BusinessMirror June 08, 2024

By Cai U. Ordinario

THE country’s manufacturing output posted its highest growth in seven months on the back of higher food production, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

By Pocholo Concepcion

ANNABELLE MANALO-MORGAN had a big problem.

One of her five sons, Macario, was born with a stroke and suffered from 200 to 500 seizures every day. Doctors considered all treatment options until they decided to take out 38 percent of the left side of Macario’s brain when he turned five weeks old. It would affect his memory, comprehension, cognition, spatial organization, vision, and right-side movement.

Annabelle, a doctor herself, stumbled upon cannabis while reading research material about neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to rewire and adapt to changes. She took a special interest in cannabidiol (CBD), the component of cannabis which has been scientifically proven to alleviate severe forms of epilepsy. The scientist in Annabelle led her to make a “pure formulation”

of CBD and administered it to Macario. She called her medical cannabis formula “Masaya.” Today Macario is “a happy, healthy and active six-year-old.”

Annabelle tells the whole story in the book Mighty Flower: How Cannabis Saved My Son launched on June 7 at The Glass House of the University Hotel at UP Diliman.

The BusinessMirror had an online chat with Annabelle the day before her book launch.

BM: Tell us about yourself, your family, and your medical practice.

AMM: I was born and raised in Canada with Filipino parents and one brother. My dad is from Balisong, Taal, Batangas, and mom is from Laguna. I’m married to Grammy-winning singer Gramps Morgan, and we have five children. I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern Kentucky University, took graduate studies in neuroscience at Georgetown

Based on the Production Index and Net Sales Index data for April 2024, the country’s Volume of Production Index (VoPI) grew 6.7 percent during the period, the highest since the 9.5-percent growth in September 2023.

The PSA said this was largely due to the 6.8-percent growth in food manufacturing, which was the highest since the 9.9-percent growth in January 2023.

IN her book, Mighty Flower, cardiooncologist and neuroscientist Annabelle Manalo-Morgan recounts making her own formula of CBD to relieve her son Macario’s inborn brain disease.

“The upward trend in the yearon-year growth rate of VoPI in April 2024 was primarily driven by the annual increase in the manufacture of food products at 6.8 percent during the month from an annual decrease of 13.2 percent in March 2024,” the PSA said.

The PSA said the VoPI in April 2024 rebounded from the 5.8-percent contraction in March 2024.

University, and earned a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Vanderbilt University. My focus is cardio-oncology.

BM: What happened to your son, and what were the options for his treatment?

AMM: Macario was born with a stroke and was having 200 to 500 seizures per day. Doctors tried every treatment possible, and eventually decided to remove 38 percent of the left side of his brain when he turned five weeks old. It was the first time this surgery has ever been done. The part of the brain he is missing is responsible for memory, comprehension, cognition, spatial organization, vision, and right-side movement.

BM: When and how did you hear about cannabis and its medicinal properties?

AMM: I’ve known about cannabis for what it does spiritually

PetroWind:

‘No room for mistake’ in

NWPP monitoring

By John Eiron R. Francisco

NABAS, AKLAN—PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI) has addressed head-on environmental concerns surrounding the Nabas Wind Power Project (NWPP), asserting that there are “no environmental issues” posed by the project, despite its contentious location within a protected area. NWPP Assistant Vice President for Environment and Community Relations Yrel Ventura told the BusinessMirror that the NWPP faces no environmental issues, listing oversight bodies that have reviewed it: including government agencies and stakeholders such as the Local Government Unit (LGU), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), and civil society. All these closely monitor the project across four levels of scrutiny, he added.

Besides the multipartite monitoring approach, Ventura noted the presence of three Pollution Control Officers (PCOs), an in-house team, and the recruitment of additional local monitoring officers.

“There is no room for mistake,” he said, of their rigorous monitoring processes.

Ventura said the company’s commitment extends beyond mere compliance with DENR regulations.

PETROWIND Energy wind turbines overlooking Boracay Island. JOHN EIRON R. FRANCISCO

IN this August 1, 2023, file photo, employees of Mega Prime Foods Inc. sort fresh fish to be canned as Mega Sardines in their processing plant in Santo Tomas, Batangas. PSA data showed

TESTA

PetroWind: ‘No room for mistake’ in NWPP monitoring

It is a corporate responsibility, he stressed.

Regarding the alleged environmental impact, he said they are equipped to manage it due to their status as a renewable energy project that promotes cleanliness and environmental preservation.

Amid environmental issues raised against the wind energy company—particularly regarding sedimentation in the Nabaoy River located 2 kilometers away from the company site—he outlined a series of mitigating measures, including erosion control, sedimentation control, and slope stabilization.

Ventura also said they are implementing absolute hauling to ensure minimal residue remains at the site. Apart from stabilized embankments, Ventura cited the use of fiber rolls, fiber sheets, and re-vegetation as further preventive measures.

The construction of Phase 1 of the wind power project became controversial due to residents’ complaints about the turbidity and pollution of the Nabaoy River, the primary water source for Boracay Island and Malay. Some local environmentalists protested the ongoing construction within the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP), arguing that while green energy is essential for sustainability, the significant environmental impact it may have should not be overlooked.

The PWEI acknowledged the project’s impact, particularly in road construction, and Ventura clarified that beyond this, “there are no significant impacts.”

He said that even their saltation ponds are permitted by the DENR and emphasized the filtration process that large and small debris undergo before reaching the river.

“There’s no point [in saying let’s stop a] government project [that provides] clean, renewable, and safe [electricity],” Ventura said, partly in Filipino.

“We are not invalidating any concerns, especially if there is a community concern, but for us, we already went through the process, so we hope that we respect as well, the decisions of the authorities,”

Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communication Vanessa Peralta told the BusinessMirror

Panay Island Expansion

PWEI commenced operations in 2015, and said the company adhered to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements; and obtained Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) with subsequent amendments in September 2013, December 2013, February 2021, and March 2021.

“Basically, the operation has been smooth since 2015 until the present, and we hope that with the expansion of Nabas 2, the operation will continue to be smooth. Until the next 15 years, because our expected service contract with the DOE is for 25 years,” PetroWind Energy Project Manager Jayson Abaniel told the BusinessMirror

NWPP-1 comprises 18 wind turbine generators (WTG 1 to WTG 18) with a total capacity of 36MW, along with transmission lines, internal access roads, and a control station located in Pawa, Rizal, and

Unidos barangays in Nabas, and Napaan barangay in Malay.

Each WTG occupies a platform ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 square meters, with a service contract covering approximately 2,000 hectares for the 50MW capacity. The total footprint of Nabas Phase 2, including roads and platforms, is roughly 8 hectares, with 5 hectares designated as protected area and only about 3 hectares utilized for flag placement.

Following the guidelines set by the ENIPAS (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System) law, the project obtained approval within the NPPNP via PAMB Resolution No. 2014-3 and was granted a Special Use Agreement on Protected Areas (SAPA) Application by DENR Region VI in February 2023.

NWPP-2, an expansion of the project, is supposed to integrate six additional wind turbines (WTG 19 to WTG 24) with an expected total capacity of 14MW. However, as of now, only three turbines have been installed due to the Malay LGU’s decision to revoke the 2021 endorsement for operation in September 2023, citing complaints about water discoloration.

Abaniel explained that “the discoloration is typical during the rainy season, particularly during monsoon rains.” He noted that both DENR Region 6 and DPWH have confirmed the effectiveness of their environmental and mitigating measures.

“That’s why [we did not get a notice of violation from] DENR. PetroWind is compliant, that’s what they stated. Fully compliant

with all the rules and regulations of DENR. Because we have all the permits in place,” he said. Subsequently, the revocation was overturned by the Malay LGU, which issued another endorsement, expressing support for Nabas Phase 2 project on the condition that proper environmental mitigation measures are in place. Location questioned ANOTHER point of contention raised by the LGU is that the project is situated in a protected area. However, Ventura emphasized that despite being within a protected area, the law, specifically Section 14 of RA 11038 or the ENIPAS Act of 2018, allows for renewable energy projects within such areas under certain conditions.

It states that “renewable energy projects may be allowed within the protected area by PAMB with the concurrence of the DENR Secretary: provided that renewable energy projects, which shall be located outside the strict protection zones, shall undergo the EIA as provided by law, and shall adopt reduced impact technologies as not to be detrimental to ecosystem functions, biodiversity, cultural practices and traditions: Provided, That sufficient bond shall be remitted by the proponent to the DENR.” Ventura explained that they were granted a SAPA because their location falls within the buffer zone or multiple-use zone. Additionally, PAMB allowed the company to proceed with construction and operation. Before clearing the area, they were issued a permit to cut and remove trees. Considering the NPPNP spans around 12,000 hectares, their allotted area is merely 0.04 percent, equivalent to five hectares, he noted. This is why DENR granted them permits.

“However, it’s our construction compliance that truly matters. Perhaps that’s why the Malay authorities withdrew their endorse-

ment. Instead, they reissued an endorsement allowing us to proceed with the Nabas Phase 2 project,” Ventura said.

“The first three WTGs in the Nabas side are already operating. We’ve been exporting power to the grid for more than a week [as of April 4, 2024],” Abaniel said. He added that the company is expecting its operation to continue smoothly without encountering any major issues, “as everyone needs electricity, especially on Panay Island, which experienced problems with power supply.”

“With PetroWind’s operation, we are able to help provide an adequate supply here on Panay Island,” Abaniel said.

Asked about the extent of its contribution to the Visayas grid, Abaniel said the operation of Nabas only supplies roughly 5 percent and the demand of the entire Panay area, which is roughly 400MW.

“[Even though that’s minimal], it still contributes to the supply of the needed supply. Kasi talagang kulang na kulang tayo [Because we are really lacking in supply],” Abaniel said.

He acknowledged that Panay island lacks sufficient power supply and still relies on other power plants in Negros, Cebu and Leyte.

“Panay cannot operate independently even with large plants here,” Abaniel said.

Moreover, there are still technical constraints requiring support from other islands. However, he admitted that when it comes to contributing clean and renewable energy, NWPP is one of the highest contributors.

The company aims to resume construction and operations for the remaining three WTGs that were postponed, with the vision of completing them within the current year.

Ecotourism opportunities MEANWHILE, the AVP for Corporate Communication expressed

the company’s support for the Nabas LGU to capitalize on ecotourism opportunities, especially with the presence of WTG in their community. However, it’s essential to establish policies and guidelines for ecotourism.

“We’ve seen similar projects all over the country. Ilocos and Rizal are already benefiting from the tourism aspect of the project, so why not do it also here in Nabas; and in Aklan in general we embrace ecotourism,” she said.

Asked by the BusinessMirror about the opening of the area for tourism, Nabas Municipal Tourism Officer Bryan Briones said the policies and guidelines are still being finalized to effectively manage the influx of tourists in the area where the WTGs and the natural park are situated.

According to Briones, as part of these initiatives, they plan to promote day tours in their community, particularly at the Nabas Wind Farm. They aim to entice tourists arriving from Caticlan International Airport to explore the wind farm before heading to Boracay Island. From there, visitors can see panoramic views of Boracay Island from atop the mountain and explore the wind farm’s attractions.

