the agriculture sector. At business as usual, doubling

TO

the growth of the agriculture sector would take 66 years or 11 administrations.

“Interest rates are not really used to fight inflation basically because our inflation is supply driven. So it’s really more of an executive function rather than the monetary working on it. It’s complimentary, but it’s more a local domestic challenge of supply,” Ang said in his presentation.

In the same forum, Managing Director of eManagement for Business and Marketing Services, Jonathan Ravelas said he is concerned that the inflation expectations of Ang had basis, given that developments

also lead him to believe that the risks point to his worst-case scenario.

Ravelas said his inflation scenario has a base case of 5.3 percent.

The best-case scenario is for inflation to cool to 4.5 percent this year while the worst-case scenario could be 5.6 percent.

However, just like Ang, Ravelas has not adjusted his inflation forecasts to take into consideration the 8.7 percent posted in January. He said it was still too early to adjust.

Nonetheless, Ravelas told BusinessMirror in a phone interview that inflation would also be affected by what is happening in the jobs sector.

What could happen is what is called the Phillips Curve. This was created by New Zealand-born economist Bill Phillips in the 1950s and illustrated an inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment.

This meant that when inflation is high, unemployment is low and when inflation is low, unemployment is high. This assumes that when more people are employed, there is greater demand for goods, thus, higher prices; and when few are employed, demand is dampened and prices remain low.

See “Economists,” A2

MOM-AND-POP stores in communities nationwide are the ones creating new job opportunities for Filipinos after the pandemic, but the wages and salaries they offer may not be enough for their daily needs, according to an economist.

In a presentation at the ADR Stratbase Economic Outlook for 2023 virtual forum on Thursday, Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics Chairperson Alvin P. Ang said these community businesses are all under “Other Services.”

These community services include neighborhood parlors and barber shops, laundry services, funeral services, household repair services, and computer and mobile phone repair services, among others.

“People services like barber shops, laundry services, even funeral services, repairs of goods and computer equipment, among others. So this is really community-based job opportunities that are being generated. But the question is, they may not be quality jobs. Are the wages high enough to sustain increased economic growth?” Ang said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Ang said these establishments created some 148,000 jobs between December 2021 and March 2022; and another 148,000 jobs in March to June 2022.

More than half or 59.3 percent of these jobs are composed of personal services for wellness,

See “Mom-and-pop,” A2

PSA data showed the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) was slower than the 52.6-percent growth— numbers attributed to base effects —posted in 2021.

In December, the VoPI posted a growth of 4.8 percent, the 6th highest for the whole year of 2022, PSA told the BusinessMirror . The lowest VoPI was recorded in April 2022, a contraction of 1 percent.

“The continued growth in manufacturing, though slower year-onyear amid some normalization of denominator/base effects, may be largely attributed to the further reopening of the economy towards greater normalcy,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said.

By Samuel P. Medenilla sam_medenilla

AJAPANESE power generation company has committed to provide the country a “stable” supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to help it transition from using fossil fuels to renewable energy.

JERA Co. Inc. president Satoshi Onoda gave the assurance during his meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

“I may have mentioned this back in June as well, however,

we are procuring more than 30 million tons of LNG per year. Therefore, we will be able to contribute to the Philippines in the supply of LNG as transition fuel,” Satoshi said.

JERA is also currently coordinating with Aboitiz group to develop the LNG technology from using ammonia to “green” hydrogen instead.

“We will be working on co-firing ammonia technology as well. Therefore, we would like to be able to provide this technology as well in a timely manner. We would like to utilize the various technologies in order to contrib -

ute to the economic growth as well as decarbonization in the Philippines,” Satoshi said.

Marcos welcomed the development, which will help the country reduce dependence on coal and oil for power production.

“I suppose now they really have been discussing the interim—what we are doing in the interim until renewables can take the whole—can be able to provide rather the entire demand of the Philippines and beyond,” Marcos said.

THE country’s manufacturing output slowed to 15.2 percent in 2022 as bumps in the recovery from the pandemic put the brakes on expansion, according to the latest Production Index and Net Sales Index of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Pr E SIDEn t Ferdinand Marcos jr. and his wife louise araneta-Marcos meet japan’s Emperor naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in tokyo, thursday, February 9, 2023, shortly after meeting with japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime minister's official residence in tokyo. Marcos is visiting japan soon after he and US Secretary of Defense lloyd austin reached agreements on allowing the United States greater access to Philippine military bases to keep in check china’s territorial ambitions. Stories from Marcos’s Tokyo visit on pages A1, A2, A16.

Japanese firms vow to hire PHL seafarers despite EMSA issues

l ines in the meeting.

By Samuel P. Medenilla sam_medenilla

In a press statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) disclosed the assurance was made by the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) during its meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday.

“The Filipino seafarers play a big

role. So having all said, Filipino seafarers are essential to the Japanese shipping industry. And so we sincerely and strongly hope that there will continue to be a steady supply of professional and well-trained Filipino seafarers to work alongside us,” said Junichiro Ikeda, JSA president and chairman of the Mitsui OSK

Mom-and-pop...

Continued from A1

except sports activities; 18.6 percent, laundry services; 9.5 percent, f uneral and related services; and

9.4 percent, repair of personal and household goods, among others.

It is possible, Ang told Business -

T he country is currently facing scrutiny from e M SA due to deficiencies in its compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification and watchkeeping (STC w ) Convention.

About 50,000 Filipino seafarers working in e uropean vessels are at risk of losing their jobs if the country fails to address the concerns of e MSA.

Ikeda said they are confident the country will be able to improve the quality of its Filipino seafarers.

we a lso expect that quality standard of the Filipino seafarers [will] continue to improve, as the Philippine government continues to work hard to achieve this,” Ikeda said.

Marcos said he hopes other international shipping associations will emulate JSA’s example in continuing to hire Filipino seafarers.

For his part, Marcos said the government will continue its coor -

Mirror a fter the forum, that while these jobs provide salaries to workers consistently, the rates may be b elow minimum wage. This further limits their financial capability to cope with rising prices.

These kinds of jobs are also the main cause of traffic since these workers need to move from their

dination with JSA to ensure the quality of seafarers, who will board Japanese ships.

“The JSA has the assurance of the Philippine government that we will continue to work together as a team, as partners, in ensuring that your requirements for more seafarers shall be met because, clearly, you care for them very much and they are in good hands while under your employment,” Marcos said.

h e a lso lauded Japanese shipowners for their continued investments in a maritime training schools in Canlubang, l a guna and Bataan, which each could accommodate 1,200 cadets per year.

The PCO said an average of 6,600 Filipino seafarers per year are deployed to vessels with the Japanese flagged ships in the past 10 years.

homes to their places of work. These are the jobs that cannot be done from home, he added.

“These people cannot afford to work from home, they need to move. They have a job but they cannot cope with high prices. In reality, only a few can work from home; they are mostly the ones with high wages,” he pointed out, speaking partly in Filipino.

On we dnesday, BusinessMirror reported that amid the return of the country’s employment data to prepandemic l evels, over 400,000 Filipinos became unpaid family workers in December 2022, per data released by the PSA.

The data also showed the number of unpaid family workers rising by 420,000 to 4.28 m illion in December 2022 from 3.86 million in December 2021.

“ The country’s digital transformation is reducing the number of middle-level skilled jobs.

U nless you have reached tertiary education, your only option i s low-skilled jobs that are quite precarious,” l a nzona said.

Part of what can explain this also, PSA Assistant National Statistician w i lma A. Guillen told the BusinessMirror , are the holidays and Filipinos helping out in family businesses.

I t is possible, Guillen said, that Filipinos who went home during the holidays helped out their families.

The data also showed a decline compared to the 4.38 million unpaid family workers in N ovember 2022. National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa s aid some of these workers may have shifted to other sectors or moved out of the labor force.

Nonetheless, Mapa said careful study is needed to further explain the data. h e added that the dataset on unpaid family work was still fresh a nd has to be analyzed further.

Cai U. Ordinario

Continued from A1

The slower annual growth of VoPI in December 2022 compared to its annual growth in November 2022 were mainly attributed to the slower growth in three industry divisions: transport equipment which contracted 1 percent from 14.3 percent in the previous month; manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, a growth of 21.3 percent from 25.8 percent; and manufacture of basic metals, a deeper contraction of 37.5 percent from a decline of 29.2 percent in November 2022.

“In addition to these three, slowdowns were also observed in the annual growth rates of the indices of eight industry divisions,” the PSA said.

In contrast, the PSA said eight industry divisions posted higher annual growth rates in December 2022 than in November 2022, including the manufacture of food products.

Among these industry divisions, manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment posted the highest annual growth rate of 52.9 percent in December 2022.

“The VoPI for manufacture of food products, on the other hand, registered an annual increment of 7.2 percent in December

2022. This was higher compared with the November 2022 annual growth rate of 4.8 percent, but slower relative to December 2021 annual increase of 30.4 percent,” the PSA said.

Capacity utilization

Me A N w h I le , the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in December 2022 was reported at 71.6 percent, slower than the 72.6 percent in the previous month. h o wever, this was faster than the 67.5 percent posted in December 2021.

At least 19 out of 22 industry divisions had more than 60 percent average capacity utilization rate, led by manufacture of wearing apparel at 79.7 percent.

Other manufacturing divisions with higher capacity utilizations in December included the manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical, at 79 percent; and manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products at 76.3 percent.

The Production Index and Net Sales Index was formerly called the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) report.

It continues to monitor the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector.

Economists...

Continued from A1

“ Habang bumababa yung unemployment m o, tataas din yung inflation . Ganyan nangyayari sa atin. Fourth quarter, maraming nagkatrabaho, so may pera ka. Dr. Ang actually explains it well. Nakita ko yung consumption. Ang question dyan, sino yung mag-gigive way? The last number nung December medyo nawawalan na ng trabaho. So pwedeng pa -peak na yung inflation mo but these geopolitical tensions [could affect this],” Ravelas explained.

I n his presentation, Ravelas said factors to watch out for are: geopolitical tensions such as the war in Ukraine, where peace may be “an elusive dream’; the middle kingdom trap of China which may affect its ability to access resources; and the possibility that China could attack or place a blockade on Taiwan.

Given these concerns, Ang said the economy could be hard pressed to squeeze growth, more so double its growth. he e stimated that under a businessa s-usual scenario, doubling the country’s GDP growth could take 11 years or at least two administrations.

A ng and Ravelas agree that the agriculture sector holds the key to growing this year and in the years to come. Ang said agriculture is one sector that could reduce inequality and create prosperity for a larger chunk of the population.

he noted that the disposable income of rich Filipinos is still 14 times the income of the poorest in society. As most of the c ountry's poor are in agriculture, it is imperative that agriculture be a focus for the country to nar -

Japanese...

Continued from A1

Some environmental groups like the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) opposed the plans by the private sector to increase l N G use in the country, saying it will lead to carbon emissions.

It noted the pending 24

power plant projects, which will use l N G, nationwide will not only be harmful to the health of the people where such will be built, but also to the economy due to the fluctuating price of the said fuel.

“The energy crisis in

row inequities.

e n suring food security should also be the priority, Ravelas said, and it was a good thing that the President already mentioned this in his previous statements. he pushes for greater emphasis on availability, affordability, and accessibility of food.

A part from agriculture, other sectors may also take years and decades to double. The Industry sector as a whole needs 12 years, but mining and quarrying may need 23 years.

It may also require at least 12 years to double the growth of the electricity, gas, and water as well as education industries. Slightly more or 13 years will be needed for manufacturing; and 14 years for the real estate and ownership of dwellings.

A little over a decade or 11 years are needed by the wholesale and retail; information and c ommunication; and public administration and defense industries.

ho wever, Ravelas pitches focusing on the big picture. This means, on increasing jobs as well as BPO and OF w spending; opening the retail sector to foreign brands; and a strong demand for office and retail space.

R avelas considers tourism, gaming, manufacturing, and mining as the country's best industries whose potentials need t o be developed.

Opportunities this year are trained on infrastructure spending; better pandemic management; and revenge spending. he stressed the need to focus on actions and not words to grow the e conomy this year. Cai U. Ordinario

the fossil gas-dependent we stern hemisphere due to the Russia-Ukraine war...has resulted in the skyrocketing of global pump prices. Domestically, the scarcity of fossil gas would not only impact energy security and electricity rates but would further worsen record high inflation rates according to the group,” PMCJ said in a statement.

DESPITE concerns raised by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on the quality of the country’s seafarer training standards, Japanese firms have committed to continue to hire Filipino sailors.

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Nancy Binay sees no need for renewed efforts to tinker with the Constitution under the Marcos administration as the clamor to amend the Charter’s economic provisions were “already addressed.”

“ If we are talking about amendments to the economic provisions in the Constitution, we have already addressed that in the last Congress with three vital economic liberalization laws that are intended to boost our economy and global competitiveness,” the senator pointed out.

S he mentioned the Public Service Act (PSA), Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Foreign Investments Act, pointing out, “Yung mga nai -introduce nating mga economic reforms ay tugon doon sa mga kakulangan sa probisyon sa Constitution, at sagot sa mga isyu ng foreign equity limitation sa utilities, power, telecoms, transport at aviation, infra, at iba pang sektor.”

T he senator reminded that country is “still recovering from

The Nation

the impact of the pandemic,” but hastened to assure that “we are confident these reforms are sufficient to encourage investors and help revitalize our economy.”

At the same time, Binay stressed, “We all know that the Charter-change issue is too divisive when what is needed is unity in order to prepare for a possible global recession.”

She stressed the need to “focus on gut issues” such as prices of prime commodities directly attached to the stomach.

“Dapat doon tayo mag- focus sa mga isyu na direktang nakakabit sa sikmura,” Binay said, “Tulad ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin, mga problema sa agrikultura, tutukan natin ang health sector at bigyang pansin yung mga isyu sa marginalized sectors kagaya ng ating mga magsasaka’t mamamalakaya, at talagang mahaba-haba pa ang listahan ng mga problema natin.”

She added, “Kung priorities lang naman po ang pag-uusapan, ang usapin ng Charter-change eh medyo lihis sa kumakalam na sikmura—’di po kasama ang Con-ass sa ulam ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino.”

continued from a16

T he Court explained that although it previously ruled in Garcia v. Drilon (Garcia case) that Congress excluded men as victims under RA 9262 as its legislative intent is to limit the protection against violence to women and children only, it is still “improper to conclude” that the law denies a father of the remedies provided under the law solely because of his gender or that he is not a “woman victim of violence.”

T he SC noted that Section 9 (b) of R.A. 9262 allows “parents or guardians of the offended party” to file a petition for protection orders on behalf of children.

“ The statute categorically used the word ‘parents’ which pertains to the father and the mother of the woman or child victim. Absolute sentencia expositor non indigent. The law speaks in clear language and no explanation is required. There is no occasion for the Court to interpret but to only apply the law when it is not ambiguous,” the SC said.

“ Similarly, the statute did not qualify on who between the parents of the victim may apply for protection orders. Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus. When the law does not distinguish, the courts must not distinguish,” it added.

Furthermore, the SC said Section 3 (a) of RA 9262 defines violence against women and their children as “any act or series of acts

US Gen. Ryan to ‘aggressors’: Allies are battle-ready in Asia

AMERICAN forces and their allies in Asia are ready for battle after years of joint combat exercises, a United States general said Wednesday, adding that Russia’s setbacks in Ukraine should serve as a warning to potential Asian aggressors like China and North Korea.

US treaty allies like the Philippines, Japan and Australia, among others, “have shown that they will band together, that they will not stand for aggression from these nations that have decided they want to change the world order out here,” Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan said.

A lthough Asia has no counterpart to NATO, the 30-nation military alliance whose mostly European members vow to defend each other against external attacks, a network of US treaty alliances and defense partnerships upholding the international order provides a regional safeguard, he said.

committed by any person against a woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had sexual or dating relationship , or with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate… which result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse.

However, the court noted, the said provision used the gender-neutral word “person” as the offender, “which embraces any person of either sex.”

“ In sum, the Court refuses to be an instrument of injustice and public mischief perpetrated against vulnerable sectors of the society such as children victims of violence,” the SC stressed.

The Court will not shirk its bounded duty to interpret the law in keeping with the cardinal principle that in enacting a statue, the legislature intended right and justice to prevail,” it added.

Nine associate justices concurred in the ruling: Marvic Leonen, Ramon Paul Hernando, Amy LazaroJavier, Henri Jean Paul Inting, Samuel Gaerlan, Ricardo Rosario, Jhosep Lopez, Japar Dimaampao, and Jose Midas Marquez. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo together with Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguiao, Rodil Zalameda, Antonio Kho, Jr. and Maria Filomena Singh, dissented from the majority opinion.

“I’m personally very buoyed by what I see by our allies and partners in this region and the way we’ve come together in response to aggression by the PRC, by North Korea to say, ‘We will not let that stand,’” Ryan told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday, using the acronym for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

Ryan, Commanding General of the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division based in Hawaii, is in Manila partly for talks with Philippine counterparts ahead of two annual large-scale combat exercises that would include live-fire exercises and ground, sea and air assault maneuvers involving thousands of US and Filipino troops in March and April.

T he Philippines, America’s oldest treaty ally in Asia that used to host the largest US naval and air force bases outside the American mainland, has allowed larger numbers of visiting US forces to stay in rotating batches and preposition weapons and combat equipment in at least nine Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense

pact. The Philippine decision to allow a broader American military presence was announced during a visit last week to Manila by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

In the broader Asia-Pacific region, Washington has reinforced an arc of alliances to counter what it says are threats posed by an increasingly belligerent China and North Korea.

C hina has frowned on combat exercises involving the Americans in coastal areas facing the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety, and has accused Washington of meddling in Asian disputes and dangerously militarizing the region by regularly deploying US Navy warships and jet fighters.

M ore recent venues of largescale exercises by American and Filipino forces included coastal Philippine provinces close to the disputed South China Sea, where China has taken increasingly assertive actions to cement its territorial claims, and in the northern Luzon region, which lies across a narrow sea border from Taiwan.

Combat-readiness exercises hopefully would make potential aggres-

sors think twice, Ryan said.

T he US and the Philippines have agreed to hold about 500 small and major combat exercises in 2023 and expand annual military drills following disruptions caused by two years of coronavirus lockdowns, according to Philippine military officials.

That does provide some deterrent effect against an adversary in the region, who would look at that and say, ‘I don’t want to take a step that may cause a government, a politician, to decide to go because I don’t know that I can win if I’ve got to face that trained, ready force,’” Ryan said.

W hile military commanders say the joint exercises are not directed against any particular country, Ryan said China’s increasingly aggressive actions were an alarming reality the region should brace for.

Does the backdrop of PRC aggression enter our minds when we train? Absolutely,” he said, and in the case of the Philippines, US forces needed to be ready to fulfill their obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

We feel duty-bound to ensure that the Philippines can maintain

and will maintain their sovereignty,” Ryan said. “So aggression from the People’s Republic of China that makes our treaty ally uncomfortable makes us uncomfortable.”

T he Philippines filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests in 2022 alone against China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, a resource-rich and busy waterway where Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also lay overlapping territorial claims.

A sked if US forces and their Asian allies were ready to respond if a major crisis similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine breaks out in the region, Ryan said, “Absolutely.”

I’m very comfortable that we’re ready but that doesn’t mean I’m satisfied. We can always get better,” said Ryan, who commands about 12,000 soldiers under his infantry division. He said experts would be flown in from Hawaii to train American and Filipino Army troops in jungle survival and combat tactics during the Salaknib, the first of two major combat-readiness exercises starting next month in the Philippines. Ryan said America’s adversaries should consider political dialogue and diplomacy because “war is complicated…it’s violent, it can go a number of different ways. Russia found that out. They continue to find that out.”

We thought that Ukraine would quickly succumb to Russian military power. That didn’t happen,” he said. “The most important reason in my view, by far, was the will of the Ukraine people to fight.”

