Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando breaks three Southeast Asian Games records on her way to winning gold in the women’s 59 kgs class of weightlifting on Sunday afternoon in Phnom Penh. She resets the games marks in snatch (98 kgs), clean and jerk (118 kgs) and total lift (216 kgs) for the country’s first gold medal in the sport. ROY DOMINGO
THE country’s tourism industry continues its brisk recovery this year, earning some P168.52 billion in inbound revenue from the 1.86 million foreign tourists who arrived in the first four months of the year.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed the inbound visitor receipts from January to April 2023, was just a tad shy of the P169.14 billion earned in the same period in prepandemic 2019, from 2.87 million visitor arrivals. The peso, however, depreciated to an average of P54.97 to the dollar in
the four months to April this year, compared to the P52.295 average in the same period in 2019.
T he expenditure of foreign tourists in the country is calculated based on the inbound arrivals extracted from the arrival and departure data provided by the Bureau of Immigration, and the monthly visitor sample surveys by the DOT of departing international travelers. Such survey shows the tourist’s average length of stay and how much they spent on accommodations, food and beverage, transport services, travel agencies and other reservation services, entertainment and recreation, shopping, and other miscellaneous items or services.
T he DOT did not provide the
breakdown of nationalities who spent the most during their visit in the country.
Arrivals 42% of ‘23 target
MEANWHILE , international visitor arrivals crossed the 2-million mark from January 1 to May 12 this year, or 42 percent of the 4.8-million arrivals target by the DOT for the entire year.
T he latest tourism data were revealed by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco over the weekend, in a speech at the 29th Mid-Biennial Conference of the Soroptomist International of the Americas Philippines at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.
THE massive protests over the highly unpopular legislation that France passed, raising its retirement age from 62 to 64 to save its pension system, may be a window to a similar future in the Philippines, with its own “ticking time bomb” in its pension scheme.
U niversity of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR) professor Emily Christi A. Cabegin warned of this scenario, where the government may have to spend millions of pesos to take care of thousands of informally employed workers, who are not covered by a pension scheme, once they retire. Because of our demographic transition, there will be more elderly people in the coming years than there are now, so the government
will have to allocate more funds in order to keep them at least out of the poverty level,” Cabegin told the BusinessMirror in an interview at the sidelines of the Home-based and Informal workers forum in UP Diliman at the weekend.
Currently, she said about 8 of every 10 workers are informally employed and therefore not covered by labor laws and mandated to become members of the Social Security System (SSS).
THE IT and Business Process
Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it accepts the gig economy as a “challenge” to the industry, saying it was catalyzed by the pandemic.
That was catalyzed by the fact that we can now work from home. You can’t do gig economy in your day job. And some people really don’t want to work in the office. So you know I mean it’s just an interesting result of our work flexibility. I mean, this is the new world of work,” IBPAP President Jack Madrid said recently.
However, Madrid stressed that the rising talent in the freelance industry is “something that we
need to pay attention to,” adding that “it is a force that is hard to stop.”
T he head of the flagship organization of the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) also advised workers in the gig economy to weigh the pros and cons of working under such set-up due to “stability” issues.
“ But those gig economy people also have to realize what’s the stability of that. Maybe they accepted short-term...benefits or your rights..you have to weigh that versus the flexibility of 100 percent [work from home] WFH,” Madrid said.
“ So you just have to weigh,” he added.
T he IBPAP chief added, “I think on the investor side, we need to
THE 6.4-percent slowdown in growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2023 underscores the “urgency” of boosting domestic demand and the economy’s supply response to spur inclusive growth, Ibon Foundation Inc. said.
The continuing deceleration in household spending from low incomes and high prices is among the biggest factors in the slowdown and is among the issues that the administration can immediately address,” Ibon said in a statement on Sunday.
accept it and compete with it. On the employee side, I know [Department of Information and Communications Technology] DICT is supporting it.”
M adrid said he supports the gig economy because it’s still a job and it’s still good for the country’s economy. However, he said, “I want them to also know the pros and cons of working for an unregistered company.
That’s really it.”
A t the IT-BPM Talent Summit held last month, the top official of a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm urged the government to “level the playing field” between the gig economy and the IT-BPM industry in terms of complying with government regulations.
See “Gig economy,” A2
O n Thursday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said GDP growth reached 6.4 percent, the lowest in eight quarters when GDP growth contracted 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2021. P SA data showed GDP growth was at 8 percent in the first quarter of 2022 and 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.
I bon pointed out the decline in the household final consumption expenditure (HFCE) for the fourth consecutive quarter at 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2023, which the group said is already 3.7 percentage points slower than the 10-percent rate upon “economic reopening” in the first quarter of 2022.
W ith this, Ibon said it is a clear sign that the purchasing power of families is “failing from soaring prices, low wages and earnings, and worsening informality and joblessness.”
See “Slow growth,” A2
MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND SELF-COMPASSION:
I n a statement on Sunday,
the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the considerable pay increase for private sector nurses will ensure the local healthcare system will have a reliable pool of nurses.
It noted the considerable pay gap between local nurses and their counterparts abroad has forced many of them to work overseas.
“ Private hospital employees and those working with private healthcare providers in the country also
the SSS. As of 2021, SSS reported that only 3.36 million of its 40.52 members are self-employed.
Legislative remedy
T he country currently has over 51 million workers.
W hile the informally employed may opt to become voluntary members of SSS, they would have to do so at great cost since they would have to pay it on their own, without the share from employers—which their formally employed counterparts enjoy.
T his has led to only a few informally employed people joining
THE labor expert said a possible remedy to a dire situation in future could be including a provision in the latest version of the Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy (MACWEI) bill to create a social security scheme, to be partly funded by the government, for the informally employed. T he MACWEI bills have been pending in Congress for over a decade.
need improved compensation to discourage them from seeking opportunities abroad,” University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Employees Union-FFW president Manuel Payao said.
T he large demand for Filipino healthcare workers abroad, especially during the pandemic, has prompted the government to limit their deployment to initially 5,000, which was later increased to 7,500.
P ayao said such “oppressive” deployment caps will no longer be necessary with the passage of House Bill 5276, which was filed by Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo.
S uch legislation, Cabegin explained, will allow more informally employed people to afford SSS membership, granting them not only pension in the future but also much-needed social security coverage to boost their current productivity such as sickness benefit, maternity benefit, unemployment benefit among others.
“ If you are going to cover them right now under the social security [system], you don’t have to worry about covering them in the future because they already have a pension,” Cabegin said. She stressed that the “window”
Under the proposed legislation, the entry-level salary for government nurses will be hiked from P36,619 to P63,997.
“ If we don’t address these issues on wages, deployment cap, etc now, we risk losing our nurses to countries where they can earn in one month what they would earn in 10 years in the Philippines,” Payao said.
F FW president Sonny Matula welcomed the proposal and urged Congress to prioritize the passage of such “critical legislation.”
He also reiterated FFW’s call for lawmakers to pass a pending legislation granting workers a P150 across-the-board wage increase.
for the government to implement the reform should be in the coming years, when most of the informally employed are still in the working age.
B ased on the latest Census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the bulk or over 69.39 million of the country’s 108.67 million population are below the 65-yearold retirement age as of 2020.
Meanwhile, there are over 5.8 million who are aged 65 and above.
W ith the country’s declining fertility rate, which slowed down to 1.9 last year, Cabegin said the country’s pension system will eventually be strained by shifting demographics. “ It will be more difficult for a lower working age population to support a bigger elderly population,” Cabegin said.
Pension reform
THE current administration is already engaged in a similar pension reform as it tries to fix the “unsustainable” pension for military uniformed personnel (MUP).
No less than the Department of Finance (DOF) made the proposal to cut the government expense for MUP pension, which is expected to cost the government over P800 billion in the next 20 years.
U nder the existing pension scheme, MUP pensions are shouldered by the government.
Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno suggested gradually requiring MUPs to contribute for their pensions to reduce government expenses.
D OF is coordinating with the Department of Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to thresh out the details of the said reform.
T he Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) has included the bill on pension reform for MUP in the list 41 priority measures of the administration.
However, the MACWEI is not included in that list.
T his now gives rise, Ibon said, to the “urgency of substantial wage hikes and emergency cash assistance (ayuda) to increase household consumption and welfare, which will at the same time boost aggregate demand as an engine of growth.”
A nother factor that dampens domestic demand, Ibon noted, is the jobless growth in certain industries and informality.
“ Sub-sectors where employment declined despite reported growth include: human health and social work activities which grew by 7.5 percent yet saw employment decline 11.1 percent [79,000 less workers]; manufacturing which grew 2 percent, but employment declined 1.3 percent [46,000 less workers]; and construction which grew 10.8 percent, but employment declined 0.4 percent [18,000 less
“Notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties that our country has faced—a pandemic and the various calamities that have come into our shores—the good news is that this has done nothing to break the Filipino spirit or to diminish the beauty of the Philippines,” she said.
South Korea continues to be the top source market for tourists with 487,502 visitors accounting for some 24.4 percent of the total inbound arrivals during the period. This was followed by the United States with 352,894 (17.62 percent); Australia with 102,494 (5.12 percent); Canada with 98,593 (4.92 percent); and Japan with 97,329 (4.86 percent).
T he other top markets were China at 75,043 visitors; Taiwan at 62,654; the United Kingdom at 62,291; Singapore at 53,359; and Malaysia at 36,789.
A lthough South Koreans are now back to their top ranking among source markets this year, similar to the prepandemic era, Chinese travelers are still growing, albeit at a snail’s pace, having just opened in January. In 2019, China ranked second to South Korea among the Philippines’s source markets for tourists, accounting for some 21 percent of the 8.3-million international travelers that year.