Initially, as part of the plan, the LGU aimed to launch this initiative in June this year. However, due to the construction of their tourism office at the entrance of the Nabas Wind Farm, it seems unlikely to materialize. Nonetheless, they aim to make it visible by September, coinciding with their town fiesta.

“We can also generate some ecotourism job store guides, and then sell some of the souvenirs to promote Nabas tourism. They have a very good traditional Baru weaving; that’s also one thing we want to highlight,” Peralta said.

“We will do our best to help them and we will support them in whatever way we can to make the tourism vision a reality,” she concluded.

FACTORY OUTPUT POSTS 7-MONTH-HIGH RECORD

However, it was lower than the 8 percent posted in April 2023.

Given this, PSA said the average growth rate of VoPI was at 0.5 percent from January to April 2024.

The PSA data showed that three food items posted doubledigit production growth in April 2024.

These were the manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats at 28.4 percent; processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, 19.2 percent; and the manufacture of dairy products, 10.7 percent.

“The uptrend in the year-onyear growth rate of VoPI for manufacture of food products in April 2024 was driven by the uptrend in all the eight industry groups,” PSA said.

“This was led by the annual increment in the manufacture of other food products industry group at 7 percent during the month from its annual drop of 13.3 percent in the previous month,” it added.

Meanwhile, PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector was at 75.2 percent in April 2024.

This was slower than the 75.3 percent in March 2024 but faster than the average capacity utilization rate of 72.5 percent posted in April 2023.

PSA said all industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent during the month.

The top three industry divisions in terms of reported capacity utilization rate were manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products at 82.1 percent; manu-

facture of furniture, 81.9 percent; and manufacture of textiles, 80.1 percent.

The PSA also said the proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity or 90 percent to 100 percent was 28.8 percent of the total number of responding establishments.

Meanwhile, the data also said 42.3 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, and 28.9 percent operated below 70 percent capacity.

The Production Index and Net Sales Index used to be the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries.

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.

‘Masaya’: How a doctor used cannabis to save her son

Continued from A1

and recreationally, but not ever as a user. We would hear about its medicinal components through stories. But because of the legal issues, the study of cannabis never personally came across my desk as a scientist. As I was reading peer-reviewed research, I was looking for molecules and compounds that can help the brains, such as neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to rewire and adapt to changes. Cannabinoids came up in that research. There wasn’t a ton of research, but enough to make me feel confident

in its safety and potential.

BM: How did you go about using cannabis for your son’s ailment?

AMM: I didn’t want to use what was on the market because of the variability, and the fact that what was available had no scientific backing. So, I made my son a pure formulation with CBD (cannabidiol), one that I knew was stable and safe. God made me a scientist for this reason.

BM: What can people look forward to reading in your book?

AMM: It’s a story of hope and courage, a true example that no

road is straight, and with perseverance, blessings can happen. People will also learn about the history of cannabis and the science behind it. This is not an advocacy for legalization, but to further the science.

It also brings a general awareness, from a scientist point of view, of the current landscape in modern medicine and the opportunity to personalize treatments and apply science medically today. There is a big gap between natural, holistic medicine and traditional medicine. With a precision-based approach, we can take advantage of all healing techniques, backed by science.

‘LRT-1 Cavite Extension to boost mobility, create economic growth’

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

THE nearly-completed Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1

Cavite Extension Phase 1 will improve commuters’ experience down to the south by connect-

ing Metro Manila to Calabarzon, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said on Friday. The LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1, which will add 6.2 kilometers to the existing LRT-1 line from Baclaran Station in Pasay

City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City, is 98.2 percent as of April 2024.

Recto said the railway project will speed up the commuting time of passengers traveling from the south all the way to the northern part of the metro.

“It will not only connect Manila to Cavite but also act as a catalyst for economic activity, creating new opportunities for more jobs and businesses to flourish in Region IV-A or the Calabarzon,” Recto said.

Recto told reporters the project is a good public-private partnership (PPP) project for the government to leverage on non-rail revenues, such as leasing of commercial space, wherein income from those operations will help reduce the price of commuter fares through subsidy.

“This is where your taxes go. This is where our borrowings go.  Ito, magandang PPP project ito dahil hating-kapatid . [This is a

good PPP project because there is equal share [in the financing],” Recto said.

The overall project costs P64.915 billion and is financed through a hybrid model consisting of P17.80 billion in official development assistance (ODA) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), P39.57 billion from the private sector operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LMRC) and P7.55 billion from the national government.

The five stations under Phase 1 are Redemptorist Station at 97.4 percent completion, MIA Station at 97.2 percent, Asia World Station (90.4 percent), Ninoy Aquino Station (93.5 percent) and Dr. Santos Station (97.7 percent), which will cut travel time to 14 minutes from the current 20 to 40 minutes from Baclaran Station via local roads.

Phase 1 will provide rail access going to and from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), a major public transport

terminal serving commuters in southern Metro Manila, Cavite and other nearby cities and provinces.

Dr. Santos Avenue Station also features an intermodal transportation facility equipped with seven bays for buses, two for jeepneys, 12 for taxis and 16 for Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and private vehicles.

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the LRT-1 Cavite Extension will help ease the traffic as the project is slated to be fully operational before the end of the year.

“The LRT-1 Cavite project will contribute to easing the traffic. With the operations of the project, many will be able to connect to PITX and will help many passengers as well as to the airport. With this, it will improve accessibility and comfort to the riding public,” Bautista said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The project consists of three phases, with Phase 2 and 3 expected to fully operate by 2031, connecting Manila to Cavite, reducing travel time from Baclaran, Pasay to Niog, Cavite from one hour and 10 minutes via local roads to only 25 minutes via train.

Phase 2 and 3 are expected to add about 300,000 passengers to the daily LRT-1 ridership, bringing the total to 800,000 during the first year of full operations, according to LRMC.

“Many students who are going to Recto, going to University Belt, coming from Parañaque or Cavite, can benefits from this,” Recto added.

The commuter fare will cost P13.29 for the boarding fare and an additional fare of P1.21 for every kilometer, similar to the existing fare matrix for LRT-1 and LRT-2, according to Transportation Assistant Secretary for Rails Jorjette B. Aquino.

A6

‘Klima’

Eskwela empowers Siargao youth to champion climate, waste management

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

YOUTH

leaders have committed to championing climate change and sustainability through community-based and campus-wide campaigns in Siargao Island.

This was followed by a twoday training and workshop on local campaigning and movement building.

“Klima E s k wela: Science, Arts, and Action in Del Carmen [and] Siargao, Surigao Del Norte,” organized by the Del Carmen municipal government, Surigao Del Norte State University (SNSU) and the Climate Reality Project in the Philippines held on May 16 and 17 was a knowledge-exchange program that equipped youth leaders with skills and knowledge in tackling the interlinked challenges of the climate and plastic crises.

This year’s K lima Eskwela was particularly focused on training young advocates on local campaigning and movement building.

Participants of the two-day training from the SNSU Del Carmen Campus and Siargao Island Institute of Technology and representatives from the Sangguniang K abataan (S K ) Federation presented action plans that include a single-use plastic ban on campus, zero-waste tie-up through a campaign with street vendors to promote eco-friendly alternatives and zero-waste practices, implementation of waste segregation and facility construction for the purpose, and institutionalization

of a campus-wide waste-management policy.

They likewise ideated a proposal for a barangay-wide segregation to be spearheaded by Sangguniang K abataan members across all 20 Del Carmen barangays.

With support from Climate Reality, campus administrators and Del Carmen local government unit officials, the participants will formalize these into resolutions or manifestos for implementation in the coming months.

Expressing his full support for these initiatives, Mayor Alfredo M. Coro of Del Carmen pledged to collaborate with the young leaders to translate their plans into action.

“Just because we are a small island does not mean you do not have the right to demand what is ours. Nature is ours…[Your generation is] smarter : you are more educated, and you have access to resources we could never imagine in our time information,” Coro said, acknowledging the shortcomings of the older generations in taking care of the planet. “ You have to demand from your government, from your leaders, from your business community the right kind of behavior.”

The mayor also encouraged the 40-plus youth leaders who took part in the program to become vocal advocates for local fishers, farmers, and the most vulnerable members of society who are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Local policies to address the crises AS a coastal community, the Municipality of Del Carmen is at the forefront of stronger typhoons, sea-level rise, and other climate change impacts, endangering the lives and livelihoods of its people.

Engr. Norman Sulima, Municipal Planning and Development coordinator-designate of Del Carmen, shared during the event the local government’s ongoing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts as outlined in its Local Climate Change Action Plan.

Adopting a ridge-to-reef approach in charging its path toward sustainable development, Sulima said the municipality is employing nature-based solutions and eco-based approaches in its local growth strategy, including the management of its mangroves, marine-protected areas, and watersheds.

Cayetano encourages Taguig graduates: Find, embrace your God-driven purpose

‘N A - DISCOVER ni y o na b a graduates, kung ano ang plano ng D y o s s a in y o?

With this thought-provoking question, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano began his heartfelt message about finding one’s purpose during the 52nd graduation ceremony of the Bagong Tanyag Integrated School in the City of Taguig last Saturday, June 1, 2024.

“God has a plan for each and every one of you,” the new chair of the Senate Committee on Higher Education assured the 647 graduates. In his message, the lawmaker encouraged the graduates to iden-

For the “Custom Executive Education” ranking, which recognizes bespoke programs tailored for organizations, AIM clinched the sixth position in Asia and earned 89th place globally. AIM also received a high satisfaction score from participants. The Financial T ime s evaluates

business schools based on several criteria, including their curriculum structure, effectiveness of their instructional approaches, expertise of their academic staff, opportunities they provide for professional development, and overall satisfaction of their students with the program.

Looking ahead

A LONGSTANDING leader in Asian management education, AIM has further solidified its international reputation with the recent set of recognitions, confirming its posi-

PAEC to formally open educational museums

By Roderick L. Abad

THE Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corp. (PAEC) recently announced the opening of three more museums in the third quarter of 2024, which will add to its roster of indoor educational attractions nationwide.

According to PAEC president and CEO Dr. Lawrence Tan, they will start welcoming visitors this month to the sprawling learning destination called “Super Park Philippines” at the Venice Grand Canal located inside the 50-hectare Mc K inley Hill township of Megaworld Corp. in Taguig City.

A 3,500-square meter (sq m) “real immersive museum,” on the other hand, is set to open doors at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City next month, Tan confirmed.

As one of the initial recipients of the People’s Survival Fund the only national climate change fund in the Philippines Del Carmen has also established the Siargao Climate Field School for Farmers and Fisherfolk. An end-to-end institutional system, it is designed to generate locally tailored climate information and capacitate farmers and fisherfolk to undertake appropriate interventions that will address the effects of climate change on their livelihoods, health, and safety.

The program goes beyond weather forecasting and crop management. It also includes training in agricultural technologies, financial planning, disaster preparedness, and early detection of pests and diseases. More important, it seeks to introduce alternative livelihood options for those struggling to make ends meet.

Del Carmen’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources officer Gina Mozo Barquilla highlighted the municipality’s ongoing “Ways to Zero Waste” campaign. Ordinance No. 31 prohibits single-use bags and commodities and promotes ecofriendly alternatives, such as reusable bags and the like.

tify what genuinely excites them, and then align it with their actions.

“[We all have a purpose in the eyes of God. Find it, embrace it, and do not] let anyone tell you that you are not important,” he said.