It was also crucial that the United States and NATO had helped train Ukrainian troops and enhanced their capabilities to deal with security contingencies for years before Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he said.

“I think our allies in the region value their sovereignty, value their freedom, value their independence. And no adversary should take that lightly,” Ryan said. AP

Prioritize campaign vs food smuggling, not tobacco products, government told

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ACONSUMER group said the government should focus its efforts in curbing the smuggling of agricultural food products and stop using the rising food prices to include tobacco among agricultural commodities covered by Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.”

Malayang Konsumer spokesperson Atty. Simoun Salinas said, “Given

PBBM keen on PHL being key electronics hub in Asia

A unilateral preferential trade arrangement by the US with 122 beneficiary developing countries and least developed beneficiary countries, the GSP aims to promote economic growth, development, and trade by providing duty-free market access to about 5,000 products in the US.

Speaker optimistic SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday expressed optimism that the working trip of Marcos Jr. to Japan will bring in more investments as the Chief Executive has received investment pledges worth billions of pesos.

R omualdez, in a statement, said the President’s trip is also expected to boost the overall trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The President is really working hard to promote the Philippines to Japanese investors and businesses. And with the warm reception he

is receiving, I am confident that he would achieve more significant gains in the few remaining days of his working visit to Japan,” Romualdez said.

According to Romualdez, in just the second day of President Marcos’ trip to Japan, Marcos received investment pledges worth billions of pesos at Thursday’s round-table meeting with Japan-based semiconductor, electronics, and wiring harness firms.

R omualdez said tourism stakeholders in Japan have shown keen interest in the President’s presentation in a separate meeting to outline the Philippine government’s initiatives meant to encourage more Japanese tourists to visit the Philippines. At present, Japan ranks sixth among the country’s foreign visitors.

These are encouraging development that would eventually redound to the benefit of tens of thousands of Filipinos, in terms of new jobs and

business opportunities that would further drive our economic growth,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez was among those present in the two meetings, as well as at the dinner Wednesday night hosted for the Philippine delegation by Mitsui & Co. and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

He noted that during the dinner, many Japanese businessmen and executives were also inquisitive about business and investment opportunities in the Philippines and its strong economic performance.

P resident Marcos earlier said the participation of lawmakers in his foreign trips is crucial in his effort to attract more foreign direct investments to the country since they could immediately address concerns prospective investors may have on existing rules as well on pending legislation that may impact the country’s business climate.

A mong the pending matters in

the rising prices of pantry basics like onions, the Marcos administration is correct in taking steps to curb agri smuggling, but for some reason some of our legislators would rather champion tobacco and cigarettes.”

“Food security ang isyu. Pagkain para sa Pilipino ang prayoridad. Ito ang dapat na tutukan natin. Hindi yosi,” he said in a statement.

T he group drew attention to Senate Bill 1812, sponsored by Sen. Lito Lapid that seeks to amend RA 10845 and include both unprocessed and

continued from a16

Congress that may be of interest to Japanese businessmen include the House-approved Maharlika Investment Fund, currently under deliberation in the Senate.

T here are also several bills under House consideration, proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution to remove restrictive economic provisions and open up the country to the entry of foreign direct investments to create more job opportunities and spur economic growth.

President Marcos will have a oneon-one meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. They are set to ink key deals in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital cooperation.

T he President will also hold meetings with Japan’s business leaders to promote trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines.

processed tobacco products, such as cigarettes in the same category as rice, sugar, vegetables, meat and other essential food products entitled to protection against smuggling.

R A 10845 classifies large-scale smuggling of these core household items as “economic sabotage.”

Salinas said the proposed objective to give special favors to the tobacco industry, whose primary product is cigarette, which causes addiction and serious health problems.

“ Why give special treatment to to -

bacco products, and why now? Bakit sinasakyan ang isyu ng smuggling of agri products para maisingit ang tobacco?” he asked.

Poprotektahan mo ang industriyang tabako at sigarilyo? E bisyo yan, masama sa kalusugan yan, lalo na sa kabataan,” Salinas added.

R A 10845 has received renewed attention in light of recent shortages of onions and essential food products as well as spikes in the price of indispensable food items ranging from meat, poultry and fish.

Peza to set in motion 3 new ecozones in ’23

continued from a16

According to data presented by PEZA Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Tereso O. Panga in a recent speaking engagement, the investment promotion agency has 420 ecozones nationwide.

Of these 420, there are 298 IT Parks and Centers; 78 Manufacturing; 24 Agro-Industrial Parks; 17 Tourism and 3 Medical Tourism.

Within these ecozones, Peza said there are 4,346 locator companies nationwide.

A s for regional breakdown of ecozones, 296 are located in Luzon, 83 are in Visayas, and 41 in Mindanao.

L ast December 2022, Peza said it is projecting 10 percent growth in investments in 2023.

U nder the Philippine

Development Plan 2023 to 2028, Peza is tasked to expedite the implementation of the ecozone transformation road map which expands the different types of special economic zones registrable under Peza.

A ccording to the Plan,“the creation of ecozones will… maximize investments and promote industrial dispersion especially outside metropolitan areas. Further, the ecozones will be integrated into the local economy by relaxing the requirements, facilitating the free flow of parts, components, and other inputs, and increasing open trade between zone locators and firms outside the zones.”

COMMANDING General of the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division based in Hawaii, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan, gestures as he speaks to The Associated Press in Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Ryan said American forces and their allies in Asia, including the Philippines, are ready for battle after years of joint combat exercises and added that Russia’s war setbacks in Ukraine should serve as a warning to potential Asian aggressors like China and North Korea. AP

Sen. Binay: No need to rush Cha-cha, focus on ‘gut issues’

SC: No gender bias in VAWC, even abusive moms are liable

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

PIDS study uncovers ‘gaps’ in health insurance coverage

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE elderly, women, rural folks and poor Filipinos are the ones who are more likely to suffer from shelling out-of-pocket health expenses since the government does not cover all hospital costs, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

In a study, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Valerie Gilbert Ulep, Supervising Research Specialist Jhanna Uy, and Research Consultants Clarisa Joy Flaminiano, Vicente Alberto Puyat and Victor Andrew Antonio examined the financial risk protec-

tion of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members and dependents.

T he PIDS researchers found that PhilHealth members still pay out-ofpocket because the National Health Insurance Program covers only 40 percent or lower hospital costs. These costs are also expected to increase in the coming years.

Effective financial protection in a health system should reduce outof-pocket patient costs that are not covered by insurance as much as possible,” they said.

T he study computed the “support value” or the percentage of hospital care cost shouldered by PhilHealth

using 2018-2021 PhilHealth data along with auxiliary datasets from the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Statistics Authority, and the Washington-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

T he average support value is 55.83 percent in the Philippines. But the percentage varies based on PhilHealth membership type, socioeconomic status, patient accommodation, disease classification, hospital ownership and level and location.

T he study found that indirect contributors have lower support value than direct contributors on average, but at-risk subpopulations enjoy “more consistent coverage” due

to existing benefits offered to indigents and sponsored beneficiaries.

Based on the findings, elderly members, who have less income yet incur the biggest health expenses, got the lowest support value in public and private hospitals.

Women face higher financial risk due to lower income and higher hospital admission rates across all age brackets for “avoidable conditions” that could have been addressed through outpatient and preventive care.

The authors said the high admission rates suggest an “ineffective and inefficient” primary health-care system, making health care “more expensive” for patients and the health system.

People in provinces where most PhilHealth members are indirect contributors possess higher financial risk because they have less income for health care.

The study added that Filipinos in rural areas are likely to spend more because of the “maldistribution” of primary care facilities and accredited hospitals that “do not cover the costs of all services.” Only 43 percent of Level 1 hospitals,whichofferminimumhealthcare services, are government-owned.

Some benefit packages are only available in government-owned hospitals. PhilHealth should endeavor to develop benefit packages responsive to the health needs of different subpopu-

lations and available across hospital levels and ownership,” the authors said.

To address the “financial risks of catastrophic health expenses,” the authors recommended a “strategic shift” in PhilHealth’s service purchasing and revenue generation to guarantee sufficient funds for all covered diseases.

T hey also advocated shifting from case-based to diagnosis-related groups-based systems to address the varying range of support value across related diseases.

T he researchers also recommended providing essential services outside of hospitals, investing in health literacy, and increasing the support value for elderly beneficiaries.

IPOPHL and IBP partnership boosts IP protection for indigenous people, MSMEs

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has inked an agree -

ment with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to support Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in

protecting their intellectual property (IP) rights. “ Through the memorandum of agreement [MOA], IPOPHL and IBP will work to assist local

communities with IPs and potential GIs [geographical indications] and handhold them toward the registration of their IPs and GIs,” IPOPHL Director General

Rowel S. Barba said during the MOA signing on January 24, 2023 in Taguig City.

T he IPOPHL chief said he hopes the partnership can bring “better appreciation and protection” of ICC products that will promote cultural heritage, strengthen intellectual property rights of indigenous cultural communities.

We hope this partnership can bring better appreciation and protection of ICC products that will promote cultural heritage, strengthen IP rights of ICCs and inform and educate the public on IP,” Barba added.

F or its part, IBP, the national organization of lawyers in the

Philippines, will be providing pro bono legal assistance to ICCs once they register their IP assets, particularly in the prosecution and enforcement of their IP rights as owners.

IBP Executive Vice President and Eastern Visayas Governor Antonio C. Pido said partnering with IPOPHL would allow IBP “to provide assistance to marginalized communities and the indigenous peoples’ communities so that they will have more faith in our legal system.” A ccording to IPOPHL, the signing of the MOA comes after the Implementing Rules and Regulations for GI registration took effect in November 2022.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ATOTAL of 1,236 farmers in Caraga Region received agricultural lands and package of support, including infrastructure projects and other support services, to increase farmers’ income and improve their living condition.

In a statement, the DAR said the distributed lands covers a total of 1,952 hectares of agricultural land from the provinces of Agusan del Sur, with 1,096.0182 hectares; Surigao del Norte, 301.6279 hectares; Suriago del Sur, 222.1077 hectares; Agusan del Norte, 194.8009 hectares; and Dinagat Island, with 137.8692 hectares.

Meanwhile P215 million worth of

infrastructure projects and a combined amount of P25.5-million farm machineries, a greenhouse facility and a tissue culture livelihood project were also provided to the farmers.

T he DAR said construction of farm to market roads were also initiated in the towns of Surigao del Sur, which include Barobo, costing P50-million; two roads in San Miguel, P30 million and P27.6 million, respectively; Madrid P27.2 million; Carmen, P20.8 million; Cagwait, P20.4 million and two roads in Tago worth P12 million.

T he agency also turned over a P6.02million road in Trento, Agusan del Sur. A bridge, under the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo, worth P8.98 million, was also turned over in the town of Madrid.

Caraga farmers receive land, infra projects, support services from DAR

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DA orders temporary ban on Belgium poultry imports

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

M

T he Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Order (MO) 14 series of 2023 that imposed the temporary import ban on domestic and wild birds and their products such as poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Belgium.

ANILA has temporarily suspended the importation of poultry products from Belgium anew after the European country confirmed outbreaks of bird flu.T he DA explained that Belgium, in an official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health, confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wervik, WestVlaanderen last January 26 that affected domestic birds. The outbreak in Belgium was verified by the country’s national laboratory, Sciensano.

There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” MO 14 read.

U nder the order, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) was in -

structed to immediately suspend the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for Belgian poultry products. All shipments coming from Belgium that are in transit/ loaded/accepted unto port before the official communication of this order to the Belgian authorities shall be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered/produced on or before January 10, 2023,” the document read.

T he MO 14 took effect immedi-

ately and shall remain enforced by government authorities unless revoked in writing by concerned government officials.

T he Philippines imported 10.675 million kilograms of chicken meat products from Belgium last year, based on BAI data.

T he Philippines slaps a temporary import ban on its trade partners that have confirmed animal disease outbreaks, particularly transboundary animal diseases, to protect domestic animal populations and ensure human health safety.

Bill on expanded 4Ps OKed

THE House Committee on Poverty Alleviation has passed a measure strengthening the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) law to provide more sustainable interventions to fight poverty.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, the principal author of the Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act, said it is high time to amend Republic Act No. 11310 or “An Act Institutionalizing the 4Ps”

Death toll in Turkey and Syria earthquake surpasses 15,000

By Mehmet Guzel, Ghaith Alsayed, Suzan Fraser & Zeynep Bilginsoy The Associated Press

GAZIANTEP, Turkey—Rescuers

S. Korea minister impeached over Itaewon crowd crush

By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament on Wednesday voted to impeach Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min holding him responsible for government failures in disaster planning and the response that likely contributed to the high death toll in a crowd crush that killed nearly 160 people in October.

The impeachment suspends Lee from his duties and the Constitutional Court has 180 days to rule on whether to unseat him for good or give him back the job.

Vice Minister Han Chang-seob will be acting minister until the Constitutional Court decides on Lee’s fate.

Lee is seen as a key ally of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose office issued an irritated response to his impeachment, accusing opposition lawmakers of abandoning legislative principles and creating “shameful history.”

Lee expressed regret after lawmakers voted 179-109 to impeach him, and he said he would defend his case in the Constitutional Court.

Emergency crews working through the night in the city of Antakya were able to pull a young girl from the ruins of a building and also rescued her father alive two hours later, news agency IHA reported.

In Diyarbakir, east of Antakya, rescuers freed an injured woman from a collapsed building in the early morning hours but found the three people next to her in the rubble dead, the DHA news agency reported.

In addition to 12,391 people killed in Turkey, the country’s disaster management agency said more than 60,000 have been injured. More than 2,900 people have been reported dead on the Syria side of the border.

Tens of thousands are thought to have lost their homes. In Antakya, former residents of a collapsed building huddled around an outdoor fire overnight into Thursday, wrapping blankets tightly around themselves to try and stay warm.

Serap Arslan said many people remained under the rubble of the nearby building, including her mother and brother. She said machinery only started to move some of the heavy concrete on Wednesday.

“We tried to clear it by our own means, but unfortunately we are very inadequately” prepared for the job, the 45-year-old said.

Selen Ekimen wiped tears from her face with gloved hands as she explained that both her parents and brother were still buried.

There’s been “no sound from them for days,” she said. “None.”

Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or otherwise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rapidly. At the same time, they said it was too soon to abandon hope.

“The first 72 hours are considered to be critical,” said Steven Godby, a natural hazards expert at Nottingham Trent University in England. “The survival ratio on average within 24 hours is 74 percent, after 72 hours it is 22 percent and by the fifth day it is 6 percent.”

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the hard-hit province of Hatay on Wednesday, where residents have criticized the government’s efforts, saying rescuers were slow to arrive.

According to the disaster management agency, more than 110,000 rescue personnel were now taking part in the effort and more than 5,500 vehicles,

including tractors, cranes, bulldozers and excavators had been shipped.

The task is monumental, however, with thousands of buildings toppled by the earthquake.

Erdogan, who faces a tough battle for reelection in May, acknowledged problems with the emergency response to Monday’s 7.8-magnitude quake, but said the winter weather had been a factor.

The earthquake also destroyed the runway at Hatay’s airport, further disrupting the response.

“It is not possible to be prepared for such a disaster,” Erdogan said.

“We will not leave any of our citizens uncared for.” He also hit back at critics, saying “dishonorable people” were spreading “lies and slander” about the government’s actions.

The disaster comes at a sensitive time for Erdogan, who faces an economic downturn and high inflation. Perceptions that his government mismanaged the crisis could hurt his standing. He said the government would distribute 10,000 Turkish lira ($532) to affected families.

Teams from more than two-dozen countries have joined the local

emergency personnel in the effort. But the scale of destruction from the quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area that many people were still awaiting help.

The region was already beset by more than a decade of civil war in Syria. Millions have been displaced within Syria itself, and millions more have sought refuge in Turkey.

In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.

The earthquake’s toll has already outstripped that of a 7.8-magnitude quake in Nepal in 2015, when 8,800 died. A 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people.

A lsayed reported from Bab al-Hawa, Syria. Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Bilginsoy reported from Istanbul. Associated Press journalists David Rising in Bangkok and Robert Badendieck in Istanbul contributed

“[I] hope that the vacuum in public safety [management] created by this unprecedented situation would be minimized,” Lee said in his statement.

Lee is the first Cabinet minister impeached by the National Assembly, which previously impeached conservative President Park Geunhye in 2016. The Constitutional Court removed her from office and she was imprisoned for corruption before her liberal successor pardoned her in December 2021.

Lee’s impeachment highlights the growing impasse Yoon faces in a parliament controlled by his liberal opponents and could further intensify the country’s partisan political fighting that has fueled a national divide.

Lee’s impeachment came weeks after police announced they are seeking criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter and negligence, against 23 officials, about half of them law enforcement officers, for a lack of safety measures they said were responsible for the crowd crush in Itaewon, a major nightlife district in Seoul.

Following a 74-day inquiry into the incident, a special investigation team led by the National Police Agency concluded that police and public officials in Seoul’s Yongsan district failed to employ meaningful crowd control measures despite anticipating huge gatherings of Halloween revelers. They also ignored pedestrian calls placed to police hotlines that warned of a swelling crowd hours before the surge turned deadly on October 28.

Officials also botched their response once people began getting toppled over

and crushed in a narrow alley clogged with partygoers near Hamilton Hotel around 10 p.m., failing to establish effective control of the scene and allow rescue workers to reach the injured in time.

However, opposition politicians claimed that police investigators went soft on higher members of Yoon’s government, including Lee and National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun, who were facing calls to resign.

The police investigators said they had closed their probes on Lee’s ministry and the National Police Agency before handing over the case to prosecutors, saying it was difficult to establish the direct responsibility of those offices.

Oh Yeong-hwan, lawmaker and spokesperson for the main opposition Democratic Party, said lawmakers “carried out the order of the people” in impeaching Lee, who he said should be held responsible for the deadly crowd surge in Itaewon. He criticized Yoon for sticking with Lee in the face of mounting calls for his removal.

“The National Assembly had to hold [Lee] to account, because President Yoon Suk Yeol refused to accept that responsibility,” Oh said.

Lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk of Yoon’s People’s Power Party accused the opposition of “tramping on [South Korea’s] constitutional order,” insisting that Lee was impeached without a justifiable cause. He insisted that the liberals were motivated by political vendetta against Yoon as prosecutors under his government push forward an investigation into corruption allegations surrounding Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, a firebrand lawmaker who narrowly lost to Yoon in last year’s presidential elections.

Lee Sang-min faced huge criticism shortly after the crowd crush after he insisted that having more police and emergency personnel on the ground still wouldn’t have prevented the tragedy in Itaewon, in what was seen as an attempt to sidestep questions about the lack of preventive measures.

Despite anticipating a crowd of more than 100,000, Seoul police had assigned 137 officers to Itaewon on the day of the crush. Those officers were focused on monitoring narcotics use and violent crimes, which experts say left few resources for pedestrian safety.

Some experts have called the crush in Itaewon a “manmade disaster” that could have been prevented with fairly simple steps, such as employing more police and public workers to monitor bottleneck points, enforcing oneway walk lanes and blocking narrow pathways or temporarily closing Itaewon’s subway station to prevent large numbers of people moving in the same direction.

China’s Covid deaths and severe cases slide 98% from peak levels

By Jacob Gu & Foster Wong

THE number of Covid-relat -

ed deaths and severe cases at Chinese hospitals have both declined by 98 percent from peak levels reached in early January, according to the country’s

Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Daily fatalities at hospitals across the mainland slid to 102 as of Monday, down 97.6 percent from a high of 4,273 on January 4, the agency said in a statement dated Wednesday. Severe hospital -

ized cases fell to 2,000, marking a 98 percent drop from the peak of 128,000 on January 5, it said.

The figures showcase a continuous improvement in China’s battle with the pandemic since the initial chaos following the abrupt end of the government’s zero-tolerance approach toward Covid-19. Economists expect an acceleration in the economy as infections recede.

