BusinessMirror June 10, 2023

Govt sets ‘science-driven’ rehab of oil spill-hit communities

‘BREATHE, REFRESH AND RESTART’

By Rex Anthony Naval

In line with the President’s guidance for a whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the consequences of disasters, we are undertaking this multi-sector scientific conference so that the pool of expertise on this subject matter can be tapped to ensure that our way forward in rehabilitation and recovery is effective,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno said in a briefing on June 1.

The OCD chief, who also chairs the National Task Force on Oil Spill Management, said the scientific conference is scheduled this month, and will focus on recovery initiatives that would be truly helpful to the affected communities in “terms of economy, the environment and sustainability.”

E xpected to participate in the conference are a number of scientific agencies, academic institutions, relevant government departments, local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholder organizations.

The aim of the conference is to facilitate the conduct of a postdisaster need assessment (PDNA) to determine the effects and impacts of the oil spill incident on the affected areas, including general long-term impacts on agriculture (fisheries), the marine environment, tourism and livelihood, among others,” the OCD chief stressed.

End of siphoning ops

ALSO, Nepomuceno said they are looking forward to the conclusion

of siphoning operations by the dynamic support vessel Fire Opal which arrived in Oriental Mindoro to perform its task on May 28.

The ship was chartered by Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp.

It left Singapore on May 19 and arrived at Subic Freeport Zone

on May 26 before starting operations in Oriental Mindoro.

The entire siphoning operation is expected to cover between 20 and 30 days.

The vessel will be used for oil extraction operations, transferring of oily waste to a tanker, and disposal of the collected oil.

MT Princess Empress was loaded with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on February 28.

There are conflicting reports on how much MT Princess Empress was insured for, and whether the amount is enough to cover the ongoing cleanup and rehabilitation of affected communities.

Earlier reports placed it at around $1 billion, while some placed it at $284 million.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said about 120,000 to 240,000 liters of oil are expected to be extracted by Fire Opal

We are looking forward to the conclusion of the siphoning operations, for this will herald the conduct of the scientific conference.

The conference will jumpstart the conduct of the PDNA and recovery planning by recommending valuation methods of affected environmental [assets],”OCD deputy administrator for operations, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, said.

The outputs of the conference will serve as the basis for the formulation of a comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan for the affected areas,” he added.

83.74% of affected coastlines cleaned

IN the June 1 meeting, the PCG also reported that of the 79.33 km (83.74 percent) of affected coastlines, 66.433 km had been acceptably cleaned with only 12.89 km (16.26 percent) remaining for cleanup.

The ongoing cleanup operations yielded 44,656.30 liters of oily water mixture, 10,708 sacks, 997 drums, 119 pails, and 648 onetonner bags of oil-contaminated sand/debris and oily waste from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Region 6.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also reported the disbursement of more than P611 million worth of assistance in the form of family food packs, non-food items, emergency cash transfers, and cash-forwork to the affected communities.

The total assistance provided by all relevant agencies amounts to more than P476 million.

To date, the oil spill has left P58,137,124 worth of damages and losses to fisheries, affected more than 27,500 fisherfolk, and caused 15 local government units to declare a state of calamity.

More than 42,400 families had been affected coming from the 107 areas of Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique and Batangas. Drinking water resources check

The OCD said that surveillance of all drinking water resources and chemical hazards in areas affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro province is ongoing.

Th is is part of the whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the oil spill that affected a large number of communities in Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces to ensure that the health of residents in affected communities will not be severely impacted.

To continuously caution the communities on the dangers

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ASCIENTIFIC approach will be adopted to ensure the rehabilitation of areas and communities affected by the oil spill caused by the sinking of the MT Princess Empress in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on February 28.

How wildfire smoke impacts human health

By Kendra Pierre-Louis, Zahra Hirji & Todd Woody Bloomberg News

More than 400 fires are currently burning in the country, leading to smoke conditions across Canada and in much of the US. As of Wednesday afternoon, New York City had some of the worst air pollution of any city in the world.

Wildfire exposure is bad for the human body no matter how healthy a person is or how long they’re exposed to it, and public health officials across the US and Canada are urging people to take precautions.

“Wildfire smoke absolutely puts your health at risk,” said Kimberly Humphrey, an emergency physician from Australia who is now a climate change and human health fellow at Harvard University.

Th at risk is increasing as climate change makes wildfires more extreme and more frequent. One study published this year in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that 37 percent of forest areas burned in the western US and southwestern Canada could be traced back to the CO2 emissions of 88 major fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers.

Here’s what you need to know about how wildfire smoke impacts human health.

The effects of smoke inhalation

WILDFIRE smoke is harmful primarily because it contains airborne particulate matter known as PM2.5. (The smallest grain of sand is still 40 times larger than a PM2.5 particle.) This type of air pollution is also emitted when cars burn gasoline or power plants burn coal for fuel, but is particularly acute during wildfires. The 2020 California fires that turned the sky an apocalyptic shade of orange emitted more than 1 million metric tons of PM2.5, a 2,360-percent increase from the previous year, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

There’s also “emerging research that the particles from wildfire smoke are more toxic than the particles that come out of, for example, tailpipes,” said Kristie Ebi, a climate and health professor at the University of Washington.

Short-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution can trigger myriad health problems, including but not limited to: coughing, stinging eyes, a scratchy throat, a runny nose, chest pain, headaches, asthma attacks, fatigue, wheezing and breathing difficulties, according

to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More serious impacts to the lungs and heart are also possible. There’s evidence that even short-term exposure to high levels of wildfire smoke can cause reduction in lung function, even in really healthy people,” Humphrey said. Exposure can also have an effect on heart health, as the particles can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation leading to heart attack and stroke. Humphrey said exposure can “worsen the health of people who have things like diabetes as well.”

Wildfire smoke also increases risks from Covid-19. One Harvard University study estimated that PM2.5 emissions from the 2020 wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington State were associated with an 11.7-percent increase in Covid cases, and an 8.4-percent increase in Covid deaths.

Risks of long-term exposure

HEALTH repercussions from wildfire air pollution get worse over time. Researchers have estimated that each week of exposure to PM2.5 from the 2020 wildfires in Washington state, for example, was associated with nearly 90 excess deaths.

“As climate change results in longer fire seasons, there is increasing evidence that wildfire episodes significantly contribute to the long-term PM2.5 population exposures,” researchers concluded in the 2021 study, published in the journal GeoHealth

A 2022 review in The Journal of Climate Change and Health found that long-term effects of wildfire PM2.5 exposure may include higher risks of respiratory disease and cancer (though researchers noted that there are too few studies to draw definitive conclusions).

Separate research into wildfires in California identified an increase in emergency-room visits. CARB estimates that PM2.5 from all sources is responsible for 5,400 premature deaths and 2,800 hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in California each year. PM2.5 was also associated with about 6,700 asthma-related hospital emergency room visits.

Continued from A1

of the spill, the Department of Health (DOH) has been conducting surveillance of drinking water resources and exposed individuals to chemical hazards along with the release of public health advisories,” Alejandro said.

Health assessments will continue to be conducted by the Centers for Health Development on the affected population, along with the monitoring of the latest situation, status of response operations, and possible assistance from the DOH Central Office,” Alejandro said. Raps vs ‘conspirators’ filed

AS this developed, the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division on June 6 filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice against 35 individuals, including PCG personnel and the owners of the sunken MT Princess Empress that caused a massive oil spill that threatened the waters off Oriental Mindoro and other nearby provinces.

C harged with falsification of the certificate of public convenience (CPC) are seven incorporators and directors of RDC Reield Marine Services Company, the

ing preterm babies who were small, babies that had diseased placentas,” she told Bloomberg Green. She has since witnessed many babies and kids with breathing difficulties. Wildfire exposure may even hurt children’s performance in school. Researchers looked at the possible link between wildfire smoke exposure and school performance in the US using standardized test scores from 2009-2016 for nearly 12,000 school districts. Compared to a school year with no smoke, cumulative smoke exposure may have reduced student test scores by roughly 0.15 percent of a standard deviation, according to their work published in the journal Nature in 2022.

How to stay safe

“ People may experience a progressive decline in how well their lungs work over many seasons,” Humphrey said. “So there is some evidence that those effects will build up if somebody is repeatedly or continuously exposed to wildfire smoke.”

How wildfire smoke impacts kids PREGNANT people, babies and young children should avoid wildfire exposure as much as possible, health professionals warn. Babies and young kids are at higher risk because their bodies aren’t fully developed, as are pregnant people because their bodies are already in overdrive. Wildfire smoke exposure can lead to preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation), low birth weight and impaired lung function in babies, among other health risks.

According to a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Research, which looked at birth outcomes in California between 2006 and 2012, each additional day of exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm birth. The same study estimates that as many as 7,000 additional preterm births in California may be attributable to wildfire smoke exposure during the period studied. Preterm babies have a greater risk of experiencing respiratory complications, developmental issues and death.

Rebecca McGowan, a doctor in Albury, Australia, witnessed this firsthand during the 2019 and 2020 bushfire season. “What was alarming to me is that I was looking after women at birth who were deliver-

THE safest thing to do is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, guidance that is especially salient for young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised. You should also limit how much time your pets are spending outdoors (though plants are fine to keep outside), and avoid any strenuous outdoor activity.

K eep tabs on air quality by monitoring what’s known as Air Quality Index (AQI)—available in many weather apps or online. An AQI around 50 is considered healthy, while sensitive and vulnerable people might notice ill effects at levels as low as 51. Levels at 150 and above are considered unhealthy for all groups.

There’s a lot of resources available to people now to be aware of their air quality. So the Weather App and many other apps will give you an indication of what the air quality is like in your area,” said Humphrey. “Any level of wildfire smoke that is above the green level that we see in a lot of apps could potentially impact your health.”

To improve indoor air quality, use a high-quality air filter such as a HEPA or a MERV13 filter. If filters are in short supply locally, a DIY solution is a Corsi-Rosenthal box made from box fans and air filters. If you have central air-conditioning, CARB recommends setting it to recirculate air instead of bringing air in from the outside. Most window AC units do this as a matter of course, but some newer models are equipped with a fresh air setting. Double-check that your model doesn’t bring in outside air, and if it does, set it to recirculate. If you do have to go outside, wear a mask—preferably an N95, KF94, or KN95, which are better at filtering out particulate matter. Health experts recommend masking even in cars and on public transportation.

refresh and restart’

company that owned the sunken oil tanker, the captain of the MT Princess Empress, along with six crew members and 19 personnel from the PCG of varying ranks.

“Issuance of an authenticated form, a document purporting to be a copy of an original document when no such original exists. RDC Reield directors are presumed to be the authors of the falsified document as they were in possession of the same and made use of the document,” DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said.

He also pointed out that the owners of the sunken ship benefitted from the use of the falsified document.

The captain of the MT Princess Empress was liable as he was considered a general agent of the ship owner.

A s for the PCG personnel, Clavano said they were found liable “as they conduct pre-departure inspections for domestic oil tankers prior to voyage, and first and foremost on their checklist is to check the validity of the CPC.”

In line with this, a director and a regional head of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in Region 5, along with two officials of RDC Reield, were charged

with falsification of construction certificate and tonnage measurement; certificate of ownership; and certificate of Philippine registry.

“ The officials from Marina and RDC Reield Marine Services Inc. allegedly conspired for the purpose of illegally registering the MT Princess Empress with false documents,” Clavano explained.

Likewise, two officials of RDC Reield were charged with perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.

A mong the documents allegedly perjured were the supporting documents to apply for a tonnage measurement certificate.

The two company officials, through the falsified construction certificate, and the perjured affidavit of ownership and builder’s certificate, obtained the tonnage measurement certificate signed by the engineers of Marina. The certificate was issued in favor of MT Princess Empress,” the DOJ spokesperson pointed out.

C lavano said Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Jennifer Cruz also stood as a complainant in the case aside from the NBI.

Pola was among the towns that sustained the most damage from the oil spill.

MILLIONS of people awoke this week to hazy skies and a dim red sun, its light filtered through smoke released by one of Canada’s worst, and earliest, wildfire seasons on record.

‘Breathe,

THE sun rises over the lower Manhattan skyline as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey, Thursday, June 8, 2023. AP

HALF A MILLION FILIPINOS FIND JOBS IN APRIL–PSA

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE number of jobless Filipinos fell to

2.26 million in April, according to the preliminary results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

O n Friday, PSA said the number of unemployed Filipinos declined by 506,000 in April from the 2.76 million posted a year ago.

O n a month-on-month basis, however, the number of employed Filipinos declined by 160,000 from the 2.42 million recorded in March.

The latest data translates to a 4.5 percent unemployment rate in April, an improvement from the previous year’s 5.7 percent.