“Whatever [the Lord’s purpose is in your lives, He placed it there in your hearts],” the senator added. “Every single one of us [is needed in this world].”

Cayetano also emphasized the individuality of each student, as he reminded them that everyone has a significant role to play in God’s grand design.

“[Each one of you is an] original” he stated. “[If you find yourselves feeling sad], just remember [that God is always there for you.]”

Cayetano concluded his message by calling on the students to reflect on their lives, discover themselves, and follow their unique paths.

tion as a premier destination for world-class executive development programs.

The inclusion of the institution in the rankings underscores its prominence among educational institutions globally.

AIM remains committed to empowering leaders and fostering relevant and sustainable programs in management and leadership. With a solid foundation and forwardlooking vision, it is set to “Lead, Inspire, and Transform” the future of business and society.

Meanwhile, a science museum spanning 3,000 sq m will begin accepting guests in New Clark City, Pampanga either in July or August of this year, the CEO added.

“The advocacy of PAEC is not just putting up a so-so’ museum; we want to integrate a high-end educational facility for the Filipino youth,” Dr. Tan told the BusinessMirror in a sideline interview during the PAEC Awards Night held recently.

The executive lauded the top developers in the country for their support to their cause of providing young Filipino learners world-class educational museums.

“[We at PAEC are] not only working for ourselves; our investors right now are multibillion companies who trusted our passion for this industry. Thank you to the Ayala Group of Companies and Megaworld for helping build these kinds of attractions,” he said.

Tan assured the public, especially the students, that prices of tickets to these upcoming museums “will be affordable still [and competitive, compared to] other amusement parks.”

Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay City praised the private sector like PAEC for taking education up a notch

with such learning destinations.

“Immersive approaches, such as those, are great examples to which others can take inspiration [from]. Immersive education is a sector that has so much potential, and we are fortunate to have PAEC,” the local chief executive said. “Truly, when education meets innovation, so much transformation is produced may it be through actual schooling or after education.”

For Education Assistant Secretary Dexter A. Galban, PAEC has been a “beacon of innovation and creativity, fostering environments where the curious minds of our youth can wonder and wander; where dreams are not born, but nurtured through tourism.”

PAEC is known for its development and management of engaging indoor attractions with educational and entrepreneurial themes such as “Food Wanderer x Lak b a y Mu s eo,” “Tales of Illumina,” “Dream Lab,” “Whimsical Wonderland,” “Museum of Emotions,” “Omniverse Museum,” “Change Maker 2040,” “Craft Academy,” and “Artboom.”

In venues like such, Galban said that “we see the future of education and entertainment : a harmonious blend that captivates and educates simultaneously...They are crucibles of learning, where every exhibit and every experience is a step toward understanding the world and our place within it.”

Nearly 500 representatives from tour-operator companies and travel agencies graced the awarding ceremony that displayed their dedication to promoting tourism in the Philippines, while enriching Filipino students’ educational experiences. Highlight of the event was the presentation of the prestigious “Orion Awards” to recipients who exemplified strength, speed, and dedication to their clients as well as the tourism sector; plus, the “Phoenix Awards” that recognize agencies that have shown remarkable resilience and dedication amidst global challenges.

British Council enables higher learning with Transnational Education Network

ALTHOUGH the Philippine educational sector is opening its doors to international linkages, the government still needs to craft a proactive policy environment to expand collaborations.

Lotus Postrado, the British Council country director for the Philippines, told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview that the organization hopes for Filipino universities to explore more cooperations through the “Transnational Education Network (TNE)” toward higher learning.

“While it is signaling the country’s openness to collaborate with international universities, there is still work to do to make the policy environment of the Philippines…support and facilitate these TNE partnerships,” explained Postrado. “We hope that this leads to future opportunities in reviewing visa policies and facilitating university-faculty exchanges in delivering programs in the country.”

She said the British Council will partner educational institutions, upgrading the quality of institutions and their programs, then added the TNE will support them in developing programs currently unavailable in the Philippines, providing opportunities to create Filipino experts in niche areas, especially those aligned with the national priorities identified in the Philippine Development Plan.

For students and professionals seeking higher education, TNE provides access to international degree programs without the need to stay full-time abroad. For the British Council official, “this opens opportunities for learners to take part in

their degree in their home country, making it more accessible to pursue. We provide avenues for universities to collaborate, [as they build] linkages between the Philippines and the United K ingdom.”

With the passing of Republic Act 11448, or “An Act Expanding Access to Educational Services through the Establishment and Administration of Transnational Higher Education,” the Philippines is taking its first step toward internationalization.

TNE is part of the British Council’s work on “Access and Competitiveness through Internationalization of Higher Education (ACT-IHE):” a collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that seeks to widen learners’ access to quality higher education, while building Filipino universities’ competitiveness. Currently, there is ongoing support for university faculties studying degrees on TNE. A scholarship is being provided in collaboration with CHED under the ACT-IHE program.

As the U K ’s cultural relations organization, the British Council works on TNE globally. Drawing from the European country’s expertise, the council’s education programs aim to build strength and add value to higher education across the globe.

Other than its work in TNE, the British Council also has its “Women in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics]” scholarship grant for post-graduate degrees, as well as the “International Science Partnerships Fund” for fellowships in science and research. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Mike Policarpio

SEN. CAYETANO urges Taguig’s grads to discover the Almighty’s grand design for each of them.

AKTIV ASIA’S Engr. Elainne Lopez (standing, from left) and Climate Reality Project in the Philippines’ Aimee Oliveros facilitated the workshop on movement building and campaigning.

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

SOUTHERN CHARM

East meets West in bustling Kaohsiung

photos by Marky Ramone Go

Story &

P30-meter-circle, 2,180-square-meter art glass artwork.

ICTURE Taipei with a more laidback vibe. That is how I would characterize Kaohsiung, the secondlargest city in Taiwan.

While maintaining its easy-going ambiance, the city has grown into a bustling metropolis with all the modern conveniences one looks for a livable setting, including picturesque cafes, bike lanes, parks, museums, jazz clubs, art districts, and more all set against the backdrop of expansive, verdant, forested mountains and beaches.

Most travelers know Taipei, the capital city, with its spectacular mix of contemporary and traditional architecture, night markets, and cultural and historical monuments. K aohsiung has a similar atmosphere, but with less hustle and more isolation. Visitors to Taiwan may discover a southern charm here.

Since I hadn’t traveled abroad in a while, wide roads, spacious sidewalks, and airy parks on virtually every block astonished me. Although recognized for its petrochemical and technology sectors, the city raises its citizens’ level of living through careful urban planning that incorporates usable space.

The Formosa Boulevard Metro Station is a great spot to start your city tour as it showcase K aohsiung’s excellent transportation infrastructure, which is crucial to easy travel.

The three-level subterranean station is noted for its “Dome of Light,” the world’s largest glass sculpture built from individual glass pieces designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata. Over 4,500 glass panels make up the

Daily light shows last 10-15 minutes under the Glass Dome pathway.

Four glass pedestrian entrances built by world-renowned Japanese architectural firm Shin Takamatsu Architect & Associates are another station feature.

Minimal traffic lets you see a lot of the city in an hour. We enjoyed the midday sun and cool breeze near the seashore, especially the Pier-2 Art District, where converted warehouses now house galleries and art spaces.

I also found that walking along the canal-side promenade to the Great Harbor Bridge, where the K aohsiung Music Center’s geometrical shape was inspired by ocean waves and other aquatic creatures, can teach you about the city’s art and architecture. A hundred steps further is the K aohsiung Museum of History, another stunning building designed in the classic imperial crown style distinctive of Japan.

Another attraction in the same area is the Love River, which flows through K aohsiung’s heart, is a paradigm of urban renewal after being transformed from a dirty waterway into a pleasant

stretch of water surrounded by restaurants, cafes, parks, and galleries. After being beautified, this river became a famous dating spot for lovers, hence the moniker Love River.

Not too far from the bridge on the Love River, one can find the Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Taiwan. First established in 1858 by the Dominicans, the church underwent various restorations before being rebuilt into its current Gothic and Romanesque form in 1928. There are so many interesting locations to visit in K aohsiung that you may not realize it, but you’ll be amazed to find that you’ve already walked over 20,000 steps.

A Taste of Kaohsiung’s Street Food Culture

DESPITE a long day and more than 20,000 steps, we didn’t let the opportunity to explore K aohsiung’s night market go to waste. Despite being shorter than Taipei’s Raohe Night Market, the Liouhe Night Market a straightforward 300-400 meter lane with food stalls on both sides is a

AP

FTER a grand comeback in 2023, this year’s week-long (May 5 to 10) Mammangi Festival celebration of the City of Ilagan in Isabela province, a tribute to the farmer’s heroic hard work in the field (that accounts for the long-standing stature of the city as the “Corn Capital of the Philippines”), is set to continue the city’s Vision 2030 –a liveable city with every Ilagueño upholding the sense of pride and love of the City of Ilagan. The name of the festival was derived from mangi, the Ybanag word for corn. Last December 2023, the festival was recognized, during the Aliw Annual Awards, as one of the Best Festival Practices/Performances in thecountry.

Again, the festival organizers, headed by Festival Director-General, City Councilor Jay Eveson “Jayve” Diaz, invited local and Manila-based online and print media and photographers to witness this vision through the festival. Our home for our 6-day stay in Ilagan was the cozy The Blanket Hotel and Restaurant which was conveniently located near the City of Ilagan Community Center where, the next day, the city government distributed grants to at least 303 Academic Excellence scholars (P4,415,000) and 647 tobacco farmers (P6,400,000). This was followed by the Cultural Olympics Solo Singing

Contest Pre-Finals (eventually won by Mr. Alexander Juan in the finals) and, later, a concert by guest artist Agsunta which is popular for its acoustic and soft melodic rock. The Cultural Olympics included competitions in photography (won by Ms. Veronica Versoza) and painting (won by Mr. Jorome Tarun).

Taking off from the previous year’s theme (Liveable City of Ilagan, Adhikain ng Bawat Ilagueño), this year’s celebration has taken the theme of “Liveable City of Ilagan 20230, Isinasapuso ng Bawat Ilagueño.” This theme was discussed during a press conference, held on the fourth day at the City Hall, with Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, DMD, and ViceMayor Kiryll S. Bello. Mayor Diaz outlined the city’s vision and emphasized the five pillars’ (survivability, sustainability, innovation, mobility and development) role in achieving economic growth and poverty reduction.

That same day was the Liga ng mga Barangay Night where the Most Outstanding and Most Improved Barangay Awards were handed out, followed by the Cultural Cluster Dance Competition (in which Poblacion Cluster representatives were named champions). Isabela Vice-Governor Faustino “Bogie” Dy III joined in celebrating the achievements of the city barangays’ outstanding citizens. Providing entertainment, that night, were well-known comedians Wally Bayola and Allan K.

We also had a look of this year’s theme when we toured the Agri Eco-Tourism Village, a unique fusion of culture and commerce, where 18 booths (8 barangay clusters in Category A and 10 inter-agency in Category B) highlighted the creativity of the city’s barangays while displaying and selling their agricultural produce. Western 1 won in Category A while Iselco (Isabela Electric Cooperative) 2 won in Category B.