China’s Covid case data have been under scrutiny in the wake of

the World Health Organization last month urging Beijing to release more detailed information as the virus spread rapidly throughout the country. The government also drew criticism for dramatically narrowing its definition of a death caused by Covid and halting daily caseload reports. Authorities have since reported on deaths that fall outside the narrower definition—which only counts fatalities from infected

people with respiratory failure— in an attempt to appease concerns. Still, the true toll could be hundreds of thousands higher than the official figures, which only count deaths at hospitals, analysts have said.

Masking recommendation

OTHER concerns remain. Yum

China Holdings, the largest western fast-food company, with about 11,790 restaurants across the country, recently warned against over-optimism in its latest earnings report.

“Consumers tend to be more careful with spending after holidays,” the company said. “A portion of the

population may remain cautious about going out in public.” Meantime, in Beijing, authorities urged students at elementary and middle schools in the capital city to continue wearing masks after they return to campuses next week.

Separately, China’s CDC said Wednesday that clear progress has been made in immunization. Some 90.6 percent of the whole population was fully vaccinated against Covid, with two doses, as of February 6, it said. Among people over 60, 96.6 percent have had two shots and 92 percent have had a first booster dose, the agency said. Bloomberg News

pulled more survivors from beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings Thursday, but hopes were starting to fade of finding many more people alive more than three days after a catastrophic earthquake and series of aftershocks hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 15,000.

PEOPLE stand by collapsed buildings in Golbasi, in Adiyaman province, southern Turkey on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Thinly stretched rescue teams worked through the night in Turkey and Syria, pulling more bodies from the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by a catastrophic earthquake. The death toll rose Wednesday to more than 15,000, making the quake the deadliest in more than a decade. AP/EMRAH GUREL

The World

Australia rejects new coal mine on environmental law

By Rod Mcguirk

The Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia—Australia has for the first time rejected a coal mining application based on environmental law. The government is under pressure to curb climate change by blocking all new coal and gas extraction projects. Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of both fossil fuels, which are major sources of the nation’s wealth. But Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Thursday she would decide individual projects on their merits.

“I will make each decision that comes before me on a case-by-case basis according to the law and according to the science that is available,”

Plibersek told Parliament.

On Wednesday, she announced her decision to prevent the Central Queensland Coal Project from being excavated northwest of the Queensland state town of Rockhampton and less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast Australian coast. The project would have had unacceptable impacts on fresh water in the area and potentially on fragile seagrass meadows that feed dugongs and provide fish breeding grounds, she said.

The open-pit mine has an estimated excavation capacity of 10 million metric tons (11 million US tons) of coal annually for 25 years.

Plibersek said the risk of “pollution and irreversible damage to the reef is very real.”

“The Great Barrier Reef is responsible for about 6 billion Australian dollars’ ($4.2 billion) worth of economic activity every year, about 64,000 jobs,” Plibersek said. “Given the science before me, it became apparent that the risks were simply too great.”

The mine was proposed by mining magnate Clive Palmer, who founded and finances the minor conservative United Australia Party.

Central Queensland Coal, a subsidiary of Palmer’s Mineralogy, did not immediately

respond Thursday to a request for comment.

A United Nations-backed mission recommended in November that the Great Barrier Reef be added to the list of endangered World Heritage sites, warning that without “ambitious, rapid and sustained”climate action, the world’s largest coral reef was in peril.

While warming oceans was the greatest threat to the network of more than 2,500 reefs covering 348,000 square kilometers (134,000 square miles), water quality and runoff from the Queensland coast were also risks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party government has increased Australia’s ambition for reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions since it was elected last year.

The Parliament enshrined in law Labor’s election pledge to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The previous conservative government had a more modest target to reduce emissions by between 26 percent and 28 percent by the end of the decade.

Labor has relied on the minor Greens party’s 12 senators to get legislation through the upper chamber.

The Greens, who lost a senator this week when Sen. Lidia Thorpe became an independent, want Australia to slash emissions by 75 percent by 2030 and are pressuring the government to ban any further coal and gas projects.

The government faces another contentious energy industry decision when it considers extending an offshore gas exploration license off Sydney’s northern beaches.

In late 2021, the previous conservative government rejected a two-year extension of the PEP-11 drilling license in the face of fierce community opposition only months before an election. The project proponent Asset Energy took the government to court. But that court action has ended last week with Albanese’s government agreeing to reassess the previous government’s decision.

Biden warns of GOP plans to cut Medicare and Social Security

By Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller & Fatima Hussein

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—When President Joe Biden suggested that Republicans want to slash Medicare and Social Security, the GOP howls of protest during his State of the Union address showcased a striking apparent turnaround for the party that built a brand for years trying to do just that.

Biden is not about to let Republicans off easily and forget that history.

The record ranges from President George W. Bush’s ideas about privatizing Social Security to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s sweeping Medicare overhaul plan to current Sen. Rick Scott’s idea of allowing those and other federal programs to “sunset.”

As budget negotiations move ahead, expect the long history of GOP efforts to slash the popular entitlement programs for seniors to remain a politically powerful weapon the White House intends to wield.

“They sure didn’t like me calling them on it,” Biden said Wednesday about his address that drew heckling from Republicans the night before. He headed to political battleground Wisconsin, home of Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who has proposed forcing Congress to authorize spending for Social Security every year.

Speaking at a union training facility in DeForest, Biden pulled out a copy of Scott’s campaign proposals and quoted Johnson as well as Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah to warn that Republicans would target Social Security and Medicare.

Referring to the loud GOP objections at the State of the Union, he said, “When called them out on it last night, it sounded like they agreed to take these cuts off the table.”

“Well, I sure hope that’s true,” he said. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The political shift among Republicans is happening in real time, helping set the parameters for the budget negotiations as Biden and Congress try to come up with a plan for raising the nation’s debt limit by a summer deadline.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has insisted that cuts to Medicare and Social Security are “off the table”—and many House and

Zelenskyy wraps up European tour with visit to EU summit

By Raf Casert & Sam Petrequin The Associated Press

Senate Republicans vehemently agreed during Biden’s State of the Union address, some shouting “liar!” as he suggested they were proposing reductions.

But it’s unclear what Republicans will demand instead of entitlement cuts as they leverage the upcoming negotiations to extract federal spending reductions. They say they want to put the government on a path toward a balanced budget, but that’s a daunting if not impossible challenge without painful cuts elsewhere—in defense or other domestic accounts that Washington has been unable to make.

Johnson accused the president of “lying” about the senator’s approach. “I want to save these programs,” Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. “We need a process to prioritize spending and decease our deficits.”

The White House has insisted that Republicans make their budget plans public for Americans to judge for themselves. That hasn’t happened yet.

“No more saying one thing and doing another,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Let’s see exactly what they want to do.”

Efforts to halt the explosive growth of the federal safety net programs for older Americans have stirred and stalled for years, particularly as the nation’s population ages and more and more money is needed to shore up Medicare and Social Security.

Mandatory spending on the programs accounted for about $2.1 trillion in fiscal 2022, which ended last June 30—a sizable chunk of the nation’s $5.8 trillion federal budget. Both funds are on track for insolvency, and the nation’s debt is climbing, already edging past the $31 trillion limit.

In 2005, then President Bush floated a proposal to partially privatize Social Security, the retirement income program mostly for seniors. Republicans in 2010 seized control of the House and elevated House Budget Chairman Ryan, the architect of a Medicare proposal to shift toward a private insurance option, to be the party’s 2012 vice presidential nominee. More recently, Scott, leader of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, put forward his own plans for overhauling the entitlement systems for older Americans.

Zelenskyy arrived at the European Union’s legislature in Brussels on Thursday. The Ukrainian anthem was played at the protocol entrance, followed by the European anthem.

The bloc’s 27 leaders were hoping to impress on the president that the powerful bloc is steadfast in its support of embattled Ukraine as Russia is feared to be making moves for a new offensive around the Feb. 24 one-year anniversary of the war.

Flying in from Paris with President Emmanuel Macron, who honored him with the Grand Cross of France’s Legion of Honor, Zelenskyy will be stepping up from a half-dozen video addresses to the EU leaders over the past year to use his impressive aura and oratory skills in person to make sure that nothing stalls in Europe’s unwavering backing.

“The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes,” said the latest draft of the summit conclusions seen by The Associated Press.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the bloc will send Zelenskyy “this signal of unity and solidarity, and can show that we will continue our support for Ukraine in defending its independence and integrity for as long as this is necessary.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that “it is my plea that everyone will do what they can. The price will go up with every delay.”

That need was especially pressing Thursday. A US-based think tank reported that the Russian forces “have regained the initiative in Ukraine and have begun their next major offensive” in the eastern, largely occupied, Luhansk region.

“Russian sources are widely reporting that conventional Russian troops are attacking Ukrainian defensive lines and making marginal advances,” the Institute for the Study of War said in its most recent report.

Zelenskyy will be using the dais of the European Parliament to make his point in a plenary session, hoping to match Wednesday’s speech to Britain’s legislature when he thanked the nation for its unrelenting support.

That same support has come from the EU. The bloc and its member states have already backed Kyiv with some 50 billion euros in aid, provided military hardware and imposed nine packages of sanctions on the Kremlin.

After the solemn words at parliament, Zelenskyy will move to the urn-shaped Europa building for a working session with the 27 leaders.

Macron’s office has already confirmed the bloc “will reiterate Europeans’ unwavering support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” Few would expect anything less.

The EU is in the midst of brokering a new sanctions package worth some 10 billion euros ahead of the February 24 oneyear anniversary of the war. And there is still plenty of scope for exporting more military hardware to Ukraine as a Russian spring offensive is expected.

One topic that was not on the agenda in Britain but will be in Brussels is Ukraine’s desire to become a member of the European Union as soon as possible.

A high-profile visit to EU

headquarters can only add to the goodwill to help his country on to the road of accession talks.

Ukraine is talking about joining the EU in a matter of years, while practice has shown it can take decades before aspiring members are considered fit to join.

Zelenskyy well knows that the EU sometimes moves at a snail’s pace while he himself had to be lightning fast to stave off an early Russian victory and set up a defense of his vast nation that very few would have deemed possible

a year ago.

Now, after initial hesitation, EU nations have finally started to step up their military contributions as well.

Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands announced Tuesday that they plan to provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished German-made Leopard 1 battle tanks in the coming months. The announcement followed Germany agreeing last month to allow deliveries of the more modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

BRUSSELS—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is wrapping up a whirlwind tour of his major European backers, already heading home with heaps of goodwill, promises of more military aid and, as hardware goes, France’s highest medal of honor.

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, walk on the tarmac of the Orly airport, south of Paris on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will later have a working dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Elysee Palace. JULIEN DE ROSA VIA AP

Balloon drama: Will it lead to new Cold War?

THe first recorded military use of balloons was during the French Revolutionary Wars in the late 18th century, when the French military used balloons to gather intelligence on the movements of the enemy. Modern balloons are still being used to undertake surveillance because they fly at higher altitudes than aircraft, can remain stationary over sensitive sites, are harder to detect on radar, and can be camouflaged as civilian weather craft.

Was the Chinese balloon that suddenly appeared over the Us last week undertaking surveillance? Or was it engaging in research, as China has claimed?

The U s sees the incident as the latest in a global surveillance push by China. While China says the device was a climate-research “airship” that strayed off course, the U s argues it was part of a broader spying program by Beijing. Reports said Chinese balloons have been spotted over countries from Japan to Costa Rica. Taiwanese media have reported that mysterious white balloons had been spotted over the island at least three times in the past two years. The Pentagon said another Chinese balloon was recently spotted traveling over Latin America. China said that aircraft was also blown off course.

From The Conversation: “China initially attempted to suggest the balloon malfunctioned and drifted into U s airspace, claiming force majeure. If the balloon was autonomous, it would have been entirely dependent on wind patterns. However, a report in s c ientific American said the balloon appeared to have a high level of maneuverability, especially when it appeared to linger over sensitive U s defense facilities in Montana.”

From BBC news: “Us intelligence sources have insisted the balloon shot down on s aturday was used by the Chinese military for spying. Unnamed officials told the Washington Post they believed such balloons were used to collect intelligence on strategically relevant territories. They include Japan, India, Taiwan and the Philippines. An official told the Washington Post that the U s intelligence community believed some of the balloons were being flown from Hainan, a southern Chinese island that is home to a naval military base.”

d id China’s balloon violate international law?

International law is clear with respect to the use of balloons over any country’s airspace. every country has complete sovereignty and control over its waters extending 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from its land territory. every country likewise has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory under international conventions. This means each country controls all access to its airspace. International law does not extend to the distance at which satellites operate, which is traditionally seen as falling within the realm of space law.

If a U s balloon was being flown over China, and the U s says it’s a climate-research “airship” that strayed off course, will the Chinese government shoot the Us ba lloon down?

From Bloomberg, February 8, 2023: “China boasted about its ability to shoot down spy balloons that strayed into its airspace back in 2019, more than three years before saying the U s “overreacted” by destroying one of its vehicles. A documentary shown on state television that is part of a series called national d e fense stories shows fighter pilots apparently practicing shooting down a balloon that could “endanger security of air defense”.”

China has condemned the downing of its balloon as an unacceptable violation of international law and standards that has set back the potential for dialogue. Based on international rules, the Us was on firm legal footing in its response to the Chinese balloon. Political observers said the balloon incident has clearly tested the Biden administration and the Us response to China’s growing military assertiveness.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that d e fense s e cretary Lloyd Austin requested a secure call with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of n a tional d e fense Wei Fenghe, on s a turday after the balloon was shot down. China declined the request, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. Let’s hope this incident will not lead to a new kind of Cold War between the two superpowers.

Biden speech takeaways: More conciliation than conflict

By Josh Boak & Aamer Madhani The Associated Press

Biden made calls for unity and tried to emphasize conciliation over conflict, easier to do in this rarefied setting, seemingly impossible to sustain in such divided times.

President Joe Biden checked those boxes, and a few more, during his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. In part, he seemed to be laying the foundation to run for a second term. “We’ve been sent here to finish the job,” he said.

Biden made calls for unity and tried to emphasize conciliation over conflict, easier to do in this rarefied setting, seemingly impossible to sustain in such divided times.

Takeaways from the prime-time address:

More conciliation than conflict

B I de n’s speech almost defiantly ig -

nored the bitter divisions between Republicans and d e mocrats and his own low standing with the public.

He returned repeatedly to common ground, making the case that both parties can back U s factories, new businesses being formed and the funding of 20,000 infrastructure projects. When Biden hit each of these themes, House s p eaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., politely clapped. He even stood to applaud at one point.

It’s a sign that d e mocrats and Republicans can at least agree to a shared set of goals, even if they have very different views of how to get there.

In the midterm election campaign, Biden warned of Republican extremists. On Tuesday night, he portrayed them as partners in governance during the first two years of his presidency.

But then came a Biden comment that generated boos and hoots from Republicans: Biden said some in the GOP were bent on cutting s o cial s ec urity and Medicare. That sparked a raucous back and forth that seemed more in line with the reality of the actual relationship between the parties.

Regular Joe

B I de n used the speech to highlight his focus on the common man, call -

ing out billionaires who pay lower tax rates than does the middle class, and airlines that treat their passengers like “suckers.”

It amounted to a dare to Republican lawmakers who increasingly claim to represent blue-collar workers. “ n o b illionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a school teacher or a firefighter,” Biden said in one of the bigger applause lines of his speech.

The president brought back an idea from last year to put a minimum tax on billionaires so they don’t pay a lower rate than many middle-class households. Biden had pitched a 20% tax on the income and unrealized financial gains of households worth $100 million or more. The administration estimated it would generate $360 billion over 10 years. That would in theory help fund some priorities and possibly reduce the deficit. But Biden’s tax plan might be more about scoring political points. He couldn’t get it past s e n. Joe Manchin, d -W.Va., in the s e nate last year.

See “Biden,” A15

Zelenskyy seeks weaponry in surprise trips to London, Paris

By Jill Lawless & Sylvie Corbet

The Associated Press

PARI s —U krainian President

Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought Western support for his country in surprise visits to Britain and France on Wednesday, pushing for fighter jets to battle Russian invaders in a dramatic speech to the UK Parliament, and then flying to Paris to meet the French and German leaders over dinner at the e l ysee Palace.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy will join e U leaders at a summit in Brussels, which German Chancellor Olaf s c holz described as a “signal of e u ropean solidarity and community.”

Zelenskyy’s e u ropean tour and pleas for more advanced weapons came as Ukraine braces for an expected Russian offensive and hatches its own plans to retake land held by Moscow’s forces. Western support has been key to Kyiv’s surprisingly stiff defense, and the two sides are engaged in grinding battles.

Zelenskyy thanked the British people for their support since “ d a y One” of Moscow’s invasion nearly a year ago, as Prime Minister Rishi s un ak said fighter jets were “part of the conversation” about aid to Ukraine. not hing is off the table,” he said at an evening news conference at a British army base. “We must arm Ukraine in the short term, but we must bolster Ukraine for the long term.”

Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs all kinds of supplies, not just planes, but also ammunition and long-range missiles

“Without this, there would be stagnation which will not bring to anything good,” he said, calling his visit to Britain “very fruitful.”

Then it was off to Paris for dinner with French President e m manuel Macron and s c holz, the German chancellor.

Zelenskyy was greeted Wednesday night on the steps of the e l ysee Palace with a friendly embrace by Macron, and then all three leaders headed inside. The visit marks a turnaround in Zelenskyy’s relations toward France and Germany, which earlier in the war were viewed by many in Ukraine as not doing enough to help.

“Ukraine can count on France, its e u ropean partners and allies to win the war. Russia cannot and must not win,” Macron said before their working dinner. Macron’s office put out a statement confirming that Zelenskyy would attend Thursday’s summit in Brussels, where e U l eaders will pledge their support for the Ukrainian people.

Zelenskyy’s travel to e u ropean capitals on Wednesday was just his second foreign trip since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. In d e cember, he traveled to Washington to meet with President Joe Biden and address the U s Congress.

His day began when he arrived on a Royal Air Force plane in London and was greeted on the tarmac with an embrace from s u nak. They held talks at the prime minister’s 10 d o wning s t . residence before Zelenskyy’s speech to lawmakers in the 900-year-old Westminster Hall, the

Zelenskyy’s European tour and pleas for more advanced weapons came as Ukraine braces for an expected Russian offensive and hatches its own plans to retake land held by Moscow’s forces. Western support has been key to Kyiv’s surprisingly stiff defense, and the two sides are engaged in grinding battles.

oldest—and, on a cold winter day, unheated—part of Parliament.

“London has stood with Kyiv since d a y One,” he said, repeatedly thanking Britons for their aid. The UK. has sent Ukraine more than 2 billion pounds ($2.5 billion) in weapons and equipment.

Wearing his trademark olive drab sweatshirt, he urged allies to deliver jets to Ukraine, saying combat aircraft would be “wings for freedom.”

In a dramatic gesture, Zelenskyy presented the speaker of the House of Commons with a Ukrainian air force helmet, inscribed by a Ukrainian pilot: “We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it.”

The president was trying to soften allies’ reluctance to send advanced fighter jets, both because they are complex to fly and for fear of escalating the war.

The UK has repeatedly said it’s not practical to provide Ukraine with British warplanes. But in a shift, the government said Wednesday it was “actively looking” at whether Ukraine could be sent Western jets, and was “in discussion with our allies” about it.

Britain also said it would train Ukrainian pilots in Britain on “ n AT O-standard fighter jets” within weeks. s u nak spokesman Max Blain said the government was exploring “what jets we may be able to give” over the coming years, but had not made a decision on whether to send its F-35 or Typhoons.

“We think it is right to provide both short-term equipment…that can help win the war now, but also look to the medium to long term to make sure Ukraine has every possible capacity it requires,” he said.