China-Kalibo charters resume STILL , Frasco has expressed optimism that the Chinese market will rebound this year, with more
Haidee C. Enriquez, CEO of MicroSourcing, noted at the IT-BPM Summit last month that as “the legitimate player, we need to contend with a lot of regulations coming from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), coming from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), coming from the National Privacy Commission (NPC), coming from the local government units (LGUs), whereas the freelancers don’t need to contend with that.”
T he IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) earlier noted that it is targeting to create up to 1.1 million direct jobs by 2028.
O f the 1.1-million jobs target, IBPAP said 54 percent will be in the countryside, which the organization said will bring the sector’s total headcount to 2.5 million by 2028.
However, Enriquez pointed out the threat that the industry is facing when it comes to attracting jobs in the countryside.
“A lot of the people who are enticed to move into freelancing or gig economy workers are those in the countryside because not a lot of BPO players are present in their particular location,” the MicroSourcing CEO noted.
F urther, the industry practitioner stressed that “How then as an industry can we add to the 1.1 million when internally we already have a huge ‘leaking barrel’...How can we make that much...that one of the things that make us great and economically powerful industry is the fact that for every one job created in the industry, 2 to 3 more indirect
Continued
workers],” the group stressed.
T he group noted similar trends in information and communication, and financial and insurance activities.
I bon also pointed out that “The number of informal and part-time workers with likely low and erratic incomes also grew.”
I n fact, it noted, “Between the first quarter of 2022 and first quarter 2023, informality swelled by 10.4 percent or 1.97 million workers [from 18.9 million to 20.8 million], while the number of parttime workers grew by 14.6 percent or 2.1 million workers [from 14.6 million to 16.8 million].”
‘Misplaced reliance’
WITH this, Ibon warned against the government’s “misplaced reliance” on exports and foreign investment
flights coming into the Philippines. For instance, chartered flights to Kalibo, an international gateway to Boracay Island, have resumed since April 18.
T he Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) outposts in China have been processing and issuing Philippine visas to Chinese tour groups since April 11. The DOT is also working with the DFA for an electronic visa system for Chinese tourists. China’s Ambassador to the Philippines earlier visited Boracay to check on the island’s preparedness in receiving Chinese tourists. (See, “Chinese envoy meets Aklan local chiefs,” in the BusinessMirror , January 10, 2023.)
The DOT looks forward to equaling, if not surpassing, the number of Chinese visitors we received before the pandemic. We thank our partner agencies especially the DFA for heeding our appeal to resume the processing and issuance of Philippine visas to Chinese tour groups,” said Frasco. B oracay welcomed a total of 180 Chinese tourists aboard a chartered OK Airlines flight from Changsha on April 18, the first chartered flight from China since the latter reopened its borders. China was the largest tourism market for Boracay prior to the pandemic with 434,175 arrivals. It accounted for some 26 percent of the more than 1.7 million Chinese visitors in the country in 2019.
jobs are created elsewhere?”
Meanwhile, through the lens of the government, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assistant Secretary Paul Añover said, “When we talk about the gig economy, we’re also looking here at why they’re not being absorbed by the IT-BPM industry.”
H ence, Añover recommended, “Something that we also have to look at is how we recruit talent.”
T he DOLE official said the industry should zero in on a skills-based approach because apart from looking at the entrants, it is also important to look at who is already there and who had already developed “significant” experience but who just needs to be reskilled.
I n line with this, Payoneer’s 2023 Freelancer Insights Report released in April reported that despite the fears of a global economic slowdown, 46 percent of the freelancers saw an increase in demand for their work.
Monique Avila, the country manager of Payoneer for the Philippines, cited convenience and flexibility among the reasons behind the growing number of businesses relying on freelancers to support their full-time workforce.
This benefits freelancers, too, since we have seen how they can enjoy a good work-life balance while still sustaining themselves, especially with the convenience, and practicality of earning in USD without leaving the country. We expect this industry to keep growing in the coming year,” Avila said in a statement released by Payoneer in April.
as sources of growth as the global economy weakens and the likelihood of a global recession increases.
T he group said the government’s focus should be on domestic demand-driven growth amid growing global uncertainty and volatility.
Meanwhile, to better utilize the P5.3-trillion national budget for 2023, Ibon said “spending needs to be shifted away from capital-intensive import-dependent infrastructure spending, addressing corruption and pork barrel leakages, and containing bloating debt servicing.”
I nstead, it noted, “more attention needs to be given to items that more directly improve family welfare and have more domestic multiplier effects such as ayuda, wage subsidies, production support for farmers, fisherfolk and small enterprises, and social services.”
T he group said these fiscal realignments can be complemented by implementing a “long-awaited and justified” wage hike.
TO help prevent the exodus of Filipino healthcare workers, a labor group has urged lawmakers to consider expanding the coverage of the bill granting a 75-percent wage increase for government nurses to also cover those in the private sector.
WITH the country again experiencing El Niño, a lawmaker has urged Filipinos to continue planting trees to help mitigate the harsh effects of the weather phenomenon.
R izal 4th District Rep. Juan Fidel F. Nograles underscored the need to “aggressively restore the country’s forest cover” as a measure against El Niño and long-term climate change.
“Our forests serve as a buffer against weather-related disasters. They release moisture into the atmosphere to counter droughts and shield us against typhoons and prevent flooding,” Nograles said. “We encourage our citizens to continue planting trees in their communities to mitigate the effects of El Niño.”
The lawmaker added that “tree planting is an excellent communal activity that has a positive effect and I hope more local leaders will organize and engage in this activity so that we can restore our country’s greenness.”
Last month, Nograles led the town of Montalban in a tree-planting activity to commemorate the town’s 152nd founding anniversary. Around 4,000 saplings were planted along the Wawa riverbank and mountainside.
More than 6,000 students, senior citizens and women from the town participated in the activity, which also included the “Forward Nature” advocacy walk.
Nograles has been advocating for the government and communities to be active in implementing measures that would protect against climate change. El Niño increases the likelihood of unusually low rainfall conditions that could cause the water hoard in dams to fall below functional levels.
According to PAGASA, there have been seven severe El Nino events since 1980, with the last one lasting from 2015 to 2016, inflicting $327 million in agricultural losses.
In the previous El Niño event that persisted from the last quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019, up to 61 percent of the country endured a drought while the other 39 percent underwent a dry spell.
A drought means three consecutive months of greater than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall, or five consecutive months of 21-percent to 60-percent reduction from average rainfall. A dry spell means three consecutive months of 21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall, or two consecutive months of greater than 60-percent reduction from average rainfall.
THE Philippines is not prepared for the risks posed by nuclear energy and should instead pursue the development of renewable energy. This was emphasized by Greenpeace Campaigner Khevin Yu during an online news briefing dubbed “The Economic Implications of a Philippine Nuclear Program: What the Pro-Nuclear Camp Won’t Tell Us” held last Friday.
Greenpeace held the briefing to issue its reaction to the House Committee on Appropriations’ approval of a House bill that seeks to establish a nuclear regulatory framework.
Citing a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) report on the feasibility of nuclear energy in the Philippines, Yu said it would take at least a hundred years for the Philippines to be ready for the construction, operation and management of nuclear waste.
He said that similarly, the Philippines is not equipped with the technology nor the capacity to ensure the safe operation of nuclear energy, arguing that it will be too risky to operate such a facility in a country that is exposed to various natural
disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and flooding.
According to Yu, at least 14 sites are being eyed for the development of a nuclear facility in various locations, including Bataan, near the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which was abandoned by the government in the 1970s.
A lot better GOING for renewable energy like solar energy is a lot better, Yu said because once it fails, solar energy can be quickly switched off without the risk of a nuclear disaster. He added that nuclear energy requires a lifetime to construct, operate and manage and is worse than fossil fuel, which can be shut down in 25 years. He said that disposing of wastes in nuclear will be problematic, citing the case of even advanced countries like Japan.
According to Greenpeace, the proposed Philippine National Nuclear Energy Act is a gruesome bill that, if enacted, will potentially bankrupt the country.
T he group believes that the most that benefit from the proposed measure are the nuclear industry and nuclear companies.
Posing a severe drain to the country’s financial resources, the
bill will make the national government, local government units, using Filipino taxpayer money, shoulder most, if not all the liabilities—costs of short-and long-term waste storage, decommissioning and nuclear accidents— associated with nuclear energy,” it says.
During the briefing, Yu said nuclear energy is a costly source of power.
“It does not fit in a world beset by a global financial crisis, as countries like ours struggle from keeping the economy afloat while dealing with climate change impacts,” he said.
Yu said the nuclear bill in Congress will waste billions of taxpayer money even while it fails to propose any viable financial solutions to address the necessary gargantuan costs for short- and long-term radioactive waste storage, decommissioning and nuclear accidents.
Companies and the pro-nuclear lobby are not being forthright on the pitfalls of small modular reactors (SMR),” he added.
Costs much higher
YU said there is no commercial SMR currently in operation in the world. If constructed, the Philippines will be one of the guinea pigs in a costly experiment, he said.
Moreover, he said the projected costs are much higher than our country can afford, putting the burden on our government and the people.
Companies proposing SMRs, in reality, do not have sufficient capital to fund billions needed for nuclear accidents, early decommissioning and waste storage. Meanwhile, the Philippine government’s track record of making those responsible for environmental accidents like mine and oil spills is dismal,” he said.
In conclusion, Greenpeace said the Philippines government should drop Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco’s nuclear bill, arguing that it has “faulty provisions” and “neglects to tackle the true costs of nuclear energy”—both on the financial aspects of construction and operation, as well as, short and long term waste storage, decommissioning and nuclear accidents, all of which concern the safety of Filipino people.
Yu said the government should, in fact, drop plans to develop nuclear energy in the Philippines, altogether saying “it uses technologies and resources that are not readily available in the country and indigenous renewable sources are locally available and abundant, much faster to deploy, much less costly and does not carry inherent risks.
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is eyeing to
“enhance” the Philippines’s participation in the global value chain of electronics particularly in the areas of research and development and production of wafer technology, DTI Assistant Secretary for International Trade Policy and Trade Negotiation Allan B. Gepty told a forum last Saturday.