The Search for Binibining Ilagan 2024, participated in by 20 candidates from the different barangays of the city, was held on the third day at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex. Featuring a dazzling display of costumes, swimsuits, gowns and casual wear, it was hosted by Ms. Rabiya Mateo (Ms. Universe Philippines 2020) and Mr. Jazper Tiongson, with Mr. Alden Richards, a Filipino actor, recording artist and model, as guest artist.

Ms. Johnlene Ariola, from Barangay Alibagu, won the title of Bb. Ilagan 2024, with Ms. Justine Molly Asis, from Barangay Alinguigan, and Ms. Valerie Ann May delos Santos, from Barangay Sindon Bayabo, as 1st and 2nd Runner-up respectively. Ms. Claire Arce, from Barangay Alibagu, and Ms. Lalaine Bulan, from Barangay Bangag, won the tiles of Bb. Turismo, Sining at Kultura and Bb. Agrikultura, respectively.

great spot to learn about Taiwan’s street food culture.

The almost a kilometer walk from our hotel worked to my advantage as I was able to tone down what I had for dinner and create room for some street food-tripping. The staple of Taiwanese street gastronomy were on full display and already attracting a growing crowd by 9pm.

For first timers in Taiwan, it is imperative not to miss the mysterious stinky tofu, which is an acquired taste and one of the hallmarks of Taiwanese cuisine. Having tried it in my earlier visit to Taiwan, I took a pass this time and focused on the others that made me drool to no end. There’s the oyster omelet, green onion and oyster cake, taro balls, peanut ice cream wraps, oyster vermicelli, gua bao also known as Taiwanese hamburger, albeit saucier fried chicken fillet, mango shaved ice, grilled squid, gao bao (pork belly buns), flame-torched beef, Taiwanese sausage, and more.

While I would have like to sample everything, I settled for a Taiwanese sausage from one booth, some green onion and oyster cake from another,

and a glass of bubble tea to wash it all down. Before proceeded to Tainan, we wrapped up our K aohsiung media familiarization tour with a stop at Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. To truly immerse oneself in the teachings of Buddhism, one must visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, which is commonly considered the spiritual core of Buddhism in Taiwan. Spread on thirty hectares of hilltops, this religious and educational complex features both ancient Buddhist temples and a more contemporary Buddha Museum, among other things.

Eight symmetrical pagodas line up a wide walkway in the Buddha Museum, with a main hall and a gigantic statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at the end. The pagodas house exhibits, interactive spaces, and a wedding hall for Buddhist ceremonies. Several galleries display fascinating Buddhist artifacts and relics in both permanent and scheduled exhibitions, while the main hall is home to numerous shrines.

Watch out for the next part of our Taiwan media familiarization trip: Tainan, another southern surprise.

Story by Benjamin Locsin Layug

hoto s by Nicole Paler

CHIMEI

GUANZILING

TAIWANESE

TAIWANESE

P-pop girl group G22 is Acer’s new ambassador

IN P-pop, 2024 is the year of the girl groups and one of the rising stars is G22. The group, composed of AJ, Alfea and Jaz, joins P-pop kings SB19 in promoting Acer’s much-awaited #AcerU2024 Back-to-School campaign.

G22, along with BINI, joined the Chinese music reality show Show It All where they showcased talent. The show is a performance exchange program by artist Lay Zhang and MangoTV for idols.

Managed by Cornerstone Entertainment and dubbed “P-pop’s female alphas,” G22 debuted with the single “Bang” in 2022. The group has been recognized as the Rising P-pop Group of the Year at Asia’s Pinnacle Awards and the Best Female P-pop Group at the Saludo Excellence Awards.

G22 recently released their song “One Sided Love,” and it is through this song that the trio earned the moniker “Female Alphas of Philippine Pop.”

In a previous interview with ABS-CBN, G22 member AJ said, “We release hard-hitting very pasugod’ but in this song, before we were strong, we were in pain, we were hurt, replaced. This song takes back why we became Alphas, it also tells a story.”

“G22’s determination to succeed in a cutthroat world resonates with the inner ambition of students and their parents. At Acer, we believe in a future where education is about absorbing information and transforming it into actionable insight and leadership in action,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines marketing manager.

“Acer remains dedicated to its commitment to support Filipino talents as they strive to reach their maximum potential and achieve the success they deserve,” said Princess Laosantos, Acer Philippines

senior marketing manager.

Meanwhile, Acer has unveiled its new lineup of products at the Computex 2024 event in Taiwan.

The new lineup includes Aspire series All-in-one PCs, gaming monitors, and TravelMate series business laptops. Acer has updated its lineup of productivity focused laptops with the new TravelMate P4 series and TravelMate P6 laptops. The P4 series includes the TravelMate P4 Spin 14, which is a convertible laptop with a 14-inch WUXGA display with up to an Intel

1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage.

The TravelMate P4 14 has the same display but

the TravelMate P4 16 carries a 16-inch WUXGA

14. The Acer TravelMate P6 14 comes with a 14-inch OLED WQXGA display, up to Intel Core Ultra 7 165H 4 SSD for storage. Acer’s new Predator gaming lineup includes the Predator X27U F3, Predator X34 X5, and Predator X32 X3. These monitors feature OLED displays, high refresh rates, and ultra-smooth performance. The new Acer Aspire C24 (C24-195ES) and Acer Aspire C27 (C27-195ES) have an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 155U with Intel AI Boost and Intel Graphics and up to 2TB of M.2 PCIe SSD. and 27-inch FHD IPS resolution displays with narrow bezels and impressive screen-to-body ratios and feature Acer’s Bluelight Shield technology.

Redefining mobile photography with AI Eraser

GLOBAL tech brand OPPO continues to make waves in mobile photography by AI object removal to a wider audience with the rollout of the AI Eraser in the OPPO Reno11 Series 5G, the brand’s renowned line of Portrait Experts. OPPO’s AI Eraser is designed to help users seize and perfect life’s best photography and editing easier and more enjoyable than ever. Traditional object removal tools struggle with precision, leading to incomplete and less than ideal edits. OPPO’s AI Eraser in the OPPO Reno11 Series, however, utilizes generative of accuracy. This means users can erase objects from their photos with minimal residual artifacts, ensuring a

The key advantage of the OPPO AI Eraser is its ability to intelligently objects. By analyzing the surrounding elements of the image, it can generate realistic textures and details that blend seamlessly with the original photo. This capability elevates the OPPO Reno11 Series 5G above its competitors, providing users with an editing tool that feels like a professional studio that they can easily access. Whether you are trying to remove a photobomber in your sunset photo of Boracay, or want to replace a pile of rubbish in your street photo captured with the OPPO Reno11 Series 5G, using the OPPO AI Eraser is simple and intuitive.

You just simply select a nearly perfect picture and tap on the ‘Edit’ option followed by ‘AI Eraser’. Then you will use the ‘Smart Lasso’ to draw

around the object you wish to remove, or ‘Paint Over’ to cover the object directly. The AI Eraser then works its magic, erasing the unwanted elements

AI technology. OPPO’s AI Eraser transcends typical editing tools; it’s a revolution in mobile photography. With its powerful generative AI, user-friendly interface, and commitment to privacy, the OPPO AI Eraser empowers users to create the OPPO Reno11 Series 5G, the tool is also available in the OPPO Find N3 Series. You can elevate your most memorable photos to a professional level with ease with the OPPO AI Eraser when you purchase any phone from the OPPO Reno11 Series (P24,999), and Reno11 Pro 5G (P31,999).

www.businessmirror.com.ph

TIKTOK SAYS CYBERATTACK TARGETED CNN AND OTHER ‘HIGH-PROFILE ACCOUNTS’ NEW YORK—TikTok said Tuesday it has taken steps to stop a cyberattack targeting high-profile accounts, including one belonging to CNN. “Our security team was recently alerted to malicious actors targeting CNN’s TikTok account,” TikTok spokesman Jason Grosse said in a prepared statement. TikTok has been working with CNN to restore its access to the account and add “enhanced security measures” to safeguard it, Grosse said.

“We are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the platform and will continue to monitor for any further inauthentic activity,” Grosse added. CNN did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The social media company said the attack took place through the platform’s direct-messaging feature, without sharing further information about the nature of the hack. Grosse said TikTok is still investigating the “potential exploit” and working with affected account owners who need their access restored. Grosse did not share the number of accounts that were targeted, but said only “a very small number of accounts were compromised.” AP

Filipino knowledge workers big users of AI

FILIPINO intelligence (AI) more in the workplace than their global and regional counterparts, according to the latest global 2024 Work Trend Index study by

The research, titled “AI at work”, is a huge endeavor that is based on a survey of 31,000 people across 31 countries, labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, research with Fortune 500 customers.

“Twenty-twenty three will be remembered as the year of AI, but this year we will start to see real impact as we move from potential applications to living innovations. The current state of AI adoption in the Philippines is very promising. We’re seeing innovation at scale across industries through personalization, security and sustainability by applying AI solutions to their challenges and

“In terms of the workforce, our 2024 Work Trend Index shows Filipino employees are leading not just Asia but the world in leveraging AI to help and more, the AI business imperative is becoming clear, but there are still opportunities to explore empowering this broad transformation as we bring more advanced AI technologies and platforms to the world, as well as insights to guide our customers and partners,” Maquera added.

The Work Trend Index highlights what leaders and professionals need to know one year since AI made shockwaves in the workplace and labor market:

knowledge workers use AI at work, higher than the global average of 75 percent and regional average of

leaders believe their company needs to adopt AI to stay competitive, putting the Philippines ahead of percent.

The OPPO Reno11 Series 5G is available at all authorized OPPO retail stores nationwide and on OPPO’s

Shop channels. Moreover, loyal OPPO users can still enjoy the last days of the summer season as the brand is extending its MyOPPO Summer promo until June 16. Grab exciting vouchers from partner brands such as Macao Imperial Tea, Llao Llao, McDonald’s, Domino’s, and Classic Savory. Consumers will also have more time to share their summer memories with their OPPO device and win the ultimate Vacation Starter Pack which includes two P10,000 shopping spree from CUL-DE-SAC at Level 2 of The Podium Mall, two P2,000 Klook Travel Organizers. Winners will be announced on the MyOPPO App.

Meanwhile, 55 percent of Filipino leaders are worried that their organization lacks a plan and vision for implementing AI. While this may be lower than percent, respectively, there are consequences when demand outpaces the capacity of local companies to provide the needed resources. their tools to work—Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI)— which poses privacy, security and legal risks to in BYOAI, and regionally, 79 percent. Maquera said Philippine workplaces can stay ahead by taking advantage of demand and investing in AI, equipping employees with tools and skills to remain competitive. Because of the growing demand for AI in the hiring market, LinkedIn noted job posts grew by 17 percent, and 142x more users globally added AI “As the Philippines witnesses a transformative

BEFORE and after photos after going through the OPPO AI Eraser.

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Saludo sa kasi ito na nakakapagturo kayo at ang nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapakinig at matuto. Kasi ang mga bata, wala nang panahon [na magturo]. lahat Kaya ito maganda

Medyo na ang Magandang sa nagkaka-edad

ARNEL REAZON, GCash trainer lead, walks Pacita seniors through using GCash at Globe’s #SeniorDigizen learning session on May 16, 2024.