Ukraine has sought Western fighter jets since early in the war to bolster its force of s o viet-made MiG-29 and s u f ighters. The success of its air force in defending its skies and territory despite Russia’s bigger numbers helped push back Moscow’s initial assault.

The Russian e m bassy in London strongly warned the UK against supplying the warplanes, saying Britain would bear responsibility “for another twist of escalation and the ensuing military-political consequences for the e u ropean continent and the entire world.”

See “Zelenskyy,”

WASHINGTON—The State of the Union address tends to have a ritual rhythm. Grand entrance. Applause. Platitudes. Policies. Appeals for Unity, real or imagined.

Kim Jong Un may have unveiled new ICBM during military parade

By Jon Herskovitz & Shinhye Kang

NORTH K orean leader Kim

Jong Un is believed to have rolled out a new fast-strike intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade, an event that he also used to elevate the profile of a daughter who he could be grooming for a leadership position.

Kim, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their “beloved daughter” attended the parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean People’s Army held in central Pyongyang on Wednesday night, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Weaponry including intercontinental ballistic missiles was on display, it said, adding “ICBMs appeared in the square heated by the cheers the spectators.”

A broadcast of the event may come Thursday, providing weapons experts an opportunity to study the missiles rolled through the streets.

Photos provided by state media indicated a new solid-fuel ICBM may have been displayed.

That type of missile would be easier to move and quicker to fire than the state’s current arsenal of liquid-fuel ICBMs, giving the US less time to shoot one down. North Korea in recent months tested new solid-fuel engines, which could be used in missiles designed to strike US military bases in Japan and Guam, as well as an ICBM to hit the American mainland.

A military parade is one of the biggest public events a North Korean leader can hold. Close attention will be paid to Kim’s daughter, thought to be about 10 years old and one of three children that

South Korea’s spy agency believes he had with Ri since they married in 2009.

Her actual name isn’t known, but she’s referred to as Kim Ju Ae by experts who study the reclusive nation. State media now calls her the “respected daughter,” and she’s received prominent attention since she made her debut in November, when her father brought her to the launch of a new ICBM.

The appearances and propaganda mentions are stoking speculation

Zelenskyy...

Continued from A14

Macron has said France hasn’t ruled out sending fighter jets but set conditions, including not leading to an escalation of tensions or using the aircraft “to touch Russian soil,” and not resulting in weakening “the capacities of the French army.”

Sunak and Zelenskyy flew by helicopter to Lulworth Camp, a base in southwest England, where they met Ukrainian troops being trained on the Challenger 2 tanks the UK is sending as part of the hundreds that Kyiv says it needs. More than 10,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained in the UK, and Britain says it will train 20,000 more in 2023.

“I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future,” Sunak said.

Zelenskyy also went to Buckingham Palace, where he met with King Charles III, who greeted him with a broad smile and a warm handshake before they had tea. The king told the president that “we’ve all been worried about you and thinking about your country for so long.”

In his Parliament speech, Zelenskyy noted that Charles was a qualified military pilot.

“The king is an air force pilot,” Zekenskyy said, and “in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king.”

Zelenskyy was greeted with applause, cheers and cries of “Slava Ukraini”—“Glory to Ukraine”—as he arrived in Parliament, where his

she’s being groomed for a leadership role. In 2010, Kim Jong Un, then 26, made his public debut at a military parade with his father Kim Jong Il. His attendance that day, plus the fact he was made a four-star general and given prominent positions in the ruling party a few weeks earlier, were signs he was the heir apparent.

It is highly unlikely Kim Jong Un would install his elementary schoolage daughter in a government role now, a move that would all but assure her of official status. Given Kim’s relatively young age of 39, he could be in power for decades. Still, he’s overweight and a heavy smoker who has battled health problems, so succession is also a subject of concern.

Rachel Minyoung Lee, regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network, said the ways state media has referred to Ju Ae over time are noteworthy, but it’s too early to read anything about succession into it.

“It would seem, therefore, that the main purpose of Kim Ju Ae’s public appearances is to reinforce the importance of continued weapons development and production for the security of future generations,” said Lee, who worked as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency’s Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades.

Despite all the mystery about North Korea, the events with the daughter signaled to the nation’s public and the outside world that the Kim regime is here to stay.

It also indicated the ruling family won’t be bargaining away a nuclear arsenal that guarantees its continued survival anytime soon.

“At the very least, we know that Kim recognizes the utility of showcasing his young daughter in garnering interest and attention from the international community,” said Soo Kim, a former CIA Korea analyst who is now a policy practice area lead at US-based management consulting firm LMI.

Since taking power a decade ago, Kim Jong Un has defied predictions that his regime would falter. Instead, he boasts an increasingly diverse stockpile of weapons designed to target the US, Japan and South Korea.  Bloomberg News

cause has wide support.

He had addressed the U.K. Parliament remotely in March, two weeks after the start of the invasion. He echoed World War II leader Winston Churchill’s famous “never surrender” speech, vowing that Ukrainians “will fight till the end at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost.”

On Wednesday, he recalled how on a prewar visit to London, he sat in Churchill’s chair in his subterranean wartime headquarters, and had a feeling that only now he understands: “It was the feeling of how bravery takes you through the most unimaginable hardships to finally reward you with victory.”

In past wars, “evil lost,” he told UK lawmakers. “We know Russia will lose and we know victory will change the world.”

He also urged stronger sanctions against Moscow until “Russia is deprived of any possibility to finance this war.”

Coinciding with the visit, the UK government announced new sanctions against six entities that Britain said supplied equipment to the Russian military. CST, a manufacturer of Russian drones and parts for helicopters used against Ukraine, were among them.

The London visit came as Russian forces shelled areas of eastern Ukraine in what Kyiv authorities believe is part of a thrust by the Kremlin’s forces before the invasion anniversary. Moscow, meanwhile, believes Ukraine is preparing its own battlefield push. Lawless reported from London. Danica Kirka and Sylvia Hui in London and Raf Casert in Brussels contributed

Where do cats go when they are missing?

Tito Genova Valiente

annoTaTions

“Cats

Innova arrived at Savage Mind when the place had not been known yet as the creative hub of the region. It was a store with books that were meant to be bought and read. The owner did not need a magic charm to keep the project going; he was only satisfying his urge to do something with his love of literature, at the core of which were the two acts of writing and reading what has been written.

Then Innova came. Found under an Innova car, not pressed but comfortable in the darkness and warmth the vehicle provided, he was brought to the bookstore.

As a kitten, Innova’s growth was monitored by people who came to the bookstore, readers and non-readers alike. This coterie of admirers included those who did not read but loved posing against shelves stacked up with books or having their photographs taken while holding or perusing a book. For the sincere ones, meaning those who truly loved cats, holding Innova was the apotheosis of having one’s presence memorialized in a thinking space.

But then, Innova went missing last year. He was nowhere to be found as the chill of the last days of the year began to be felt in this city historians love to

Biden...

Continued from A14

The president was straightforward in saying he would stop airlines from charging fees in order to sit families together, saying that children were being treated like luggage. He wants to ban hidden resort fees charged by hotels and penalties charged by cell service providers.

“Americans are tired of being played for suckers,” Biden said.

Passing over China balloon

B I DEN h ad been on a winning streak countering China, America’s rising military and economic competitor.

Then Beijing brazenly floated a spy balloon across the United States, an embarrassing episode for Biden that culminated last weekend with him ordering the Pentagon to shoot the craft out of the sky over the Atlantic Ocean.

The incident has dominated headlines, with some Republicans arguing that it demonstrates Biden has been wobbly on Beijing.

Biden briefly addressed the incident directly: “As we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did.”

Lost in the noise is the administration’s increasingly aggressive efforts to push back against China, through agreements with the Philippines and Japan to adjust or expand the US military presence in those countries.

The balloon drama overshadowed all of that.

Standing with Ukraine

L A ST y ear’s State of the Union was dramatically shaped by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started days before the address.

At that moment, the chances of Ukraine staying in the fight with a more formidable Russian military seemed highly unlikely. Nearly a year later, Ukraine is firmly in the fight.

Biden took a moment to pay tribute to Ukraine, addressing one of his guests, Ambassador Oksana Markarova, as representing “not just her nation but the courage of her people.”

He also applauded Congress for giving Ukraine what it needed to face Russia’s

call “ancient”. He was not the only animal companion that got lost. Rawit, a slender cat with fur as white as snow, also vanished. Okay, there is no snow in our regular collective experience but isn’t it kinda cute, albeit silly, to describe something whose whiteness is that of an element absent in our culture?

For the uninitiated in the Bikolanoness of things, Rawit was part of a tandem of white kittens conscripted to serve as mascots for the then already-popular bookstore; the other partner was named Dawit. Together, they were Rawit-Dawit, a name writers attribute to what is believed to be the indigenous form of Bikol poetry. Contentious, exegetical.

As Rawit was a traditionally lovely cat, a Hallmark-greeting-card cat, even a Sanrio cat, it was easy to admit that he was kidnapped—catnapped—for his physical allure. Saddened as the supporters and sympathizers of Savage Mind bookstore, they believed the white cat would be cared for. Sipping tea and coffee, the owner of the bookshop and his friends embraced the loss and were resigned to the scenario of Rawit, bejeweled with an expensive collar, ever more flighty, a brat of a cat who would easily forget his rigid upbringing as a

brutal aggression; the United States has already committed nearly $30 billion in security assistance since the start of the war.

In private, administration officials have made clear to Ukrainian officials that Congress’ patience with the cost of the war will have its limits. But with Tuesday’s address, Biden offered an optimistic outlook about the prospects of long-term American support.

“Ambassador, America is united in our support for your country,” Biden said looking toward Markarova in the gallery. “We will stand with you as long as it takes.”

Feeling their pain

A MONG Biden’s guests were the parents of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man whose beating death at the hands of Memphis, Tennessee, police has reignited a national debate on policing.

Efforts to reduce police excesses have been sharply restricted by resistance in Congress, and there’s little prospect of federal action.

Still, Biden expressed awe at the grace of Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, who following his death has talked of her son’s “beautiful soul” and hopeful certainty that “something good will come from this.”

Biden, 80, also acknowledged in plain terms that as a white man he’s enjoyed a privilege that Nichols’ parents—and Black parents writ large—do not.

“Imagine having to worry whether your son or daughter will come home from walking down the street or playing in the park or just driving their car,” he said. “I’ve never had to have ‘the talk’ with my children—Beau, Hunter and Ashley—that so many Black and brown families have had with their children.”

Finish the job

B I DEN uttered the phrase “finish the job” at least a dozen times during his address. It sounded like the makings of a slogan he might employ for a reelection campaign.

But it is highly unlikely he will be able to finish the job on many of the things he referenced, like an assault weapons ban, universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and forcing companies to stop doing stock buybacks. At least not during this term.

turning our attention—and love—to two abandoned cats. One is a Tuxedo Van cat named Radius; the other is a Yellow Tabby cat, named Carla.

But one day, just as he had quickly vanished some two months ago, Innova came back, posed like a prince outside the glass door of Savage Mind, waiting to be welcomed home. It was opportune that the assistant manager of the store was there. The story was that he picked up Innova who did not squirm at all.

How did you know that was Innova, we asked him. He inspected the cat’s ears and saw an identifying mark, a hole. He also saw the healed scars somewhere on Innova’s body. Hours later, Innova’s patron came back and saw the cat, and knew he was Innova. He embraced Innova who did not resist the tenderness.

thinking fur being.

Not Innova. When he disappeared, the owner could not imagine anyone loving, and cuddling a long, brawny macho shithead of a cat. Innova was the perfect gatekeeper, a snob who was natural in giving cold-shoulder treatment to clients who came to the bookshop not to read but to pose as readers. He also could smell charlatans and pseudo critics. He bristled at the thought that plagiarists were roaming his territory. You could see it by the way he twisted his whiskers into baroque arches. But he loved readers who shed tears at the sight of a frisky metaphor; he celebrated individuals who tear up at the sight of a rare title by rubbing his length against the leg of such divining creatures.

The first few days after Innova’s disappearance, his owner and friends (including this writer) began a daily search for him. Any cat that had a Tabby pattern was called, or followed. At night, with the lampposts as our lonesome beacon, we would stand outside the bookstore waiting for Innova to come running back to us. We were already missing him dearly and we began

Recovering from Innova’s return, the owner and his friends (this writer included) sat down and, over wine and chips, began to examine the series of events.

One of the theories why Innova left was that he felt neglected after the arrival of three more cats. But the fact that he readily succumbed to the caring arms of his patron meant that he had no resentment at all in his catheart. Is the second theory the more plausible explanation, that someone took him away and kept him captive inside the house? What happened then? Did Innova escape?

Last night was the third night of Innova’s return and we were still at a loss as to how we could understand his disappearance and reappearance. With all options explained away, Innova’s patron offered the ultimate reason—Innova either found his way into a portal or he entered one of the books in the shop, and became a word.

One thing is sure though: one cat owner somewhere is missing a cat, and wracking his brain as to why his companion ran away (or disappeared?).

Sudan’s tropical disease spike reflects poor health system

By Mohaned Awad & Jack Jeffery The Associated Press

EL OBEID, Sudan—The two Sudanese women thought they had malaria and were taking their medication, but things took a dire turn. Both complained of a splitting headache and fever that didn’t respond to the anti-malaria treatment.

By the time she was diagnosed with dengue fever, Raqiya Abdsalam was unconscious.

“Soon after they examined me, I fell into a coma,” she said, recounting her ordeal some three months ago. Both women have since recovered and are at home in the city of El Obeid in the central province of North Kordofan.

For decades, Sudan’s underfunded public health sector has struggled to effectively diagnose or treat patients as significant government spending went to its vast security services. A recent spike in mosquito-borne diseases—such as dengue fever and malaria—has underscored the fragility of the African country’s health system, boding ill for future challenges driven by climate change.

Sudan’s best-equipped hospitals are concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, leaving those from far-flung provinces reliant on aid projects. But many of those have disappeared.

In October 2021, Sudan’s leading military figure, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, led a coup that derailed the country’s short-lived democratic transition. The move spurred a sharp reduction in aid, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting that funding levels fell to less than 50 percent of required needs for both 2021 and 2022.

Burhan with his ruling generals and several other political forces pledged in December to install a new civilian government. But political wrangling is impeding a final deal, and it remains unclear when—and if—donor funding will return to previous levels.

In late fall, a young doctor at a North Kordofan hospital thought that what

she was seeing was a new malaria outbreak. Patients arriving at her hospital had malaria-like symptoms—high fever, body fatigue and a migraine-like headache.

But after blood samples were sent to a laboratory in Khartoum for testing, a worrisome picture emerged. Some of the patients did have malaria, which is caused by a parasite, but others had dengue fever—similar in symptoms but caused by a virus. If severe and untreated, dengue fever can lead to organ failure and death.

The young physician said the hospital lacked the facilities to deal with the outbreak. “Patients had to either lie on the floor or bring their own beds to the hospital,’’ she said.

While malaria is common across central and southern Sudan, large dengue outbreaks are rare. But last fall and winter, dengue fever spread to 12 of the country’s 18 provinces, killing at least 36 people and infecting more than 5,200, according to Sudan’s Ministry of Health. However, the actual numbers are likely higher, given the limitations on testing.

‘’Most hospitals outside of Khartoum are not connected to the Ministry of Health database,’’ said Alaaeldin Awad Mohamed Nogoud, a liver and transplant surgeon who is also a prominent pro-democracy activist.

T he World Health Organization says several factors enabled the dengue outbreak, including the absence of disease surveillance infrastructure and heavy flooding in autumn.

The stagnant water allowed mosquitoes to breed and fueled the spread of the disease.

Health experts also fear that growing mosquito migration, induced by climate change, could spur new surges in dengue fever, among other tropical diseases typically found beyond Sudan’s southern borders.

The Aedes aegypti, a long-legged mosquito growing in number across Sudan that can carry the dengue virus, is causing particular concern.

Jeffery reported from Cairo

are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose.” – Garrison Keillor

But Innova has a purpose, a function. His patron knew when the cat went missing that Innova was half (or maybe a bit less?) of the heart of his bookshop.

PBBM keen on PHL being key electronics hub in Asia

standing debate on value-added tax (VAT) refund as well as logistic and supply chain requirements.

"I believe that by initiating dialogue and addressing issues in an interactive and proactive manner, we hope to send a message of commitment towards the continued and smooth operations of all Japanese investors in the Philippines," he added.

PEZA TO SET IN MOTION 3 NEW ECOZONES IN ‘23

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

the Philippines; Sumitomo electric Industries, Ltd.; Brother Industries, Ltd.; IBIDeN Co., Ltd.; Seiko epson Corporation; NIDeC-ShIMPO Corporation; and TDK Corporation.

Marcos is currently in Tokyo, Japan for an "official" visit, which will last until Feb. 12, 2023.

US GSP

BANKING on the vigorous push for investments and for industrial dispersion, the Philippine economic Zone Authority (PeZ A) said it expects to “operationalize” around one to three new ecozones per year.

The exact amount of new investments will be announced on Friday during the signing of intent from the concerned Japanese investors.

Marcos said he is now eyeing to make the country a top manufacturing hub for electronic goods in Asia by securing more such similar investments from Japanese companies.

"We aspire to become a hub of excellence for sectors, where we have a natural comparative advantage. We want the country to attain the status of a regional hub for printers, wiring harnesses and other electronic goods," Marcos said in a meeting

on Thursday with representatives from 11 major Japanese firms that have existing investments in the Philippines.

The country is currently the fourth largest exporter of wiring harness worldwide due to its lowcost production.

Business concerns

The discussions in Tokyo were meant to address the concerns of the said companies and make it more convenient for them to expand their operations.

Among such issues is the long-

he assured investors the government will craft solutions on such concerns, including increasing the pool of skilled Filipino workers for the semiconductor and electronic plants.

“With the automotive industry moving toward electric vehicles and autonomous driving and the printer industry facing challenges related to digitalization and automation, we hope to see you recruit our talented human resources in your R&D (research and development) activities,” Marcos said.

The meeting was attended by top executives of Japan Aviation electronics Industry, Ltd.; Yazaki Corporation; Yokowo Manufacturing of

Me A NW hILe, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual was also asked to provide updates on the renewal of the United States Generalized System of Preference (US GSP), which expired in December 2020.

“The GSP is important to Japanese companies exporting to the US for duty-free entry of their export products from the Philippines,” DTI said in a statement.

In response, Pascual said that currently, the Philippine government is exerting all efforts to lobby with the US Government for the GSP reauthorization.

Continued on A3

“Year on year, we actually expect to operationalize at least one to three new ecozones,”PeZ A Deputy Director General (DDG) for Operations Vivian S. Santos said in a televised interview on Thursday. Santos added that before ecozones get operationalized, they have to seek or be issued a proclamation by the Office of the President.

Last year, the PeZ A official said the investment promotion agency has “29 pending ecozones” in the Office of the President for the issuance of a requisite proclamation as of 2022. Of these 29 pending proclamations, Santos said 13 are IT parks and centers, 12 are in manufacturing, two are in Tourism.

In an earlier statement, PeZ A said it has approved a total of 29

e c ozone development projects amounting to P96.21 billion, 11 of which were registered during the first six months of the Marcos administration and amounting to P90.65 billion or 94 percent of the total investments. Meanwhile, Santos said PeZ A is still receiving applications for the development of IT parks and centers. In fact, she noted that the agency expects more of this type and encourages their proponents to “disperse” these IT parks and centers to the countryside. however, she added, Pe Z A will need the support of other agencies involved in the e cozone program because it is “two different things to invite investors and then facilitate the requirements of the investors.”

Moving forward, Santos said Pe Z A will pursue “industry-led roadmaps, joint investment promotions and increased private sector participation in the infrastructure development of the ecozones via Joint Venture, [public-private partnership] PPP.”