Describing electronic products as the “niche” of the Philippines, Gepty said the country’s participation in the global value chain is currently in the area of assembly and testing.
H ence, moving forward, he said “there are two aspects that we are targeting—research and development and production of wafer technology.”
Gepty underscored the importance of the country capturing these “additional stages” in the global value chain of electronics as the Philippines has already established a niche in the electronics industry.
Moreover, the Trade official noted the Trade department is eyeing to develop the country’s manufacture and assembly of final products.
“Kasi pag final product siyempre ‘yung value mas mataas,” Gepty said. [Of course, the value of the final product is higher.]
At a forum organized by the Board of Investments (BOI) two weeks ago, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) President Danilo C. Lachica said Seipi is hoping to partner with American companies to build the semiconductor supply chain in the Philippines.
Lachica said the organization
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 59 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
T he landholdings were previously owned by Nelra Fe Leonor Ynson, Gloria Poblador dela Paz and Joffre dela Paz, Consuelo Divinagracia and Jose Libo-on, with a total area of 33.2699 hectares, situated at Barangay Magsaysay, Escalante City.
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarieTHE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will tie up not only with local government units (LGUs) but with private contractors and developers as well in building six million affordable shelters, a senior lawmaker said on Thursday.
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay F. Villafuerte is backing the move as a way to achieve the Marcos administration’s target to construct a million houses yearly to close the socialized housing backlog.
“Innovative partnerships with LGUs and also with private developers and contractors to meet the government-targeted one million homes yearly on the Marcos watch
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBMMunicipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Rainet V. Sancho said the CLOAs are the proof of ownership of the lands they once tilled.
“ Please remember the responsibilities that come from owning these properties. Make your lands productive, pay your taxes regularly and refrain from involving in illegal arrangements,” Sancho was quoted in a statement as saying. Sancho said the DAR would provide the ARBs with support services, such as farm machines and equipment, farm inputs and various training, among others, to help them in improving their livelihood.
of foreign and Filipino electronics companies in the Philippines would have to tap US semiconductor firms because “it’s expensive to build the wafer fab.”
As defined by Analog Devices Inc., an American multinational semiconductor firm, wafer fab is a semiconductor processing facility which turns wafers into integrated circuits.
Lachica explained the semiconductor supply chain includes the integrated circuit (IC) design, wafer fab and assembly, test and packaging.
The Seipi chief emphasized that the wafer fab is the “big gap in between,” albeit having the assembly, test and packaging and the IC design.
Lachica illustrated the current process, saying that what they do today is to “send the tapes or Gerber files to a wafer fab specifically to TSMC [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.].”
By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboyTHE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced it has seized the claimant of a shipment containing 1,808 grams of shabu worth P12.5 million recently.
T he BOC has discovered the illegal drugs during physical examination on May 10 of a shipment from US, said to contain “surprise dolls toys, plush stuff animal [and] toy car.”
The Customs said the shipment underwent K9 sniffing and x-ray scanning. The BOC said the shipment was also examined physically, which led to the discovery of two cans of coffee containing white crystalline substances weighing 1,808 grams.
The BOC said its personnel took
However, he mentioned the challenges that come with this, such as cost, lead time and “the more concerning thing,” Lachica said, would be the protection of the (intellectual property) IP.
“Of course when you send the chips there then you expose the secrets to the world so what we want to propose is to…with the help of the government, DTI, Department of Science and Technology [DOST] and the other possible sources is to build a large scale wafer fab in the Philippines and hopefully some of the Chips fund would be carved out for that,” the Seipi chief said two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Lachica said “there is news that the [Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022] Chips Act will probably allocate some funds for the Philippines.”
samples and sent these to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency laboratory for chemical analysis.
The BOC said the results confirmed that the substances are positive for the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, a dangerous drug under the Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
On May 11, joint elements of the BOC-Port of Clark and the PDEA conducted a controlled delivery operation to the consignee’s address in Mandaluyong City, which led to the arrest of a 42-year-old male claimant.
The BOC said District Collector John Simon will issue a “Warrant of Seizure and Detention” against the subject shipment.
ILIGAN CITY—A bio-based polyurethane foam has been successfully tested on its oil absorption in the oil spill in Mindoro and the head of the team from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) said the technology would be refined further to absorbed the oil that has dried a bit on sea.
T he polyurethane foam labeled as “CocoFlexSorb” was successful in absorbing the oil spilled at sea by the MT Princess Empress when it sunk in March this year, said Hernando P. Bacosa, professor of Environmental Science of the College of Science and Mathematics at MSU-IIT.
Bacosa said the technology uses coconut oil tweaked to absorb other oils but this was rushed to respond to the oil spill. While it did show the capacity to absorb the crude oil, he said much of the oil spilled had been weathered, or dried up and had to be scooped manually.
We would be researching again on how this technology would be able to absorb the bigger-sized weathered oil,” Bacosa said.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the CocoFlexSorb was one of three new innovations in foam products that were developed from the “DOST-Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D,” or “Nicer,” program by the Center for Sustainable Polymers at the MMSU-IIT.
A lso called “Superoleophilic Foams,” the technology “has shown potential to absorb numerous types of oil.”
The material has been proven to have high affinity and sorption capacity in bunker oil, fresh and used engine oil, kerosene and vegetable oils,” the DOST said. “It is hydrophobic in both fresh and salt water and has superior reusability as its oil sorption capacity does not diminish with use.”
The research team was almost to give up on further research on this particu-
lar foam product after several tests in the past 18 months always exhibit the coconut oil to absorb water, aside from other oils, thus filling up the buckets that were supposed to store any other oils that were targeted to be absorb. “ This technology was rushed because of the oil spill and so, the research was quicken,” Bacosa added. The technology would require only a small bucket size to fit the storage and its other gadgets less than a one cubic meter, when it was tested. In commercial use, there would be several of this package, which would be placed alongside the oil spill boom. Bacosa said the technology “is still in its technology stage and is not commercialized yet.”
T his foam technology is unlike those available in the market: it has superior oil absorption capacity and can absorb different types of oil from light, vegetable, kerosene, engine and bunker oil.
T he “Superoleophilic Foams,” of the foams labeled CocoFlexSorb, was presented late last week to the public during the inauguration of three DOST-financed laboratories inside the MSU-IIT. These are: the Research Institute for Engineering and Innovative Technology (RIEIT); and, the two research centers under it, the Nicer-Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) and the Center for Energy Research and Technology (CERT).
T he other foams include the Rigid Insulation Foam Panels, designed specifically for the building and construction industry, targeting the segment who prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly materials and the first of its kind to use polyol derived entirely from coconut oil, without any petroleum-based substitutes, Another is the “Viscoelastic Foam,” a bio-based alternative to commercially available “memory” foams, which has higher density than conventional foams and possesses the signature feature of memory foams—slow recovery.
will enable the DHSUD to build 6 million affordable homes—and thereby close the housing backlog—by the time the President leaves office in 2028,” Villafuerte said.
“The national government certainly cannot hope to close the housing backlog under the Marcos presidency without the full support not only of LGUs but of private developers and contractors as well,” the lawmaker said.
The country’s backlog is projected at 6 million to 6.5 million housing units.
Villafuerte also expressed support to the President’s plan to build socialized housing projects on more vacant government lots as part of his administration’s pursuit of increased collaboration with LGUs and the private sector on closing the housing gap, under the “Pam -
authorities in the Marcos administration to promptly mount a no nonsense crackdown against perpetrators of “misleading contracts”
bansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” Housing (4PH) program.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had vowed to launch similar mass housing projects in the years ahead and to work continuously in finding idle government lands suitable for mass shelter projects for homeless Filipinos.
Marcos has voiced optimism his government could exceed its annual target of 1 million housing units with the provision of at least 1.2 million housing units under the flagship 4PH program.
For the President, one indicator of the increasing number of shelter availment is the rise in the number of new Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or the Pag-IBIG Fund) members and increased interest from the people in buying new homes.
According to Villafuerte, the Pag-
of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.
T he senator prodded officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to rescind misleading contracts signed by OFWs bound for Taiwan.
In a dialogue with OFWs in Taipei, the employees reported “there are many inconsistencies between the contracts they signed with their recruiters in Manila, compared with the ‘Affidavits for Wage /Salary and Expenses,’ which are the contracts they signed with their employers in Taiwan.”
T he Senator also noted that “although many OFWs do not encounter this problem, those who do had to endure abuse and exploitation by their employers.”
The dialogue was attended by OFWs from various parts of Taiwan, such as Taipei, Taichung, Taoyuan, Tainan,
IBIG Fund has ample resources to assist the DHSUD in implementing the 4PH program, considering that it has total assets of P827 billion.
Villafuerte said Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar is correct in forging more partnership agreements with the private sector to guarantee the success of 4PH program.
He noted that Acuzar has been meeting with the various groups of real estate developers in order to promote the joint venture agreement (JVA) and public-private partnership (PPP) under the 4PH. Acuzar himself has said that he had been meeting with the officers and members of, among others, the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), National Real Estate As-
Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, and other.
“Ayon mismo sa ating mga kababayan, hindi nagtutugma ang mga detalye ng dalawa nilang pinipirmahan para makapagtrabaho sa Taiwan. Misleading ang mga nakasaad. ’Yung job description, day off, rest day, oras ng trabaho, at maging ang sweldo, hindi pareho. Kaya pagdating nila doon, nalilito sila. Yung iba, nagtitiis hanggang makahanap ng bagong malilipatang employer. Ang malala, may ibang naaabuso at napipilitang magpa —”shelter” o magpakupkop muna sa mga kababayan natin sa Taiwan,” she said.
[According to our compatriots, the details in the contract didn’t match; the statements were misleading. The job description, day off, rest day, work hours, and even the salary, are not the same. So when they get there, they are confused. The rest endure until they find a new employer to
sociation Inc. (NREA) and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba).