De Brito stays as Alas women coach until SEA Games 2025

BRAZILIAN Jorge Edson Souza de Brito will still be Alas Pilipinas women’s head coach until December next year, Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara announced on Friday in South Korea.

“After careful thoughts, consideration and consultation with the PNVF board, I would like to officially announce that we would like to retain Coach Jorge until the SEA Games 2025,” said Suzara after Alas Pilipinas played Powerful Daegu of South K orea in the “Serve, Spike Unite” friendly match between the two teams in Daegu City. Suzara made the announcement alongside PNVF national team commission chair Tonyboy Liao, team captain Jia Morado-de Guzman and team manager Hollie Reyes.

“There are so many events up ahead for Alas Pilipinas so let’s continue supporting the team and the program,” Suzara added.

Thailand is hosting the 33rd SEA Games from December 7 to 19 next year in Bangkok–Chonburi–Songkhla

De Brito’s three-year contract under the FIVB’s Empowerment Program is

supposed to expire at the end of this month, but the clamor to keep him grew after Alas Pilipinas clinched a historic bronze medal in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum late last month. Alas Pilipinas women, meanwhile,

NBy Josef T. Ramos

LEX is counting on Jong Uichico to cultivate a championship mindset in the Road Warriors camp as it named the nine-time Philippine Basketball Association champion as its new head coach.

Uichico, 61, told BusinessMirror on Friday after the team management’s announcement that team practice will start on June 17 in preparation for the next season.

“I haven’t thought about anything yet but I’m really thankful to NLEX,” Uichico, who earlier served as a Road Warriors consultant and assistant, said after confirming his new position although he didn’t reveal the terms of the deal.

He replaced Frankie Lim as head tactician, who was in charge for four conferences highlighted by two playoff appearances. According to NLEX Road Warriors management, Uichico’s signing is a collective decision as the franchise seeks its first-ever PBA crown, with a team led by guard Robert Bolick.

“The NLEX Road Warriors are excited to take this new journey with coach Jong Uichico,” NLEX Corporation President and General Manager Luigi Bautista said.

“He brings a wealth of experience to the squad and a clear idea of what it takes to win a championship as the fourthwinningest coach in PBA history.” Uichico’s first stint as PBA head coach

stood its ground before falling short, 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 8-15, against Powerful Daegu in an exhibition match staged to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.

Led by Angel Canino and Jia Morado-De Guzman, the Filipinas dragged the home bets to a deciding

by Ambassador to South Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega. Alas Pilipinas, whose trip to Daeju was also supported by Neocolors Production and Advertising Inc., came out with guns ablaze by snatching the extended first set behind the back-to-back hits from Canino and Faith Nisperos before yielding the next two frames. De Brito would return the

with a bang in the fourth for the

in the

SEAN RAMOS created some separation early with four front-nine birdies and held on for a 67 to top the ICTSI Lakewood Championship on Friday in Cabanatuan City. A stroke ahead at the start of the day, Ramos sank three straight birdies from No. 3 and hit another on No. 8 to get to four under at the turn on the way to an 18-under 270 for his first title on the Philippine Golf Tour, winning over Reymon Jaraula by two at Lakewood Golf and Country Club.

The 20-year-old

lopsided set

contest but to

the clincher

Daegu found

The match served as an exhibition game to mark the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and South Korea and the 126th Philippine Independence Day celebration with officials from the Korean government and its volleyball federation. The friendly was part of Alas Pilipinas’s preparations for the FIVB

Verdes and at the Philippine Masters but struggled in the final day of both events. “I played strategically in the closing holes to secure the win without taking unnecessary risks.” Ramos’s first title in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. also gives him a big boost for upcoming tournaments on the Asian Development Tour. Jaraula also finished with a 67 for 272 worth P295,000, while Tony Lascuña carded a 69 for third at 273 and P170,000.

“I

started in 1999 with the San Miguel Beermen. He also coached Barangay Ginebra and TNT, leading all three teams to championships.

Uichico is also a long-serving assistant coach for Gilas Pilipinas national men’s team.

“We are grateful to coach Frankie Lim for his dedication to the Road Warriors and we thank him for his contributions,” NLEX Governor Ronald Dulatre said.

“We also thank coach Jong Uichico for taking on this new challenge to lead the Road Warriors as we start our preparations for the upcoming PBA season.”

The Road Warriorsare also looking to boost the lineup through the rookie draft in July.

Tolentino vows to up the ante for cycling

HILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino vowed to up the ante for cycling after receiving the 2024 Merit Award during the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Congress in K azakhstan.

“It’s a recognition from cycling’s continental body that inspires us to do better for Philippine cycling,” said Tolentino after receiving the award at the Intercontinental Hotel in Almaty on Thursday.

Tolentino is also the president of the national sports association for the sport, PhilCycling, which fielded a 22-athlete team, the biggest since 1995, to the ACC Championships for Road that coincides with the Congress.

“My heartfelt gratitude to the ACC for recognizing the PhilCycling’s effort to advance further our sport in the country,” he said.

Tolentino’s administration at PhilCycling started to bear fruit back in 2005 when as mayor of Tagaytay City hosted BMX racing as demonstration sport and eventually as a medal sport at the UCI-standard BMX track when the country hosted the 2019 30th Southeast Asian Games.

His watch saw the conduct of two UCI continental races and emergence of four continental teams, and more importantly the participation in the London 2012 Olympics of Danny Caluag, who went on to win the Philippine one and only gold medal at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games.

SEA Games medalists Jermyn Prado (road race gold 2019 SEA Games) and Ronald Oranza (double bronze medalist 2023 Cambodia SEA Games), meanwhile, lead the national team 11 men and nine women competing in the continental championships road that started on

VNL Men’s Poo Week 3 at MOA Arena highlights busy volleyball

VOLLE Y BALL Nations League (VNL) Men’s Pools Week 3 action erupts starting Jun 18 at the Mall of Asia Arena in another unprecedented busy month for Philippine volleyball.

“The Alas Pilipinas Women provided the highlight late last month but the momentum for Philippine volleyball continues overseas and at home with the VNL just around the corner,” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum took a golden bronze hue with Alas Pilipinas’s third-place finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women country’s best-ever finish, and the first medal, in an Asian level volleyball competition.

“The Alas women’s achievement was a highlight reel yet the PNVF’s focus is multi-pronged,” said Suzara, referring to the various Alas Pilipinas squads campaigning overseas simultaneously.

The men’s national team is in Bahrain for the AVC Challenge Cup for Men, the Under-18 squad is in Thailand for the 22nd Princess Cup SEA U18 Women’s Volleyball Championship and 5th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship and the Alas women are in Daegu City, South Korea, for a Friendship Tour in connection with the Philippine Independence Day Celebration.

g Jun 18 for en provided h but the olleyball ome ner,” ent of eyball seum th Alas in the ion (AVC) the nd the vement was F ’s focus is referr ing taneously ge Cupfor s t men’s ountry o 7 at the

The beach volleyball teams are in Switzerland for the beach pro tour following two weeks of AVC and FIVBA pro tour tournaments at the Nuvali

“I handled the pressure well and enjoyed every moment of the competition,” said Ramos, who also contended at Palos

Ozeki K akeru shot a 68 for a 274 for fourth followed by Art Arbole (66-277) and Albin Engino (73-280), while Zanieboy Gialon rallied with a 68 to tie Eric Gallardo, who put in a 70 at seventh with 281s. Nelson Huerva turned in a 70 for ninth at 282 while Clyde Mondilla fought back with a 67 and Jhonnel Ababa shot a 70 for joint 10th at 283 with Ryan Monsalve (68), Daiya Suzuki (70) and Rupert Zaragosa (72).

Ramos marked his impressive triumph by carding back-to-back frontside 31s during the middle rounds, surging ahead of a formidable field. He sealed his victory by playing flawlessly, without a bogey over the final 36 holes.

Ramos’s path to PGT glory was paved with determination and resilience. Entering the P2.5 million championship sponsored by ICTSI, he was recovering from back-toback missed cuts in the ADT events in Thailand.

However, these setbacks only strengthened the talented shotmaker, allowing him to join the elite winners’ circle alongside Ababa (Apo), Lloyd Go (Palos Verdes), Mondilla (Caliraya Springs), and Angelo Que (Philippine Masters) in the first five legs of this year’s 10-stage Tour, supported by PGTI’s official apparel K ampfortis Golf.

An opening round of 70 left Ramos four strokes behind leader Hyun Ho Rho. He then closed within one stroke of halfway joint leaders Art Arbole and Lascuna with a 67 Wednesday, before pulling ahead with a 66 on moving day. The final 18 holes of the inaugural ICTSI Lakewood Championship, however, unveiled the best in the young player.

TWELVE-Y EAR-OLD Jairo Flores

scored with huge victories to kick off his campaign in the boys’ 16-and-under division, signaling his readiness to compete at a higher level in the Mayor Eric Olivarez National Junior Tennis Championships in Sucat, Parañaque Thursday. Despite being unranked, Flores, who recently clinched the boys’ singles title at the Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) meet in K alinga, Apayao, defeated Wimbly Peraja 4-1, 4-2. He followed this up with another commanding performance, dominating No. 11 Kenji Kue, 4-1, 4-0, securing his spot in the third round of the tournament at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque courts in Sucat. From Tabuk City, K alinga, Flores is preparing for the Palarong Pambansa in Cebu next month. He faces a tough challenge in the next round against No. 6 Anthony Cosca, who drew an opening-round bye and advanced by drubbing Dean Palaroan, 4-2, 5-3. The tournament attracted a record

416 participants across nine age groups. The tennis festival runs for two weeks, with the Open men’s

Uichico takes over as NLEX head coach

PLAYS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

DIRECTOR

BJ

BORJA RETURNS TO THEATER AS VLF ‘VIRGIN’ DIRECTOR

By John Eiron R. Francisco

EVERY year, since 2005, the Virgin Labfest (VLF) has been specifically held for the showing of unpublished, untried, and untested one-act plays.

The festival is a partnership project, jointly produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation Inc. and The Writer's Bloc.

With “Pintog” as its overarching theme for 2024, VLF will give life to 12 never-before-mounted plays that will be shown from June 12 to June 30 at the CCP.

These plays include: Vengeance of God by Hans Pieter Arao, Ningas by Lino Balmes, Love on the Brain by Rick Patriarca, Pagkapit sa Hangin by Joshua Lim So, Lipistick at Pulbura by Ara Jenika Vinzon, The

demands of his job as Cultural and Tourism Officer of the City Government of Biñan. For one, there were several events and festivals happening simultaneously in his native city.

But after careful consideration, he accepted, after realizing that he would miss out on an opportunity that came to him naturally. It was a chance for self-expression and a singular way to tap into his creativity.

Profound questions

Excellent script

Borja commended the Palanca award-winning writer Lino Balmes for crafting an excellent script and story.

He expressed that his main challenge lies in casting the right actors, as the story only requires two. He reached out to Ross Pesigan for one of the roles, who, upon reading the script, immediately felt a connection to the material and expressed his desire to be a part of it.

When asked about his preparation for the role of a man/firefighter in the story, Pesigan shared that he extensively researched on how firefighters in the Philippines handle emergencies and crafted his own backstory to complement the script.