Continued on A3

SC: No gender bias in VAWC, even abusive moms are liable

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

The law protecting women and children from acts of violence was never intended to shield mothers who are themselves the abusers of their children, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Noting that the law’s provision in defining acts of violence against children used the gender-neutral word “person” as the offender, “which embraces any person of either sex,” the high tribunal reversed a Taguig court’s ruling rejecting the petition of a father who sought protection for his daughter from her abusive mother.

even though Republic Act 9262 is intended to protect both women and their children, “a mother who maltreated her child resulting in physical, sexual, or psychological violence defined and penalized under RA 9262 is not absolved from criminal liability,” the SC stressed in upholding the plea of Randy Michael Knutson.

RA 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 – or more popularly referred to as VAWC [pronounced as “vaw-si”] was considered a landmark legislation that took decades to enact, and the court’s interpretation, in Knutson’s case, of its gender-neutral penal provisions against abusers of children is also deemed a landmark of sorts.

Voting 9-5, the SC held that upholding the trial court’s ruling will weaken RA 9262 since it will remove from its coverage cases where the mother herself is the abuser of her child.

It also branded as “discriminatory” the trial court’s position that children who suffered abuse from the hands of their own mothers may invoke other laws, except RA 9262.

In its landmark decision, the SC upheld the right of the father to apply for protection and custody orders for his child against the mother who is alleged to have committed violence against their child under RA 9262.

In an 18-page decision penned by Associate Justice Mario Lopez, the Cour en banc granted the peti-

tion filed by Knutson, an American citizen, seeking the reversal of the Regional Trial Court of Taguig’s ruling dismissing his petition for the issuance of temporary protection and permanent protection orders on behalf of his daughter.

Knutson recounted that he met his wife Rosalina in Singapore in 2005, got married and had a daughter.

In 2011, the family lived in the country but the couple became estranged after Knutson discovered his wife’s infidelity.

Despite their separation, the petitioner provided financial support to his wife and daughter.

however, the petitioner said his wife got addicted to gambling and would often leave her daughter in the care of strangers when she went to casinos.

Rosalina incurred large debts from casino financier, prompting her to sell the house and lot, condominium unit and vehicles that Knutson provided for the family.

h i s wife ended up renting an apartment and entered into a romantic relationship with another man.

Maltreated daughter

he also discovered that his daughter was being maltreated by her mother.

One time, the petitioner claimed his wife pointed a knife at her daughter and threatened to kill her.

he also told the court his wife once even texted him about her plan to kill their daughter and to commit suicide.

Knutson reported the matter to the police station, but the authorities explained that they cannot assist him in domestic issues.

Afterwards, the petitioner said his wife sent pictures of her daughter’s naked body with a message that he would not her see body again.

Their neighbors also would also complain about noisy parties and pot sessions in her apartment.

The apartment’s owner eventually terminated the lease agreement after marijuana plants were confiscated in the premises.

This prompted Knutson to seek redress before the Taguig court on December 7, 2017 on behalf of his minor child by filing a petition under RA 9262 for the issuance of temporary

and permanent protection orders.

The petitioner said his wife placed their daughter in a harmful environment deleterious to her physical, emotional, moral and psychological development. however, the Taguig RTC dismissed the petition in an order issued on January 10, 2018, saying that RA 9262 cannot be issued against a mother who allegedly abused her own child.

The trial court explained that the child’s mother cannot be an offender under that law.

Furthermore, the trial court said the remedies are not available to the father because he is not a “woman victim of violence” based on the law. his motion for reconsideration was denied by the trial court, which reiterated that RA 9262 does not apply to a situation where the mother committed violence against her own child.

This prompted the petitioner to elevate the issue before the SC, citing grave abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court .

Knutson argued that RA 9262 does not limit the offender to a male person and the legislative intent is to provide all possible protection to children.

Although the petitioner should have brought the issue before the Court of Appeals based on the doctrine of hierarchy of courts, the SC said it decided to take jurisdiction over the issue “in the interest of justice and public welfare.”

It said the resolution of the issue will benefit not only the parties but also children who are similarly situated.

“hence, it is an opportune time for this Court to answer the novel query with far reaching implications on whether the father may apply for protection and custody orders against the mother who is alleged to have committed violence against their child,” the SC pointed out.

In granting the petition, the SC declared that contrary to the trial court’s ruling, RA 9262 allows the father of the offended party to apply for protection orders.

Continued on A3

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said he was able to get "billions of pesos worth" of investments from Japanese semiconductor and electronic firms, which are expected to generate over 100,000 jobs.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Friday, February 10, 2023

Globe can sustain growth momentum in 2023–exec

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

duce our capex spend to $1.3 billion this year and $1 billion next year without sacrificing customer experience and revenue opportunities,” she said.

Globe expects its revenues to grow by “mid-single digit” this year. In 2022, Globe booked a 4-percent increase in its top line.

Globe profits rose by almost half in 2022 mainly due to an all-time high top line and the partial sale of its tower assets and its data center business.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Globe CFO Rizza Maniego-Eala said the company decided to lower this year’s capex to $1.3 billion from $1.9 billion in 2022, as it already frontloaded most of its expenses during the pandemic.

“We intentionally spent—ramped up—our capex during the pandemic

because of the Bayanihan Law,” she said, noting that the law enabled Globe to hasten the deployment of new infrastructure both for mobile and broadband.

Maniego-Eala said the company will now “maximize the assets” that it built over the past three years.

“That gives us confidence to re-

Its full-year 2022 net income reached P34.6 billion or 46 percent higher than the P23.7 billion it netted the year prior. The mobile operator’s consolidated revenues were up 4 percent to P158 billion, an all-time high, fueled by both corporate data and mobile services.

Globe also booked a one-time net

gain of P8.4 billion from the partial sale of its data center business, as well as a net gain of P6.2 billion from the sale and leaseback of its tower assets. The telco’s total operating expenses stood at P78.9 billion. Its core net income, which strips off one-time gains and losses, was 9 percent lower to P19.2 billion from P21.2 billion.

Globe President Ernest Cu said the company will also be focusing on its portfolio companies—digital institutions that provide services beyond telco—especially, KonsultaMD.

“One of the criteria that we looked at in terms of scaling business is the size of the problem. Healthcare access is a very big problem in our country,” he said. “We are very bullish in the health care segment and that is something that we’ll be focusing on.”

‘SPNEC to complete SRO in March’

By VG Cabuag @villygc

SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC)

on Thursday said it is committed to complete its stock rights offering (SRO) at the Philippine Stock Exchange by next month to enable its share swap with parent firm Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc.

SPNEC said based on indications of interest for its shares, it expects that the partially paid SRO shares will be fully paid. If any of these are not yet fully paid when due, as assurance for the completion of the SRO, Solar Philippines has offered to purchase any remaining shares as of March

from SPNEC at the SRO price of P1.50 apiece.

The company’s SRO consists of the issuance of 1.87 billion shares priced at P1.50 per share, for a total offer size of P2.81 billion. The shares were offered to eligible shareholders as of the record date of August 25.

“We are grateful to our public shareholders for believing in the value of our company’s shares. With the improved market conditions this year, we hope this will bring forth a positive feedback loop, by enabling the completion of our SRO, and in turn enabling our share swap, private placements and project developments,” Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste.

SPNEC’s closing price as of Feb-

ruary 8 was P1.54 per share, above its SRO price. It was trading at P1.59 per share on Thursday .

In September, SPNEC conducted its SRO for 1.87 billion shares, of which 1.12 billion were fully paid and 748,02 million, with 25 percent downpayments. The due date on the balance of the partially paid shares was initially set on December 5 and was moved to March 5.

As of December 22, the company had 578.76 million remaining partially paid SRO shares. The completion of the payments for this number of shares by next month may result in an additional P651 million in proceeds to fund SPNEC’s ongoing project developments. As part of its share swap, SPNEC

would issue 24.372 billion additional shares in exchange for projects of Solar Philippines in addition to its existing 10 billion shares. This will result in SPNEC having 34.37 billion shares outstanding, which would require the public to own a total of at least 6.87 billion shares to achieve an at least 20 percent public float.

Assuming 4.75 billion shares are held by the public after recent private placements, SPNEC would need to increase its public float by at least another 2.12 billion shares.

The company has disclosed that it is working on further private placements to accelerate its project developments and broaden SPNEC’s shareholder base in preparation for its share swap.

B1

Manila wants Japan electronics firms to expand operations

THE Philippines is seeking expanded cooperation with Japan in the production of semiconductors, electronics and wiring harnesses, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said in an interview after a roundtable meeting with Japanese companies with export-oriented investments in the Philippines that 11 major Japanese firms presented their current operations and future investment plans.

In his opening statement, the Trade chief said, “With the demand expected to grow in the global market, we would like to explore how we can encourage you to expand and upgrade your operations in the Philippines.”

According to a statement issued by DTI on Thursday, the dialogue enabled the investors to air their concerns and the Philippine Cabinet members to explain what is being done to resolve these concerns.

The Trade department said the companies present during the the roundtable meeting on February 9 were Brother Industries, Ltd., IBIDEN Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation, NIDEC-SHIMPO Corporation, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, TDK Corporation, Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd., ya zaki Corp., yokowo Co., Ltd., and Panasonic Corp.

Pascual said the meeting highlights the Philippines’s “commitment to economic partnership” with Japan when asked about the importance of the Presidential Visit to Japan.

According to DTI, the manufacturing of semiconductors, electronics, and wiring harnesses is considered as one of the top contributors to the country’s economic growth.

In 2021, DTI said the Philippines was the fourth largest exporter of wiring harness in the world after Mexico, China, and Romania.

Global market share of wiring harness exports is 7 percent or $2.3 billion in annual sales. The Philippines is also one of the lowest-cost producers of wiring harness in the world based on export value and quantity, according to the DTI.

The Trade department noted that the Philippine electronics industry is classified into 73 percent Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (SMS) and 27 percent Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS).

Most of the electronics businesses in the country, DTI said, operate in four key areas: Metro Manila,

barzon, Northern/Central Luzon and Cebu.

“These companies practice the best known methods in manufacturing, with

Product Assembly. The industry also employs over three million direct and indirect workers,” the Trade department said. Andrea E. San Juan

Specialty cafe to open in Clark freeport–CDC

ASPECIALT y café that will provide coffee enthusiasts with a “one-of-a-kind experience” is set to open inside this Freeport.

This was revealed during the signing of the lease agreement between Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Parade Concepts Corp.

CDC President and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera and Parade Concepts President Christine Marie R. Dizon signed the deal for the development of Porch Coffee in Clark. The signing ceremony was held on February 9 at the Clark Visitors Center.

Also present during the event are Parade Concepts Corporate Secretary Arnelli Abelardo A. Aportadera, and CDC Officer-In-Charge for Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Noelle Mina Meneses.

Under the agreement, Parade Concepts will lease the Barn House 2088 along the Clark Parade Grounds to put up the specialty coffee shop.

Dizon expressed optimism on the upcoming development of this new café in the Freeport.

“We are very excited about this because it’s going to be the first specialty coffee shop here in Clark. We also want to elevate the trends when it comes to coffee because different coffee shops have been sprouting all around Clark and this is going to be something different,” she added.

Devanadera, for her part, stated that the establishment of this new coffee shop in the Freeport proves that major brands are now turning to Clark to establish their businesses because of its suitability for investment and its continuous growth.

“We can say that Clark is now the top-of-mind for investors. Major brands want to put up their operations here because they can see how other businesses thrive in Clark. With its potential and favorable business climate, Clark is really the best place to be,” she said.

Aside from unique coffee blends, Porch Coffee, whose name pays homage to the iconic porches of barn houses, will also serve comfort food and drinks, all-day breakfast, dinerstyle food, and classic espresso-based drinks.

According to Aportadera, corporate secretary of Parade Concepts and one of the owners of the café, they want the coffee shop to be a place where people from different communities can relax, dine, and enjoy while sipping their favorite coffee fix.

“Our focus for this one is really community building. So, we really made this for the people. That includes the people of Clark, the people of Pampanga, and other neighboring communities here. We also want to really give emphasis on our service to the customers,” he said.

ISUZU GENCARS DONATION TO CARITAS MANILA Isuzu Gencars donated an Isuzu Traviz utility van to Caritas Manila as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR. Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual (6th from left), Executive Director of Caritas Manila, receives the symbolic key from Isuzu Gencars, Inc. Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon (5th from left) during the turnover ceremony held at Isuzu Makati on February 9, 2023. Shown in the photo are (from left) Patrixia Nicole Ann Antonio, ALC Central Human Resources Division (CHRD) Staff; Dannica Nicole A. Cabangon, Executive Officer of Eternal Gardens; Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon, Special Assistant to the President of Isuzu Gencars; Ms. Sharon Tan, Mr. Cabangon, Fr. Pascual; Lerma O. Nacnac, President of Isuzu Gencars; Rye Zotomayor, Financial Stewardship Division Head of Caritas Manila; Armand Menguez, Can of Charity Jr. Officer of Caritas Manila; Albert Zata, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Isuzu Gencars; and JP Estrella, ALC CHRD Recruitment and Research Staff. Isuzu Makati is part of the Isuzu Gencars chain of dealerships and a member of the ALC Group of Companies, also headed by D. Edgard A. Cabangon as chairman.

Globe Telecom Inc. is confident that its lowered capital expenditures (capex) for 2023 will still allow the Ayala-led telco to sustain its growth momentum “without sacrificing customer experience.”

Banking&Finance

PPP Center lacks mechanism to include MIF investments

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center currently doesn’t have mechanisms to include sovereign wealth fund investments in its projects should the country create the Maharlika Investment Fund.

At the sidelines of the Inaugural Ruperto Alonzo Memorial Lecture Series at the University of the Philippines School of Economics late Wednesday, PPPC Executive Director Ma. Cynthia C. Hernandez said investments from a sovereign wealth fund can be used for PPPs if these are set up as subsidies or guarantee financing from the government.

If the government is bent on creating a fund and using it for infrastructure projects such as PPP projects, Hernandez said the government can consider making adjustments in the proposals or in the laws governing PPP initiatives.

“As generically defined sovereign wealth funds are, you want to generate returns. If you use that as viability gap funding, saan yung return mo? [where’s the return?] Your return is economic development? (Because) you want to do this (to) help the government,” Hernandez told the BusinessMirror.

Needs tweaking

IN her personal opinion, Hernandez said the MIF “will need tweaking.”

“[I’m not saying there’s no room] in the PPP space for that (sovereign wealth fund) but as it is currently designed, medyo wala [there’s none] unless they set it up as a fund to provide subsidies or guarantees or participation in equity in PPP projects,” Hernandez told the BusinessMirror.

She said one way to tweak the laws or guidelines is to pass the PPP Act. The PPP Act can join the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Law, which currently governs the PPP Center’s activities and the guidelines for joint ventures (JV Guidelines).

She said the BOT Law provisions currently exclude financing through sovereign wealth funds such as the Maharlika Investment Fund. However, these kinds of funds may be accommodated under the JV Guidelines.

The JV Guidelines were created to encourage the pooling of resources and expertise between the government and the private sector.

The JV Guidelines cover all government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government corporate entities (GCEs), government instrumentalities with corporate powers (GICPs), government financial institutions (GFIs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Not practiced

UNDER the guidelines, the government’s equity in a JV company shall be 50 percent or less of the outstanding capital stock. Its contribution may be through assets such as money, equipment, land, intellectual property or anything of value.

“We can say okay, [we have here a] rail project; [offer a] bid and, to help reduce the project risk, government itself will participate,

Demand for agri loans still ‘tepid’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

will take on 20 percent of equity,” Hernandez said. “So if you’re the private sector, [you’d be funding only] 80 percent [and] with government there, baka makatulong siya [maybe it can help] in managing certain risks.

“So ang benefit to the government is kung halimbawa ang equity return ng project is 15 percent, then the government will also be getting the benefit of the 15 percent equity return. So yun yung nakikita kong way na pwedeng gawin,” Hernandez explained. [So the benefit to the government is if for example the equity return of the project is 15 percent, then the government will also be getting the benefit of the 15 percent equity return. So that’s the way I see how that can be done.]

“But currently, we don’t do that. We don’t bid out projects and say bid for 80 percent of the project and 20 percent will be owned by the government,” she added.

‘Wild cards’

IN a separate forum last Thursday, former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said creating this fund is untimely and could limit the government’s resources.

Guinigundo said in a video message at the ADR Stratbase Economic Outlook for 2023 that the country faces a lot of “wild cards” and the creation of the fund may be one of them.

He said it may be better to focus on the government’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) than entertain the idea of creating the Maharlika Investment Fund.

“It is self-defeating in terms of its fund sources. Anything taken from GOCCs or government owned and controlled corporations, GFIs (or) government financial institutions and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (or) BSP deprives the government of funding the budget deficit either the national government borrows more or imposes higher taxes or do both. To me that is not going to be optimal,”Guinigundo said.

Guinigundo invited the government and legislators to use a “fine tooth comb” on the Maharlika investment fund (MIF) before it is even passed in Congress. This is especially the case since the government does not have any surplus funds to invest in such a fund.

‘Seed fund’

EARLIER, the President announced that private money may be used for the proposed MIF.

Additionally, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave assurances that safeguards will be in place so that the MIF cannot be used for money laundering.

Marcos made the remarks amid concerns by some lawmakers that the MIF can be misused or could drain the government of much-needed funds.

He said the use of the fund will be projectspecific to ensure it will be properly used.

During the interview, he also explained that the MIF, which will be created via a new law, will only serve as “seed fund” for the country’s sovereign wealth fund (Full story: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2023/01/24/ private-money-will-fundmif-butsafeguards-vslaundering-built-in-pbbm/).

LANDBANK APPROVES LOAN FOR ILOILO RICE MILL FACILTY

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) announced last Thursday that it will finance the first “modern” rice mill in Iloilo province after approving the loan application of Restia Rice Milling Corp. (Restia) recently.

LandBank said the 2,472-square-meter rice mill plant will rise in Brgy. Calaboa, Leganes. The state-run lender said the plant will “address the lack of modern production and post-production facilities” in Iloilo, one of the country’s top riceproducing provinces. The rice mill plant will start construction in June.

In 2022, Iloilo produced 1.016 million metric tons (MMT) of palay (unmilled rice), accounting for 5 percent of total output last year.

LandBank said it was tapped by Restia to fund the construction of the rice mill plant. The rice milling company also availed of a short-term loan to finance its working capital requirements for palay trading, relending to farmers and rice milling.

Restia’s new rice mill plant will be able to produce “high-quality long grain rice and be capable of processing even wet palay during

THE demand for agricultural loans in 2021 remained “tepid” despite a low policy environment with the share of agricultural loans to overall bank loans shrinking, according to a government’s baseline report.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released last Thursday the results of its 2021 baseline report on agricultural lending in the country, which it conducted together with the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

The report surveyed 1,904 banks within and outside the National Capital Region (NCR). These institutions included private universal and commercial banks, private thrift banks, private rural and cooperative banks and government-owned banks.

One of the key findings of the report was that the amount of agricultural loans approved by the banks in 2021 was at least 30-percent lower than the total amount they extended in 2020. About half of the total banks surveyed reported a “relatively” lower amount of agricultural loans while 31 percent said their agricultural loans grew in 2021, according to the

report. The remaining 18.6 percent of the respondents said their agricultural loans were relatively the same between 2021 and 2020.

“[About] 29 percent of the respondent banks released no agricultural loans in 2021 while one third of respondent banks reported to have granted agricultural loans with value not exceeding P5 million,” the report read.

The report also showed the perennial problem of agricultural loans in the country which was the non-compliance to the mandated 25 percent allocation by banks of their total loanable funds to agriculture and other rural projects.

Challenges

THE report’s survey indicated that only one in every four banks were compliant with the mandated 25-percent loan allocation for the agriculture sector under Republic Act 11901 (Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022).

“In 2021, the share of agriculture to total loans granted in most banking units ranged from 11 percent to 15 percent of total loans, which is lower compared to the 2020 level. Likewise, the number of agricultural borrowers served in 2021 was lower by at least 30 percent than in 2020,”

the report said.