Villafuerte agreed with Acuzar that private builders and contractors are “absolute multipliers” in the government drive to construct affordable and decent housing units for homeless Filipinos.
As the implementing agency of the 4PH, the DHSUD has been pushing partnerships with LGUs that have secured loans from government financial institutions (GFIs), with LGUs that have forged JVAs or PPPs with private developers and with private builders via turnkey projects.
Camarines Sur itself is building a trailblazing high-rise project in Naga City in tandem with DHSUD under the 4PH program, said Villafuerte.
The former governor noted that
move to. The worst part is that others are abused and forced to “shelter” or take refuge with our compatriots in Taiwan.]
It was also noted that “to be a foreign worker in Taiwan, an OFW must sign an “Affidavit for Wage/Salary and Expenses,” which is also signed by labor brokers and the employer, “meant to protect the OFW against unfavorable conditions.”
However, Hontiveros believes “unscrupulous recruiters have found a loophole that enables the exploitation of many Filipinos.”
For instance, she noted that “many of our migrants who applied and trained in Manila as caregivers ended up being farmers of pinyin or betel nuts (nganga), which the workers say is “backbreaking work.”
Hontiveros added: “Gigising sila ng alas-kwatro ng umaga para umakyat sa
the 4PH housing project, once completed, will boast the tallest structure in Bicol at 25 storeys, or higher than the current tallest building in the region that is 20 storeys high.
Under this pioneering initiative, five residential towers with a total of 10,000 units will rise on a sixhectare land on Panganiban Drive in Naga City.
Four commercial buildings will also be built around the residential towers to let the would-be residents have access to basic facilities like schools, medical facilities and markets, said Villafuerte.
Villafuerte said the 4PH low-cost housing complex will provide homes to more than 10,000 families or over 50,000 people and will generate an estimated P6 billion to P8 billion worth of local economic activity and create thousands of jobs.
bundok kung nasaan ang farm ng nganga. Pagdating doon buong araw ang trabaho, lampas sa nakatakda sa kontrata nila. May isa tayong OFW, mag-isa lang syang manggagawa sa farm ng employer niya. Siya ang gumagawa ng lahat. Mayroon ding mga kaso na hindi pinagda-day off ng employer, bawal din daw mag-rest day. Marami din ang hindi sumusweldo nang tama. Napakahirap ng pinagdaanan nila.”
[They wake up at four in the morning to climb the mountain where the nganga farm is. When they got there, they worked all day, beyond what was stipulated in their contract. There’s one OFW who’s the only worker in his employer’s farm. He does everything. There are also cases where the employer doesn’t allow them to take a day off, it is also forbidden to take a rest day. Many are also not paid correctly. They went through so much trouble.]
ASENIOR lawmaker on Sunday
backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for a balanced fertilization strategy involving the mixed-use of both biofertilizers or organic fertilizers and inorganic imports in farms.
C amarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said freeing farmers from the “decades-long chokehold” of costly imported chemical fertilizers in favor of the use of biofertilizers or organic inputs is “an audacious agricultural policy shift” that should have happened a long time back.
“It has to take a President who is concurrent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to carry out this eco-friendly farming strategy, which actually makes sense as
FOOD exporters to China are advised to take note of a new policy expanding the list of food products covered by Decree 248, which regulates the registration and administration of overseas producers of imported food.
T he Department of TradeExport Marketing Bureau (DTIEMB) in a new advisory said the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) has added 18 food products that need to comply with registration regulations.
T hese products include dairy products, fruit and vegetable juices, and fruit products.
Since January 1, 2022, overseas food manufacturers, processors, and storage facilities of various product groups, such as meat and meat products, aquatic products, and edible oils and fats, are being required to register with GACC, according to the advisory.
DTI-EMB urged food exporters to maintain active communication with their importers and ensure adherence to GACC rules to avoid potential costs and complications.
Exporters are also advised to periodically check GACC’s Single Win-
it will let him deliver on his multipronged commitments to modernize Philippine agriculture, slash rice prices, bump up farmers’ yields and incomes, nurture agribusiness and fight climate change,” he said.
V illafuerte suggested that the appropriate House committees conduct a joint inquiry into the impact on Philippine agriculture and farm productivity of local farmers’ use for decades now of imported chemical fertilizers and a comparison between the actual costs for, and per-hectare yields of, local growers using organic and inorganic production inputs.
I ssues that must likewise be looked into in this proposed joint inquiry, he said, are on: whether chemical fertilizers like Urea really cost cheaper than, if not just the same, as biofertilizers, and whether organic inputs or biofertilizers are
still untested or have been proven to significantly boost crop yields.
Villafuerte made the statement after the DA came under fire last week for Memorandum Order (MO) 32 issued last April 27 for rice industry development, setting the guidelines on the distribution and use of biofertilizers in local farms.
President Marcos at the same time announced at a DA sectoral meeting, also last week, his administration’s push for the use of biofertilizers by farmers to cut their use of imported petroleum-based fertilizers.
“ This eco-friendly initiative would greatly benefit not only farmers, but also the overwhelming majority of people who consume rice as a staple, and agribusiness entrepreneurs producing and/or selling biofertilizers or organic fertilizers.”
T he lawmaker said the gov -
ernment must consider the following points:
The lower cost of organic fertilizers, as compared to imported chemical inputs, will increase the income of local growers; Higher yields from the use of organic fertilizers, as supposedly proven in DA field trials, will mean higher annual harvests or production of the staple grain, which will subsequently translate into cheaper rice for consumers;
The promotion of locally produced biofertilizers will increase the demand for the products of domestic producers, thereby boosting the economy and creating more jobs;
Promoting organic fertilizers will reduce farmers’ use of chemical fertilizers, which degrade the soil or make it more acidic and lower crop productivity;
By minimizing soil degradation with the lesser use of chemical inputs, we will further cut the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere that causes global warming and climate change; Promoting the use of locallyproduced organic inputs will free the country from the supply chain snafus of imported goods that had bedeviled import-dependent nations like the Philippines following the mobility restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and
Lesser dependence on imports will insulate the Philippines from foreign exchange (forex) volatility, thus protecting the country’s dollar reserves.
Villafuerte also doubted the critics’ claim that it is cheaper or just the same to use chemical fertilizers,
which reportedly cost P1,100 per bag, as against the latest price bulletin of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) that it actually costs P1,800.
“Granting for the sake of argument that the critics can produce urea that sells for only P1,100 per bag, these non-believers couldn’t keep such a low price for long for the benefit of local farmers,” he said.
He recalled that urea’s year-ago price was P3,000 a bag, adding that prices of petroleum-based imported fertilizers are “volatile” because these are dependent on the world market cost of oil.
V illafuerte said the balanced fertilization strategy to raise palay harvests, increase farmers’ incomes and slash rice prices will boost the DA programs on Masagana 150 and Masagana 200, which aim to hike rice yields.
By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy
THE National Food Authority (NFA) purchased a total of 1,304 bags of palay from its local farmers in Malolos, Bulacan, an official said over the weekend.
W ith the assistance of Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units (PALLGU), the NFA said the program allowed local farmers to enjoy additional premium for their produce.
“ NFA Bulacan is prepared to accommodate who wish to have their palay picked up from their respective locations.”
former should provide a premium amount, which will be added to the existing government buying price of palay currently pegged at P19 per kilogram.
T he city of Malolos has allocated P1 million under the program wherein P3 per kilo will be infused to the P19 per kilo NFA buying price.
Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said the NFA currently has a P9-billion budget for its palay procurement program.
dow system for updates by running a “Product Type Query” at https:// cifer.singlewindow.cn to determine if their facilities need to register.
T he Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. said companies may reach out to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for information on the requirements and
procedures for GACC registration.
C hina was the top buyers of Philippine-made products in the first quarter, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Figures from the PSA showed that export earnings in January to March fell by 13.2 percent to $16.86 billion, from last year’s $19.43 billion.
R eceipts from electronic products—the country’s top export— dropped by 17.5 percent to a little over $9 billion, from $10.913 in the first quarter of 2022.
S hipments of coconut oil, the country’s top farm export, nosedived to $320.37 million, from last year’s $598.89 million.
T he local government of Malolos has agreed to help the NFA financially in procuring local palay. The Malolos government has announced that a memorandum of agreement was signed by city officials.
T he NFA has confirmed that the agreement was based on the grains agency’s PALLGU. Under the program, the legislators or heads of LGUs should enter into a marketing agreement with the NFA where the
“ The grain agency should go directly to the farmers and buy their freshly produced harvest currently pegged at P17 to P18 per kilo; anyway they have the facilities to dry and transport the newly harvested rice crops.”
Meanwhile, Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, said that based on their monitoring only a selected few local government units (LGUs) in Zamboanga, Leyte, Sablayan Mindoro Occidental and Nueva Ecija have tied up with the NFA under the PALLGU program.
PARTIES to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) have agreed to strengthen efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
FAO said countries have committed to extend vessel inspections, exchange global information and improve the capacity of developing states.
T he Fourth Meeting of the Parties, an event hosted by the Indonesian government in Bali last May 8 to 12, has endorsed a strategy to increase adherence to the PSMA.
T he parties also agreed to take the Global Information Exchange System (GIES), a digital system developed by FAO at the request of the Parties, from its current pilot phase to a fully operational system by the end of this year.
FAO is working with countries and regional fisheries management organizations to combat IUU fishing, by reviewing national legislation, identifying ways to strengthen their institutional capacity, and helping them enhance their monitoring and surveillance systems, so they can effectively implement the PSMA and other international instruments to promote sustainable fisheries,” said Manuel Barange, the director of FAO’s fisheries and aquaculture division.
Currently, one in three fish stocks are overfished. With the rising demand for aquatic foods, ensuring that all stocks are managed sustainably is crucial.