Foxtrot by Chesie Galvez-Cariño, Sa Babaeng Lahat by Elise Santos, Ang Munting Liwanag sa Madilim na Sulok ng Serbeserya sa Maynila by Dustin Celestino, Si Hesus Na'a sa U.S. by Neil Azcuna, Sentenaryo by Herlyn Alegre, The Divine Family by Dip Mariposque, and Identite by Jhudiel Clare Sosa.

Comeback Director

On its 19th year, one director is making a comeback as a theater director and first time directing to the VLF. He is BJ Borja, director of Ningas, written by Lino Balmes.

In an exclusive interview with the BusinessMirror, Borja said his return to stage directing “is not just another gig, but a rendezvous with destiny.”

True, it’s been nearly a decade since he last directed a stage play, but for Borja: “Once an artist, always an artist. At the end of the day, you will always go back to your roots. For me, it's the theater.”

This stalwart of the Biñan City cultural scene has a deep passion for the theater. He earned his theater arts degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, and since then became production manager and assistant director to Jose Estrella and the late Tony Mabesa, now National Artist for Theater for their plays in Dulaang UP. Shortly after, Borja founded his own theater group in Biñan, his hometown. This year, Borja returns to directing after being invited by VLF Festival director Tess Jamias to direct one of the festival’s plays.

He shared, however, that when Jamias first approached him, he was hesitant to accept, owing to the

Biñan folks know Borja as one who valued his expertise and took pride in his skills. “He views the creative process as sacred. Working with different people in the collaborative world of theater is fulfilling to him,” said Sigrid Carreon, Ningas dramaturg.

The ‘Virgin’ director for VLF admitted that Ningas, a play written for people who can’t decide if they want kids or not, might pique the imagination of the audience to the point that it might change their outlook and their lives. Ningas offers profound questions about society’s views on parenthood. These questions include: “Do you want to have children? Why do today's generation delay parenthood? Why do some couples choose not to have children at all?”

According to Borja, these questions pierced his soul, resonating with his own contemplations from two years prior. Back then, the prospect of parenthood seemed daunting, overshadowed by the immense responsibility it entailed. Now, as he immersed himself in directing this play, it felt like destiny had guided him to this moment—a sign urging him to confront these questions head-on. Borja dedicated his work on Ningas to his late mother Echie, who wanted him to have a child. Even though Borja couldn't fulfill his mother's wish for a grandchild, this play is his way of honoring her and the dream she had of having a grandchild.

“I also prepared certain “what ifs” to further enrich certain elements in the script,” he said, adding that “the material really made me wonder how it felt becoming a father.”

Yet, despite wanting to have children, Pesigan noticed that many people his age are hesitant about being parents. Concerns like finances, mental health, and the current political and social climate discourage them from starting a family, he said.

Stage veteran Geraldine Villamil, portraying a “Babae” or lady in the play, told the BusinessMirror her reflections on her role. She found herself questioning her actions as a parent, whether she was doing the right thing by holding on

tightly, loosely, or letting go. “Being responsible for someone else’s life and future is difficult, scary and expensive,” she said. Despite societal expectations on parenting and debates on birth decisions, she found joy in having children and hoped the play might shed some light on these issues.

Creative freedom

Meanwhile, the festival director of VLF 19 Tess Jamias told the BusinessMirror that theater is often considered the most local of all art forms because it speaks directly to and about its community. Consequently, whether it aims to be political or not, it inevitably

addresses societal issues by either engaging with or ignoring them.

“We in the selection committee have tried to make sure that the plays we have chosen are not only diverse but also reflect the spirit of times,” she said.

She added that the productions aim to unpack current societal issues—from living with AIDS and Gen Z's struggles with parenthood to indigenous knowledge, environmental concerns, multigenerational trauma, female sexuality, and myth-making.

Artists like Pesigan and Villamil echoed the sentiment that it’s crucial for emerging theater actors, directors, and other creatives to have a platform to showcase their talents and offer new perspectives. They emphasized the importance of having the freedom to express themselves without external constraints.

For his part, Borja believes that his experience in public service and education, he currently teaches theater arts at UP Los Baños, has deepened his understanding of community issues, such as the issue discussed in Ningas. He said that theater is a powerful medium for social change and that using this platform to highlight important topics and inspire dialogue can, over time, result in the betterment of society in general.

By merging his background in governance and education with his artistic endeavors, Borja hopes to create meaningful and impactful productions that resonate with audiences and provoke thought.

His return

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Swedish

defense minister ‘deeply concerned’ over China’s ‘dangerous maneuvers’

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

WEDISH Defense Minis-

Ster Pål Jonson expressed “deep concern” over the “repeated dangerous maneuvers” against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Jonson was in Manila Thursday and met with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr., as well as with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. He spoke before a crowd of Filipinos and foreign diplomats during Sweden’s National Day Thursday night.

“Let me express my deep concern for the repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels, that have been taking place in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. These acts put human lives at risk, undermine regional stability and inter-

national norms, and threaten security in the region and beyond,” Jonson said.

Jonson stressed that these “repeated dangerous maneuvers” do not only threaten Philippine national security, “but also to our common global security.”

Sweden, one of 27 members of the European Union, reiterated the bloc’s stance calling for “restraint” and “full respect of international law” to ensure a peaceful resolution and properly manage the South China Sea disputes.

Jonson did not directly accuse China as the party behind the “repeated dangerous maneuvers,” against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.

But he also expressed support for the full implementation of the 2016 Arbitration Award in the South China Sea, which the Philippines won against China.

“The UN Charter, Unclos, and

the Arbitration Award of 2016, as well as other relevant international rules and regulations relating to the safety of life at sea, should be respected at all times,” he added.

The 2016 ruling invalidated China’s maritime claim over the entire South China Sea, for which it used maps with a nine-dash line around the sea. China never recognized the validity of the award.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. thanked Sweden “for its continued support of the Philippines as we staunchly uphold the tenets of the United Nations charter, Unclos and the 2016 Arbitral ruling.”

“Together we pursue a peaceful, secure and prosperous future anchored on the rules-based international order,” Marcos Jr. said in a statement, as read by Teodoro during the Sweden National Day reception.

Jonson said Sweden will launch its own Defense Policy Strategy for

in WPS

the Indo-Pacific region, and is keen on enhancing defense dialogues with partners in the region, such as the Philippines.

Recently, Sweden became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) and signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.

“In this context, a strong partnership with the Philippines is of paramount importance. We have a lot in common. We are both dedicated to peace and this is very important to us. But we also know that peace comes through strength. And that is why both countries are investing heavily in our armed forces. It is an investment into our continued security and freedom,” Jonson said.

Sweden is interested to supply the Philippine Armed Forces with fighter aircraft, command systems and airborne early-warning aircraft.

Sen. Bong Go pushes education, sports devt in Albay grad rites

SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go, known for his advocacy for education and sports development, attended the Commencement Exercises of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLCFI) in Legazpi City, Albay, on Thursday, June 6.

Recto says he will endorse a ban on Pogos ‘at the appropriate time’

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

WITH the illegal activities surrounding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said senators’ call to ban the operations for its alleged threat to national security is within their rights.

When asked by reporters on Friday if the Finance chief supports the ban on Pogos, Recto said: “I have no objection to that.”

This, after senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for a total ban on Pogos in the Philippines, saying “the evils” they spawn outweigh the economic benefits.

(See:https://businessmirror.com.

ph/2024/06/05/senate-tri-committeeprobing-illegal-pogo-linked-crime-andmayor-alice-guos-case-now-in-executivesession/)

“There is some truth to that,” Recto said of the economic losses brought by Pogos. His predecessor, Benjamin Diokno, had once conceded there is a “reputational risk” to the country from the serious, organized crimes associated with Pogo activities.

Recto said he will advise President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to ban Pogos “at the appropriate time” if he was asked to recommend such.

in the 38-building Pogo hub in the town of Bamban.

“Today, [there are many] Pogos [that] are not really Pogos. They are doing something else. But we generalize and call them all Pogos,” Recto pointed out.

“Let us study it carefully. have to consult also with Pagcor [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation] on how much they are earning from there,” Recto added.

Pagcor was earlierblamed by Guo’s lawyer for allowing Pogo operations in Bamban, but the gaming regulator issued a strongly worded rebuttal saying it s the mayor’s office that gives business licenses, and should not blame it for the current legal woes surrounding her.

Pagcor clarified in a statement that it has nothing to do with the issuance of local business permits and licenses and is not responsible for the inspection of buildings that are not under their jurisdiction.

“We issue licenses based on our own guidelines and the documents submitted by applicants,” Pagcor said.

Pagcor added that it has no access to the 8-hectare compound and buildings built inside of it, “many of which were highly restricted and inaccessible to the public.”

Earlier, Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the agency is open for Pogos to keep operating in the country if they are properly monitored and regulated.

Addressing the students, faculty, and staff members, Senator Go emphasized the importance of education as a key to a brighter future, citing how it empowers individuals and equips them with the right knowledge and skills to overcome challenges and achieve their goals in the future.

“I would also like to express my gratitude to the faculty and staff of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. [SLCFI] for their unwavering commitment to providing quality education to our youth. Your dedication and passion for teaching have helped all these young minds and equipped them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in our ever-changing world,” said Go. Jennifer Divina, one of the graduates, paid tribute to

Go’s initiatives and support in their province, particularly the Malasakit Centers program institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 201 9 which Go principally authored and sponsored.

“The Malasakit Centers program is an initiative to provide accessible health care and financial assistance to Filipinos, particularly the disadvantaged and vulnerable sector of society. We are very proud to have with us today the one who launched the said program, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go,” Jennifer said.

In Albay, the Malasakit Center is located at Bicol Regional Training and Teacher Hospital in Daraga. Since its inception in 2018, 165 Malasakit Centers have been established, benefiting approximately 10 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health.

The 28 9 graduates and SLCFI faculty members received graduation packs from Go. The college valedictorian, Angelyn Banga, a Bachelor of Business Administration major in Human Resource Development Management; High School valedictorian Jasmine Mangampo; and Grade 10 top 1 Laurence Magdaong, also received a watch each from the senator.

Go then urged students to dream big and work diligently to realize their aspirations. “The journey you embark on is filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. I have faith in every one of you, and I believe that you have the power to shape a better future for yourselves and our nation.”

The Senator also acknowledged the local government officials headed by Governor Grex Lagman, Mayor Carmen Rosal, Vice Mayor Bobby Cristobal, and Councilor Carol Ziga, among others, as well as the SLCFI Founder Engr. Edgar B. Quinto.

He recalled how, during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, RA 10 9 31, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was enacted into law. This supported impoverished students by providing free education in local colleges, universities, and state-run technical vocational institutions. Building upon the successes of RA 10 9 31, Go co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1360 seeks to expand the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) coverage.

Go likewise commended President Marcos Jr. for signing into law RA 11984, or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act.” Go also co-authored and co-sponsored the measure in the Senate.

The lawmaker also co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1864, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act. This aims to assist students facing challenges in repaying their student loans due to unexpected disasters and emergencies.

The recently signed law RA 11 99 7, or the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act,” which Go co-authored and co-sponsored, is a significant legislative measure aimed at increasing the teaching supply allowances for public school teachers.

Meanwhile, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go encouraged the students to engage in productive activities actively.

The Senator said one of his priority measures successfully passed— Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in 2020.