To ensure the “continuation” of this trend, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a statement on Friday, “The government affirms its commitment to the unimpeded implementation of economic liberalization reforms and other essential legislation.”

“ These efforts will be complemented by comprehensive collaborations among government entities and society as a whole to enhance the employability and productivity of our work force,” Balisacan added.

Further, the Socioeconomic Planning chief noted the government can “capitalize” on digital technologies to foster innovation, upgrade services, and effectively respond to the needs of the work force.

“Hence, the complete execution of the Philippine Digital Work force Competitiveness Act is also vital for equipping the work force with digital technology skills and fostering innovation,” he said.

Mean while, the number of employed persons went up by 2.43 million to 48.06

million in April from the 45.63 million posted in a year ago.

National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the year-on-year rise in employed persons in April can be attributed to the increase in wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food service activities, more tourists, among others.

“S o this is comparing April 2022 versus April 2023 so basically nakikita naman dito ‘yung opening of the economy, more tourists, people are going out that’s why ang ang isa sa mga malalaking sources of employment ayaccommodation and food service activities plus ‘yung ating transportation so those are the areas kung saan may pagtaas tayo sa employed persons,” Mapa said on Friday.

PSA da ta showed the top five major industries with the largest annual increase in employment in April were: wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; accommodation and food service activities; administrative and support service activities; and transportation and storage.

In contrast, PSA said the top three major industries with the largest drop in employment were agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, and construction.

PSA said w age and salary workers continued to account for the largest share of employed persons at 61.5 percent in April. This was followed by self-employed persons without any paid employee at 27.5 percent and unpaid family workers at 8.5 percent.

Employers in their own family-operated farm or business had the lowest share at 2.5 percent.

Among w age and salary workers, employed persons in private establishments made up 47.6 percent of the total employed, followed by employed in government or government-controlled corporations with 9.2 percent share.

Nearly 5-decade PHL, China ties robust despite WPS row–PBBM

BOUND by mutual interests, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the country and China are expected to continue their almost five-decade vibrant bilateral relations despite their territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“N ow, of course, as to the differences between China and the Philippines, certainly they exist but it is not something that will define our relationship,” Marcos told reporters in an interview after attending the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) Award Ceremony at the Manila Hotel.

The President said the previous administrations of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo R. Duterte have already laid down the foundation, which includes the creation of the APPCU, for the country’s amicable relation with China.

“ Time and again, we have proven that it is in our mutual interest to preserve the special rapport and kindred spirit that we have established and nurtured throughout our history,” Marcos said.

He noted this has led to regional peace and a vibrant trade between the two countries.

“The figures say it all. Following centuries old trade history, China has emerged as our top partner in terms of total trade: ranking first as our import source; and second as our export destination. China and its Special Administrative Regions are also second home

PBBM admin retains GDP forecast, narrows full-year inflation outlook

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

THE administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has maintained its economic growth outlook of 6 percent to 7 percent for this year despite a “narrowed” full-year inflation forecast as it took into account the detrimental effects of El Niño and global economic slowdown.

“We have maintained our growth assumptions at 6.0 to 7.0 percent for 2023 and 6.5 to 8.0 percent for 2024 to 2028, taking into account both domestic and external risks,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, who chairs the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), said in a news briefing on Friday.

“These projections have already taken into account the risks posed by El Niño and other natural disasters, global trade tensions, and value chain disruptions, among other factors,” Pangandaman added.

The DBCC revised downward the upper end of its inflation estimate for this year to 6 percent from its earlier forecast of 7 percent.

This now brings the economic managers’ inflation forecast for 2023 between 5 percent to 6 percent.

The economic managers revised their inflation forecast due to the “consistent” slowdown in the rate of increase of the prices of goods and services in the first four months of the year, Pangandaman explained.

“It is expected that the inflation rate will return to the target range of 2.0 to 4.0 percent by 2024 and 2028 as the administration, through the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook [IAC-IMO], provides proactive measures to address the primary drivers of inflation,” she said.

“This, together with appropriate monetary policy actions of the BSP, will help ensure a return to the inflation target over the policy horizon,” she added.

Despite improved inflation outlook this year, the economic managers maintained the same economic growth forecast after they took into consideration the confluence of domestic and external factors, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

Balisacan explained that the economic managers recognized that there are still external economic factors like the projected slowdown in global economic growth and the El Niño threat this year.

On the domestic front, Balisacan noted the impact of the “lag effects” of high interest rates on the growth of the economy in the succeeding quarters.

“I think overall, putting all these together, we believe that 6 percent to 7 percent growth is very much manageable,” he said.

The DBCC also revised downward its external trade projections for the country for this year.

The DBCC slashed its export growth forecast to just 1 percent from 3 percent and its import growth outlook to 2 percent from four percent.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. explained that the revision in terms of the export growth forecast factored in latest trade data of the Philippine Statistics Authority as well as the deceleration in key items like semiconductor, coconut, and mineral products due to decline of commodity prices.

Lower import growth was attributed to “moderation” in commodity prices and tepid raw material demand because of weaker manufacturing and export activities, Dakila added.

Nonetheless, DBCC expressed optimism that despite all the headwinds the country would still achieve upper-middle-income status in the next two years.

“The DBCC is confident that the country can withstand these risks and achieve upper-middleincome status in the next two years through the implementation of near- and medium-term strategies, such as ensuring timely and adequate importation, providing preemptive measures to address El Niño, strengthening biosecurity, enhancing agricultural productivity, and pushing for legislative reforms, including the Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Competitiveness and Development Act, among others,” it said.

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) seized some 13,784 vape products worth P4.25 million from non-compliant stores across the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a statement on issued on Thursday, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual reported that as of June 1, 2023, DTI’s monitoring teams monitored 29,167 firms, of which 583 are physical stores and 28,584 are online stores.

O ut of the 583 physical stores monitored, 229 were found compliant to the prohibitions and regulations established by Republic Act No. 11900 or the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulations Act.” Meanwhile, 214 were found to be allegedly noncompliant.

As for the 28,584 online st ores monitored, DTI said only 175 were found to be compliant after “physical validation,” while 28,409 were allegedly non-compliant. The DTI said 26,986 online stores are still undergoing physical validation.

As a result of the monitoring, the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) issued a Notice of Violation (NOV)/Show Cause Order (SCO) to 72 firms. The DTI said it has confiscated 13,784 products from non-compliant stores with a retail value of P4,252,523.

to a substantial number of overseas Filipinos,” Marcos said.

Strengthening that relationship, he said, is now one of the priorities of his administration.

Part of the said effort, he said, was his talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in January for better communications and understanding of fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to address territorial issues.

“We will strive to make it more comprehensive, more strategic, all with a view to advancing the paramount interests of both our nations and our peoples,” Marcos said.

This year’s APPCU Hall of Fame awardees are Former President Duterte and former Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China, Ambassador Carlos Chan.

The awardees for the APPCU Outstanding Contributions are Ambassador Rigoberto D. Tiglao, a columnist at the Manila Times and the former Philippine Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus, and Dr. Jaime T. Cruz, former Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China, Trade and Investments. The awardees for the Major Contributions category are Regina Rosa D. Tecson, the Director of the Satellite Office of Vice President Sarah Duterte in Davao City, and Jose Ong Tajan, the former President of APCU Baguio and also the former chairman of the FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce of Baguio City.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Amid Naia privatization talks, power failure hits T3 for third time in 2023

By Nonie Reyes

ABRIEF power failure hit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from 12:51 p.m. to 1:28 p.m. on Thursday, prompting airline counters to rely on emergency power generators to sustain their operations.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), along with the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), said it is conducting an investigation into the cause of the power failure as of this writing.

The communication lines between Control Tower and the Terminal 3 were likewise affected by the power failure for a

Palace orders NGIs to implement water conservation measures ahead of El Niño

By Samuel P. Medenilla

ALL national government agencies and instrumentalities (NGI) will now be required to reduce their water consumption by 10 percent in ahead of the El Niño threat under a new issuance from Malacañang.

Under his Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 22, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin issued the guidelines for the implementation of water conservation measures for NGIs.

The issuance aims to avert a “looming water crisis” nationwide due to the expected impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

“All national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations and state universities and colleges,

THE Philippine General Minerals Project Inc. (PGMPI) has announced it is ready to undertake mining operations for the sustainable extraction of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

are hereby directed to identify and implement specific, quantifiable and attainable water conservation measures that will result to 10 percent water volume reduction of their respective first quarter [January to March 2023] water consumption,” Bersamin said in his two-page circular. He also encouraged government and private-controlled water service providers (WSP) to implement conservation measures such as, but limited to nonrevenue water management and water pressure management.   MC 22 also instructed the Local Water Utilities Administration, National Water Resources Board, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and private WSPs to regularly submit a monthly supply-demand projection highlighting the likelihood of possible

water supply deficit.

The Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was tasked to implement MC 22.

“The WRMO shall identify strategies towards water conservation, monitor compliance of government agencies and instrumentalities with aforementioned water conservation measures, and provide quarterly updates to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, on the progress thereof,” Bersamin said.

Last month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said El Niño is will start in the third quarter of the year and might persist until the first quarter of 2024.

A ccording to DTI, majority of the firms that have received an SOC/NOV have the following violations: Rule IVRequirements on product packaging; Rule V- Sale of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, their devices, or novel tobacco products; Rule VIRestrictions on product communication, advertisements, and sponsorships; and Rule VIII-Prohibition on the use of nicotine and non-nicotine products in public places.

Meanwhile, as of June 1, DTI said the Adjudication Division of FTEB has already received 74 formal charges, with 73 filed against physical stores and one against an online store.

The trade department said it conducts monitoring across major social media and e-commerce platforms to ensure that minors will not have access to these substances online.

Last June 5, the D TI said Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual issued a letter addressed to two big e-commerce platforms, which the agency did not name.

T he DTI said Pascual ordered these platforms to send an “official explanation” to the DTI concerning recent cases of “deceptive, unfair, fraudulent, and unconscionable online sales practices.”

few minutes but immediately restored after power generators automatically switched on.

This is the third time that NAIA Terminal 3 went powerless, first last January 1 then May 1.

Despite the power failure, however, MIAA said there are no reported flight delays despite the long passenger and forced shutdown of air conditioners at the terminal.

AirAsia Philippines Corporate Communication and Public Affairs chief Steve Dailisan said they immediately shifted their operation control center at the Naia Terminal 4 while waiting for the line power to be restored. The power failure struck amid talks to privatize Naia operations.

After almost three years of research and development in the rehabilitation of mining areas.

PGMPI, in news statement, said it “is thrilled to announce its successful and highly productive meetings with key government officials following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement during the 42nd Asean Summit on May 10, 2023, in Indonesia that the Philippines will be a producer of critical metals and minerals, and not just an exporter of iron ore.”

“As industrialized nations grapple for control of the supply and demand of critical minerals and resources necessary for space and defense technology, the EV industry, nuclear power, and telecommunications, President

Marcos’ announcement is certainly well timed. The Philippines sits on vast natural resources, and more than 3,000 mining operations in the country have left millions of tons of waste materials which, incidentally, PGMPI’s R&D, as well as other companies around the world, have confirmed to contain many of these heavily contested materials,” the PGMPI statement added.

Founded by Lt. General Antonio G. Parlade Jr., former Southern Luzon Commander, along with a group of close associates, PGMPI initially conducted extensive research to delve into the dynamics of the trade war between the US and China, particularly regarding rare earth materials and precious metals. The research, the statement added, “unearthed” a wealth of information on the presence of these critical minerals in waste tailings, both on the surface and underground, as well as millions of tons of ore being shipped out of the country, many

of them finding their way in the reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.

With clear guidance from the then National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., and former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, PGMPI “meticulously explored” methods of harnessing these minerals without causing further harm to the environment.

Supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, PGMPI research involved onshore and underwater surveillance of black sand materials in Cagayan and Albay, ores and tailings from Kalinga to Tawi-Tawi, and even from disaster-ridden mining sites such as Marcopper in Marinduque and Apex Mining in Davao de Oro, where vast quantities of tailings remain stagnant in artificial lakes and ponds, and continue to pose potential risks to low-lying villages and necessitates attention from the Office of C ivil Defense and the Department of National Defense.

We received a report regarding scammers and sellers of defective, fake, and pirated products in e-commerce platforms. I have already issued a letter addressed to two big e-commerce platforms for them to remove unregistered and unlicensed online merchants. Following numerous notifications, they were given 72 hours to explain,” Pascual said.

The trade chief said the DTI is currently undertaking “appropriate” measures to intensify its campaign against these fraudulent sales practices.

“I assure Filipino consumers that we are here to promote and protect their welfare and make sure that these sellers will be made accountable. As we promote the use of e-commerce platforms, we want to make sure that these spaces will be safe for consumers,” Pascual said.