The PSMA has the highest rate of adherence of all international fisheries instruments. It is the first binding international agreement designed to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing by stopping foreign vessels engaging in it, from using ports, landing their catches, even denying them entry. It is a key instrument to block fish products derived from IUU fishing from entering international markets.
So far 75 parties, including the European Union as one Party on behalf of its member states, have adhered to the PSMA. This represents 59 percent of port states globally. TimorLeste became the latest party to the agreement at the end of last month.
FAO noted that the Global Information Exchange System (GIES) plays a critical role in supporting the implementation of the PSMA. It is a global system that shares vital information including inspection reports and actions taken on foreign fishing vessels engaged in IUU fishing.
“ We need streamlined information exchange and digitalization for the PSMA to effectively combat IUU fishing,” said Matthew Camilleri, senior fishery officer and head of the Fisheries Global and Regional Processes Team in FAO’s fisheries and aquaculture division.
During this Fourth Meeting of the Parties, parties to the PSMA pledged further support to the Global Capacity Development Program, which has to date supported more than 50 developing states in improving their capacity to combat IUU fishing.
THE global cost-of-living crunch has pushed coffee drinkers to get their fix from cheaper brews. But a shortage of robusta beans is making it increasingly difficult to find a budget-friendly cup.
W hile many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive because the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.
Key growers, however, are finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in demand, with wholesale prices this week hitting the highest level in nearly twelve years.
For consumers in Europe’s largest coffee market, Germany, the squeeze is having a noticeable effect on retail costs, with instant varieties going for nearly 20 percent more than a year ago, even as inflation for coffee beans has lost momentum. US instant coffee price-growth also slowed less than the roasted version in April.
T he odds of global robusta shortages easing any time soon look bleak. Vietnam—the world’s largest producer—probably collected its smallest harvest in four years, after farmers focused on planting more profitable crops like avocados and durians to cope with booming fertilizer costs in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Brazil, the second-largest grower
of the variety, has seen its crops hurt by drought, and there are also concerns that Indonesia’s output could suffer following heavy rains.
Despite those hurdles, more robusta beans were exported globally in the first six months of the current season compared to the last three years—just not fast enough to keep up with higher needs. Shipments between October and March were about 4 percent higher than the same period in 2021-22, according to the International Coffee Organization.
“ There’s been so much of a demand shift away from higher-priced coffee that even the market isn’t even being satisfied by higher robusta exports,” said Judith Ganes, who runs a consultancy focused on commodities like coffee in New York.
T he switch was first observed among roasters who increased the amount of robusta used in commercial blends to offset higher arabica costs and energy bills. Then, double-digit inflation in many parts of the world saw grocery bills surge
to the highest in decades, forcing some consumers to trade down to cheaper options.
As a result, robusta-heavy instant coffee is growing faster than other industry segments, according to Aguinaldo Lima of the Brazilian Instant Coffee Industry Association, whose country is the world’s top soluble coffee producer. And leading companies elsewhere, such as Nestle SA and India’s Tata Coffee, have also reported stronger demand for instant coffee in their latest financial reports. Bloomberg News
THE month of May has been declared National Heritage Month in the Philippines, a month that is dedicated to strengthening Filipinos’ consciousness, respect and love for the legacies of Filipino cultural history. Coincidentally, May is also the month when most fiestas, festivals and other activities are celebrated throughout the Philippines.
There is one city in Laguna that brings together its 24 barangays every year in May to celebrate their heritage, culture and to give thanks to their bountiful blessings. That city is the City of Biñan and it celebrates the nine-day Puto Latik Festival from May 15 to 23, 2023.
Thanks to the city government’s efforts to celebrate its heritage and culture, the City of Biñan was named Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Laguna for Culture and Tourism 2022 by the Provincial Government.
Biñan, the richest municipality
in the Philippines before its cityhood, became an independent component city of the Province of Laguna in 2010 by virtue of Republic Act 9740. In 2015, it became the Lone Congressional District of Biñan, the first lone district in Laguna. Even if it has transformed into a progressive city, Biñan has not forgotten its historic past. Side by side with the visible marks of progress are images of age old structures and long-held traditions that have survived to this day and that people continue to treasure and keep alive.
BIÑAN City has been popularly recognized as the trading center area immediately south of Metro Manila. The city has the largest public market in the province of Laguna and in the Calabarzon Region. Retailers from nearby towns often plow the city proper to purchase goods and merchandise intended to be sold elsewhere.
The city has also been the center of commerce in the region because of the numerous banking institutions across the city, plus the growing number of commercial establishments
and emerging shopping center. Th is year, Biñan will be celebrating the 13th Puto Latik Festival 2023 with the theme “Makiisa. Makisaya. Makisayaw.” The festival celebrates two of the city’s most important contributions to the country’s cultural history: the Puto Biñan and the Maglalatik Dance. In fact, the Puto Latik Festival was awarded by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines-Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT) Pearl Awards which was established to recognize exceptional tourism practices in the country.
son “BJ” Borja, head of the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO).
San Isidro Labrador, town’s patron saint THE festival kicks off with the Queen of Biñan, the Nuestra Señora Dela Paz, the oldest Marian image in Biñan being brought to the town to visit the original image of the town patron San Isidro Labrador. This will be followed by the 6am Misang Bayan. After the mass, the festival will be formally opened by Biñan City Mayor Walfredo "Arman" Dimaguila, Jr., Vice Mayor Angelo "Gel" Alonte and Biñan Rep. Marlyn "Len" Alonte-Naguiat at the newly-opened Plaza Rizal.
banner our public service programs. This year, we added a number of public service activities to take advantage of the Biñanenses converging in the town plaza,” Borja explained.
Public service programs
ON MAY 17, the third day of celebration, the City Health Office I will spearhead the Puto Latik Dental Mission and Immunization Day. Other public service programs that will be held include the Puto Latik Mega Job Fair to be held by the City Public Employment and Service Office on May 18 and Ospital ng Biñan’s Alis Bukol Mission on May 19.
The City Health Office II will lead the Vision Screening for Kids on May 22.
The City Government of Biñan, through the City Business Permit and Licensing Office, will recognize the city’s top tax payers during the City of Life Awards on May 19.
Not to be outdone, Biñan’s so called Big 3 (Dimaguila, Alonte and Alonte-Naguiat) will also have their own respective caravans. Alonte will have his Tatak Gel Caravan on May 20 which will offer dental check-ups with extractions, eye check-ups with free glasses, haircut, manicure and pedicure services.
(medical, burial, etc) among others. This is a yearly staple at the Puto Latik Fesitval and this has helped a lot of Biñanenses. It has already become a tradition and we always on the look out for other services we can offer our constituents,” Dimaguila said. Naguiat-Alonte will have her Alagang Len Caravan on May 23 where she will be distributing TESDA certificates, free pneumococcal vaccines and free blood chemistry. “ The health of our Biñanenses has always been one of my primary concerns and this is the reason why I pushed for the upgrade of the Ospital ng Biñan. Back in March, I launched the Alagang Len card, a card which contains P5,000 and enables Biñanenses to avail of outpatient medical services at the hospital,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
Celebrating culture and beauty
“I have always been an advocate of yearly eye check-ups because many Filipinos forget about checking on their eyesight, especially those who are diabetic. This free eye checkup that I will be offering will be my way of reminding them to get their eyes checked,” Alonte said.
“ We will start the festivities with the Pistang
the
15
we will end with the Pistang Intsik where the Chinese businessmen who are based here give thanks for the blessings that they have received through a celebration and a fireworks display,” said Bryan Jay-
Three major competitions will be held on the first day alone: the Puto Latik Costume Parade, Puto Latik Drum Beating Parade and the Puto Latik Street Dancing Competition. The second day will see the conduct of the Pet Parade and Blessing with free microchipping, vaccination and deworming for pet dogs and cats. The second day of celebration will end with Biñan Singing Idol.
“While the Puto Latik Festival is all about promoting our products and our talents, it is also a good time to
Dimaguila, on the other hand, will have his Serbisyong Arman Caravan on May 21 at Alberto Mansion. The caravan will include medical and dental missions; blood typing; correction of birth, marriage and death certificates; distribution of free seeds and seedlings; free legal consultation and notary services; registration and correction of birth certificates and distribution of financial assistance
THE celebration of the Puto Latik Festival would not be complete without beauty contests like the Miss Biñan Gay Queen 2023 on May 17 and the Mister and Miss Biñan 2023 on May 20; and the cultural activities like the Sining Konsiyerto on May 18; Open Air Cinema on May 19; Usapang Kultura in celebration of National Heritage Month on May 22; Biñan Modern Dance Showdown and Biñan Grand Santacruzan, the festival's culminating events on May 23. Other activities to look out for include the Puto Latik Land Float Competition on May 18; Biñan Flair Challenge and Puto Latik All-Stars Basketball and Volleyball, both on May 21; Puto Biñan 2.0: The Biñan Cook-off Challenge and the Biñan Grand Zumba on May 22, and the City Government of Biñan Employees Day on May 23. This is going to be the biggest celebration yet here in Biñan. We have a lot to be thankful for because the city, as well as the entire Philippines, is truly on the road to recovery,” Borja said.
The Associated Press
BANGKOK — Voters in Thailand
were heading to the polls on Sunday in an election touted as a pivotal chance for change, eight years after incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first came to power in a 2014 coup. He is now running against the daughter of the politician who is the military’s top nemesis.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party, headed by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is widely predicted to win at least a healthy plurality of the seats in the 500-member lower House. After casting her ballot, Paetongtarn said every vote is important for effecting change in Thailand and that she has high hopes for the final result.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra one of the prime minister candidates from Pheu thai Party, casts her vote at a polling station in Bangkok, thailand on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Voters in thailand were heading to the polls on Sunday in an election touted as a pivotal chance for change, eight years after incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first came to power in a 2014 coup. AP Photo/WA s on WA n ich A korn
The Group of Seven’s ease in agreeing on a statement after three days of talks in Niigata, Japan, was in stark contrast with the discord seen at the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Bengaluru, India, less than three months earlier, which ended without the usual communiqué.