“On the average, at least one half (57 percent) of the respondent bank branches/offices reported to have granted agricultural loans to no more than 500 agricultural borrowers in 2021. One third of respondent banks reported to have no agricultural borrowers at all in 2021,” it added.

The report indicated that the challenges encountered by the banks in extending agricultural loans in 2021 were brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the challenges include reluctance of banks or investors to capitalize in agriculture due to the sector’s vulnerability to natural calamities and the lack of viable projects owing to farm lands, which are mostly fragmented and far-flung and require proper infrastructure, according to the report.

Factors

THE report also added other challenges include “farmers’ lack of properly documented properties that are deemed acceptable as collateral or loan security and volatility of farmers cash flow due to instability of farmer incomes, and lack of other income sources from non-agriculturerelated activities.”

“In terms of the outlook, more than half of the respondents expect no change in lending and deposit rates while a third of the banking units anticipate higher lending rates. Meanwhile, nearly 61 percent of the respondents anticipate higher profits in 2022, while 32 percent expect no change in their profitability levels,” the report said.

Nonetheless, at least 76 percent of the bank branches surveyed by the government expressed interest to hike their lending to agriculture in the next 12 months, according to the report.

The report said that factors that would encourage banks to expand lending to agriculture sector include: responses to increasing demand for agricultural loans as Covid-19 pandemic is getting controlled; serving as compliance to the mandatory credit allocation; and, to fulfill the bank’s mandate to extend agricultural loans. Other factors, the report said, would be helping farmers expand their businesses and improve their quality of life, to provide for the farmers’ financing needs and stop them from availing high-interest rate loans from informal lenders and supporting the nation’s goal of attaining food security, financial stability, and economic development.

Money changer convicted for violating CB regulation

THE Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicted the owner and operator of a money changer for violating the “Manual of Regulations for NonBank Financial Institutions,” according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In a statement, the BSP said the owner and operator of Zhenrihada Money Changing Services (Zhenrihada) for its violating the regulations manual, which is punishable under Section 36 of Republic Act (RA) 7653 (The New Central Bank Act).

“The BSP ensures the compliance of banks and other regulated financial institutions with existing laws, rules, and regulations to ensure the soundness of the financial system and to protect the interest of the general public,” BSP said.

The accused pleaded guilty as charged for violation of the relevant provisions of the manual of regulations. The court sentenced the owner and operator to pay a fine of P50,000, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of non-payment.

The criminal case arose from a complaint filed by the BSP with

Investing in Board Leadership

By Octavio B. Peralta

TWO years of crisis navigation has impacted the governance of associations, both for the better and in challenging ways. For many of association board leaders, reflecting on how their association was able to thrive (or even survived) at the height of pandemic is in no small part because of their contribution that has deepened loyalty and commitment.

A big part of this contribution is investing in board leadership which starts right after a member is elected to the board. This includes three processes: orientation; refresh; and, onboarding.

the rainy season,” Landbank said. The rice mill plant will have a milling capacity of 2,900 bags of palay per day with an estimated output of 2,400 bags.

LandBank said the new rice mill will allow farmers in Iloilo and neighboring provinces to market their produce of well-milled and high-grade rice grains at a higher price. The farmers can also sell their harvest directly to Restia to cut logistics expenses and avoid transacting with middlemen to improve their income, the bank added.

“Our comprehensive and holistic approach to lending ensures that all agriculture players have access to affordable and responsive financing,” LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo was quoted in a statement as saying. Restia Rice Milling Corp., a subsidiary of the Restia Group of Companies, seeks to support local rice farmers, according to LandBank. LandBank added that Restia is also collaborating with the Department of Agriculture to establish an efficient logistics system in Panay Island for the benefit of local rice farmers. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

This was tackled in the first monthly webinar of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executive (PCAAE) under its “Association Leadership Webinar Series of 2023.” Entitled “Association Governance: Post-demic Calibration for the Future,” the webinar was conducted by Lowell Aplebaum, CEO of US-based Vista Cova, a team of expert facilitators who support strategic planning, member engagement, and governance design for associations.

The following are my takeaways from the webinar.

1. Orientation. The process of assisting new board members to enable them to contribute fully, and as early in their term as possible, to the governance work of the board.

This includes the knowledge, practice, and culture that a board member should know before they begin their tenure. Among others, these comprise the following: those already provided during the election process; governance structure; values; strategies; agreements of obligations; legal principles; board meetings; agendas and minutes; staff role; integration of strategy to board work; board mentorship; and, connection with the CEO and/or Executive Director.

2. Refresh. If board orientation is for new incoming members, refresh is for returning

board members. This includes, among others, reflection and evaluation of their experience and shifts in service expectations as well as updates on responsibilities and legal principles.

3. Onboarding. This is about bringing together a new board in a team formation process aimed at having a well-functioning leadership group. It covers aspects such as: simulations; crisis response; ethics challenge; public relations training/representation; conscious inclusion training; strategy consultation for components/chapters; foresight exploration; and, relationship building.

Association boards have many roles and responsibilities in their governing work, notably providing strategic direction and management oversight as well as setting policies and raising funds. As such, there are a number of ways they can face difficult and challenging situations.

In most cases, boards get derailed from their task due to confusion or vagueness which can happen when they don’t understand the expectations, goals, or even the basic processes of the organization. This is why effective orientation, refresh and onboarding are essential elements for board leadership success.

So, whether it’s about bringing new members onto a board that has been together for many years or just starting a board from scratch, the three above-mentioned processes prepare and enable them for the job ahead.

The pandemic has brought about a key challenge in relation to board leadership investment, i.e., to fill the governance pipeline in the face of everyone feeling they have less time in their hands to serve boards.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the UN Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.”E-mail:bobby@pcaae.org.

the Department of Justice due to the failure of the accused to register Zhenrihada as a Money Service Business (MSB) with the BSP prior to its operations.

Section 36 provides that whenever a bank or quasi-bank, or whenever any person or entity willfully violates the New Central Bank Act and other pertinent banking laws being enforced or implemented by the BSP or any order, instruction, rule or regulation issued by the Monetary Board, other person or persons would be fined P50,000 to no more than P200,000.

The person or persons responsible may also face imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than 10 years or both at the discretion of the court.

“Whenever a bank or quasi-bank persists in carrying on its business in an unlawful or unsafe manner, the Board may, without prejudice to the penalties provided in the preceding paragraph of this section and the administrative sanctions provided in Section 37 of this Act, take action under Section 30 of this Act,” the law also stated. Cai U. Ordinario

SEC, Google PHL axe online lending firms on Play Store

By VG Cabuag VGCabuag

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said last Thursday it was able to remove 33 unregistered online lending platforms (OLPs), as of end of January, on Google Play Store, with the assistance of Google Philippines Inc.

These lending platforms have not been reported to the SEC, in violation of SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) 19 (series of 2019) or the “Disclosure Requirements on Advertisements of Financing Companies and Lending Companies and Reporting of OLPs.”

The removal of these unregistered lending platforms is also in line with the SEC’s previous discussions with the local business of Alphabet Inc. In May 2022, the firm adopted a new policy that required developers with personal loan apps targeting users in the Philippines to submit a personal loan app declaration and necessary documentation before they could publish apps on the Google Play Store.

Personal loan apps operating in the Philippines without proper declaration and license attribution will be removed from Google Play Store. In the event where the submitted license, registration or declaration is no longer valid under the law, the developers are required to remove the app from the Google Play Store.

Protect borrowers UNDER SEC MC 19, financing and lending companies are required to register their OLPs as business names and disclose their corporate names, SEC Registration Numbers and Certificate of Authority Numbers in their OLPs and advertisements.

In November 2021, the SEC further issued SEC MC 10 (series of 2021), which imposed a moratorium on the registration of new OLPs. SEC MC 10 provides that only OLPs registered as of November 2, 2021, may operate and be used for online lending or financing, but will remain subject to strict monitoring.

“The SEC will continue its efforts to protect existing and prospective borrowers from abusive, unethical and illegal lenders,” the agency said.

To date, the SEC has revoked the Certificates of Registration of 2,084 lending and financing companies that failed to secure their requisite Certificate of Authority. The agency also canceled the respective Certificate of Authority of 39 financing and lending companies due to various violations of applicable rules and regulations.

“The SEC is looking at engaging with other social media platforms for the adoption of a similar gatekeeping policy imposed by Google Philippines in the interest of customer protection,” the agency said.

Valentine’s Day is also family day

P8,000 per head for a degustacion meal. Ouch.)

With Valentine’s Day being on a Tuesday, many couples are likely girding themselves for car-mageddon, as people rush about trying to get to their dates on time lest they lose their restaurant reservations. This will, after all, be the first legit Day of Hearts evening escapade, postpandemic. So, good luck, people.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE By

Eugenia Last

WHILE many of us still have our Christmas trees and yuletide decorations up, here comes Valentine’s Day making its presence felt with many malls and department stores now bedecked with huge red hearts.

These commercial establishments are now in the thick of their promos, pushing out the red date outfits, roses (plastic and otherwise), jewelry, chocolates, etc.—many of them surely left over from the post-Christmas and Lunar New Year sales— trying to convince people that the best way to say “I Love You” to your significant other is with uhm, a red mug printed with the words “I love you” with “love” replaced with a big red heart. Ewww.

At the same time, local restaurants have also been pumping out their special menus on social media, reminding lovers to book their reservations early. “Special” almost always means some dish or other with foie gras, a thick juicy steak or Chilean sea bass, a truffle-infused pasta dish or with actual truffle shavings, and a decadent chocolate dessert or tiramisu, etc. Some restaurants will throw in a free red rose for the ladies or one glass each of red wine for the dining couple. (The least expensive menu I’ve seen so far is P3,500 per head, rising all the way to

But there’s no reason for this special day of love to be enjoyed just by dating couples. Young parents will likely have to stay home and spend Valentine’s Day with their children (unless you’re deadset on having a night out and can persuade Lola and Lolo to babysit). It’s a great teaching moment for parents to show the kids that everyone deserves a special day like this. Here’s how to make Valentine’s Day fun, even if you’re just spending it at home:

n If you have the energy, decorate your home with little touches like heart-shaped balloons or red-heart cutouts (or wisely reuse your red Christmas/Lunar New Year decor and trimmings).

n With small children, it’s easy to convince them to get in the spirit of things. Set a theme and get everyone to dress up accordingly. How about a cartoon-themed night, or maybe they can dress up as their favorite super-hero characters? Challenge them to use their own clothes (sparing you of any additional expense) and make their own accessories. (I must admit this will be a harder sell to tweeners and teenagers, but perhaps a small monetary reward or giving them additional time on their mobile gadgets could be an incentive.)

n Organize a Valentine’s Day hunt (like an Easter Egg hunt), but instead hide your kids’ favorite chocolate bars or truffles around your home. After, keep the chocolates in each child’s own special container for you to dole them out

ONE day you can’t keep your hands off each other, and you’re constantly finishing each other’s sentences; the next, you find once-cute quirks annoying, and you’re both more preoccupied with what’s on your phones rather than what the other has to say. What happened to that intense, heady rush you felt at the beginning of your relationship when the mere presence of a person you couldn’t stop thinking and talking about made you blush and weak in the knees?

While Hollywood movies condition us to believe that passionate love is forever, science will tell you that the euphoria of a fresh new romance lasts anywhere from six months to two years. “It’s a phase driven by hormones and chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and oxytocin, that trigger attraction, lust, and attachment,” explains Ma. Gia Grace B. Sison, MD, head of the MakatiMed Wellness Center of leading hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www. makatimed.net.ph). “Eventually, the levels of these feel-good hormones and chemicals taper, the so-called ‘honeymoon period’ is over, and that’s when you see your partner for what he or she truly is.”

Years into a relationship could make you fall into a rut. Suddenly, places and activities that excite you become unexciting and predictable. Respective careers and personal interests can also take your time away from your partner. Longtime couples with kids tend to put romance in the backburner once the responsibilities of raising a family become the top priority.

But just because the honeymoon is over doesn’t mean romance has to end too. “The bottom line is this: Relationships are never static; they grow and evolve the way you and your partner do,” says Dr. Sison. “They also need constant work, so if you want to revive the romance of your early days, you’ll have to be proactive and in it together. Both of you have to want it.”

The best part? If your relationship has matured through the years, any romantic feelings you rekindle with your mate will no longer be fueled by infatuation but by honest and deep love.

n Communicate. Spend time together—whether on a mid-week date without the kids, or an after-dinner stroll in the neighborhood—to talk and listen. “Refrain from touching on topics like home budget or what your children did in school,” suggests Dr. Sison. “Ask each other how your day went. Plan doable goals like getting fit together. Reminisce about your past — when you first met and what you liked about each other. Communication creates connection and intimacy.”

n Try new things. Dine in a restaurant you haven’t been to before. Book yourselves in a place other than your go-to vacation destination. Learn a new skill or hobby together. “Longtime couples are likely to have settled into comfortable, fixed routines,” Dr. Sison points out. “Shake things up occasionally by introducing

one at a time over the next few days.

n Another option is to stress the noncommercial side of this day by encouraging the kids to write down special messages for their siblings, like why they are thankful for each other. Parents can also write to their kids to emphasize what makes them grateful to each one. (Or just encourage them to do something extra nice for their siblings.)

n Since this is supposed to be a special day, prepare a special dinner. It doesn’t have to be as elaborate or expensive as your Christmas noche buena; it can be as simple as serving the kids their favorite dishes like pizza, hamburgers, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. (Good luck if you’ve raised your kids on sushi or mushroom risotto.)

n End the day by watching a movie together. Among the movies I recommend, which I’ve personally enjoyed as well, are Coco (a celebration of Mexican culture), Inside Out (a kid’s emotions are personified characters), Night at the Museum (historical figures come to life), Enola Holmes (Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister tries to find her missing mother), Hook (Peter Pan has grown up and his kids are kidnapped), etc. You can also try introducing them to educational movies like nature documentaries on National Geographic, or just let them choose their favorite flick. (Despite it being Valentine’s Day, you ought to leave out the unrealistic Prince and Princess-themed romantic animated Disney movies, and spare your children any relationships therapy sessions in the future… lol!)

Parents can take the opportunity to teach their kids about Valentine’s Day as not just being a time for romance, but also for family. It is a time for kids to learn about kindness and togetherness, and how there ought to be unconditional love and acceptance for everyone in a family.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Chloe Grace Moretz, 26; Emma Roberts, 32; Stephanie Beatriz, 42; Elizabeth Banks, 49. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Don’t lose sight of your dreams. Use your imagination and intelligence to figure out what makes you happy and how to incorporate what you want into your everyday routine. Change may not be the answer to everything. Address your options and put your energy where it counts to get the desired results. Practicality, coupled with intelligent spending, will pay off. Your lucky numbers are 5, 12, 21, 28, 36, 39, 48.

aARIES (March 21-April 19): Pick and choose what works best for you. Don’t try to live in someone else’s shadow when your happiness depends on being true to yourself. Get life moving in a productive direction. You’ll gain perspective and get positive results. HHH

bTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Balance and integrity are mandatory if you want to partner with someone. Project what you plan to accomplish and listen to the input you receive. Don’t let stubbornness stand between you and your dreams. Show leadership by being humble and accommodating. HHH

cGEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let someone’s actions freeze your plans. Say no to demands and head in a direction offering benefits to you instead of someone else. An original approach to an old idea will give you the edge you need to come out on top. HHHHH

dCANCER (June 21-July 22): Partner with someone you care about or can learn from, and something worthwhile will transpire. Don’t feel you have to overspend or pay for others to have fun or win favors. Use your intelligence to save and add stability to your life. HH

eLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Honesty will pay off. Speak from the heart, and suggestions will be forthcoming. Take heed of how you feel and any health issues or injuries that have the potential to worsen. It’s up to you to find and take advantage of opportunities. HHHH

fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A change is long overdue. Refuse to let someone’s hissy fit stop you from doing what’s best for you. Don’t let anger be your downfall; ignore negativity and you’ll find the passage to a positive path that gives you hope. Romance is encouraged. HHH

gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Focus on fun things to do with people you enjoy. Sign up for a challenge that will lift your spirits and make you proud. Use your energy wisely, and you’ll reap the rewards. Be prepared to take advantage of whatever comes your way HHH

hSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look at how you run your house or how others influence your lifestyle; consider how to ensure you live life your way. Question what’s being asked of you, and let your intuition guide you every step of the way Romance is favored. HHH

iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stop procrastinating and make a move. Travel, reunions, educational pursuits and separating the positive from the negative in your life will get you back on track and give you plenty of food for thought. Embrace doing things your way. HHHH

some novelty into your habits. The shared experience will help bring you closer and give you something to talk about.”

n Surprise each other. Here, you don’t have to spend much money or perform grand gestures to do it. “Slip written sweet notes into their bag, wallet, or pocket. Do a chore that your partner is normally in charge of. Drop by unannounced and pick up your significant other from work. The thoughtfulness and unexpected act are enough to make anyone feel giddy and loved,” Dr. Sison advises.

n Schedule sex. Sure, it sounds un-romantic, but if you schedule a few hours of intimacy instead of springing it on your partner, only to be scorned because “they have a headache,” you both have something to look forward to. Haven’t had sex in a while? “How about cuddling?” says Dr. Sison. “It’s still intimate and can even be sweeter.”

If despite all efforts, things aren’t improving, it’s recommended for couples to seek professional help like a counselor or a therapist. “You can try out individual therapy or marriage counseling. With these interventions, couples can learn healthy ways to communicate and prevent unhealthy habits and patterns, which will eventually help them de-escalate issues in the future and create a more loving relationship,” suggests Dr. Sison.

The Universal Crossword/Edited by Anna Gundlach

jCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotions will take you for a ride. Step away from situations that cause you grief and evaluate your options. Stay calm and keep your thoughts to yourself until you are ready to forge ahead. Start by making a positive change at home. HH

kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Assess your financial situation and decide your next move. Supplementing your income with a part-time position or lowering your overhead using common sense will ease your mind and encourage you to find prosperity. Focus. HHHHH

lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You can dream, but when it comes to getting things done, reason, common sense and hard work will be necessary. Connect with people you enjoy working alongside, and the feedback you receive will keep you on track. Personal improvements and romance are favored. HHH

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are entertaining, responsive and charming. You are a visionary and a go-getter.

‘nonvegetarian sides’ BY NANCY SERRANO-WU

In a long-term relationship? Yes, you can still keep romance burning

Indeed, what would Sophia Loren do?

ALDEN RICHARDS, Tom Rodriguez and Jasmine Curtis Smith headlined the 2022

GMA reaches more Filipinos on-air and online, leads in content in 2022

MEDIA giant GMA Network continued to widen its viewership and reach for Full Year 2022, while further strengthening its dominance across online platforms.

Based on Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data from January to December 2022, the network’s combined people net reach, including GTV and its other digital channels, was at 96 percent or 78 million viewers in Total Philippines.

GMA, GTV and the network’s digital channels I Heart Movies, Heart of Asia, and Hallypop registered a combined people audience share of 59.5 percent in Total Philippines.

The network was the most-watched channel in Total Philippines for the said period with 42.7 percent people audience share.

GTV, the network’s second free-to-air channel, sustained its lead over counterparts TV5, A2Z, and Kapamilya Channel. GTV logged a people audience share of 10.5 percent in Total Philippines against its closest rival TV5, which got 9.8 percent.

Out of the top 30 programs in Total Philippines for 2022, 28 were from GMA. The network swept the top 12 spots with hit series Lolong taking the No. 1 spot. Completing the top 12 shows were 24Oras, KapusoMo,JessicaSoho;FirstLady,MariaClara at Ibarra, Running Man PH, HappyToGetHer, Bolera,TheWorld Between Us, I Left MyHeart in Sorsogon, Magpakailanman and Jose & Maria’s BonggangVilla

GMA further widened its reach with a total of 95 TV stations all over the country, including its new Ilocos Norte station. Alongside its analog broadcast stations are its digital TV broadcast stations, which include the network’s Legazpi and Zamboanga stations.