T he DTI said the report it received indicated that several consumers lodged complaints against various online sellers of fake, defective, or undelivered parcels, which the DTI said it is currently acting upon. Andrea E. San Juan

PGMPI gains govt support to be key player PHL mining industry

DTI’s FTEB seizes ₧4.25M worth of illegal vape products in NCR

Saturday, June 10, 2023

End of refund program prompts Meralco to hike June power rate

By Lenie Lectura

THE Manila Electric Company

(Meralco)

will implement a P0.4183 per kilowatt hour (kWh) increase in the electricity rate this June, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P11.9112 per kWh from May’s P11.4929 per kWh.

For residential customers consuming 200 kWh, the adjustment is equivalent to an increase of around P84 in their total electricity bill. This month’s overall rate increase was brought about by the completion of the last distribution-related refund in May equivalent to P0.8656 per kWh for residential customers, the impact of which will be felt in the June bills.

To recall, from March 2021 until May 2023, Meralco implemented four Distribution Rate True-Up (DRTU)

adjustments totaling P48.3 billion which translated to about P1.8009 per kWh refund for residential customers.

“These refunds benefitted Meralco’s customers over the past two years as these helped temper increases in electricity bills at a time of financial distress and uncertainty for many,” Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Office Atty. Jose Ronald V. Valles said.

Despite this, this month’s rate increase was tempered by the generation charge, which went down by P0.4195 per kWh from P7.6697 per kWh in May to P7.2502 per kWh this month due to lower costs from Meralco’s Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Meralco said this month’s generation charge no longer included recovery of deferred generation

cost for the March bills.

Charges from PSAs and IPPs decreased by P0.5871 and P0.5854 per kWh, respectively, mainly due to improved average plant dispatch and lower coal prices.

These mitigated the P2.0187 per kWh increase in Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) charges due to tight supply conditions in Luzon.

The peak demand in May reached 12,431 MW, the highest so far on record. The grid was also placed on yellow and red alerts last May 8. Meralco said high spot prices triggered the imposition of the secondary price cap 28.28 percent of the time, compared to 22.16 percent in April.

The share of PSAs and IPPs to Meralco’s energy requirements during the period went up to 50 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Meanwhile,

WESM energy share was lower at 12 percent. This month’s transmission and other charges registered a net decrease of P0.0278 per kWh. Collection of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) remains suspended until the August billing month in accordance with the ERC resolution extending the collection suspension for another six months starting March 2023.

Pass-through charges for generation and transmission are paid by Meralco to the power suppliers and the grid operator, respectively, while taxes, universal charges, and FIT-All are all remitted to the government.

Meralco’s distribution charge, meanwhile, has not moved since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction for a typical residential customer beginning August 2022.

DMW approves simplified land-based deployment rules

By Samuel P. Medenilla

THE Department of Migrant Workers

(DMW) will soon enforce a one-strike policy for erring recruitment agencies and employers under its simplified land-based deployment policy.

O n Thursday, DMW Secretary Maria

Susan V. Ople signed the department circular for the new rules and regulations on the recruitment and employment of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The issuance, a result of DMW’s stakeholder consultations, updated the 2016 deployment rules of the now defunct Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to “demystify and simplify” its provisions.

F rom 77 pages in the 2016 rules, Ople said they reduced it to just 44 with simplified language using a rights-based approach as well as fair and ethical recruitment principle . She said they opt ed to scrap the threestrike policy in the previous rules since it was being abused by some unscrupulous agencies to avoid sanctions.

Cardinal sins

UNDER the new rules, a recruitment agency may now face the cancellation of its license, which will effectively lead to its closure, if it is found to have committed one of the 20 “cardinal sins.”

The list of serious offences include the deployment of minor or a worker below the minimum age requirement; engaging in acts of gross misrepresentation for the

purpose of license renewal; reprocessing workers through non-existent or erroneous job orders; reprocessing workers using job orders from another agency; engaging in the recruitment or placement of workers in harmful jobs; changing ownership or control of a single proprietorship licensed to engage in overseas employment.

Also list ed as a cardinal sin are: if an official of the recruitment agency becomes a member of the Board of any corporation or partnership engaged in the management of a travel agency; deploying workers with travel documentsa which were not processed by DMW; allowing non-Filipino citizen to head or manage a licensed recruitment agency; allowing foreign recruitment agency, principal, or employer to own and/or participate in the management and/or operations of licensed Philippine recruitment agency; deploying a worker recruited by a foreigner; allowing agents unauthorized by DMW to recruit; charging or collecting placement fees in countries, which prohibit the said practice; passing to the workers fees and costs, which should be chargeable to employers.

Rounding up the so-called recruitmentrelated “mortal sins” are refusing or unreasonably failing to act on any request for aid from workers, which leads to death, abuse or psychological impairment; contract substitution without the approval of DMW; requiring overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to undergo health examinations, seminars, instructions or schooling to a specific institutions,

which may impose additional costs to the applicant; requiring an OFW to avail of loans from a specific institution; engaging in human trafficking; and engaging on graft and corrupt practices.

Permanent ban

DMW Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia noted cancellations of licenses can no longer be reversed. The officials of the erring agency will also be permanently banned from putting up a new recruitment agency.

Recruitmen t rules violations, which are not included in the list, will be deemed light violations, which can result in license suspension lasting six months to one year.

H owever, recidivist recruitment agencies engaged in habitual light infractions can also face license suspension or cancellation, according to Olalia.

D espite the stricter rules, recruitment agencies welcome the reform since it can help in weeding out their erring members.

“It will help ensur e only the good ones [recruitment agencies] will remain, which are for the protection and welfare of our OFWs will remain,” Philippine Employment Agencies & Associates for Corporate Employers in Middle East Inc. (PEACEME) president Arnold Mamaclay said in an interview with reporters.

For her part, Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI) President Raquel Espina-Bracero said the new rules help improve the public image of their sector.

“As an owner of an agency, you will be extra careful with your operations with the

new one-strike regulation. It will also allow us to police our ranks,” Bracero said.

Other provisions

ASIDE from the standardized penalty structure, the rules also contain other provisions, which includes requiring licensed recruitment agencies to employ a full-time and trained Welfare Desk Officer (WEDO) to monitor OFWs abroad.

It also allo ws DMW to regulate the accommodations of recruitment agencies for its workers and extend the validity of licenses for recruitment agencies.

The validity period of provisional licenses is from two years to three years, while the validity of a regular license has been extended to six years from the previous four-year period.

The escrow deposit of recruitment agencies for contract violations of their OFWs has also been increased from P1 million to P1.5 million.

Another reform is the DMW’s shortened process-cycle time from 15 days to seven to 10 days on onsite accreditation and verification in its Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) overseas.

Br acero said they may recommend possible changes in the new rules once it is fully reviewed by their members.

O ple assured they are open to possible amendments in the new rules based on feedback of stakeholders. She said they will also release separate updated deployment rules for sea-based OFWs in the coming months.

THE rocket debris lies on the shorelines of Morong, Bataan shortly after it was towed out of the sea on June 5, 2023. The Philippine Coast Guard is in possession of the debris for investigation. PHOTO COURTESY OF PCG

Fisherman recovers floating rocket debris

AFISHERMAN found what is believed to be a rocket debris floating in the open sea in Bataan this week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Friday.

The PCG said Alvin Menez, a local fisherman, spotted a floating object on June 5, approximately 10 miles off Napot Point, Barangay Nagbalayong in Morong, Bataan.

“The fishermen towed the metal object using their motorized fishing banca all the way until they reached the shoreline at Sitio Samuyao, Barangay Mabayo, Morong, Bataan at about 5 p.m.,” the Coast Guard said.

The debris has Chinese characters imprinted on it.

The PCG Station Bataan is in possession

By Andrea E. San Juan

‘THE 35-percent personal income tax is relatively high. Dapatibaba [It should be lowered],” Mon Abrea, Founding Chairman and Chief Tax Advisor of Asian Consulting Group (ACG), said on Friday.

Abrea said the 35-percent rate should be adjusted...“same with [Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises] CREATE law,” saying that CREATE law lowered the corporate income tax to 25 percent and for small companies to 20 percent. Reducing the personal income tax rate of 35 percent—for those earning P8 million and above—is a way of encouraging voluntary compliance especially of the top taxpayers, Abrea explained.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the CREATE law, the “largest” fiscal stimulus for businesses, is seen to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the grant of a corporate income tax reduction in the country from 30 percent to 20 percent while large corporations also enjoy an immediate reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 30 to 25 percent.

“So I guess the highest rate for personal income tax should be between 20 to 25 percent and that is the world standard. That’s not my personal opinion,” Abrea told reporters in a media briefing on Friday in Makati City.

The Finance department said in December 2022 that majority of taxpayers will receive further personal income tax cuts beginning January 1,2023 pursuant to Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN) law, which, among others, adjusted personal income tax rates, to make the system simpler, fairer, and more efficient.

Individuals with an annual taxable income below P250,000 are still exempted from paying

of the recovered debris for investigation and proper disposition.

Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) warned pilots and seafarers about possible debris from a rocket launch by China.

CAAP said China’s Long March 7 rocket was launched from Wenchang, while PhilSA said the debris may float or wash ashore to nearby coasts of Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales. Late last year, several metal debris were similarly found off Pag-asa Island in Palawan and Occidental Mindoro provinces which officials said were likely to be parts of a Chinese rocket. PNA

personal income taxes under the adjusted tax rates, DOF noted. “ The revised tax schedule beginning January 1, 2023 reduces personal income taxes for those earning P8,000,000 and below, compared to the initial tax cuts for January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022,” the Finance department said in a statement in December 2022. Mean while, DOF also noted that to maintain the “progressivity” of the tax system, the tax rate for individuals earning P8,000,000 and above annually will be maintained at 35 percent.

According to a story by the B usiness M irror in March 2023, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is banking on higher spending by Filipinos to offset the possible reduction in its collection of personal income tax as a result of the second round of income tax reduction under the TRAIN law.

BIR C ommissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said money collected by the bureau from Filipinos’ consumption would be able to compensate for the reduction in their annual income tax filings.

“Hopefully, it will compensate. Effectively, with higher take-home pay, hopefully they will be spending,” Lumagui told reporters in March. “So, consumption tax.”

Under the TRAIN law, the tax rate for individuals earning between P250,000 and P8 million would be slashed further by 2-percentage points to 5-percentage points depending on their tax brackets. The reductions in personal income tax took effect on January 1.

For example, the personal income tax of individuals earning between P250,000 and P400,000 would now be 15 percent of excess over P250,000 from 20 percent of excess over P250,000 before.

Tax expert pitches cut in personal income tax from 35% to 20-25%

Artist Françoise Gilot, acclaimed painter who loved and later left Picasso, is dead at 101

Lapid bill seeks to expand discount, VAT exemption for senior citizens

By Wilnard Bacelonia

By Jocelyn Noveck AP National Writer

NEW YORK—Françoise Gi-

lot, a prolific and acclaimed painter who produced art for well more than a half-century but was nonetheless more famous for her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso—and for leaving him—died Tuesday in New York City, where she had lived for decades. She was 101.

Gilot’s daughter, Aurelia Engel, told The Associated Press her mother had died at Mount Sinai West hospital after suffering both lung and heart problems. “She was an extremely talented artist, and we will be working on her legacy and the incredible paintings and works she is leaving us with,” Engel said.

The French-born Gilot had long made her frustration clear that despite acclaim for her art, which she produced from her teenage years until five years ago, she would still be best known for her relationship with the older Picasso, whom she met in 1943 at age 21, his junior by four decades. The union produced two children—Claude and Paloma Picasso. But unlike the other key women in Picasso’s life—wives or paramours —Gilot eventually walked out.

“He never saw it coming,” Engel said of her mother’s departure. “She was there because she loved him and because she really believed in that incredible passion of art which they both shared. [But] she came as a free, though very, very young, but very independent person.”

Gilot herself told The Guardian newspaper in 2016 that “I was not a prisoner” in the relationship.

“I’d been there of my own will, and I left of my own will,” she said, then 94. “That’s what I told him once, before I left. I said: ‘Watch out, because I came when I wanted to, but I will leave when I want.’ He said, ‘Nobody leaves a man like me.’ I said, ‘We’ll see.’”

Gilot wrote several books, the most famous of which was “Life with Picasso,” written in 1964 with Carlton Lake. An angry Picasso sought unsuccessfully to ban its publication.

“He attacked her in court, and he lost three times,” said Engel, 66, an architect by training who now manages her mother’s archives. But, she said, “after the third loss he called her and said congratulations. He fought it, but at the same time, I think he was proud to have been with a woman who had such guts like he had.”