The difference: no China or Russia. While condemnation of “Russia’s War of Aggression” against Ukraine was front and center of the 14-page statement, China didn’t get a direct mention. Yet there were thinly veiled plans to counter its dominance of global supply chains and growing sway over the Global South.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen couldn’t escape the debt ceiling impasse. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, she said the federal government will have to renege on some payments if Congress doesn’t raise the debt limit.
Here’s a look at what came out of
g ro u P of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors attend a group photo session ahead of their meeting in niigata, Japan on Friday, May 12, 2023. From top left to right, Secretary-general of the organization for economic Cooperation and Development (oeCD) Mathias Cormann, President of the eurogroup Paschal Donohoe, Deputy governor of the Bank of england Jon Cunliffe, Commissioner for the economy of european Commission Paolo gentiloni, governor of the Central Bank of France Francois Villeroy de galhau, French Director general of the treasury emmanuel Moulin, european Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, British Chancellor of the e xchequer Jeremy hunt, international Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina georgieva, world Bank group President David Malpass, Chair of the Financial Stability Board Klaas Knot. Front row from left, governor of the Bank of Canada t ff Macklem, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, governor of the Bank of italy ignazio Visco, italian Finance Minister giancarlo giorgetti, governor of the Bank of Japan Kazuo ueda, Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Joachim nagel, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, german Finance Minister Christian Lindner, uS Federal reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and uS treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. AP Photo/s h uji kA iyA m A
three days of talks:
ukraine aid
A ID f or Ukraine through early 2024 was nudged up to $44 billion in a move that enabled the International Monetary Fund to approve $15.6 billion of support over four years. “We call for an immediate end of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, which would clear one of the biggest uncertainties over the global economic outlook,” the finance chiefs said in the statement.
Macro outlook
T HE l eaders flagged the need to stay “agile and flexible” on economic policy amid heightened uncertainties for the global economy. Central banks “will ensure inflation expectations remain well anchored and will clearly communicate policy stances to help limit negative cross-country spillovers,” the communiqué added.
Financial stability
T HE n eed to ensure global financial
stability was a prominent theme following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank, and the takeover of Credit Suisse. While the G-7 maintained its stance that the global financial system remains “resilient” in the communiqué, officials also sounded the alarm against complacency.
Supply chains
T R ADE d isruptions were also high on the list of concerns at the gathering, with implicit regard to China.
Finance chiefs proposed a new partnership that’ll be open to other nations and will target clean energy, as previously reported by Bloomberg News. They aim to launch the partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement, or RISE, by the end of this year at the latest, the communiqué showed.
Debt
T O b uild consensus beyond the G-7, finance chiefs were careful to include
other nations in the conversation, with a session dedicated to pledging more support to lower and middleincome countries and helping them secure resources from IMF facilities. The communiqué named Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana as countries that have recently made or are expected to see some progress under the G-20’s socalled Common Framework. o ther commitments
T HE f inance chiefs also affirmed commitments on climate change mitigation and adaptation, strengthening the governance and finance of the global health architecture, and continued work toward hashing out crypto regulations, without making any significant new advances on those fronts.
Attention now shifts to the G-7 leaders meeting in Hiroshima on May 19-21. With assistance from Alessandra Migliaccio, Christopher Condon, Kamil Kowalcze, Joe Mayes, Emi Urabe, Toru Fujioka and Erica Yokoyama / Bloomberg
ROME—Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pri -
vate talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for Ukraine’s peace plan from the pontiff, who in the past has offered to try to help end the fullscale war launched by Russia a year ago.
Zelenskyy held his hand over his heart and said it was a “great honor” to meet with the pope. Francis, using a cane for his knee problem, came to greet the Ukrainian president before ushering him into a papal studio near the Vatican’s audience hall.
In a tweet after the 40-minute audience, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Francis for “his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians.” He said he spoke with the pontiff “about the tens of thousands of deported (Ukrainian) children. We must make every effort to return them home.”
Last month, Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, asked the pope to help get children returned from Russia to Ukraine. But the Vatican’s statement Saturday made no mention of the request.
Instead, the Vatican said the two men spoke about Ukraine’s “humanitarian and political situation provoked by the ongoing war.”
“The pope assured his constant prayer, paid witness to by his many public appeals and by his continued invoking of the Lord for peace, since February of last year,” the Vatican said, a reference to the Russian invasion
that began Feb. 24, 2022.
The meeting came as Russia’s defense ministry said Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles delivered to Ukraine by the United Kingdom this week damaged unspecified civilian enterprises in Luhansk province in Ukraine’s far east. Luhansk authorities separately said another missile strike hit the regional capital, wounding an elderly woman.
Two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and an Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed Saturday in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, state news agency Tass and a Telegram channel close to the Russian defense ministry reported; the newspaper Kommersant cited reports of two fighter planes crashing. The causes of the crashes were not immediately disclosed, but concern in Bryansk is growing about cross-border attacks from Ukraine.
Some Ukrainian units continue to push forward near Bakhmut, the commander of Ukraine’s land forces said Saturday, just a day after Ukrainian commanders said their troops recaptured territory at the scene of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle. “Our soldiers are moving forward in some sectors of the front, and the enemy is losing equipment and manpower,” Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Telegram.
Zelenskyy also said that he asked the pope to condemn Russian “crimes in Ukraine” because “there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor.”
“I also talked about our Peace Formula as the only effective algorithm for achieving a just peace,’’ Zelenskyy said. Later, in an interview on Italian
state TV, the Ukrainian leader said the pope “knows my position. The war is in Ukraine, that is why it has to be Ukraine’s plan” to bring peace.
Zelenskyy’s 10-point plan would establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes. It would also create a European-Atlantic security architecture with guarantees for Ukraine, restore Ukraine’s damaged power infrastructure and ensure safety around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy received from Italian officials pledges of open-ended military and financial support as well as stronger backing for Ukraine’s cherished aim to join the European Union.
“The message is clear and simple,” Premier Giorgia Meloni said after a meeting with Zelenskyy that lasted more than an hour. “The future of Ukraine is a future of peace and freedom. And it’s the future of Europe, a future of peace and freedom, for which there are no other possible solutions.’’
The premier, who staunchly supports military aid for Ukraine, said Italy would back the country “360 degrees for all the time necessary and beyond.”
Separately, Italian President Sergio Mattarella told Zelenskyy, “We are fully at your side,” Mattarella told Zelenskyy as he welcomed him. Later, presidential palace sources said Mattarella assured his guest that Italy would continue to support Ukraine militarily and financially, as well as with reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
Since the war began, Italy has con -
tributed about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in military and financial aid, as well as humanitarian assistance.
Zelenskyy is believed to be heading to Berlin next for what would be his first visit to Germany since the war began. The exact schedule was not publicly announced because of security concerns.
At the end of April, Francis told reporters that the Vatican was involved in a behind-the-scene peace mission but gave no details. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such an initiative.
He has said he would like to go to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, if such a visit could be coupled with one to Moscow, in hopes a papal pilgrimage could further the cause of peace.
There has been speculation about whether the Vatican could play some mediating role. But in the Italian TV interview on Saturday, Zelenskyy indicated mediation in general would be impossible. “You can’t mediate with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,’’ he said.
The German government, meanwhile, said it was providing Ukraine with additional military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin wanted to show with the latest package of arms “that Germany is serious in its support” for Ukraine.
“Germany will provide all the help it can, as long as it takes,” he said. Frank Jordans in Berlin, Joanna Kozlowska in London, and Nicole Winfield and Gianfranco Stara in Rome contributed to this report.
But who heads the next government won’t be decided by Sunday’s vote alone. The prime minister will be selected in July in a joint session of the House and the 250-seat Senate. The winner must secure at least 376 votes and no party is likely to do that on its own.
Pheu Thai won the most seats in the last election in 2019, but its archrival, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, succeeded in cobbling together a coalition with Prayuth as prime minister. It relied on unanimous support from the Senate, whose members share the military’s conservative outlook and were appointed by the military government after Prayuth’s coup.
Prayuth is running for reelection, although the military this year has split its support between two parties. Prayuth is backed by the United Thai Nation Party; his deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, another former general, is the standard bearer for Palang Pracharath.
Prayuth has been blamed for a stuttering economy, shortcomings in addressing the pandemic and thwarting democratic reforms, a particular sore point with younger voters. At his polling station, he also encouraged people to come out to vote.
“The increased youth vote and general awareness of the damage caused by military rule are key factors likely to determine the results of this election,” said Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies specialist at the University of Wisconsin. “After nine years of military rule, people are ready for a change, even those who were not interested in rocking the boat before.”
Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of
parties linked to populist billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister by an army coup in 2006. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is his daughter. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who became prime minister in 2011, was toppled in the coup led by Prayuth.
Pheu Thai and Paetongtarn, the most popular of the party’s three registered candidates for prime minister, are strides ahead of the competition in the opinion polls. But there is no sign that the country’s militarybacked conservative establishment has warmed to them.
“I think the conservative-royalist side, underpinning the military, the monarchy, their backs are against the wall. Change is coming and they have to find a way to deal with it,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.
That means Pheu Thai will have to tread carefully after Sunday’s election in choosing possible coalition partners.
The Move Forward Party is polling second and is its ideological bedfellow in seeking to clip the military’s wings. But its outspoken support for minor reforms of the monarchy is unacceptable to most conservatives to whom the institution is sacrosanct, and scares off other possible coalition partners.
Many believe that Pheu Thai might look in the other direction for a partner, by cutting a deal with the Palang Pracharath Party and its leader, Prawit, who is less associated with the 2014 coup and the hard line Prayuth has pursued.