Outside Metro Manila, GMA also strengthened its dominance in key regional cities. Metro Cities TV Audience Measurement (MCTAM) 2022 data also cited that the network reached 99 percent or an estimated 344,000 viewers in Metro Dagupan; 93 percent (2 million viewers) in Metro Cebu; and 96 percent (2 million viewers) in Metro Davao.

Reaching Filipinos beyond television and radio, GMA Network has demonstrated its solid dominance across various digital platforms, outperforming rivals in just the first two weeks of 2023.

From January 1 to 15, the network’s official YouTube channel beat ABS-CBN’s in terms of views. GMA tallied a total of 167 million views against its rival’s 158 million views.

GMA Integrated News on YouTube recorded 61.5 million views—way ahead of ABS-CBN News’ 35 million. GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channel likewise beat ABS-CBN News with 59.3 million views.

The network’s official website, GMANetwork.com, has generated an average of 3.7 million organic traffic for the first 15 days of the year according to SEO tool Semrush. Its official Facebook page continues to gain traction with 22,702,130 likes as of January 31. The page has logged 218 million views from videos posted during the month of January based on data from Tubular Labs.

On Tiktok, the network’s official handle now has 2,283,435 followers as of January 31.

This year, GMA is all set to bring the biggest and grandest roster of content on air and online. These include cutting-edge primetime shows such as VoltesV: Legacy, Mga Lihim ni Urduja, LuvIs: Caught In His Arms, LuvIs: Love at First Read, Hearts on Ice, LadyBoxer, Royal Blood and Love, Die, Repeat GMA has also partnered with streaming platforms to bring its upcoming series TheWrite One, Love Before Sunrise and Unbreak MyHeart to more viewers beyond television.

CONFRONTED with the verities of life, Nancy Vincenza Kulik asks the question, “What would Sophia Loren do?” That is also the title of the documentary, which follows the life of this American grandmother of Italian descent who has paralleled her life with that of the Italian film icon.

Nancy Kulik has always admired Sophia Loren—first because she is Italian and they share a common origin, Naples. Nancy Kulik’s parents came to the US, where they continued to nurture their link to the mother country not only through its language and cuisine but through a cinema, in which Loren featured prominently.

Sophia Loren seems like the right persona for an Italian-American to construct one’s identity but this is making the short documentary—all of 32 minutes—simplistic. It is not. What Would Sophia Loren Do? is a charming, small gem of a narrative about a woman who, by fate, (with due respect to those who believe in the primacy of ethnicity), is a Neapolitan finding in the life of a grand actress a template for understanding life, coping with the pains and joys of living as we know it.

The docu begins with Nancy being fitted with a mic by her daughter, who is also the executive producer of the project. She tells us of her childhood, growing up in a very wonderful loving Italian heritage background, “ having not Cheerios for breakfast but frittata with broccolini (an Italian egg dish).

As a young woman, Nancy felt she was different. She did not follow the herd, as she states in her own words. Her children would plead that she followed what American women of her generation did—run, jog, eat healthy. It was during those moments of introspection that she would then ask herself: What would Sophia Loren do? Saying that line for the first time in the docu, the next scene shows Sophia Loren herself, at her present magical age, being fitted also with mic, getting ready for the interview. The offcamera voice tells the legendary beauty to button up. Loren looks up very seriously and asks: “Too much cleavage?” Then a smile comes out of those lips— wicked and luscious and maternal.

The memory begins.

The next scenes are masterpieces in editing as the events in the respective lives of two individuals converge, diverge, and meet again in a retelling that is joyfully serendipitous. The presentation seamlessly moves from the more accessible life of Nancy Kulik to the larger-than-life of this Italian

diva when something heartwarming takes place: the ordinary circumstances in Nancy Kulik’s biography are pushed through the prisms of film; Sophia Loren’s cinematic achievements are turned into vignettes of empathy. One individual rises in glory; another climbs down graciously from the pedestal critics and filmmakers have put her on for delectation and consumption.

The rise of Sophia Loren from poverty, while still forbidding, is now seen in the context of a more sympathetic tale of Italian migrants coming to the New World. In that transition is this young girl who will be her own person in another country as this poor, little girl leaving her Naples for Rome to audition. Both display triumphs in personal psychology, with Nancy Kulik always looking for guidance in her own mixed heritage but elegantly, with some sophisticated naughtiness, looking to a woman on the silver screen—Italian, tempestuous, stereotyped like all those coming from the southern part of this society.

We know what Sophia Loren has done. She did not follow the herd. She also has asked the same question, What would I (as Sophia Loren, of course) do? She married a producer from her own country, a decision she made against living a life with Cary Grant. Loren has one solid reason for the marriage—she wanted to have a family. Loren, upon the advice of her doctor, stayed in bed for months, putting her career in the background, because she wanted to have a child. She would have two, Carlo and Edoardo, the latter a filmmaker.

Edoardo would direct his own mother in the film, The Life Ahead, as Madam Rosa, a former

So much ‘Dirty Linen’

exhausts all means to take down the Fiero family led by the matriarch Cielo (Tessie Tomas), Feliz (Angel Aquino) and her husband Ador (Epy Quizon), “sabong king” Carlos (John Arcilla) and his wife Leona (Janice de Belen), and their children Aidan (Zanjoe Marudo) and Chiara (Francine Diaz).

prostitute and a Holocaust survivor. Written by Romain Gary, Loren, in a sense, “continued” the character essayed by another thespian, Simone Signoret. One bonus of this docu is a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes of the shoot where Edoardo is strict with Loren in some scenes, and lovingly generous with his praises. Well, who would not be if your actress is Sophia Loren. But she is also his mom and, thus, we are almost eavesdropping with the director shouting, “Cut, Perfect!” Approaching Sophia Loren, Edoardo tells her, “Bravo, Mama.” He then leads her out of the set, holding her hand.

What is a docu involving Sophia Loren without a mention of her film, Two Women, made in 1961. Directed by Vittorio de Sica and produced by Carlo Ponti, who would become Loren’s husband, it would introduce her to the world audience.

How the docu inserts the footage from Two Women is sheer magic. Nancy is recalling incidents in her life as a mother to her four children, when the black-and-white footage from the film comes forth. The scene sears in our mind the horror of war, how our children and women are always at the mercy of violence instigated by men; it reminds us of the blinding performance from Sophia Loren, which gave her the Oscar for the Best Actress, the very first time it was given to a non-English speaking role.

How does one end an epic memory like this?

Shall Nancy Kulik meet Sophia Loren to complete her journey as a mother/woman?

W hat Would Sophia Loren Do? is directed by Ross Kaufmann and edited by Keiko Deguchi and Hypatia Porter. Its producers are Artemis Rising Foundation and Red Light Films. It streams on Netflix.

JUST when it seemed that thrillers on Philippine television were supplied solely by streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, along comes a new local series to remind us that when it comes to densely plotted ensemble pieces, the Pinoys remain in fighting form too.

ABS-CBN’s Dirty Linen, the pilot episode of which aired last month, has shown promise and has continued to enthrall audiences.

In the revenge drama (if you plan to bingewatch this show via iwantTFC, like I did, and would be loathe to encounter spoilers, skip the next few paragraphs), Alexa (Janine Gutierrez) infiltrates the household as a maid of the wealthy and extremely influential Fiero family after the sudden disappearance of her mother Olivia (Dolly De Leon), whom Alexa suspects was killed by the Fieros after they made it appear that Olivia ran away and stole jewelry worth millions.

To execute her grand plan of exposing the Fieros’ dirty secrets, Alexa takes justice into her own hands and connives with her second family— Rolando (Joel Torre), Lala (Jennica Garcia), Max (Christian Bables), and Nico (Seth Fedelin)—who are also seeking justice for their family members who suffered greatly in the hands of the Fieros.

Alexa changes her identity to Mila and

However, love unexpectedly gets in the way of Alexa’s revenge game as she grows closer to the unsuspecting and charming “golden boy” of the family, Aidan. In her quest for justice, Alexa will slowly uncover that the Fieros’ reputation is actually tainted by scandalous affairs, sordid issues, and far more dirty secrets than she ever imagined.

Will Alexa succeed in exposing the Fieros and uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance? Is it still possible for Alexa and Aidan to fall in love?

Dirty Linen may just seem like a clever retelling of numerous revenge plotted dramas that have flooded the country, but its grand themes of hope, justice and forgiveness make it more than a little implausible as a modern TV drama. But leaving aside its bombast, it has already proved itself to be neatly plotted and has delivered a few clever twists and turns.

Dirty Linen’s stunning first week aired a couple of weeks ago had us hooked with its various subplots. And the usual problem with stuffing so many twists into the pilot week is that you then have to deal with the consequences in the following weeks, and you’d better make it good if you want your fans to stay happy. One way to deal with this is to pick up right where you left off, giving you a chance to explore the stories— which the show does extremely well.

Another thing that Dirty Linen has done well is make us care more about the characters,

including the protagonists Alexa and Aidan, two of the most magnetic characters of the show. Janine as Alexa has the right mix of girl-nextdoor sweetness and buxom vampiness to have us believe she’s a scheming woman but not despising her.

Then there’s the social commentary of the show as evidenced in the matriarch Cielo (magnificently played by Tessie Tomas) as she shows how the upper echelon lives. And then there’s the social media-conscious Tonet Fiero (the comebacking child actress Xyriel Manabat), whose concerns about losing her followers after the porn business of her father is exposed, may seem vapid offhand but is actually valid in real life for a lot of its young viewers.

Dirty Linen airs on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as TVplus only need to rescan their device to be able to watch Dirty Linen on TV5 and A2Z. The show is also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.

ZANJOE MARUDO and Janine Gutierrez

CREBA appeals against proposed House bills that push for higher balanced housing quotas

Telcoms distributor Gur Lavi Corp joins NetSuite Solution Provider Program

GUR Lavi Corp (GLC), a telecommunications distributor in the Philippines, recently announced that it has joined the Oracle NetSuite Solution Provider Program. With NetSuite, GLC can help its customers take advantage of a powerful cloud ERP system to gain the visibility and control needed to adapt and thrive.

“For over 20 years, NetSuite has been instrumental in the growth of global businesses. With this partnership, we are now in a position to bring innovative cloud-based business management solutions to our customers in the Philippines," said Erwin Co, President and CEO, GLC. "With a constantly changing landscape, it has become more important than ever to streamline business processes. By enabling businesses to take advantage of NetSuite for real-time data access and operations management, we will help our customers navigate industry challenges and improve efficiencies.”

By joining the program, GLC is able to leverage its extensive experience to promote, implement, and tailor NetSuite to its clients in the telecommunications industry. The NetSuite Solution Provider Program provides access to a comprehensive portfolio of enablement and entitlement activities, which helps NetSuite partners to unlock new revenue opportunities. NetSuite partners can leverage every aspect of

ERWIN Co, GLC CEO and President and Peter Quek, VP and GM ASEAN, Oracle Netsuite the suite, including ERP, HCM, inventory management, CRM, and ecommerce.

In addition, GLC is also joining the NetSuite SuiteLife initiative. SuiteLife helps accelerate partner onboarding and provides multiple layers of engagement and support as well as access to NetSuite best practices.

“We are pleased to welcome GLC to our Solution Provider Program and SuiteLife initiative in the Philippines,” said KK Pan,

vice president of sales, Oracle NetSuite JAPAC. “Solution Provider partnerships are key to our strategy across APAC and Japan, and we offer a comprehensive program that helps allow our partners to scale and grow with us. We look forward to working with the team at GLC to combine their expertise with our robust suite of technologies to help create new revenue opportunities for GLC and achieve mutual success for our customers.”

How to Take Good Care of Your Car Battery throughout the Year

THE new normal is allowing people to go out again—schools resume faceto-face classes, offices and other workplaces are operating as normal again, and commercial establishments have regained momentum. The traditional (and normally exhilarating) “stop and go” city traffic across the metro has undoubtedly returned. Before going out on the roads to bravely face the horrific traffic situation, be reminded that long traffic can wreak havoc on the battery of your car.

Frequent accelerating and stopping the car more consistently forces the vehicle’s battery to work much harder than it normally should. By subjecting the car battery to quick and short charge-ups, it is spared from fully warming up and charging during your drive. While the stop-and-go city traffic is inevitable and should be endured throughout the year, it will help to know and understand other ways to keep the car battery in top condition at all times.

Avoid driving very short distances, if possible.

IF you are among those who frequently drive short trips, it is time to consider walking, if possible. Driving short distances can more often do more harm to the car battery in the long run. It can cut short the life of the car battery because this does not facilitate a full recharge in between trips.

Do you need to drop by the nearest convenience store to buy ice cream or any item you immediately need? Walking could be a practical and healthy option—it could

save your battery, prevent gas consumption, and give your body a quick physical activity that promotes cardiovascular health. If you can’t help it, drive the car for another five minutes to maintain your car battery’s health.

Be conscious about the gadgets you plug in while on a road trip. FOR busy people, charging smartphones or even laptops through the car’s charging outlet could be a normal task. Be aware that this can strain the car battery in the long run.

Using the navigation screen, playing the radio, turning on the internal lights and sensors, using the air conditioner, or keeping the dashcam on while driving also utilizes significant amount of energy supplied by the car battery. To avoid the need to charge your gadgets while driving, be sure to do the charging at home before going out or the night before. Turn off or unplug the dashcam when not in use. Lastly, control the use of the air conditioner and the car stereo.

Don’t use car lights or play the radio when engine is off.

YOU are not saving anything when leaving the car lights, air conditioner, or car radio on when idling, or when the engine is turned off. In fact, such a practice can be harmful to your vehicle’s battery.

To save the battery, remove the car keys from the car ignition when parked. If you need to stay inside the car while it is parked, why not consider opening the windows or using your smartphone’s radio instead? If the heat inside the car is unbearable, why not just go out and kill time in a coffee shop or elsewhere where there is open air? Always

check if all lights are off before leaving your car parked.

Disconnect the car battery terminals before going to a vacation abroad.

ARE you going abroad for more than a week? Are you planning to take a vacation in a domestic destination and leave the car at home? It would be best to simply disconnect the battery terminals before leaving.

Doing so would help prevent the battery from losing charge during the days the car is not in use. Just disconnect the battery’s negative terminal and you’re good to go. Otherwise, have a friend or relative start the car after a few days—or have them drive the car for at least 20 minutes every day or every other day to maintain the battery’s health.

Don’t ignore your car’s battery warning sign.

THE car will send you signals when the battery is starting to get weak. If you notice having the need for an step on the gas when starting the engine in the morning or when you see the battery warning light up on the dashboard, take it as a sign to seek battery service. Have the car battery inspected immediately or if required, replace it with a new and better one.

If you are considering switching brands when replacing your car battery, it is time to check out Furukawa Battery which from a 72-year-old Japanese battery manufacturer. The brand dates to 1914. Through the decades, and in its manufacturing base in Thailand, Furukawa has maintained its reputation of being among the most reliable brands of truck, automotive and motorcycle batteries in the region. It has also gained a strong following from consistently satisfied car owners in the Philippines.

“In BSB Junrose’s tradition of distributing only the best products and brands for Filipinos, we are proud to bring Furukawa Battery to the most discerning vehicle owners in the country,” said Benjamin Bangayan, President of BSB Junrose, the local distributor of Furukawa Battery. “We are confident that the brand will not let you down. Furukawa Battery is designed to withstand the country’s road conditions, Filipinos’ driving habits, and other issues like fast discharging rates, shortages, and quick water loss.”

Visit any of BSB Junrose’s locations or their dealers nationwide now to inquire and purchase Furukawa Battery. Check out Furukawa Battery PH on Facebook (@FurukawaBatteryPH) or text/call 0917 165 8111.

THE country’s largest association of housing and real estate stakeholders have appealed against proposed bills in Congress increasing the current mandatory balanced housing compliance quotas for subdivision and condominium developers saying the move will bring a screeching halt to projects that are already in the pipeline and will only suppress the newly-found resurgence of the property sector from the negative effects of the pandemic.

In a statement, the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations, Inc. (CREBA) emphasized the constitutional mandate of the state in pursuit of the common good, to undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform and housing. Through the enactment of appropriate enabling laws, the national shelter program is aimed to make available at affordable cost, decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.

According to CREBA national chairman Charlie A. V. Gorayeb, the passage of the Urban Development & Housing Act or UDHA in 1992 was backed by an eagerly supportive housing development sector confronted by an already ballooning housing backlog even as government imposed upon developers of subdivision projects the responsibility to build socialized housing units equivalent to 20 percent of their total project area or cost in order to help accelerate the country’s housing production rate in exchange for various types of incentives.

According to Noel Toti M. Cariño, national president, CREBA supported the amendment of UDHA thru Republic Act No. 10884 of 2016 which reduced the balanced housing quotas for subdivisions to only 15 percent to make it easier and more realistic for developers to comply with and still be able to effectively uphold its core and crucial mandate to deliver housing units for the marginalized beneficiaries.

Condominium developers, in turn, started carrying the same social burden for

up to five percent of their total project area or cost since 2016.

The CREBA leaders expressed alarm over legislative efforts to revise the law anew via House Bill No. 1234 filed by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy which will jack up mandatory compliance by condo developers to up to 20%, while House Bill No. 3589 filed by Rep. Michael Romero will require subdivision compliance to as much as 25%. The group said such changes are untimely and antidevelopment.

“Mere permits and license applications for each stage of property development, not to mention actual construction, takes at least five years to unfold; sudden changes in regulations will be economically disadvantageous, risky even, for developers.” Gorayeb said.

Cariño underscored that any further attempts at over-regulation or over-taxation by the legislature or regulatory bodies will ultimately affect affordability because developers have no choice but to pass on any additional cost to the homebuyers.

“Further increases in balanced housing quotas violate what is supposed to be a ‘cooperative’ atmosphere and conducive environment where government is supposed to act as a business-friendly enabler rather than a stifler of growth,” he stressed, saying that the new requirement will be a huge threat to job creation, tax generation and the massive cross-industry value-chain of opportunities that would have been stimulated by new housing construction activities.

The private sector will be in the best position to help realize the current administration’s vision for an increased annual national housing production target of up to 1 million homes, with less bureaucracy, quicker release of licenses and permits, more loanable funds from government financing institutions through a Comprehensive Home Financing Program (CHFP), better incentives for real estate developers, and a clear identification of lands that may be set aside for housing and other equally vital uses as already governed by various existing laws, the CREBA execs concluded.

in Hotel Okura Manila

Japanese architecture and culture and transport their guests during their stay in the property. HBA did an in-depth study of both criteria and tailored our design to reflect the best examples we found not only in the big design gesture but also in the small details that can be found all over the hotel.”

ASTEP inside the newest hotel in the block, Hotel Okura Manila, immediately transports visitors from the bustle of highly urban and sophisticated Newport World Resorts Complex hotels to the charm and calm of old Japan. This magical experience is hugely the oeuvre of the imagination, creativity, and talents of the interior design teams of HBA Singapore and HBA Manila.

For its first venture in the country, the famous Japanese hotel group Okura Hotels and Resorts chose to work with the Singapore group of world-renowned hospitality interior design company HBA, under HBA Gaming Principal, Joseph Cruz, who had been with the design teams behind the world’s most illustrious casinos on the Las Vegas strip, including the SLS Hotel & Resort Casino, Bellagio Hotel Resort and Casino; Mirage Hotel Resort and Casino and Monte Carlo Hotel Resort and Casino, and the casino interiors of Nustar in Cebu, to name a few.

The vision was not just to bring the signature brand of service of the hotel here, but to capture and re-create a storybook experience of Japan that is rarely touted in today’s modern digital world. This hotel is the first of a continuing work team-up of HBA and Okura Hotels and Resorts groups, with HBA Manila under Principal Norman Agleron as the team that provided on-site support during the entire challenging period of almost-complete Pandemic lockdown that the hotel was being constructed and bedecked.