Born on November 26, 1921, in leafy Neuilly-sur-Seine in suburban Paris, Gilot was an only child.

“She knew at the age of five that she wanted to be a painter,” Engel said. In accordance with her parents’ wishes, she studied law, however, while maintaining art as her true passion. She first exhibited her paintings in 1943.

That was the year she met Picasso, by chance, when she and a friend vis-

ited a restaurant on the Left Bank, amid a gathering that included his then-companion, Dora Maar. “I was 21 and I felt that painting was already my whole life,” she writes in “Life With Picasso.” When Picasso asked Gilot and her friend what they did, the friend responded that they were painters, to which Picasso responded, Gilot writes: “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Girls who look like that can’t be painters.”

The two were invited to visit Picasso in his studio, and the relationship soon began.

Not long after leaving Picasso in 1953, Gilot reunited with a former friend, artist Luc Simon, and married him in 1955. They had a daughter —Engel—and divorced in 1962. In 1970, Gilot married Jonas Salk, the American virologist and researcher famed for his work with the polio vaccine, and began living between California and Paris, and later New York. When he died in 1995, Gilot moved full-time to New York and spent her last years on the Upper West Side.

Her art only increased in value over the years. In 2021 her “Paloma à la Guitare” (1965) sold for $1.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Her work was shown in many prominent museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Her life with Picasso was illustrated in the 1996 movie “Surviving Picasso,” directed by James Ivory.

Simon Shaw, Sotheby’s vice chairman for global fine art, said it had been gratifying to see, in the past decade, Gilot’s paintings “achieve the recognition they truly deserved.”

“To see Françoise as a muse [to Picasso] is to miss the point,” Shaw wrote in an e-mail. “She was established on her course as a painter when first she met Pablo. While her work naturally entered into dialogue with his, Françoise pursued a course fiercely her own—her art, like her character, was filled with color, energy and joy.”

Engel noted that although the relationship with Picasso was clearly a difficult one, it gave her mother a certain freedom from her parents and the constraints of a bourgeois life—and perhaps enabled her to pursue her true dream of being a professional painter, a passion she shared with Picasso above all else.

“They both believed that art was the only thing in life worth doing,” she said. “And she was able to be her true self, even though it was not an easy life with him. But still she was able to be her true self.”

And for Engel, her mother’s key legacy was not only her creativity but also her courage, reflected in her art, which was always changing, never staying safe.

“She was not without fear. But she would always confront her fears and jump in the void and take risks, no matter what,” Engel said.

Senator Lito Lapid, who filed Senate Bill 2169, on Monday said the measure seeks to increase the current 50-percent discount from the current 100 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power and an increase from the previous 30 cubic meters of water consumption for senior citizens.

Lapid also proposes to exempt senior citizens from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) as long as the bill is under their name.

“Many senior citizens are poor and find it challenging to manage and budget their pension, so it is only appropriate to provide and offer them with some relief through VAT exemption and an expanded coverage on the percent discount on water and electricity

consumption,” he explained in a statement.

The lawmaker said the measure is also a way for our society to show gratitude and support to senior citizens who made significant contributions to the country’s economy during their youth.

“Any form of aid, assistance, or support that we can give to senior citizens serves a meaningful gesture to convey our love, affection, and concern for their invaluable contributions to our society,” Lapid said.

The proposed measure would be very beneficial to senior citizens who have no income and are short on expenses for their food, medicine and other basic necessities, he added.

Republic Act 9994 or the Ex-

Two old friends in crisis

WHAT matters is not what life does to you, but rather how you deal with it. This is attributed to the Greek philosopher Epictetus.

I know of two people who came to a crucible point recently and here’s how they responded.

Rollie (not his real name) was an artist, and about 40 years ago we were co-employees in an ad agency. I remember him as a jolly fellow, always making jokes. I’ve lost touch with him but someone who was close to him told me that in recent years, Rollie was feeling distraught, gloomy and heavy-hearted, calling friends and asking, no begging, to be treated out. Nothing can be more pitiful than a person beseeching friends for warmth of company.

Anyway, one or two friends would oblige Rollie, and would fetch him at home and treat him to lunch and coffee. I was told that he seemed truly happy one moment and then agitated and anxious all of a sudden.

It soon became a regular thing and friends began regarding him as a pesky nuisance.

Soon, even his own immediate family found his melancholy unbearable, and would go out on pretended errands to escape his presence, leaving him to brood and glumly watch TV all by his lonesome self.

There is a native expression “ang bigat niyang dalhin,” which would have applied to Rollie in his gloomy state. Everybody felt being sucked into his black hole of depression and avoided him.

By Nick Tayag

WORtH

Then just the other day, I got the news that he passed on. He must have been so forlorn and tired of feeling gloomy, he just gave up. Depressing? Here’s the flip side of my friends-in-crisis story.

Early this year, we learned that

panded Senior Citizens’ Act of 2010 currently limits the application of the 5-percent discount on water and electricity consumption only to senior citizens whose usage does not exceed 100 kWh and 30 cubic meters of water.

Meanwhile, Lapid also filed a bill seeking to introduce three crucial reforms in Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 that would promote the use of renewable energy (RE) technology in homes, and strengthen the net-metering program in the country.

Senate Bill 2138, which Lapid filed on May 23, proposes to remove the 100 kilowatts (kW) threshold for distributed energy system, make the application procedures and the permitting process for the Net Metering Program standardized and expedited, and mandates a parity

Seated on a chair she was all smiles, and warmly welcomed us. There were no tubes up her noses. She was breathing normally as she talked, never gasping for breath. All in all, she looked composed, at peace with herself, eliciting a kind of radiant warm feeling that we found so soothing and calming. Funny, Trina was the sick person and yet we who were supposedly healthy were the ones being consoled by her presence. We went home that day feeling lighthearted and filled with admiration for Trina.

These two contrasting stories bring us to this question: Why do so many elderly folks suddenly become anxious and plunge into deep depression while many others look so ebullient, cheery and full of life even when facing trials in the late stage of their lives?

My answer: It’s a matter of at-

Your attitude determines how you respond to what life deals you.

It is an attitude that is anchored on your spirituality. By spirituality I don’t mean being religious or pious, although that’s one sign of spirituality. It is a belief that we are spiritual beings and that there is something greater than oneself, something more to being human.

A healthy spirituality can help us deal with stress by giving us a sense of peace, purpose, and forgiveness. It often becomes more important in times of emotional stress or illness.

What does our inner self need for a healthy spiritu-

pricing methodology that credits end-users the full retail price of the surplus electricity contributed to the electricity grid.

In a statement on Friday, Lapid said removing the 100-kW threshold will ease the installment of solar panel system from a household to the national grid.

“If we can hasten the installation of residential solar panels to the national grid, our countrymen will have the chance to help address the power crisis in their own little way,” the lawmaker said.

Related to this, SB 2138 also mandates the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to routinely determine the maximum kW capacity for distributed generation while taking into account potential implications on the grid’s reliability and captive consumers’ retail rates. PNA

have devoted it to painting to his heart’s content. Or he could have been a teacher, sharing his artistic skills with young or old people.

Nobody thought of inviting him to a group with a common passion, be it biking, karaoke singing, or mountain climbing or urban farming. Maybe a group on a mission such as climate action education. He could have been asked to be part of the parish lay ministry in his local church.

Trina, on the other hand, nurtured her spiritual life early. As a pianist and music teacher, she imbibed the uplifting power of music and saw the transforming ability of music in her piano students. She is well connected to a community greater than herself. She has Catholic nuns as her friends and being in their company must have helped deepen her spirituality. Then later we found out she recently became part of a religious order as a tertiary member serving God outside the convent.

Thus, Trina possesses the wondrous gifts of inner strength and grace to accept that life has much suffering and joy. She knows her suffering isn’t in vain and instead it’s something she can grow from. There is meaning in her suffering. She also feels one with a community that provides her a great spiritual lift.

Trina (not her real name), a dear lady friend of ours, was diagnosed with cancer in an advanced stage.

After finding out that visits would be allowed, we dropped by their house where she was staying while being treated.

Usually, people with cancer at an advanced stage are bed-ridden and look emaciated, wracked with pain, bald, having difficulty in breathing and so on.

But when we entered her room, what a surprise: Trina looked so different from what we anticipated.

In his book “Search for Meaning,” the famous concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl wrote: “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” More succinctly: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.’”

Each of us needs to feel as though we’re doing something that contributes to the greater good. This can be parenting, serving others, or anything else where we have a hand in making life better for those around us.

Sadly, the late Rollie was not able to latch on to a meaningful pursuit that would have added more life to his last years. As an artist, he could

In contrast, Rollie saw only darkness in the remaining years of his life. His entreaties to be treated to lunch were a call for authentic connection. Avoided by friends who used to patronize and humor him, feeling alone and abandoned, Rollie found no more existential meaning, seeing only a dismal dead-end.

Much like the characters of the play “No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre, he came to the conclusion that he no longer had control over his own existence and the only exit was to put an end to it.

One last important point. Encompassing our spiritual need for meaning, purpose and connection is our need to love and be loved. This is the ultimate wellspring that nourishes our spirituality. To quote Victor Frankl again: “The salvation of man is through love and in love.”

Rollie lacked love. Trina overflows with love. In the words of the poet: “If

MANILA—A 5-percent discount will be granted to senior citizens on the first 150 kilowatt hours of electricity consumption and a minimum of 5-percent discount on their first 50 cubic meters of water consumption if a measure recently filed in the Senate will be signed into law.

love isn’t all, what is?”

my sixty-zen’s

Artist Françoise Gilot poses with her work at a personal art exhibition in Milan on December 21, 1965. Gilot, a prolific and acclaimed painter who produced art for well more than a half-century but was nonetheless more famous for her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso—and for leaving him— died tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York, where she had lived for decades. she was 101. AP Photo

seNAtor Lito Lapid PNA Photo

Mike

Tesda, Social Welfare Dept. tie-up for sustainable livelihood initiative

By Roderick L. Abad

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), commit to provide skills training, livelihood courses and complementary support-program services that will help elevate the socioeconomic status of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and non-4Ps beneficiaries.

Director-General Danilo P. Cruz of Tesda and DSWD chief Rexlon Gatchalian are leading this collaborative effort, as they

recently executed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for their agencies to engage in a sustainable livelihood program for beneficiaries, particularly those from the marginalized sector.

Tesda will allot scholarship slots for beneficiaries, then hold skills training and assessment for identified 4Ps and non-4Ps recipients.

DSWD, on the other hand, will evaluate the beneficiaries’ needed skills, then assess and refer them for skills training and microenterprise development.

Cruz said that Tesda is working with the DSWD, other state agencies and the private sector in helping raise the standard of living of Filipinos, especially the marginalized ones, by extending to them appropriate skills train -

UP, EDCOM II link-up for Angara Fellowship

ing and livelihood programs.

“Rest assured…we will render our utmost support and commitment to ensure the attainment of the goals of this project,” the Tesda chief confirmed, as he noted the partnership is in-line Tesda’s strategies of “Social Equity for Work force Inclusion” and “Poverty Reduction.”

Before this tie-up, Cruz added the agencies already have a longstanding alliance.

Also present during the MOA signing were Tesda deputy directors-general Aniceto Bertiz III and Vidal Villanueva III, as well as other DSWD officials.

In 2021 Tesda Region III, DSWD Region III, and SM Supermalls teamed up to provide employment for the 4Ps beneficiaries in Central Luzon.

As part of their Gender and Development initiatives, Tesda tied up with DSWD in January and trained women in Eastern Visayas on skills considered fit only for men.

Mapúa lists down the best, future-proof jobs for 2023

NOW that numerous artificial intelligence (AI) applications and automation tools are in our midst, it’s unsurprising if job security and career longevity are becoming a recurring topic among employees.

Think tanks like the World Economic Forum and various government agencies have continuously urged workers to upskill, but it’s the sudden rise of AI that has motivated many to learn new skills or shift careers to stay relevant.

To help incoming college students and potential career shifters choose future-ready jobs, Mapúa University has listed down the best jobs for 2023.

Jaja C. Hernaez, Mapúa’s assistant vice president for marketing and admissions, said that Data Science, Game Development and Energy Engineering are the most promising jobs this year. Local and international employers prize these in-demand careers as they fulfill current and future skills gaps. The jobs’ flexibility, agility and scope also ensure they can address the ever-changing demands.

“With [the way work is expected to transform in the future, it is best to earn] a degree that thrives re -

ASOLEMN blessing and formal inauguration was recently held for the University of Santo Tomas-Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center (UST-TTCIC) at the institution’s 40-hectare campus in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

The rites coincided with UST’s 412th foundation anniversary on April 28, 2023.

The innovation center is named after its donor Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong who is chair and founder of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC). He graduated from UST in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He also received a doctorate in Business Administration, honoris causa , from the university in 2018.