Kenya cult death toll hits 200, with more than 600 missing
By Evelyne Musambi The Associated PressNAIROBI, Kenya—The death toll linked to a doomsday cult in Kenya hit 201 Saturday after police exhumed 22 more bodies, most of them bearing signs of starvation, according to the coast regional commissioner.
The bodies are believed to be those of followers of a pastor based in coastal Kenya, Paul Mackenzie. He’s alleged to have ordered congregants to starve to death in order to meet Jesus.
M ore than 600 people are still missing.
Mackenzie, who was arrested last month, remains in custody. Police plan to charge him with terrorismrelated offenses.
Hundreds of bodies have been dug up from dozens of mass graves spread across his 800-acre property, located in the coastal county of Kilifi.
Mackenzie insists that he closed his church in 2019 and moved to his property in a forested area to farm.
Autopsies conducted on more than 100 bodies last week showed the victims died of starvation, strangulation, suffocation and injuries sustained from blunt objects.
Local media outlets have been reporting cases of missing internal
body organs, quoting investigators in the case.
Mackenzie, his wife and 16 other suspects will appear in court at the end of the month.
Coast regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha on Saturday said the total number of those arrested stood at 26, with 610 people reported as missing by their families.
It is unclear how many survivors have been rescued so far from the search and rescue operations on Mackenzie’s vast property. Some of them were too weak to walk when they were found.
Cults are common in Kenya, which has a religious society.
Police across the country have been questioning other religious leaders whose teachings are believed to be misleading and contrary to basic human rights.
President William Ruto last week formed a commission of inquiry to investigate how hundreds of people were lured to their deaths at the coast and recommend action on institutions that failed to act.
Mackenzie had in the past been charged with the deaths of children in his church in a case that is ongoing in court. Residents nearby had raised the alarm after his followers moved to the forested area.
Under the shadow of swelling risks to the global economy, finance chiefs from the world’s wealthy nations presented a united front with more support for Ukraine, a plan for diversifying supply chains and a vow to fill gaps in financial regulation.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China agreed in 2002 to work towards creating a Code of Conduct intended to reduce the risk of conflict in the South China Sea (SCS).
The parties recognized the importance of a COC in the disputed waterway, where China’s expansive maritime and territorial claims clash with those of four Asean member states: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The South China Sea carries tremendous strategic importance because onethird of the world’s shipping passes through it.
Although the COC has been a perennial agenda item for China and Asean, there seems no movement towards its realization. Negotiations for the agreement have stalled because of various reasons, most recently due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which made it more difficult to hold in-person meetings.
During his intervention at the 42nd Asean Summit Retreat Session in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on Thursday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tried to rally support for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct between Asean and China, citing the “concerning” developments in the South China Sea. (Read, “PBBM rallies support for early completion of Asean-China Code of Conduct,” in the BusinessMirror, May 12,2023).
The President said Filipino vessels continue to face attempts to deny and obstruct their movement within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea from Chinese ships despite the existence of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.
The DOC was signed by Asean and China in 2002 to affirm their commitment to peaceful resolution of territorial and jurisdictional issues and to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight at the South China Sea.
“The Philippines has been clear and consistent about its serious concerns over recent developments in the South China Sea, especially infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. These incidents have palpable consequences for the safety and welfare of our people, particularly our fisherfolk and coastal communities,” Marcos said.
To address this issue, Marcos said he is advocating for the enforcement of a rules-based maritime order anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
Marcos earlier said such principles should be included in the COC, which is currently still being worked out. “We must ensure that the South China Sea does not become a nexus for armed conflict,” the President said.
China and Asean will intensify negotiations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea this year, Indonesian and Chinese officials said in February, amid continuing frictions in the strategic waterway. The announcement came after Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Jakarta.
Retno told the media after her meeting with Qin that Indonesia and Asean wanted to produce “an effective, substantive, and actionable” COC.
Qin said that the two sides would work with other Asean members to “accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
Negotiators from Asean and China have so far produced a “Declaration” on a Code of Conduct (in 2002), “Guidelines on the Implementation of the Declaration” (in 2011), a “Framework” for a code (in 2017), and a “Single Draft Negotiating Text” (in 2018). However, despite China’s declarations and Asean’s eagerness to create a final Code of Conduct, nothing happened because China still refuses to deal with Asean as a group.
Observers said China benefits more from the status quo than it would from a binding agreement with Asean. Beijing prefers bilateral negotiations, which allows it to deploy its economic and military weight to maximum effect.
China’s growing maritime power has allowed it to dominate the waterway through intimidation and bullying. For example, Chinese coast guard ship last month blocked a Philippine patrol vessel steaming into a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing a frightening near-collision in the latest act of Beijing’s aggression in the strategic waterway.
“China has used the prospect of a COC as a Holy Grail to entice the region. The protracted process diverted their attention while Beijing advanced its strategic objectives,” said Huong Le Thu, a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
Pundits said no COC will be signed until China agrees to it. After 25 years of talks between China and Asean, there’s still no South China Sea Code of Conduct because China continues to stifle diplomatic efforts. No wonder a COC for the SCS remains as elusive as ever.
ONe of the things we realize with the unfolding of the writers’ strike in America is that, as one of the strikers said in an interview, creativity starts with the writers, and the rest of the industry simply can’t move forward without the words on the page. Those were the words of a writer from California named Mercedes. The witty hosts and engaging actors we admire would be empty personalities on screen were it not for the words that the writers supply them with, along with the ideas or concepts that they usually infuse into a show, episode, or film.
Another important fact that is sometimes overlooked here in the Philippines is that many of the workers’ labor demands have a bigger chance of being realized if they are banded together as a community. In this case, the American writers’ singular voices grew into one powerful voice as the Writers Guild of America’s (WGA) strong message, made even louder by support from nonmembers like show hosts, producers,
musicians, and other stakeholders. Even regular viewers are expressing support by watching shows that help keep people employed under better conditions. WGA is an alliance of two labor unions representing over 11,000 film, television, news, radio, and online writers who mostly write scripts for television, movies, podcasts, streaming shows, late-night shows, etc. Hollywood is big on guilds or
With the popularity of streaming companies like Netflix and Disney, studios and production companies have been raking in profits in recent years. Wages, unfortunately, have been falling due to unfair labor structures, deals, and contracts. According to WGA, pay has fallen 23 percent over the last decade. And so finally on May 2, 2023, the writers decided to picket the headquarters of major studios including Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Paramount, Sony, NBC Universal, Apple, and Disney.
unions. Talents—writers, actors, models, crew members, etc.—have realized that the power to negotiate for better pay and better working conditions lies in doing so as a big group. Aside from that, the culture of solidarity is quite strong in this town. Even if the directors and actors are not the ones on strike, they express support and take concrete actions
The questioned costing method of Manila electric Co. (Meralco) where it has included in the computation of electricity bills in its franchise area the expenses it had incurred that had nothing to do with those related to its business as a distribution utility remained unresolved at the Supreme Court.
Cited as “anti-consumer” in a Supreme Court decision, the said asset valuation had gone through a stringent review from the Commission on Audit but the findings, although favoring a costing method that will result in multi-billion refunds to Meralco consumers, were not given a legal leg to stand on as it is within the purview solely of the Energy Regulation Commission.
At issue is the “optimized depreciated replacement cost” a way by which asset valuation takes into account other expenses that include even those not related to its business as a distribution utility. For consumer watchdog NASECORE, Meralco has to distribute refunds related to its costly valuation method that includes nonbusiness costs.
Well, what the asset valuation matrix provided was an optimal return for Meralco that goes higher
Last year, Meralco had consolidated revenues of P426.5 billion, which is 34 percent up from its P318.5 billion revenues in 2021 due to what it said was higher pass-through charges. These charges, of course, include the questioned Meralco costing method that is yet to be fully decided upon by the Supreme Court.
since it can just pass on the charges to its consumers.
so that when the time comes when it’s their turn, other sectors will also be in solidarity. This is how they are able to make big gains in their labor struggle. In the last writers’ strike in 2007-2008, production on scripted shows simply stopped for more than three months, causing companies to lose around $2 billion. This time, experts predict that the fallout may be even greater.
With the popularity of streaming companies like Netflix and Disney, studios and production companies have been raking in profits in recent years. Wages, unfortunately, have been falling due to unfair labor structures, deals, and contracts. According to WGA, pay has fallen 23 percent over the last decade. And so finally on May 2, 2023, the writers decided to picket the headquarters of major studios including Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Paramount, Sony, NBC Universal, Apple, and Disney. If the strike continues, viewers will start noticing a dearth of content in their favorite shows in the days and weeks to come. At the moment, many of the affected shows are just running on banked or reserved episodes.
of over-recoveries that Meralco and other distribution utilities have obtained.
Thus, should Meralco be ordered to undertake a refund program if its questioned costing method is decided against its favor, the company can always pluck from its higher income to pay off the consumers for the “extra” charges. Meralco is expected to again have a banner year with an income stream seen at around P36 billion as its first quarter earnings amounted to P9 billion due to higher energy costs.
year after year. Last year, the company reported earnings of P28.4 billion, higher by 21 percent from its year-ago income, due to higher revenues. Contributing to its hefty gains was its gas-fired power plant from Singapore.
Last year, Meralco had consolidated revenues of P426.5 billion, which is 34 percent up from its P318.5 billion revenues in 2021 due to what it said was higher pass-through charges. These charges, of course, include the questioned Meralco costing method that is yet to be fully decided upon by the Supreme Court.
Also included in the pass-through charges is the systems loss that Meralco incurs, due to illegal connections and others although there is a ceiling that ERC allows for the distribution utility to charge related to systems loss. For this reason, the company need not have an effective deterrent against electricity theft
The pass-through charges also include the depreciation of the peso vis-à-vis the dollar, the 16 percent increase in the average retail rate for electricity to P9.52 per kilowatt hour from the previous P8.24 per kwh.
After all, these pass-through charges are meant to shield the distribution utility from the risks associated with operating its business.