Three Senate panels are currently probing the possible national security implications of Pogo operations in the country, such as human trafficking, cyber fraud and other crimes.

The probe also includes the case of the suspended Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban province in Tarlac, who facilitated the investments and businesses

Tengco said the number of Pogos in the country have decreased by 30 percent, or 75 licensees, from the 29 5 Pogo licensees since 201 9 adding that criminal activities have been reduced as well.

Hontiveros praises PAOCC’s work, but wants ‘leak’ in Pogo raids plugged

SBy Butch Fernandez

EN. Risa Hontiveros on Friday praised the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) for its relentless efforts to raid illegal Philippine Online Gaming Operators (Pogo), with the latest done in Porac, Pampanga where victims of alleged human trafficking were rescued.

However, Hontiveros deplored the apparent “leak” in the operations planning which reportedly allowed several Chinese nationals to flee the area before the raiders arrived.

“It is unfortunate, however, that there seemed to be a leak prior to the operation,” the lawmaker lamented, but still vowed: “We will get to the bottom of who is accountable.”

She urged authorities to spare no effort to ferret out the culprits in the leak, as those who betray the agency’s mandate could jeopardize future work.

“We still get so many reports of Pogos sowing all sorts of horrible deeds” she said, and hoped the PAOCC could “raid and bring to justice all those behind such illegal operations.”

This important, she said, because of the serious crimes linked to Pogo, such as the “scamming, torture, and human trafficking that were found in Pampanga.” Because of the raids, such repeated, continuing crimes associated with Pogo are still being unearthed,the senator said in a mix of English and Filipino. “Indeed, wherever there is Pogo, there is crime.”

She and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian are spearheading a move in the Senate to ban Pogos entirely from the country, saying the evils they spawn far outweigh the supposed

economic benefits.

The Porac raid came just hours before a Senate tri-committee led by Hontiveros’s Committee on Women and Family Relations got a briefing, in executive session, from the government agencies in the national security cluster as well as law enforcement agencies. After that executive session, Hontiveros told Senate reporters the Pogo issue is clearly a “national security” threat, and therefore justifies a ban.

At the center of the ongoing Senate inquiry is Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whom authorities suspect is a Chinese operative who facilitated the setting up of the Bamban Pogo hub and was once even a partner of some of those who invested an estimated P6.1 billion in the enterprise: a whopping amount, according to senators, that is not proportionate to Bamban’s tiny economy that is mostly agriculture-based.

Earlier on Thursday, Sen. Gatchalian disclosed thatSenate probers are alsotracking the contractors who built the 38-building Pogo hub in Bamban that has been linked to crimes like cyber-fraud, human trafficking and possible money laundering.

He said senators are also bothered by the unfolding pattern of “deaths” of some people whom probers had been tracking in their case buildup against Guo.

Initially, reports said a certain Gilbert Flores, an employee of the Tarlac Civil Registry, had been killed recently.

Gatchalian also cited the case of the local civil engineer who signed off on the Chinese blueprints used in building the Bamban hut. He died last May 17, the senator said, andthe information they got was that Engr. JM Turla “died of a heart attack” at the age of 47.

Now, it’s the taxman coming after Bamban Mayor Alice Guo

SUSPENDED Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has another legal battle to face, besides the congressional investigations and the charges against her by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that drew a suspension order by the Ombudsman. On Friday, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. directed agency officials to help ongoing investigations into Guo’s case by checking her records as well as those of the parties involved in the controversial Bamban Pogo hub. He required 100-percent cooperation of the BIR officials with the ongoing Senate inquiry against Guo, and ordered revenuers to look into the names and entities mentioned during the hearings. If the BIR finds that tax evasion has been committed, the BIR will proceed with all necessary enforcement activities including the potential filing of tax evasion cases, a statement from the commissioner’s office said.

during the same taxable years, criminal cases for tax evasion will be filed. The same charges can be filed against conspirators and the corporate officers of the companies used to amass such wealth” Lumagui stated.

“I have commanded the whole BIR to cooperate with the Senate and look into the mentioned names of individuals and entities as well as their accumulated wealth. The BIR will fully cooperate with the Senate investigation on Mayor Guo. The BIR will also conduct its own investigation against the said individuals and entities. Due process will be followed. If the income declared with the BIR does not match the value of the properties amassed

The cash, properties, and other sources of wealth shown during the Senate hearings should be substantiated with proper payment of taxes, stressed the BIR chief.

“The BIR welcomes all informants, whether from the private sector or government agencies, that could provide the necessary documents and pieces of evidence in auditing Mayor Guo and the aforementioned companies,” said Lumagui’s statement. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

Biden is to meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Paris as Russia leans into battlefield offensive

By Christopher Megerian & Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press

PARIS—United States President Joe Biden was due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on Friday as Kyiv’s army endures its hardest days of fighting since the early weeks of the war with Russia and prepares for what officials say could be a tough summer ahead.

The United States is by far Kyiv’s biggest supplier of wartime support, and Ukraine is trying to fend off an intense Russian offensive in eastern areas of the country. The push is focused on the Ukrainian border regions of K harkiv and Donetsk but Ukrainian officials say it could spread as Russia’s bigger army seeks to make its advantage tell.

The offensive is seeking to exploit Kyiv’s shortages of ammunition and troops along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

That shortfall in weaponry came after U.S. military aid was held up in Congress for six months before Biden in April signed into law a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

The slow pace of delivery of pledged Western weaponry has long frustrated Zelenskyy, as has Biden’s hesitation over supplying more hardware for fear of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin. That has caused tension in their relationship. The US will send about $225 million in military aid to Ukraine, US officials said Thursday. The latest package includes munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as well as mortar systems and an array of artillery rounds, officials said.

Easing their stance amid Russia’s most recent onslaught and with Ukraine’s army reeling, some NATO allies including the US said last week they would allow Ukraine to use weapons they deliver to Kyiv to carry out limited attacks inside Russia.

That step brought a furious response from the K remlin, which warned that Europe’s biggest conflict since World War

II could spin out of control.

Biden and Zelenskyy attended the 80th anniversary events of D-Day in Normandy, northern France, on Thursday, along with European leaders who have supported Kyiv’s efforts in the war.

Biden pledged “we will not walk away” from Ukraine, drawing a direct line from the fight to liberate Europe from Nazi domination to today’s war against Russian aggression. Ukraine depicts its fight against the K remlin’s forces as a clash between Western democratic freedom and Russian tyranny. Russia says it is defending itself against a menacing eastward expansion of the NATO military alliance.

In a 20-minute speech Friday at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, Zelenskyy drew

Houthi rebels detain at least 9 UN staffers and others in sudden crackdown, officials say

By Jon Gambrell & Baraa Anwer

The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—At least nine Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances, authorities said Friday, as the rebels face increasing financial pressure and airstrikes from a United States-led coalition. Others working for aid groups also likely have been taken.

The detentions come as the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

But while gaining more attention internationally, the secretive group has cracked down at dissent at home, including recently sentencing 44 people to death.

Regional officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief journalists, confirmed the UN detentions. Those held include staff from the United Nations human rights agency, its development program, the World Food Program and one working for the office of its special envoy, the officials said. The wife of one of those held is also detained.

The UN declined to immediately comment.

The Mayyun Organization for Human Rights, which similarly identified the UN staffers held, named other aid groups whose employees were detained by the Houthis across four provinces the Houthis hold— Amran, Hodeida, Saada and Saana. Those groups did not immediately acknowledge the detentions.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this dangerous escalation, which constitutes a violation of the privileges and immunities of United Nations employees granted to them under international law, and we consider it to be oppressive, totalitarian, blackmailing practices to obtain political and economic gains,” the organization said in a statement.

Activists, lawyers and others also began an open online letter, calling on the Houthis to immediately release those detained, because if they don’t, it “helps isolate the country from the world.”

Yemen’s Houthi rebels and their affiliated media organizations did not immediately acknowledge

the detentions. However, the Iranian-backed rebels planned for weekly mass demonstrations after noon prayers Friday, when Houthi officials typically speak on their actions.

It’s unclear what exactly sparked the detentions. However, it comes as the Houthis have faced issues with having enough currency to support the economy in areas they hold—something signaled by their move to introduce a new coin into the Yemeni currency, the riyal. Yemen’s exiled government in Aden and other nations criticized the move as the Houthis turning to counterfeiting. Aden authorities also have demanded all banks move their headquarters there.

“Internal tensions and conflicts could spiral out of control and lead Yemen into complete economic collapse,” warned Yemeni journalist Mohammed Ali Thamer in an analysis published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Bloomberg separately reported Thursday that the US planned to further increase economic pressure on the Houthis by blocking their revenue sources, including a planned $1.5 billion Saudi payment to cover salaries for government employees in rebelheld territory.

The war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. The Houthis’ attacks on shipping have helped deflect attention from their problems at home and the stalemated war. But they’ve faced increasing casualties and damage from US-led airstrikes targeting the group for months now.

Thousands have been imprisoned by the Houthis during the war. An AP investigation found some detainees were scorched with acid, forced to hang from their wrists for weeks at a time or were beaten with batons. Meanwhile, the Houthis have employed child soldiers and indiscriminately laid mines in the conflict.

The Houthis previously have detained four other UN staffers—two in 2021 and another two in 2023 who still remain held by the militia group. The U.N.’s human rights agency in 2023 called those detentions a “profoundly alarming situation as it reveals a complete disregard for the rule of law.”

The Houthis are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled northern Yemen for 1,000 years until 1 9 62.

a parallel with the sacrifices made during World War II and his country’s current fight.

“This battle is a crossroads,” Zelenskyy said. “A moment where we can now write history the way we need it. Or we can become victims of history as it suits … our enemy.”

Zelenskyy, who spoke in Ukrainian, was frequently interrupted by lawmakers’ applause and cheers. He prompted a standing ovation when he said in French : “Dear France, I thank you for standing by our side as we defend life.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, announced late Thursday that France will provide Ukraine with its Mirage combat aircraft.

Macron has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine. He said in February that putting Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not “ruled out.”

Zelenskyy began a day of meetings in Paris with an official welcome ceremony at the golden-domed Invalides monument, site of Napoleon’s tomb.

During the day, Zelenskyy was due to visit the Nexter arms manufacturer in Versailles, which makes the Caesar self-propelled howitzers that are among the weapons provided by France to Kyiv’s forces. He was also to meet with Macron at the Élys é e Palace.

Zelenskyy’s foreign trips aim to keep Ukraine’s plight in the public eye, secure more military help for its fight against Russia’s invasion and lock in long-term Western support through bilateral alliances.

France and Ukraine in February signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement. Zelenskyy has since signed similar bilateral agreements with many European countries.

GERMANY may purchase 10 additional F-35 fighter jets from United States defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. on top of the 35 units it ordered shortly after Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is looking how to finance the additional order requested by the air force which is likely to cost as much as €2.8 billion ($3 billion), said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not public yet. In 2022, Germany’s ruling coalition decided to buy 35 F-35s including missiles and spare parts for about €10 billion.

Scholz announced on Wednesday that Germany will order an additional

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a military honor ceremony, Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Invalides monument in Paris. AP/SOPHIE GARCIA

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ECB officials get cautious on more rate cuts

EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB)

officials offered wary views on further interest-rate cuts at a time when pay pressures are proving stubborn, with one even raising the prospect that another move won’t materialize.