In his message, Tan Caktiong expressed his joy over the completion and inauguration of the innovation center and its significance to the UST community, as well as to the future of the Philippines: “This state-of-the-art innovation center in the midst of the UST community is intended to champion innovation and entrepreneurship with [the aim] to benefit not only the university, but also the country and society as a whole.”

He added: “This center can serve as a catalyst for promoting innova -

gardless of the change in demand, mode, and setup. Digitalization and internationalization are two major shifts that industries undergo,” said Hernaez. “The programs Mapúa offers will help produce a pool of professionals with necessary skill sets.”

As industries gear up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), professionals should expect changes at work, such as the heavy use of technology, particularly collaborative intelligence between AI and human employees, an uptick in part-time or independent contractor requirements, and occupations that require lifelong learning. Professionals specializing in Data Science, Game Development and Energy Engineering have been trained to flourish in these scenarios.

Data Science, in particular, is deemed by industry experts as the “21st Century’s sexiest job” due to its unlimited work potential across industries. Data scientists are essential in the finance sector, as they analyze and transform information into key assets. The data boosts algorithms, upping products or processes, and guides business decisions.

Data scientists are much indemand, online learning platform

Coursera said that US-based professionals command about $90,000 to $275,500 yearly depending on experience; while the Indeed job portal stated they received P34,000 a month in the Philippines.

On the other hand, game developers take charge of the entire game development pipeline. These creative, bold, and technically-savvy gaming programmers are sought after by gaming, software and media companies for their computer programming, creative, animation, design and marketing skills. Online recruitment company JobStreet Phils. reported that the average monthly salary for game developers in the US was $115,155 a year. Those in the Philippines received P40,000 to P50,000 monthly.

As economies continue to explore various energy resources, the demand for competent energy engineers has also increased. Energy production and manufacturing companies, as well as local and national government agencies like the Department of Energy, need such professionals to develop and cascade green solutions and lead efforts for efficient energy consumption. Average salary of an energy engineer

in the US is up to $93,788 per year, while it is P33,839 a month in the Philippines, according to Indeed.

Although these three professions are future-ready and financially rewarding, Hernaez cautions that students should still thoroughly evaluate their interests and competencies so that they will truly thrive and enjoy their future careers.

“In choosing a college program, it is important that they assess their capabilities and skills before selecting the best program and school where they think they can nurture and put their skillset to work,” she explained. “The three programs offered at Mapúa allow [such and enable learners to pursue careers] here or overseas, since global industries will continue to require such professionals even in the future.”

Whether students are accepted into Data Science, Game Development, Energy Engineering or any of the class-leading Mapúa undergraduate or postgraduate programs, they can be assured that they are already ahead because of the institutions’ internationally recognized academic curriculum. For more information, visit www.mapua.edu.ph.

foster creativity and collaboration. It will be a place for researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, share knowledge and work together toward a common goal [of] creating a better future.”

THE University of the Philippines and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) have signed a partnership to collaborate on education policy research through the UP President Edgardo J. Angara Fellowship (UPPEJA) on June 6.

Their memorandum of agreement (MOA) includes the awarding of up to 20 research-fellowship grants through UPPEJA for studies supporting EDCOM II’s priorities in governance and finance. These cover topics ranging from highimpact investments to improve learning quality, future-proofing the Filipino work force, digital transformation, decentralization and participatory governance, as well as complementarity between public and private education, among others.

The UPPEJA Fellowship aims to promote high-level policy discussions and research on a wide range of topics that address national development goals and imperatives such as science and technology, economic development, environment and climate change, good governance and communications.

It is open to all interested and qualified faculty, lecturers, professor emeriti and researchers both in the Philippines and overseas. Among the responsibilities of fellows will include presenting their research output; holding lectures, workshops and seminars; as well as engaging other scholars, policymakers and the business community to stimulate discussions on pressing national issues.

The UPPEJA Fellowship Committee is composed of UP President Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, EDCOM 2 standing committee member and former UP president/ chancellor Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman, EDCOM II Advisory Council member Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara who is also an EDCOM II commissioner.

Present during the signing ceremony were Jimenez, Roman, Bautista, EDCOM II executive director Dr. Karol Mark Yee,

IN today’s digital age, reliable and high-speed connectivity has become essential to effective education, as students and teachers need Internet access to engage in various online learning activities and resources.

UP vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Leo DP. Cubillan, EDCOM II partnerships officer Jan Erik Chua, plus UP officials and administrators.

“We thank…UP for its support to EDCOM II. The revival of the UPPEJA Fellowship will significantly boost our efforts in understanding complex challenges, as well as [find]ing creative solutions related to the governance and financing of the education sector,” Dr. Yee said during the MOA signing.

He added: “We are excited and thrilled for what’s in-store for [UPPEJA Fellowship] awardees…Hopefully, we spark lively discussions and thoughtful policy recommendations from the brightest minds in the country.”

“This collaboration is UP’s response to its ideal of ‘Service to the Nation,’” Dr. Roman shared. “We do serve the nation in various ways, but doing policy studies that will hopefully improve the education system in the country will be very impactful.”

The UPPEJA fellowship was established by the UP Board of Regents on September 29, 2008 in honor of the late senator Edgardo J. Angara, who served as UP president from 1981 to 1987, and concurrent UP Diliman chancellor from 1982 to 1983.

The former lawmaker was also known for his contributions to Philippine education, as he served as the chairperson of the First Congressional Commission on Education in 1990, which was credited with a number of pioneering reforms in the education sector, including its “trifocalization,” and the “Free Higher Education Act.”

Past awardees of the fellowship include Raul V. Fabella (2011), Raul P. Pangalangan (2011), Ramon Pedro Paterno (2011), Gerardo P. Sicat (2011), Herman Joseph Kraft (2013), Clarissa C. David (2015), Stella Luz A. Quimbo (2015), Caesar A. Saloma (2015), Lucia P. Tangi (2015), and Aileen San Pablo Baviera† (2015).

The UPPEJA Fellowship will release a call for applications within the month.

ingful education and supports the development of critical digital literacy skills necessary for 21st Century success.

tion that fosters connection, empathy and compassion…I am very excited to see the impact it can have on many people’s lives and well-being.”

Innovation for a better future TAN CAKTIONG has always been passionate on innovation and continuous learning, evident in the way he steered JFC from a single-brand firm into one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, with 16 brands operating over 6,500 stores across 34 countries.

“I am very thrilled of how this center perfectly aligns with my ardent belief in the incessant thirst for continuous learning and dreaming big—all the more so, as the pace of change in the world is increasingly becoming more rapid,” the JFC

founder remarked. “Being unable to adapt can put in question one’s relevance and render one’s knowledge, skills, and even entire businesses obsolete.”

He continued: “Innovation is not only an engine for economic growth, but also a tool for social transformation. As we build back better from the pandemic, this center is in a remarkable position to harness the power of science and entrepreneurship in developing products and processes that can promote food security and improve livelihoods, especially in… rural areas.”

Partnership for nation-building

Fr. Ang furthered: “The various laboratories, workshops, and workspaces in this building have been carefully planned to support a wide range of research and innovation activities, whether you’re a scientist working on a breakthrough discovery, an engineer developing a new technology, or an entrepreneur launching a startup. This center will provide you with resources and support our stakeholders need to succeed.”

UST held the UST-TTCIC groundbreaking ceremony in December 2020. In September 2022, UST laid down its 15-year road map for the center.

“The innovation center is a tangible manifestation of our shared commitment, common values and vision,” Tan Caktiong said of the partnership with UST. “We get an opportunity to nurture the next generation of leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs…In so doing, we will continue to shape the future of our country.”

But many schools in underserved areas still struggle with connectivity issues. To address this challenge, Globe is supporting the Department of Education’s (DepEd) MATATAG Agenda, which aims to improve the delivery of basic education facilities and services in far-flung places in the country.

The telco firm recently donated 100 Home Prepaid WiFi units to DepEd. These were distributed to various schools in Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Globe Home Prepaid WiFi offers budget-friendly yet fast and reliable internet access. By bringing technology and the Internet closer to teachers and students, Globe is helping facilitate better and more efficient learning.

High-speed Internet connectivity allows teachers and students to access digital textbooks and multimedia learning resources, as well as engage in collaborative web-based activities. The online linkage provides students with a more comprehensive and mean -

“Globe hopes to contribute to the achievement of the MATATAG Agenda and make a positive impact on the lives of students and teachers in CAR and Region 1,” said Globe Group chief sustainability and corporate communications officer Yoly Crisanto. “We are committed to continuing…efforts to improve Internet connectivity in schools across the Philippines and provide quality education for all.”

The MATATAG Agenda has four critical components: making the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready citizens, accelerating the delivery of basic education facilities and services, giving support to teachers to teach better, as well as strengthening partnerships and collaborations of the education sector with other sectors.

Globe’s involvement in the DepEd program shows its dedication to ensure that every student has an equal chance to succeed, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. Through its efforts of enhancing Internet connectivity in schools, the telco helps create more chances for students to access quality education and develop critical digital literacy skills.

TWO government agencies are set to provide capacitybuilding interventions aimed at improving poor Filipinos’ chances of landing gainful employment.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL Danilo P. Cruz signs the MOA for the joint sustainable livelihood program with DSWD.

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE BIñAN CElEBr ATEs 13TH PuTo lATIK FEsTIVAl

By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

Photos by Bernard Testa

“If there’s ‘revenge travel,’ this is our ‘revenge festival,’” Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila, Jr. told the media during the opening ceremony of the nine-day festivity, which started from May 15 to 23.

According to him, the festivity did not only showcase the “beauty, unity and skills” of Biñanenses, but it also highlighted the “transformation of the city” through the years.

“There may be many challenges still, but with the help of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Congresswoman Marlyn ‘Le’ Alonte-Naguiat and Vice Mayor Angelo ‘Gel’ Alonte, I can see the transformation and transition will be even better,” he said.

“We may have witnessed that the primary movers of Puto Latik Festival were the local government and the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office [BCHATO], but we also see the involvement of the people that’s very important,” he added.

This, in turn, resulted to the revelry’s success, as shown in the massive turnout of the people who came and see live the various activities lined up all throughout its duration.

Without citing the exact figures, BCHATO Head Bryan Jayson “BJ” Borja was positive that they have met,

if not surpassed, their target number of visitors for this year’s fair.

“The arrival of tourists last year, if I’m not mistaken, was at 45,000,” he said of the total volume of participation in their previous hybrid event.

“Because this year’s edition runs for nine days, hopefully, we can exceed that. I would be very happy if it’s at least 46,000.”

Such estimate is a big help to achieve Biñan’s goal of welcoming “half-a-million” tourists by the end of 2023, per Mayor Dimaguila.

“We want to improve more on the numbers, not only of the locals, but also visitors from our neighboring cities and municipalities and even abroad,” he emphasized.

Origin of festivity

SINCE its inception in 2010, the Puto Latik Festival has become the source of pride of the City of Biñan. People within and outside the province of Laguna looks forward to it every year to see the vast culture and traditions of the so-called “City of Life.”

True to its name, the festivity lauds and fosters its very own Puto Biñan and folk war dance, popularly known as “maglalatik,” dedicated and offered to San Isidro Labrador, the

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE M

patron saint of farmers and the local government unit (LGU).

Originally, it was observed every first week of February. But because the city was formerly called the Hacienda de San Isidro Labrador de Biñan during the Spanish regime, it is but appropriate to have it in connection to agriculture. Thus, the festival was moved to the feast day of the religious icon, which falls every 15th day of May.

Event highlights

NOT veering away from its tradition, the 13th Puto Latik Festival, themed “Makiisa, Makisaya, Makisayaw,” started with a holy rite to pray for its success through the Karakol ng Reyna ng Biñan, a symbolic visit of the image of the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (declared as the Honorary Queen of Biñan through City Resolution 19-2018) to the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Church, the city’s mother church, in Barangay Poblacion.

This was followed by the Misang Bayan. Immediately after, the city’s top officials called the “Big Three”— Mayor Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Alonte and Congresswoman Alonte-Naguiat—led the grand opening at the newly-opened Plaza Rizal.

In his keynote speech, the local chief executive shared the initiatives and plans of the LGU to strengthen the local tourism industry by way of reviving the rich culture and heritage of Biñan.

The kick off day started to spark the interest for the entire festival with the inter-community costume, drum beating and street dance parades and competitions. With the creatively designed outfit worn by its representative, Barangay Canlalay achieved a back-to-back win for the costume contest. Tribo Magayon’s upbeat performance earned for it the champion -

ship title of the drum beating category, as Barangay Dela Paz won the street dance search.