Cruz shares, “The request from both the owners NWR group and operators Hotel Okura, is that we capture the essence of

Proof is definitely in the details as much as the overall impact, which is evident Immediately upon entering the premises, where guests are greeted with the enchantment of the incredibly diverse Japanese countryside where time seems to have stopped. Dramatic mountain ranges, flat rice fields, and green forests studded here and there with charming small towns with narrow streets dotted with wooden houses and temples from Edo period, come alive in one’s mind amidst the ingenious design application of modern glass and steel.

HBA engaged skilled craftsmen to create a see through glass roof tiles that allow guests’ field of vision to expand even beyond. “The Flight Chandelier,” the art installation creating the dramatic lighting is, according to Cruz, “like the first few days of “Tsuyu”—Japan’s rainy season, or Manila’s summer rain, flickering soft lights of fiber optics reminiscent of those warm balmy nights under the moonlight after a rain shower.” A creation of world-renowned British designer and artist Sharon Marston, the installation helps set the mood—the season—immediately, with its organic yet ethereal and poetic drama.

“HBA Manila is an integral part of HBA Global and we rely on the local team to provide on-site support whenever the overseas team needed eyes and ears on the ground. More than any other time, this was extremely important during regional lockdown,” Cruz attests.

Not only did the HBA teams deliver, but this working relationship between HBA and Okura on this project is based on mutual respect and continuous to be very strong and through the succeeding ongoing and future projects.

Work tandems among HBA international groups produce the essence of Japan

PFF, Filipinas draw long-term support from Adidas PHL

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) announced on Thursday a sponsorship deal with Adidas for the FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound national women’s team.

PFF Secretary-General Atty. Ed Gastanes made the announcement in a sendoff press conference for the Filipinas who took a flight later in the day for San Pedro del Pinatar in Spain where they start their World Cup preparation in the Pinatar Cup.

Gastanes thanked Adidas Philippines General Manager Anthony Frangos for sponsoring the Filipinas’ national team kit prior and during their World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.

It’s a big help for our women’s team program and to the federation for having Adidas as our sponsorpartner heading into this momentous occasion,” Gastanes told the news conference at the New World Makati. “They will be here in the long haul to also sponsor our 17-under women’s team.”

F rangos said the partnership with PFF is the longest sponsorship contract that Adidas forged in the country.

D efender Hali Long and goalkeeper Inna Palacios also thanked Adidas for sponsoring their kit.

The Pinatar Cup starts Wednesday and will run for a week.

The Filipinas, ranked No. 53 in the world, play world’s No. 32 Wales on February 16, No. 25 Scotland on February 18 and No. 16 Iceland on February 22.

The team includes goalkeepers Olivia McDaniel, Kiara Fontanilla and Inna Palacios and defenders Maya Alcantara, Alicia Barker, Reina Bonta, Jessika Cowart, Malea Cesar, Sofia Harrison, Hali Long, Eva Madarang and Dominique Randle.

Strikers Serna Bolden Isabella

Flanigan, Katrina Guillou, Quinley Quezada, midfielders Anicka Casteñada, Tahnai Annis, Sarah Eggesvik, Camille Rodriguez, Carleigh Frilles, Reina Gabriel, Kaya Hawkinson, Jacklyn Sawicki and Merryl Serrano complete the roster.

The Filipinas will also vie in the Olympic qualifiers set from April 3 to 11 in a still undetermined venue and the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games from May 5 to 17. Josef Ramos

Cool Smashers in lopsided win over Cignal gals

CREAMLINE put up a stellar performance to dispose of a badly-outclassed Cignal side, 25-16, 25-21, 25-15, for its second straight victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan City Thursday.

The 78-minute victory came on the heels of the Cool Smashers’ 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 ripping of arch rival Petro Gazz Angels in last weekend’s inaugurals, underscoring their readiness to defend the championship and put in motion a grand slam bid that failed in the Reinforced Conference late last year.

We’re just doing what we’ve been doing in training for—play our best and not rush things up,” said Jema Galanza, who delivered 13 kills to lead Creamline’s fiery assault and clinch the player of the game honors. “We also try to correct our mistakes quickly.”

M ichele Gumabao topscored for the team with 14 points while Tots Carlos matched Galanza’s output and middles Ced Domingo and Pangs Panaga combined for 16 points.

But the high-flying Galanza provided the highlight plays with her stinging spikes to perk up what turned out as a lopsided duel.

I hope to stay consistent and help provide the leadership and more importantly, improve communication (inside the court),” said the former

ERNEST JOHN

OBIENA is all smiles as he poses with his prize in Torun—concealing a predicament concerning his team’s unpaid dues from the Philippine Sports Commission.

EALA

ALEX EALA, the young pretty darling of Philippine tennis today, reached a milestone in 2022 when she captured the 142nd US Open juniors girls’ singles championship at Flushing Meadows in New York City.

The 17-year-old Eala didn’t drop a set in her 6-2, 6-4 domination of third seed Czech Lucie Havlickova in the final at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

It was truly one memorable ride for Eala, who went down in history as the first ever Filipino player to bag a junior singles grand slam crown. I n a scene that truly warmed the heart, Eala proudly spoke in Filipino for the entire world to hear while shedding tears of joy during her acceptance speech.

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ”

OBIENA retained his gold medal at the Copernicus Cup in Torun on Thursday to go 5-for5 in podium finishes in the indoor pole vault season.

D istractions? Obiena showed he has mastered the skill of clearing his mind of negatives in all of his five competitions so far this season—he aired on Wednesday his predicaments of being unable to compete in the Asian indoor championships and his team, including himself, still waiting for financial support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“ I am proud of EJ [Obiena],” Jim Lafferty, Obiena’s personal adviser, told BusinessMirror on Thursday.

“If ever there’s an individual so strong that he consistently wins through adversity, it’s EJ.”

Obiena titled his Facebook post on Wednesday “How can you mend a broken Heart?” as he lamented a missed opportunity at the Asian indoors because there are no airlines which can accommodate pole vaults to and from Astana.

But he pinched the PSC leadership in the same post saying that his team, aptly called Team Obiena, “has not been paid now in over a year.”

Payments are caught up in red tape,” he said in the post.

“Unfortunately, some [members] of my team are now threatening to leave Team Obiena. I cannot blame them. Who could work free for over a year? They have families to support and bills to pay. They can’t

Adamson University star who also finished with seven excellent receptions.

The Cool Smashers pulled away late in the first set, held off Cignal’s charge midway in the second set then dominated the third with their power plays and quick attacks that the HD Spikers had no answer for.

EJ PREVAILS THROUGH ADVERSITY

keep working for free.”

P SC chairman Richard Bachmann, who has warmed his seat at the agency for five weeks, was quick to respond through a media statement minutes after Obiena’s social media post.

I immediately communicated with him and made internal actions in the PSC,” Bachmann said. “I also received communication on this matter from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association [PATAFA] and will continue to speed things up to help their national sports association and Mr. Obiena.”

Obiena has indeed already psyched himself into a world-class athlete—a professional at what he does—in Poland.

He leapt to 5.87 meters—7 cms better that his winning height last year—for his second consecutive gold and fifth-straight podium finish in the “invitation only” indoor tournaments in Europe.

T he Netherlands’ Rutger

Koppelaar clinched silver with 5.82 meters, the same height achieved by Belgium’s Ben Broaders who was shoved to the bronze for attempting twice.

O biena’s pal, Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil, did 5.52 meters and ranked eighth in the 10-athlete competition.

He did what he had to do—to win against a world-class field,” Lafferty said. “EJ is moving on and staying focused on winning for his country.”

Obiena also won gold at the Perche en Our meet in Roubaix, France; silver at the Internationales SpringerMeeting in Cottbus, Germany; and bronze at the Mondo Classis in Uppsala, Sweden, where the who’s who in men’s pole vault competed, including Olympic and world champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis, who dominated the competition he annually hosts.

PATAFA president Terry Capistrano, meanwhile, told

Dutch Van der Valk hangs tough despite wobbly finish in 3rd round

GUIDO VAN DER VALK threatened to turn what had been a furious battle into a blowout round but floundered at the finish to barely hold on to a twostroke lead over Zanieboy Gialon with a 74 in brutal conditions in The Country Club (TCC) Invitational Thursday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The Dutchman looked headed to surviving the toughest of tests at the TCC in three days by remaining steady and in control of his game and of the field in howling winds and keeping a five-shot lead after 15 holes over his nearest pursuer.

But he made a couple of what he termed as “silly mistakes” that led to two bogeys in the last three holes and enabled Gialon and a charging Lloyd

ALVIN MORADA and Christian Bernardo captured the 31st Iran Fajr International Challenge men’s doubles title after beating Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Daniel Edgar Marvino, 21-16, 21-17, at the Iran Badminton Federation Sports Hall in Tehran over the weekend. The Badminton World

Go to make a run for the coveted championship staked on every Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) season.

I’m a little bit disappointed with the end-result because I played really good for about 15 holes and then just had a couple of bad swings in the end,” rued Van der Valk, who also bogeyed the tough No. 13 for the third straight day. “A bad drive on No. 16 cost me a bogey and had a horrible shot into the water on No. 18.”

Still, he remained on top at five-over 221, two strokes clear of Gialon, who in contrast, closed out with a flourish, birdying two of the last five holes to match Van der Valk’s two-over card for a 223 and stay from where he stood at after 36 holes of the P6 million championship.

BusinessMirror also on Thursday that the federation has accelerated discussions with the PSC to resolve the issues on unpaid allowances and fees to Team Obiena.

EJ is right, he doesn’t receive any allowance yet from the PSC and we’re hoping they will expedite it the soonest,” Capistrano said. “EJ really loves his country despite what’s happening and despite the financial problems he’s facing, he still competes.”

Obiena had a rift involving financial issues with the PATAFA administration that preceded Capistrano’s term.

Th at rift turned ugly and had to be resolved through mediation.

A student of the Rafael Nadal Academy, the 5-foot-9 stunner already owns two grand slam titles in the past, but in doubles of the 2019 Australian Open and the 2021 French Open.  Her breakthrough feat and achieving history at such a young age made Eala the perfect choice for the President’s Award in the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night. Her sacrifices and relentless drive to improve her craft should serve as template to success,” said PSA President Rey Lachica, sports editor of Tempo. “Alex Eala is truly worthy to be a role model especially among the Filipino youth.” Set March 6 at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel, the traditional awards night of the country’s oldest media organization is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV and ably supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino, Milo, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, Rain or Shine, International Container Terminal Services Inc. and OKBet.

B ased in Mallorca, Spain, for some time now, Eala is in good company as previous recipients of the PSA President’s Award include Olympians Yuka Saso and Caloy Yulo, National University Lady Bulldogs, pool champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, among others.

H idilyn Diaz, the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal winner, is the 2022 Athlete of the Year following her three-gold medal romp in the 88th International Weightlifting Federation World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia. E ala is currently in Manila for a brief vacation following her stint in the Thailand Open.

She’s set to fly back to Mallorca next week and start focusing on the professional tour and improve her current world ranking of 217.

hole to pull within one off Van der Valk, then, like Clyde Mondilla and majority of the contenders, reeled back with flawed shots and flubbed putts until he regained his touch and rhythm in the last five holes.

GUIDO VAN DER VALK makes sure he does things right by using a range finder.

ROY DOMINGO

Despite Van der Valk’s faltering windup, Gialon remained impressed with the former’s game and poise, particularly after he fell by as many as seven with a bogey on No. 11.

Parang ang dali ng golf sa kanya (golf seems to come easily to him),” said Gialon, who birdied the first

Morada, Bernardo triumph in Iran

Federation International Challenge championship is the pair’s first of the year following their success last year when they won two titles and booked two runners-up finishes. Morada and Bernardo won

$1,200 and collected 4000 points in the BWF World Rankings.

Morada, who finished runnerup with Aries Delos Santos in the 2015 edition of the tournament, and Bernardo needed to pull themselves from a 15-all deadlock in the first

That moved Van der Valk, a two-leg winner of last year’s seven-leg PGT, 18 holes away from matching Angelo Que’s back-to-back title feat after the latter edged Mondilla by one in 2020. Que, who shares three titles each with Juvic Pagunsan, broke through in 2007 then swept the 2010 and 2011 editions of the event held in honor of International Container Terminal Services Inc. founder Don Pocholo Razon. Gialon muffed birdie chances from close range on Nos. 2 and 7 and made a wet triple-bogey on No. 5 and bogeyed Nos. 9 and 11 before birdies on the 14th and 17th saved what could’ve been a total disaster for the runaway winner of last year’s Caliraya Springs Championship of the Philippine Golf Tour.

game with five consecutive points to take the 1-0 lead.

The Filipinos were threatened at 6-5 but went on to contron the second game. Morada and Bernardo booked beat another Indonesian pair Teges Satriaji Cahyo Hutomo and Christopher David Wijaya, 21-14, 23-21, in the semifinal.

“EJ”

NEW CONTINENTAL TIRES WITH PREMIUM GERMAN TECHNOLOGY

JM Far East, Inc., the autho -

rized Continental Tires distributor in the Philippines, organized the event, Raise the Standard with Premium Technology, to launch the latest tire patterns for passenger cars and SUV/pick-up categories, the latest of its generation—SportContact

7, UltraContact 7 and the CrossContact AX6.

Founded in 1960, JM Far East, Inc. is one of the oldest and major stakeholders in the Philippine tire industry. The company is engaged in importing, distributing, and marketing premium-quality tires for both the original equipment and replacement market segments. As one of the Philippines’ leading mobility solutions providers, the company has developed a dynamic, nationwide distribution network with multi-point warehouse locations and a highly experienced support team.

The Continental Tire brand was established in 1871. Continental is a multinational company that manufactures safe, efficient, and performance-oriented tires for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers. The tire company is one of the foremost

leaders in tire technology and production, with a broad product range suitable for use in various conditions and applications. And through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a significant contribution to secure, cost-effective, and ecologically friendly mobility.

SportContact 7

THIS tire series showcased its extreme handling stability and highspeed capabilities on the track. As the new global benchmark, this offers drivers a high-perfor -

mance, safe, handling-oriented, high-mileage tire. Every tire is developed to improve overall performance to provide maximum driving performance and extreme safety. This tire is designed to adapt to all road challenges thanks to the adaptive pattern. It delivers a consistent, safe driving experience- on wet or dry surfaces—even at higher speeds.

Moreover, Continental claims that this tire is developed with Black Chili compound for longlasting, next-level driving pleasure. The perfectly balanced in -

teraction of the stiff low-void pattern and the soft BlackChili enables top-notch performance while increasing the tires’ mileage significantly. No matter the car’s size, this tire performs excellently since it is tailored-made for different vehicle classes.

The UltraContact 7

THIS tire series is all about superior grip. The UltraContact 7 provides maximum grip even on wet slippery roads that could result in shorter braking distance. Its outstanding wet performance is attributed to the “Aqua Channel Advanced” feature, where water is pushed into the sipes, and water drainage from the tread block into the longitudinal groove speeds up. That leads to improved surface contact between the rubber and the road, resulting in outstanding grip, wet or dry.  With reduced noise level and smooth vibrational frequency design, there is less road noise and vibration when driving, particularly on freeways. Thanks to Noise Breaker 3.0 feature, it interrupts

the sound waves by disrupting the homogeneity of the grooves.

Ultimately, this tire is capable of delivering long drive life thanks to the Diamond Compound with Optimized Polymer Network feature, providing the balance between noise comfort, grip, and wear resistance,

CrossContact AX6

ACCORDING to Continental, this tire is one of the market’s quietest and most comfortable all-terrain tires. This particular tire showed its versatility in braking performance while not emitting much noise on the track. Continental claims that it is the perfect fit for any driver who spends most of their time on the road but requires more traction when heading off the beaten track. It can reduce the risk of puncture and improve traction when driving off-road due to the sidewall protection wrap.

Moreover, the tread pattern delivers enhanced wet and dry braking performance thanks to multiple sipes. It is also high on road

safety with a silica tread compound for enhanced grip. A comfortable and quiet ride is achieved due to the noise blockers in the shoulder, reducing noise generated in the center of the pattern.

Meanwhile, during the launch event, the official distributor organized various tests to showcase and validate each tire’s capabilities and features. The official distributor organized tests to showcase and validate each tire’s capabilities and features. These tire patterns underwent several technical assessments at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.  These tire patterns underwent several technical assessments at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Aside from providing customers with innovative, high-tech, world-class products, JM Far East, Inc. is also committed to offering extensive after-sales support. The company’s mission is to help enhance the motoring public’s safety and operational efficiency to create a win-win proposition and sustainability.

Volvo sales surge; Toyota’s awesome SWAT

room is still being built.”

REJOICE that almost every carmaker has been experiencing unprecedented sales surge shots these days. It can only mean one thing: the pandemiccaused market woes the last two years or so are now fast becoming a thing of the past.

Sp ecial mention goes to Volvo PH as among the big hitters. Already, it sees its sales surge in 2023 clearly in the horizons after it beat pre-pandemic figures by almost 30 percent last year.

T he Swedish car company attributes its growth partly to the introduction of electrified Volvo models.

P aolo Ella, Volvo’s energetic drumbeater, said that currently, Volvo PH has a fresh line-up of Boost Hybrid vehicles in top trims. This range includes the SUV family of Volvos—XC40, XC60 and XC90. The luxurious, long-wheelbase Volvo S90 premium sedan also helped jack up the sales with a 109-percent volume jump. The reigning bestseller, the Volvo XC90 7-seater luxury SUV, is tops with a 187-percent rise in sales.

Listen to Paolo:

“ THE positive reception from the market may also be attributed to Volvo’s reputation for safety, quality, and care. It is the first luxury car brand in the country to launch an intensive customer service program when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Its Volvo Concierge program provided sales and aftersales support. This multi-channel platform provided technical information and customer-centric assistance, especially during lockdowns.

“ The motoring public has regained its footing as COVID-19 restrictions loosen and borders open up. Consequently, the local car industry sees a sales wave. The growing popularity of hybrid and electrified vehicles also adds to the sales boom.

For Volvo, the Philippine market can look forward to the launch of at least two new fully electric models in 2023. At the same time, the growing network of dealer partners is also expected to augment sales. Volvo Pampanga, for example, is actively entertaining customers—even while its show -

From Chris Lee Yu, Volvo PH’s marketing director: “Our dedication to providing our customers the Volvo that fits them best is foremost in our minds. That is why we find ways to cater to them the best way we can through a robust product portfolio and excellent customer care. We’d be happy to see more Volvos on Philippine roads and clients who enjoy the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable, and safe way.”

For more details on the 2023 Volvo Range composed of Volvo S90L B6 Hybrid, Volvo XC40 B5 Hybrid, Volvo XC60 B6 Hybrid, and Volvo XC90 B6 Hybrid, call Paolo at 0908 891 4290, 0917 706 5393, or email him at paolo.ella@ volvophils.com.

PEE STOP Honda Cars continues its special offers under the “New Year, New Deals” promo, now including the new “Choose Your Own Deals” scheme for the City sedan and Brio, available until February 28. Promo applies to both the City sedan and Brio 1.5 V CVT. Visit Honda’s websites for more details…Thank you for the flawless performance in sealing a deal last week to Cosco Oben’s elite sales force at Toyota North Edsa dealership composed of chiefs Adrian Almodovar and Jessie Miguel and their SWAT (Special Work Attack Team) members Jeff Henson, Marlon Pascual and Emerson Gerona. Their result-focused teamwork was a joy to watch. Godfather Rey Oben couldn’t be prouder. Cheers!

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

(FROM left) Continental Business Manager Hong Huei Long, JM Far East president Inc. Winston Manabat, and Continental Business Manager Vinod Nair

THE latest Continental tires—SportContact 7, UltraContact 7 and CrossContact AX6