A day after the Governing Council delivered on its promise to lower rates but revealed a consumerprice forecast that left investors querying where policy is headed next, data showed accelerating wage increases and governors signaled that they’re now back in a watchful phase.

“The central bank needs to make its decisions rather cautiously and not to rush too much with cutting the interest rate,” Estonia’s Madis Muller told Aripaev radio on Friday, while his Irish

colleague, Gabriel Makhlouf, said policymakers don’t know “how fast we’re going to carry on, or if at all.”

The remarks underscore how the aftermath of a bold move to diverge euro-zone monetary policy from the path of the United States Federal Reserve has left the ECB in a tentative and hesitant mood about its next step.

The decision on Thursday was only the second so far by a Groupof-Seven central bank to lower borrowing costs after the Bank of Canada’s move on Wednesday, but

was also easily the most awkward of the two.

ECB President Christine Lagarde unveiled forecasts that showed officials will now take longer to bring inflation back to their 2-percent target, prompting questions from journalists on why she went through with the move.

She fell back on the central bank’s mantra that it will take “data dependent” decisions on a “meeting-by-meeting” basis. Paying full heed to that would preclude clear signals on the next step, an approach hawkish policymakers particularly agree with.

One datapoint they’re focusing on is wages. On Friday, the ECB’s preferred measure showed acceleration at the start of 2024, with compensation per employee rising by 5.1 percent from a year ago in the first quarter, up from a revised 4.9 percent in the previous three months.

“Domestic price pressures remain strong,” Latvian central bank chief Martins K azaks said

in a blog post earlier in the day. “The labor market is tight and unemployment is low, which keeps upward pressure on wages.”

Traders pared wagers on the extent of rate cuts from the ECB, with just 33 basis points seen for the remainder of this year equivalent to one more quarter point move and a one-in-three chance of a further reduction.

Three quarter-point reductions were virtually fully priced as recently as late May. German bonds fell modestly for a second day, sending the 10-year yield two basis points higher to 2.57 percent, which is still below the recent high of 2.71 percent.

Austria’s Robert Holzmann, the sole dissenter against the rate decrease, said on Friday that the move this week was a hawkish cut, meaning that the Governing Council will be “somewhat more cautious in the future.” Many colleagues seem to conform to that description.

“We’re now confident that the

China’s exports grow 7.6% in May, beating expectations

By Zen Soo The Associated Press

HONG KONG China’s exports in May grew at their fastest pace in more than a year despite trade tensions, though imports fell short of analyst expectations, according to customs data released Friday.

Exports jumped 7.6 percent in May from the same month last year to $302.35 billion, rising at the fastest pace since April 2023. Imports rose by 1.8 percent to $219.73 billion, missing estimates of about 4-percent growth.

The uptick in exports is also partly due to a lower base in the same period last year, when exports declined 7.5 percent.

In comparison, exports grew by 1.5 percent in April compared with the same period last year, while April imports rose by 8.4 percent.

The strong exports caused China’s trade surplus to widen to $82.62 billion, up from April’s $72.35 billion.

The growth in exports comes as China faces escalated trade tensions with the United States and Europe. The US is ramping up tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars while Europe is considering levying similar tariffs.

“Foreign tariffs are unlikely to immediately threaten exports; if anything, they may boost exports at the margin as firms speed up shipments to front-run the duties.” said Zichun Huang of Capital Economics in a note.

Huang also said that exports would be supported by a weaker real effective exchange rate.

“Import volumes were little changed last month, but they will probably rise soon, with increased government spending supporting the import-intensive construction sector,” she said.

The 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained the largest destination for Chinese products, with exports to Asean growing 9.7 percent in May year-on-year to $50.83 billion.

Exports to the US grew just 0.2 percent in May compared with the same time last year, while shipments to the European Union declined, slipping 3.9 percent year-on-year.

Steel, automobiles, home appliances and ships were the fastest growing categories of Chinese exports. Automobiles climbed at the fastest rate, with China exporting 569,000 cars at a growth rate of 26.8 percent compared with the same time last year.

China is facing accusations from the US and

Saudi Arabia set for $11.2-B haul from Aramco sale

SAUDI Aramco’s mega stock offering will raise at least $11.2 billion for Riyadh, the biggest such deal globally in about three years that will help fund a multitrillion-dollar push to transform the economy.

The government will sell almost 1.55 billion shares for 27.25 riyals ($7.27) apiece, according to a statement. That’s a 6-percent discount to the stock’s last close before the deal was announced, in line with the average for offers of a similar size over the past decade.

The final price is in the bottom half of a proposed range of 26.70 riyals to 29 riyals. Armaco shares have been under pressure recently, even dropping to their lowest levels in over a year in the days leading up to the massive offer that’s drained liquidity from the Saudi market.

The proceeds will help Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s ambitious plans to revamp the economy with investments including in sports, artificial intelligence, tourism and the desert project of Neom. The kingdom’s budget has been in a deficit for six quarters, and it has raised over $40 billion from local and international markets this year to fill the gap.

Saudi Arabia had demand for all shares on offer in a few hours after the books opened Sunday, with the Aramco’s $124 billion annual dividend emerging as a big draw. The oil giant has increased the payout by more than 60 percent since it listed. Still, the latest deal is priced well below the level of the initial public offering of 32 riyals apiece.

Secondary offerings are rare in the region. Prior deals include Saudi Telecom Co. and Tadawul Group Holding, which operates Riyadh’s stock exchange both priced at a

roughly 10 percent discount.

The deal attracted significant interest from foreign investors, Bloomberg News reported Thursday. It wasn’t immediately clear exactly how much demand came from overseas, but those investors put in enough bids to more than fully cover the offering, people familiar with the matter said.

That’s a turnaround from the firm’s IPO in 2019, when global funds had largely stayed away and left the government reliant on local investors. It had put the spotlight on foreign participation in the current sale, even as the oil market outlook darkens amid strong supply and demand concerns in China.

And while Aramco boasts the world’s biggest dividend, its stock is expensive compared with major Western oil companies.

The sale comes just as oil prices in London slid below $80 a barrel for the first time since February. That’s below the near $100 that Saudi Arabia needs to balance its budget, according to data from the International Monetary Fund.

The Saudi government owns about 82 percent of Aramco, while the Public Investment Fund holds a further 16-percent stake. The kingdom will continue to be the main shareholder after the offering.

SNB Capital is lead manager of the share sale, according to a previous statement. It is also serving as a joint global coordinator along with Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., HSBC Holdings Plc, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley. M. K lein & Co. and Moelis & Co. are independent financial advisers on the offering, according to the statement. Bloomberg News

disinflation process is working,” Makhlouf told Irish radio. “It doesn’t mean, incidentally, that we know how fast we’re going to carry on or if at all because this is the phrase we’ve been using the road is bumpy.’”

While Finnish central bank chief Olli Rehn insisted that inflation is predicted to reach its 2-percent target in the next year, K azaks cautioned that “victory is not yet in hand.”

Bundesbank chief Joachim Nagel said the ECB shouldn’t be “on autopilot” about lowering rates, Slovenia’s Bostjan Vasle repeated that officials won’t precommit to a particular path for borrowing costs, a point echoed by Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel.

Vice President Luis de Guindos told Spanish radio that the Governing Council faces a huge level of uncertainty and will act depending on data and its own forecasts.

“Maintaining optionality is

the European Union of overproducing and flooding overseas markets with cheap electric vehicles. Both have worked to impose tariffs on such vehicles. Meanwhile, China is also concerned that duties imposed on its EVs would reduce exports amid weakening demand at home.

Lynn Song of ING Economics said that should tariffs on Chinese strategic exports and automobiles be aggressive, there is “potential for retaliation and escalation of trade friction.”

“We remain cautious about the trade outlook for the second half of the year and expect its contribution to growth to decline,” Song said in a note.

Factory activity in China slowed more than expected in May, according to an official survey released last week.

The manufacturing purchasing managers index from the China Federation of Logistics

key to successfully steering inflation to its medium-term targeted level,” Christodoulos Patsalides of Cyprus told Bloomberg. That may be so, but officials are already all but excluding a second cut in July, and some also question if such a step would be wise at the following meeting in September, according to people familiar with the matter.

Gediminas Simkus, the Lithuanian central bank chief, declined to offer a view on the July decision when questioned in Vilnius, saying only that the ECB needs “strategic patience” to assess data arriving in the next month or two. If economic trends turn out in with ECB forecasts, “there will be more cuts” but “when, at what speed, what trajectory lets wait and see,” he said. “A level of restriction is still needed,” Simkus said. “When I hear triumphant statements that it’s over, inflation is overcome, I say let’s wait : the road is bumpy.’” Bloomberg News

and Purchasing fell to 49.5 from 50.4 in April on a scale up to 100 where 50 marks the break between expansion and contraction.

China has struggled to bounce back after the Covid-19 pandemic, as it grapples with weaker demand globally after the US Federal Reserve and other central banks raised interest rates to counter inflation. A slump in China’s property sector also is weighing on growth.

China has set a target of around 5 percent for economic growth this year, an ambition that will require more policy support, economists say.

India’s Narendra Modi elected as coalition leader and set to form new government

By Krutika Pathi The Associated Press

NEW Delhi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday was formally elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance coalition, which won the most number of seats in the country’s national election after his political party failed to win a majority on its own.

The 73-year-old leader, who will be sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a rare third term, will now form a coalition government.

Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP has governed India as part of the NDA coalition over the past decade, but this is the first time under his leadership that the party has needed support from its regional allies to form a government.

“This alliance of ours reflects India’s spirit in its true sense,” Modi said after the BJP and coalition members backed him as their prime ministerial candidate. “We were neither defeated nor are we defeated...it was an NDA government in the past, still is and will be,” he added.

Full results from India’s six weeklong election, which began in midApril, were released Wednesday. The BJP won 240 seats, well below the 272 mark needed for a majority in a stunning upset. Together, the parties in the NDA coalition bagged 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament.

Meanwhile Modi’s political challenger, the INDIA alliance led by the

Congress party, put up a strongerthan-expected fight, defying predictions of decline by doubling its strength from the last election to win a total of 232 seats.

Before Modi was formally elected as the NDA leader, local media reported that the two key regional allies which can make or break his coalition government the Telugu Desam Party in southern Andhra Pradesh state and Janata Dal (United) in eastern Bihar state were eyeing posts in important ministries, some of which the BJP have held so far.

On Thursday, the newly emboldened opposition ramped up pressure on Modi and the BJP. In a press conference, the Congress party’s main campaigner Rahul Gandhi demanded a parliamentary investigation into what he called the “biggest stock market scam”, alleging that Modi and other top BJP ministers misled retail investors who ended up losing money.

India’s two main benchmark stock indexes hit new highs on Monday after exit polls predicted a BJP sweep, but dropped sharply on Tuesday to close down more than 5 percent as early vote figures trickled in.

In television interviews last month, Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah said the markets would surge when results were declared on June 4.

The BJP denied Gandhi’s accusations of a ploy between the party and exit pollsters, and accused the Congress leader of trying to discourage investors.

INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters as he arrives at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters after the election results were announced, in New Delhi, India, June 4, 2024. AP/MANISH SWARUP

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