Other talents of Biñanenses were feted, with the grand winners in their respective competitions: Jericho Apil of Barangay Canlalay for the Singing Idol; Barangay Santo Tomas, Land Float; Arvin Rallos, Flair Challenge; Barangay Santo Domingo, Cook-Off Challenge; and Raw Blox, Barangay Langkiwa, Modern Dance Showdown.

The City of Life Awards were given to Barangay Mamplasan as the Top

1 Most Business-Friendly Barangay Award. Outstanding companies were also accorded with the recognition for their exemplary accomplishments and contributions to the city’s economic growth and development.

Not to be ignored, of course, were the beauty and intelligence of its people. After going through stringent trainings, workshops, community engagements and various activities, Carlos Alberto Tipon of Barangay Dela Paz and his equally dashing and smart female counterpart Angela Meygan Muramatsu of Barangay San Francisco were crowned Mister and Miss Biñan 2023. For the LGBTQ Plus sector, Billy Jones Narvaez of Barangay Malaban was named the Miss Biñan Gay Queen 2023. They will serve as the city’s tourism ambassadors during their reigns.

Overall, the Puto Latik Festival overall champion was Barangay Dela Paz. This was followed by barangays Santo Domingo, Malaban, Canlalay, and Langkiwa, accordingly. Athletic and wellness activities were held to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie. For entertainment, there were open cinema and arts concert featuring all the groups under the Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts Inc. Learning about the local culture was brought about by a forum.

Iconic art museum remains a must-visit in new location

Story & photos

by Benjamin Locsin Layug

One of my regrets was I never got to visit the old Metropolitan Museum of Manila, an art museum that exhibits local and international contemporary art, that was formerly located in a building designed by Gabriel Formoso. Located within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Complex along Roxas Boulevard in the Malate d istrict of M anila, it billed itself as the country’s premier museum for modern and contemporary visual arts by local and international artists. Fret not, for though this building is now permanently closed, the museum has just transferred to a new location.

The Met first opened its doors in 1976 with an initial exhibit of international artists to expose Filipinos to contemporary visual works in other cultures. The first exhibit showcased 105 artworks, in various media, from the Brooklyn Museum and other American museums and galleries. Partly subsidized by the BSP, the museum’s administration was entrusted, in 1979, to the Metropolitan Museum of

Manila Foundation. By 1986, its focus shifted to local works, extending its reach to more common people by offering bilingual exhibition texts and developing several outreach educational programs like workshops and symposia, thereby promoting local pride and identity. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic and lockdown, the museum quickly transitioned its exhibitions and workshops online, with successful virtual exhibition openings and live conferences. At the same time, the famed institution was also gearing for another transition, arranged and made possible by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Joselito Y. Campos Jr.

In the last few decades, the nearby important galleries and hangouts in Manila have closed down, moving to Makati and, later, to Taguig, plus the original home of 45 years was already deemed inaccessible by many. Thus, the foundation decided to leave and move the museum to its new location in Bonifacio Global City, an emerging cultural hub in Taguig City, as an integral part of the office and commercial building of the Mariano K. Tan Center. The venue is

near the sports park Track 30th and the High Street commercial center.

Fully opened to the public in February 2023, it also got a new nickname—the short, catchy, and easily recognizable The M, plus a new logo to better herald the beginning of a new era for the institution. Prior to its opening, it launched a preview of the new spaces with three exhibitions—“Ronald Ventura: Quick Turns on Hyper Highways,””Korea: A Land of Hats (presented in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines and the Coreana Cosmetics Museum) and “The Hat of the Matter” (supported by Bench, a global clothing brand).

Its brand new, state-of-the-art 3,000sq-m space, plus an outdoor area for installations, was designed by the Manila-born, Brooklyn-based Filipino-Columbian architect Carlos Arnaiz. The entrance of the museum is accessed through an open pedestrian walkway that leads to the bustling and often busy Bonifacio High Street area of shops and dining places. n o w with access to more foot traffic, the museum will now be introduced to a new audience, thus reinforcing its philosophy of “Art for All.”

As of this writing, the “Ronald Ventura:

Quick Turns on Hyper Highways,” at the ground floor, is still ongoing. Upon entering the third floor, you are greeted by “Anito,” a towering 8-ft. high aluminum artwork, in rust finish, by the late Arturo Luz that took 8 people to transport into the space where it stands. There are three ongoing exhibits there.

“Plazas in the Philippines: Places of Memory, Places of the Heart,” curated by landscape architect and urban planner Paulo G. Alcazaren, highlights 16 plazas across the Philippines in celebration of their role as the beating heart of many a town and city.

The “Jefre: Points of Origin” e x hibit, the first solo museum show of USA-based Filipino-American artist Jefre in the country, is a celebration of the monumentality of the artist’s accomplishments, and a way of connecting his two facets, his two homes: that of his origins and the home of his American dream.

The “Sounds of Blackness” e x hibition, a powerful group exhibition curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah, brings together a diverse group of visual artists from the African Diaspora whose practices articulate a multiplicity of ideas and perspectives through

Besides the amusement and fun it brought to the public, the city government extended various services to the public. These include a jobs fair and different missions held by the respective offices of Biñan’s top officials. The Tatak Gel Caravan provided free haircut, manicure, pedicure, eye check-up, bunot and dental check-up. The Alagang Len Caravan gave free Tesda trainings, pneumococcal vaccine, blood chemistry testing, and Alagang Len Card. Serbisyong Arman Caravan conducted medical missions and also legal services.

“So technically we are bringing down our services to the constituents. Like now, more than 2,000 have been already given free cataract operations. This and other initiatives are continuous. We will also launch soon our other projects, such as the new Biñan City Hospital, City Jail, and Cultural Center. We will also constantly improve out public markets and build more schools, among others,” Mayor Dimaguila bared.

Concluding the nine-day festivity with a bang were the grandiose religious parade of Santacruzan and the Pistang Intsik. With the strong Chinese traders’ roots in Biñan, the latter celebrates the legacy of its Chinese communities whose pivotal role helped create the distinct  identity of both of the town and of its people.

“Unfortunately, they have dispersed and migrated to other parts of the country. So this long-standing tradition has slowly died down. So we looked at significant date. Hence, we open the festival with Pistang Bayan and close it with Pistang Intsik. It’s our way of helping the tradition of Pistang Intsik revived,” Borja explained.

With another tremendous success of this annual affair, it is yet expected to bring more laurels, adding to its roster of accolades, such as the Best

Tourism Events in the Philippines under the Best Tourism Event Festival Category (city level) in 2018, 2019 and 2022 from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines-Department of Tourism Pearl Awards, and the distinction for the City of Biñan as the Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Laguna for Culture and Tourism 2022 by the Provincial Government.  “Festivals and these kinds of activities ignite the feelings of pride of people of their place and own identity. We hope that Biñanenses will own the festival because it is truly embedded in our culture and history,” he said.

Proud of the milestones of this yearly event, Mayor Dimaguila promised to bring more success in the coming years and appealed for its continuity to his predecessor.

“The name of the Puto Latik Festival should never change every time there’s a new administration,” he said.

“That’s why I think it’s good to have ‘Transformation’ and ‘Transition’ as the themes of next two Puto Latik Festivals under my term.”

Believing in the triumphs of the festivity for giving honors to the city, Vice Mayor Alonte, on his part, ensured for its continuity, as well as the other endeavors of the incumbent leadership if given the chance to lead the City of Biñan in the future. He said: “We also need to add more programs for the benefit of our constituents.”

Appreciative of the participation of the local government and the local residents, Mayor Dimaguila is positive that the two remaining years of his tenure service would be the best years of his administration.

“And that would improve more in the coming years because in the City of Biñan, the people are reliable,” he stressed.

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

THREE years after the Covid-19 pandemic, Biñan’s Puto Latik Festival has just returned, celebrating the city’s rich culture and heritage while giving thanks to the blessings it receives, which remain abundant despite the many other headwinds nowadays.

Julia Barretto returns to romcom

Etiqa teams up with UBX to offer pioneering ‘Insure Now, Pay Later’

BY RODERICK L. ABAD Contributor

INSURETECH advocate Etiqa Philippines has tied up with open finance platform provider UBX to offer insurers an alternative payment of premiums in a more flexible manner to cope up with the increasing cost of living and credit interest rates.

Inflation rate in the Philippines reached 8.6 percent in February of this year—the highest in Southeast Asia. As it weakens the nation’s economic growth, this adds to the burden of ordinary Filipinos in battling higher prices for their basic daily expenses, not to mention the loan interest of those indebted.

WITH millions of followers across different social media platforms (11.4million on Instagram, 3.2 million on Facebook, and 1.27 million subscribers on YouTube), Julia Barretto seems to be on top of her game. At 26, she is a household name and this is something she’s worked hard for.

Julia sees her new movie Will You Be My Ex? as her romcom and drama homecoming of sorts after playing a daring role in Expensive Candy.

“The character asked so much of me. Chris [the character Barretto plays] is a theater actress. She can be a lot. I see doing Will You Be My Ex? as coming home after Expensive Candy. It was exciting because it’s a romcom but it also has drama, which I love very much, and I love that the romance is realistic,” said Julia during the press conference for Will You Be My Ex?

The movie, a Studio Viva and Firestarters production presented by Viva Films and directed by Real Florido, will open in cinemas on June 21.

“I have known Diegs [Diego Loyzaga] for a long time so this was sort of a reunion. The last time we worked together apparently was Wansapanataym, which was in 2014. Because I have known him for a long time, there was no awkwardness. It was always a safe space sa set,” said Julia, who had just come from Italy to attend an event for Golden Goose.

To prepare for her role as a theater actress in the movie, Julia engaged in conversations and attended workshops.

“In my last movie [Expensive Candy], I was very open in how I got in Candy’s shoes. With this role, I think it was a lot of me being in a lot of workshops with Diegs and talking with a lot of our creatives, especially our director [Real Florido] because this film is about two people tackling pain from their past. We really needed to look at the past and present of Chris and Joey. There were no physical preparations required for this role, unlike in the current movie I’m doing.

properly and how to warm up before a performance.

In Will You Be My Ex?,  ex-lovers Chris and Joey meet once again and get the chance to rekindle their past and choose to either be friends or give their love a second try.

Aside from being busy with work, Julia also finds

Most days, when she isn’t working, the young actress stays home.

“I’m a taong-bahay. My favorite place is my bed. It is my safe space but when I’m home, I love cleaning and rearranging. I got it from my mom. Sometimes, I see my friends but there’s no place like home.” ■

AI needs a guardrail for monitoring and regulation

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

THERE is a need for a middle ground that will also play the role of a guardrail to monitor and regulate the growth of artificial intelligence.

In a recent forum on Generative AI during the AI Summit 2023 organized by the Aboitiz group of companies, Cliff Eala, Synerbyte Limited, behavioral strategist told the audience there is no denying that artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and people must adapt to its coming. “We

must embrace the advent of advanced technologies, and at the same time there is a need to put up the necessary safeguards to address the ethical dilemmas,” Eala explained.

“Players will not self-regulate and we definitely need a middle ground,” Eala added. During the forum, Eala also underscored the importance of implementing a comprehensive and robust data privacy for the country as AI will get smarter and smarter in the future. “When AI gets smarter, who’s going to regulate it? asked Eala.

Flip and flex your summer

FROM beach trips to out-of-town adventures with the besties, summer is the perfect time to express yourself with looks that flex your personality from head to toe. It’s the season to get creative and amp up one’s style. Of course, style isn’t only limited to the outfits you’re donning; your smartphone should also be as fashion-forward as you are. From vibrant color options to customizable themes and wallpapers, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 could be an extension of your personal style like never before this summer.

Samsung touts the Galaxy Z Flip4 as the “it” smartphone for the trend-loving and the style-savvy. With a wide variety of colors to choose from, you can always find something

that complements your fashion. If bold and vibrant best describe your aesthetic, you can go for either the Bora Purple or Blue colorways. On the flip side, you can also go for Pink Gold or Graphite if you opt for more timeless and neutral tones.

What’s more, the Galaxy Z Flip4 also now comes in Indigo Black and White Gold colors, perfect for those who like to show off more color in their flip phone. The former comes with green and blue glass panels with a black metal frame while the latter features yellow and white glass panels with a gold frame. Choose the color that best fits your personal style and make your flip phone the statement piece to your OOTDs.

Aside from its exterior, you can also

Dr. Donald Patric Lim, chief operating of DITO CME, said AI and other technologies will move forward despite the apprehensions of some quarters. Further, he compared the coming of AI to the emergence of the internet in the middle of the ‘90s wherein it grew despite the resistance of some critics. “The possibilities of AI are here and it’s on us to react to the changes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. David Roi Hardoon, chief data and AI officer of UnionBank Philippines, expressed optimism

personalize your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 with fun customizability features for the cover screen and widgets. Customization is also made secure as the Galaxy Z Flip4 provides a feature that requires unlocking with face recognition and fingerprint prior to changing the settings. The flip phone showcases new types of basic clocks which allows to highlight the background image without blocking any face.

You can now also add widgets to your cover screen. Choose among Music, Weather, Today’s schedule, Next alarm, Samsung Health, Voice Recorder, and Timer. You can also reorder them anywhere on your screen.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 isn’t all looks though— with the latest 4nm Snapdragon processor (it’s

pointing out that AI will introduce drastic changes in the Philippines towards a better future. “AI is here and it will make a difference,” he said. “It will create opportunities and new capabilities,” he said.

Edwin Bautista, president and CEO of UnionBank, said there is a possibility that regulating technologies such as AI might stifle its growth. Further, he said there must be a good balance between regulating and allowing AI to grow.

These mounting circumstances eventually affect their spending appetite for other needs like insurance premiums if ever they avail of such. With this in mind, insurers are challenged to lower their costs, if not change their pricing, to reach more clients.

“Whether it was about their health, incomes, or properties, Filipinos have battled with different uncertainties in the last three years. This reality has further highlighted the need for insurers to take added measures to bring insurance closer to the average Filipino. This has been the industry’s mission since the beginning,” said Noel Tordesillas, head of e-channel in Etiqa Philippines.

In doing so, the company has taken a cue from the success of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) scheme, wherein consumers aiming to spread out the cost of big-ticket purchases can get their urgent needs and defer their payments to a later time sans any interest. From only $18 billion in 2020, this business model is seen to grow by 14 percent annually to $44 billion in 2027 worldwide.

“As we join this thrust, we have made it a point to align with partners within and outside the industry who share our vision—to empower more Filipinos to achieve financial security, especially amid inflation, through digital solutions and technology,” he noted.

Through its pioneering “Insure Now, Pay Later” scheme, Etiqa’s policyholders can now settle their premiums on an installment basis in a seamless way thanks to BUx’s end-to-end payment solutions platform and Splix’s transact-now-pay-later platform. With or without credit cards, clients can break their dues into smaller sums. This is even more convenient with the 60,000 payment channels of BUx that allow them to settle their dues via online banking, e-wallets, or over-the-counter.

“While payment and collections are the primary thrust of this partnership, through UBX we can bridge technologies from different industries—fintech to insurtech—for the benefit of the public. Not only that, we were also able to provide a less intimidating payment plan and an additional smooth and touchless payment platform for consumers. We are positive that this process would further ease the long-standing misconception about insurance as irrelevant, inaccessible and expensive,” Tordesillas said.

tasks as you go from work to play this summer.

the only flip phone with this processor), it’s powerful enough to take on your different tasks as you go from work to play this summer. It works with the long-lasting 3700mAh battery for unstoppable fun and when it’s low, you can plug in for Super-Fast Charging or bypass the cord with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 is also incredibly durable as it is made with exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an Armor Aluminum hinge frame— Samsung’s toughest aluminum frame. And with 1-year free Samsung Care+, accidents won’t stop you from enjoying an unforgettable summer.

More information is available at the Samsung Experience Store or Authorized Stores nationwide, or via tinyurl.com/ywrj5pd5

Meta tests blocking news content on Instagram, Facebook for some Canadians

OTTAWA, Ontario—Meta is temporarily blocking some Canadian users from accessing news content on Facebook and Instagram as part of a temporary test that is expected to last through the end of June, the tech giant said Thursday.

The block—which follows a similar step taken by Google earlier this year—comes in response to a proposed bill that will require tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online. Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently being considered in the Senate and could be passed as early as this month.

Meta also said it is prepared to permanently block news content on Facebook and Instagram for Canadians if the bill passes. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez called Meta’s move “disappointing” and said Canadians will not be intimidated by these tactics.

The temporary block announced Thursday will affect one to 5 percent of its 24 million Canadian users, with the number of those impacted fluctuating throughout the test, said Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada.

Randomly selected Canadian users will not be able to see or share news content in Canada either on Instagram or Facebook.

The block could include news links to articles, reels— which are short-form videos—or stories, which are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours.

International news companies including the New York Times or BBC could also have their content blocked in Canada during the test if they are randomly selected.

Meta said it is picking random news publishers that will be notified that some users in Canada will not be able to see or share their news content throughout the test. Users will still be able to access their accounts, pages, businesses suites and advertising.

Legacy media and broadcasters have praised the bill, which promises to “enhance fairness” in the digital news marketplace and help bring in more money for shrinking newsrooms. Tech giants including Meta and Google have been blamed in the past for disrupting and dominating the advertising industry, eclipsing smaller, traditional players.

Meta, which is based in Menlo Park, California, has taken similar steps in the past. In 2021, it briefly blocked news from its platform in Australia after the country passed legislation that would compel tech companies to pay publishers for using their news stories. It later struck deals with Australian publishers. AP

Apple Vision Pro: New toy for the rich boys

on the world.” Apple’s CEO also said it marks the beginning of a new era for computing, introducing spatial computing that goes beyond personal and mobile computing.

THOUSANDS of Microsoft Outlook users reported issues with accessing and using the e-mail platform on June 5, 2023. AP

IS OUTLOOK DOWN? THOUSANDS OF USERS REPORT PROBLEMS WITH MICROSOFT’S E-MAIL PLATFORM

WASHINGTON—Thousands of Microsoft Outlook users reported issues with accessing and using the email platform Monday morning.

Microsoft 365 outage and problem reports peaked at almost 18,000 shortly after 11 am Eastern Monday morning, according to outage tracker Downdetector. Reports have appeared to significantly decline since then. Most of the reports expressed issues with Outlook. Many users of Microsoft’s e-mailing platform shared frustration on social media, with some noting they were unable to sign into or load their accounts.

The company said that it was “investigating an issue with accessing Outlook on the web” in a Twitter thread posted on its Microsoft 365 Status account— and added that a “downstream impact” was also identified for Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business.

Microsoft 365 Status later said it had reverted an update and saw an improvement in service—soon confirming recovery for impacted services.

In a statement sent to The Associated Press Monday afternoon, Microsoft said it had “resolved an issue preventing users from accessing some of our services.” AP

THIS week’s biggest news was of course the re-launch of Eat Bulaga with a set of new hosts. Now instead of TVJ (Tito, Vic, and Joey), we get PBB (Paolo, Betong, Buboy) twins Cassy and Mavie, and Alexa (not the voice assistant).

Just kidding—although discussions about copyright and trademark of who owns the title of the noontime show would have probably been more entertaining.

I am of course talking about the unveiling of the Apple Vision Pro at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2023. Apple gave the world a first look at its mixed-reality headset and just by looking at the photos you know it’s already much, much better than its Meta counterpart.

And unlike the Google Glasses, which looks like, well, your eyeglasses, the Apple Vision Pro looks more like a high-tech scuba mask or something Wade Watts from Ready Player One would wear.

Take note it’s just an “unveiling” as it won’t be available until next year, though I doubt you’d be lining up to buy one.

Unless you have $3,499 (P196,278.15) to spare, and that’s a whole lot of body parts to sell.

But what can this toy for the rich boys do?

Apple describes it as an innovative spatial computer that seamlessly integrates digital content with the physical world, while keeping users present and connected with others. This groundbreaking device introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by natural and intuitive inputs such as a user’s eyes, hands and voice.

Running on its own visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, the Vision Pro allows users to interact with digital content that feels physically present in their space. The device features an ultrahigh-resolution display system with 23 million pixels across two displays and custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design, delivering real-time experiences right in front of the user’s eyes.

The design of the Apple Vision Pro showcases Apple’s expertise in creating high-performance products. It utilizes advanced materials, including three-dimensionally formed and laminated glass that acts as an optical surface for cameras and sensors. The glass seamlessly blends into a custom aluminum alloy frame that curves around the user’s face, providing a tailored fit. The device features a Light Seal made of soft textile and flexible straps for audio placement. The Head Band, available in various sizes, offers cushioning, breathability and stretch. The device houses an array of technology in a compact design, including a breakthrough ultra-high-resolution display system, advanced audio capabilities, and a high-performance eye-tracking system.

Central to the headset’s functionality are the dual screens—one for each eye. Those screens mimick the natural depth perception of human vision, providing a sense of depth in the digital world, and enabling users to interact with virtual objects as if they were real. The pixel density of these screens is said to be a staggering 64 times that of the iPhone, ensuring an incredibly sharp and immersive visual experience.

But more than just a pair of fancy interactive movie glasses, some tech experts believe that it represents Apple’s vision for the future, maybe even a replacement for the smartphone. It serves as a medium for watching content, communicating and using familiar apps in a whole new dimension. As the headset offers an expansive display that fills the entire field of vision, it can provide unlimited space for apps and transforming the way users interact with technology.

The visionOS provides a three-dimensional interface that liberates apps from display boundaries, enabling side-by-side app displays at any scale. Users can be more productive with infinite screen real estate, access to favorite apps, and new multitasking capabilities. The device supports Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, allowing users to wirelessly bring the powerful capabilities of their Mac into the Vision Pro, creating a large, private and portable 4K display.

Beyond the screens, the Vision Pro boasts an array of sensors and cameras—make that a lot of cameras. It has a total of 12 cameras, 5 sensors and six microphones. The 3D cameras and lidar scanners capture a three-dimensional view of the user’s surroundings, enhancing the augmented reality experience. The cameras within the headset enable users to effortlessly take photos and videos, offering a

novel way to capture memories. The internal cameras also play a key role in controlling the device, tracking eye movements, and providing a natural and intuitive user interface. So instead of holding a separate control pad you can just look at an item and click using your hands.

To make the Vision Pro a social experience, it has a second set of cameras on the inside to facilitate interactions. These cameras record eye movements, enabling the creation of a photorealistic digital avatar during FaceTime calls. Why would they FaceTime just to see your avatar? I don’t know, but at least you don’t have to dress up and be presentable when you do get a call.

It can also project a 3D model of the user’s eyes onto the external screen, ensuring others are aware of their focus. Yes, its creepy as it looks. The external screen itself is also 3D and adjusts its image based on the viewer’s angle, further enhancing the social aspect of the headset.

In terms of entertainment, the Vision Pro can transform any space into a personal movie theater with its ultra-high resolution displays and advanced Spatial Audio system. Users can enjoy movies, TV shows and three-dimensional videos with immersive audio. The device also offers new possibilities for gaming, supporting over 100 Apple Arcade games on a large screen with immersive audio and popular game controller compatibility.

The Vision Pro introduces immersive environments, called Environments, which expand beyond the dimensions of a physical room, providing dynamic landscapes to help users focus or reduce clutter in busy spaces. The device also features Apple’s first three-dimensional camera that allows users to capture and relive their favorite memories with Spatial Audio. Photos and videos can be viewed at a life-size scale with brilliant color and detail, creating a sense of being right there in the moment.

I do find it a bit weird though that in one of the demo videos, a man (who I presume is the dad) was wearing the Apple Vision Pro watching and recording a girl (probably his daughter) blow a candle. I’m pretty sure I’d want to witness a canon event like that (Spiderverse reference) with my own eyes and just record it with another camera. Another concern is that with all its interactive features, it could potentially further increase screen time and decrease personal interactions.

Since it’s still a year away from its release, it gives developers plenty of time to create more apps and uses for it, and honestly if I had the money I would definitely get one. But for now, I’m saving my kidney for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. ■

JARAULA CONQUERS VALLEY BY 5 STROKES

REYMON JARAULA repelled all last-ditch rallies he faced in the final round on Friday with a decisive birdieeagle feat from No. 10 to pound out a 71 and a five-stroke victory over Lloyd Go and Clyde Mondilla in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Valley Golf Challenge in Antipolo City. Not to mention that he also had to survive a wobbly finish.

Obiena brings medal-clinching act to Norway

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA vies in two competitions in Norway

starting with the Bergen Jump Challenge on Saturday with the same game plan he used in clinching a bronze medal last week in Poland.

Obiena, the world No. 3 pole vaulter and Asian record holder, will be using longer poles in his Norwegian sojourn that wraps up with the Oslo Bislett Games on Thursday.

EJ used bigger poles in training and bigger poles mean more power and more height,” Obiena’s long-time adviser Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror on Friday.

O biena made 5.72 meters in clinching bronze in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he kicked off his outdoor campaign. He finished behind American Chris Nilsen (5.92) and Pole Piotr Lisek (5.82).

L afferty said Obiena’s plan is to be consistent in the three meets and later improve on his height come the Olympic qualification window starting July 1.

O biena needs to clear 5.82 meters—below his Asian record of 5.4—to return to the Olympics in Paris next year.

“All of these are part of a wellplanned process by EJ and Coach Vitaly [Petrov] to adjust to various changes in his approach—and move to bigger poles—ahead of major competitions coming up such as Asian Games and world championships,” Lafferty said.

Obiena has his eyes on the Olympic qualifying standard either at the Asian Championships in Pattaya from July 12 to 16, World Athletics Championships in Budapest from August 19 to 27 and the Hangzhou Asian Games from September 23 to October 8.

Let’s rally behind Gilas pool–Panlilio

Mondilla did match Jaraula’s exploits on Nos. 10 and 11 to wrest solo second but failed to gain any stroke in the stretch with a spate of pars marred by a couple of late bogeys and saw his drive to end a long title drought hampered by a missed birdie putt from 4 feet at the par-4 No. 9 of Valley South.

I n contrast, Jaraula fueled his own bid with a big par-save on the same hole, punching a shot from the trees to the front of the green then chipping way past the sloping hole.

But he returned a pressurepacked putt from 6 feet, drawing subdued applause from the gallery, that, however, was left in virtual shock as Mondilla blew his birdie try from close range.

Averting a possible 2-shot swing, Jaraula kept his overnight twostroke lead intact over Alido while holding off the charges of Korean Chon Koo Kang, Japanese Ueda Atsushi, Jhonnel Ababa, Go and Mondilla in a round that started in a shaft of sunlight, played through dark skies midway through before ending in sweltering conditions at mid-noon.

The Del Monte ace then pulled away by 5 with that big backside blast, coupled with Alido’s uncharacteristic double-bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13, that not even his miscues on Nos. 16 and 18 could derail his claim to a second Philippine Golf Tour crown.

There was pressure from the start—I had a couple of mishits and bogeyed the first two holes. But I told myself to just relax and try to rebound at the back nine,” said Jaraula in Filipino.

Tapales freed of mandatory rematch

UNIFIED world super bantamweight king Marlon

Tapales could now fully focus on either elite champions American Stephen Fulton or Japanese Naoya Inoue after he was freed of a mandatory rematch against Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

“ Marlon can now focus on targeting the bigger picture ahead of him,” international matchmaker Sean Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Friday after learning that the World Boxing Aassociation lifted Tapales’s voluntary title defense against Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev.

Tapales captured the WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight titles after beating Akhmadaliev via split decision last April in San Antonio, Texas.

Super bantamweight champion Fulton and former undisputed world titleholder Inoue square off on July 25 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

PVL Invitationals draws 13 teams

THE biggest Premier Volleyball League (PVL) conference will kick off on June 27 at the Filoil Ecooil Centre with 13 teams— including three new members and two foreign guests—competing in the midseason crown won by Creamline last year.

The new additions are the Foton Tornadoes, Farm Fresh Foxies and Gerflor Defenders.

With volleyball in the country growing by leaps and bounds over the past decade, we feel that it’s about time to increase the number of member teams in the PVL,” league president Richard “Ricky” Palou said.

This will not only bring more excitement for our fans but also provide players with more opportunities to have a career in volleyball. The new teams are also committed to staying with us in the

long term,” he added. The Foton Tornadoes will make their return to competitive volleyball after three years.

“

We are happy that the league and the member teams allowed us to join starting with the Invitational Conference,” team manager Aaron Velez said. “With two teams, this will give our company added exposure and our players a chance to further hone their skills.”

The Farm Fresh Foxies will feature the core of the College of Saint Benilde team and will have Jerry Yee as the head coach.

The PVL is a big platform to introduce our product, which is the first real fresh milk in the market,”

Foxies team manager Janica Lao said.

The Gerflor Defenders will feature a mix of veterans and young players and will be coached by Edgar Barroga.

“ But I regained my confidence after saving par on No. 9 then made a birdie-eagle start at the back,” added Jaraula, whose 10-under 278 total netted him P360,000, four years after hitting paydirt with a playoff victory over Tony Lascuña at Pueblo de Oro.

Go rallied with a 69 to tie Mondilla, who scrambled for a 72, at second at 283 and received P186,000 each while Aidric Chan took the low amateur honors with a day-best 66 as he fashioned out a strong joint fourth place finish with recent Villamor Philippine Masters winner Ababa, who also closed out with 72, at 284. A lido missed his birdie chance on No. 10 but birdied the next although his mishaps in the next two holes dropped him out of the title chase. The Bacolod leg winner wound up with a 76 and finished at joint sixth at 285 with Zanieboy Gialon, who shot a 69, Gabriel Manotoc, Rico Depilo and Guido van der Valk, who matched 70s, and Keanu Jahns and Lascuna, who carded identical 72s. Jaraula’s bogeys in the first two holes had hinted at the coming of a wild finish to the P2 million championship put up by ICTSI and though Alido, who started the final round two shots off the former, also tripped with two bogeys in the first three holes, it enabled at least seven players to get a crack at the crown.

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng

Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio on Wednesday called on the Filipino people to rally behind the Gilas Pilipinas national pool as preparations for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup (FIBAWC) goes into overdrive with a series of pocket tournaments and friendlies in Europe.

“ We humbly seek the full support of our countrymen for our national pool. They are about to begin the critical part of their training for the World Cup and they need everybody to fall behind them,” said Panlilio, recently elected second vice president of the FIBA Asia Board.

“ We’re praying for the good health and safety of all the players, coaches and everyone involved with Gilas Pilipinas,” he said. “This is our national team, and they are all committed to give their utmost best as they go up against the best players in the world.”

O n the hosting side of the event, Panlilio assured that SBP and the FIBAWC Local Organizing Committee had left no stone unturned in making sure the country will be delivering the best World Cup ever, adding everything is right on schedule.

With the help of the government and our friends in the public sector, SBP has put in place an elaborate network that works 24/7 to guarantee a World Cup built on organization, teamwork and our fellowmen’s innate hospitality and love for the game,” Panlilio said.

SBP announced on Tuesday the composition of the 21-man Gilas pool, which will reconvene this week to set into motion the final process leading

PHL PARA ATHLETES SHINE

THE Philippines closed out its campaign in the 12th Asean Para Games in Phnom Penh on Friday with 34 gold medals— surpassing the 28-gold performance in Indonesia last year.

up to the selection of the Final 12. National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson and Southeast Asian Games sensation Justin Brownlee headline the Gilas pool made up of local and international pro league royalty, led by Philippine Basketball Association MVPs June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson and 7-foot-3 phenom Kai Sotto.

From this list, national coach Chot Reyes and his staff will prune it down to 12, finalizing the roster shortly before Gilas debuts against fellow Group A entry and FIBA Americas qualifier Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The national team takes on FIBA Africa qualifier Angola next at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, then wraps up the first round of the Group Phase against world No. 10 and two-time FIBA EuroBasket champion Italy also at the Big Dome.

Two wins will send Gilas to the second round against top qualifiers from Group B, made up of South Sudan, world No. 6 Serbia, China and Puerto Rico. Designated as third venue in the FIBAWC is SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, which will house the Final Phase of the tournament.

Comprising the bulk of the Gilas pool are Chris Newsome, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Rhenz Abando, Jordan Heading, Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, Thirdy Ravena, Japeth Aguilar, JP Erram, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu and Anj Kouame.

A lso included but recovering from recent injuries are Roger Pogoy (finger fracture), Ray Parks (muscle strain) and Calvin Oftana.

The WBA, through committee chairman Carlos Chavez, said that “the rematch is not feasible to do so at this time.”

Tapales (37-3 win-loss with 19 knockouts) and his camp earlier requested the WBA for a fight against either Fulton (21-0 with eight knockouts) or Inoue (24-0 with 21 knockouts) on July 25.

This bout would be a unification of the WBA, IBF, WBC [World Boxing Council] and WBO titles which is a powerful reason to admit it for the sake of boxing,” the WBA statement said.

Fulton holds the WBO and WBC super bantamweight belts, while Inoue vacated all of the bantamweight belts—IBF, WBO, WBC and WBA—to test the super bantamweight division.

Gibbons said that the champion from Lanao del Norte’s unification bout against either Fulton or Inoue could be held later this year or early next year. Josef Ramos

We are thrilled to finally be a part of the PVL. We have organized and participated in several leagues to qualify for the opportunity to compete in the PVL, which we believe is the most prestigious league in the country. Being a part of the PVL is already an honor and accomplishment for our volleyball club,” said Defenders team manager Jordan Tolentino.

A ll 11 local teams will be split into two groups—Group A will be composed of defending champion Creamline, Chery Tiggo, PLDT, Akari and Gerflor, and Group B will consist of Petro Gazz, F2 Logistics, Choco Mucho, Cignal, Farm Fresh and Foton.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the round-robin semifinals, along with the two foreign teams. Teams from the same pool will carry over their head-to-head record into the second round.

The top two teams will advance to the winner-take-all final, while the third and fourth-ranked teams will compete for the bronze medal.

Th anks to Darry Bernardo, Cheyzer  Crystal Mendoza and Sander Severino, who won two gold medals each at the Royal University on Thursday, Team Philippines was a significant hit in the games staged at the Cambodian capital.

B ernardo, who is visually impaired, won the men’s individual B2-B3 and team with Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor.

Mendoza, a lawyer,  ruled the women’s individual blitz PI and team with Cheryl Angot and Jean-Lee Nacita.

The wheelchair-bound Severino, a former world champion, topped the

men’s individual and team with Felix Aguilera and Henry Lopez.

The James Infiesto-coached chess team had a total of 13 golds, improving its 10-gold harvest last year.

The team also produced the top two most successful athletes in the Philippine contingent with Bernardo pocketing six golds and Mendoza contributing five.

A ngel Mae Otom secured four gold medals for the swimming squad, which bagged 10 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals to finish sixth, behind Thailand (34-29-33), Vietnam (28-19-26), Indonesia (27-37-24), Malaysia (26-12-10) and Singapore (11-10-8).

W ith its 34-gold, 33-silver and 50-bronze output, Team Philippines duplicated its fifth-place finish in Surakarta, Indonesia.

I am honored and overjoyed to congratulate our athletes for their remarkable performances and astounding achievements in the 12th ASEAN Para Games,” Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)

DARRY BERNARDO is the most successful Filipino para athlete with six gold medals.

Commissioner and Team Philippines chef-de-mission Walter Francis Torres. “These achievements have not only brought glory once again to the Philippines but also serve as inspirations and motivations to future generations of para-athletes.”

I ndonesia has collected 153 golds, 141 silvers and 93 bronzes to capture its third consecutive title. Th ailand, which will host the 2025 edition in Korat, settled for second place with 123 golds, 107 silvers and 92 bronzes, followed by Vietnam (66-56-78) and Malaysia (47-38-35).

Olongapo City bets Raagas, Bada seek top honors in Subic Ironkids

CELINDA RAAGAS and Darell Bada set out against a strong field of youngsters who take the spotlight ahead of the elite of endurance racing in the Ironkids Triathlon reeling off Saturday in Subic Bay.

Raagas topped the 13-15 division of the last tri-race event at Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City last October while fellow Olongapo City native Bada placed second to absentee Peter del Rosario in their side of the duel in the premier division of the event long considered as the spawning ground of triathlon talents and which drew a cast of 178 from various age-group divisions.

T he 13-15 age titles will be disputed over 250-meter swim, 6-km bike and 2-km run distance with participants already winners in more ways than just emerging victorious from the event ushering in a weekend of racing to be highlighted by the Century Tuna full Ironman and Subic Ironman 70.3 Sunday.

B ut Raagas expects to face a stern test against the likes of Jaden Khongkun, Clarissa Saludes, Zabelle

Eugenio, Princess Ilio, Thara Salazar, Jayda Gumaya, Chantelle Coleman, Chelsea Borja and Kyrene Benzon, while Bada will have his hands full against Red Reyes, Jacob Catambay, Sean Julian, Edcarl Moreno, Chadwick Baday and Nathan Ramos, among others.

T he 6-8 years old bracket will clash over the 100-meter swim, 2-km bike and 1-km run distance, while the 9-10 crowns will be contested over the 150-meter swim, 4-km bike and 1.5-km run stretch.

The 11-12 division is set over the 200-m, 4-km bike and 1.5-km span with Evan Ramos from Antipolo, Rizal and Noah Maliwat from Pasig City and Dominique Aragones and Sara Santiago headlining the rosters in the two sides.

A lso on tap are two events in relay category, according to the organizing The Ironman Group/ Sunrise Events Inc. It features the mixed team for 6-10 made up of the 100-m swim, 2-km bike and 1-km run race, and for 11-15 bracket set over 200-m swim, 4-km bike and 1.5-km run distance.

REYMON JARAULA decides to relax and play his own game on Friday. NONIE REYES

CELINDA RAAGAS is one of the rising stars of Philippine triathlon.