Should the matter be resolved in favor of the consumers, Meralco will be asked to again give refunds to its consumers in much the same way that it was ordered to give refunds for the Distribution Rate True UP (DRTU) that as of end-2022 amounted to an average of P0.67 per kilowatt-hour.
This month, the entire refund of the DRTU that ERC ordered Meralco to redistribute amounting to P48.3 billion will be fully settled. The refunds were ordered by the ERC following the discovery
It is depressing to note that Meralco gains more from higher energy costs, which is the culprit for the dismal numbers on the country’s foreign direct investments. The energy costs in the country, which is higher than that of Japan, is the main reason why the Philippines lags behind in the FDI numbers. With high energy charges, many foreign investors opt out of the Philippines and instead set up their businesses somewhere else, notably Vietnam.
In the Thursday Group at Westin Hotel, where Congressman Joey Sarte Salceda, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee holds court, the high energy costs in the country is often cited for the seeming lack of interest from foreign investors to set up shop here. Actually, with the energy problem we have, pretty soon, Myanmar will eclipse us in terms of FDIs, in the same way that Thailand and then Vietnam did so years ago.
Part 9
tHe spotlight now focuses on the Professional regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA) in this ongoing tele-tax-novela series on the Official receipt (Or) for sale scam. Last March 21, 2023, the Bir filed with the Professional regulation Commission(PrC) and BoA an administrative complaint for the revocation of license against the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who was alleged to be part of the syndicate responsible for defrauding the government of substantial sums of unpaid taxes.
t h is “notarial CPA” irregularly signed the unqualified or clean audit opinions for understated 2021 financial statements of the Mastermind and seller of the fake or s being sold to unscrupulous business buyers. t hese buyers in turn used these ghost or s in padding their tax claims for business deductions and credits for value-added-tax. Presumably, these buyers of or s also had their own “notarial CPAs” issuing unqualified assessments of their erroneous financial statements. I also note that the CPA employees of these buyers and sellers of the fake or s may be liable for various irregularities and crimes for conniving with their bosses in recording these fabricated transactions and documents.
All these CPAs are a disgrace to their profession and are criminals for abetting the tax evasion practices that they are a part of. t hey all deserve to be criminally and administratively prosecuted. Calling the attention of the BIr and BoA r e public Act 9298 or the Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004 contains the general provision for the professional conduct of CPAs and rules for the suspension or revocation of the Professional license to practice. section 24 of this Act authorizes the BoA to suspend or withdraw the CPA practitioner’s license to practice for violation of the CPA Code of et hics and the various technical and professional standards of practice.
t hese CPAs, whether external auditors or employees of business enterprises, are mandated to follow the various tenets governing their professional conduct. t hey should exhibit the highest virtues required for their profession, including technical competence, objectivity, independence, and skepticism. t hey should be instituting and following the appropriate internal control practices and risk management techniques in the course of their work. t hese CPAs should be primarily accountable to the stakeholders and general public who rely on their work of promoting reliable financial statements. t hey should not be swayed to follow the dictates of their audit clients and employers, especially if these would violate their professional conduct and ethics.
With the administrative case against the CPA being filed by the
With
BIr , how will the PrC and BoA proceed with determining the guilt of the CPA charged with violating the law and rules?
PrC r e solution 2017-1033(A) provides the rules and procedures. t h e Legal s e rvice and the B oA w ill be involved in conducting the preliminary investigation and any subsequent hearings, trials, or any other procedure. t he involvement of a BoA member is essential to provide inputs to the lawyers of the PrC as to the technical nuances of the various rules, procedures, and standards governing the conduct of the CPA who was charged. I note that a mandatory conciliation procedure is required so as to encourage the parties to arrive at acceptable solutions and voluntary settlement. If such an outcome fails, a trial will proceed and be conducted by a Board constituted for that purpose. As typical of any similar legal procedure, the resolution of the case can take several years. t he only indication of a time frame for this is the provision that the Board shall render a decision within 30 days from the expiration of the period to submit the memoranda of the parties to the Board prior to rendering the decision. t his situation can arise after a vigorous and lengthy process and period.
Will this adjudication process in the PrC and BoA be a prolonged episode in this tele-tax-novela? I have my suggestions on how to expedite the process as well as provide BoA institutional reform in this side story of or s for sale story.
To be continued.
Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax practice with his firm JL2T Consulting. He can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com.
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.Written in 1865 by William ross Wallace, “the Hand that rocks the Cradle is the Hand that rules the World” is a poem that describes mothers as the guiding force in all things in the family. A book called “the Hand that rocks the Cradle: Mothers, Sons, and Leadership” was published in 1985 to depict the influence of mothers on world leaders such as thomas Jefferson and Winston Churchill.
to a large extent, mothers do wield much influence if not control over their children. Whether in politics or in government, there’s a significant number of women who can be considered as powerful mothers who have changed or are changing the world. t he more notable ones in the political spectrum include former Us First Ladies Hilary Clinton and Michelle obama, former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos and current First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos. In history, Melchora Aquino, considered as the “Mother of Katipunan,” largely influenced the revolutionary efforts when she took care of the sick and injured Katipuneros, despite her advanced age.
Largely unknown, except perhaps in the medical circle, Honoria Acosta- sison is considered as the “Mother of Philippine obstetrics.” one article describes sison as “the first Filipino woman physician, first Filipino woman graduate of an American Medical school and first Filipino woman obstetrician.”
ta lking about doctors, as a side note, I pay tribute to the achievements of my niece, ta mara voor-
Damrel, who recently earned a medical degree with honors at the University of te xas in Dallas while being a doting mother at the same time! What a feat made possible only with the loving support of her husband stevie Damrel and her proud parents, t homas and Ione Mison voor. Incidentally, my sister, Ione Mison voor managed to do a similar feat herself as she raised four children in the Us while being gainfully employed as an accountant in Florida!
Among the many mothers in our extended family, one mother truly stands out! In every family gathering, Ione Bueno Deregla Mison never fails to proudly proclaim “ t he Hand t h at r o cks the Cradle Is the Hand t h at r u les the World” as her unique yet subtle way of reminding us of the impact of mothers on their children.
Collectively, mothers nurture and mold the next generation in society! Based on how my siblings and I turned out to be, our mother indeed ruled our world by rocking the cradle, metaphorically speaking. she did so while being a full-time professor to boot!
In one of his publications, Presi-
dent David o McKay of Brigham Young University wrote that for a woman to be a successful wife and mother, she must have certain qualities, aside from being responsible for the physical welfare of her children. According to McKay, a successful mother must have the qualities of a teacher—one who is a disciplinarian but “wisely guides her children in their quest for truth and knowledge.”
In school, while my mother was known as strict yet reasonable, at home, she serves as a calming confidant, a cool counselor, and, sometimes, a charming comedian to those around her. My mother provided me with emotional support and comfort during the dark days in my own personal life. For me, my mother was not only the “hand that rocked the cradle” but was also the “rock that stabilized the heart” when mine was broken.
As I am not sure whether my mother knows the centuries-old poem by Wallace, an excerpt of such meaningful poem is apt for reproduction below:
“Woman, how divine your mission Here upon our natal sod! Keep, oh, keep the young heart open Always to the breath of God! All true trophies of the ages Are from mother-love impearled; For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”
tr uly, the trophies in our lives are because of a mother’s love as in the case of Atty. nathaniel nolasco Diaz. He honored his late mother, a public school teacher, when he passed the 2023 Bar exams. Despite the death of his mother in 2020 while he was still earning his law degree from the Arellano University, he attributed his “trophy” in the legal profession to his mother. In an interview, Diaz shared some lessons
in life that his mother shared with him. Foremost of which, in his own words, his mother taught him— huwag makalimot na mag pray, more on kay God, laging i-acknowledge si God sa lahat ng bagay.”
Acknowledging the power of Almighty God, as in the case of Atty. Diaz, was also displayed by prominent mothers in the Bible, such as Hannah, sa rah, and, of course, Mother Mary. Hannah invoked the power of prayers to be blessed with a child. o ver time, the Lord gave Hannah a son, sa muel, who became a great prophet. sarah, though barren and old, conceived and gave birth to Isaac, thus exemplifying the gift of patience for all to wait on God. Mary, the most revered mother in the Bible being the human mother of Jesus, accepted God’s will for her life despite suffering ignominy in the process of an immaculate conception. As a mother, Mary showed obedience and submission to God’s will. she may not know it every time she boldly says “the hand that rocks the cradle…” but my mother Ione has truly lived and is living up to what Proverbs 11:16 tells us—“A woman of gentle grace gets respect.” And most certainly, she has carried her divine mission of opening our young hearts “to the breath of God,” the best legacy any mother could ever give to her children.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
Investors have spent months fretting about everything from south Africa’s daily blackouts to inadequate laws on terror financing and political instability before next year’s elections. now they have a new concern: geopolitical tensions.
o n t hursday, Us Ambassador reuben Brigety accused south Africa of supplying weapons to russia. t he allegation escalated growing tensions over south Africa’s refusal to back the Us stance on russia’s war with Ukraine, and the African nation’s deepening relationship with the Br ICs economic bloc. President Cyril r a maphosa said his government was probing Brigety’s claim and called his remarks “disappointing.”
t he rand slumped to its weakest level on record against the dollar on concern that any significant deterioration in its relationship with
the Us its second-biggest trading partner—may put trade worth billions of dollars at risk.
While President Joe Biden’s administration dialed back its envoy’s hawkish tone and Brigety on Friday sought to “correct any misimpressions” created by his remarks, investor concerns about south Africa’s growing challenges remain.
Many businesses in the continent’s most-industrialized nation have no electricity for almost half each day because of rolling blackouts, known locally as loadshedding. Mining companies and food producers are struggling with the state-owned freight monopoly’s inability to fix logistical constraints, and as many as half of the population of 61 million depend on some form of welfare payment.
t he pressure points that are now coming to a head—load shedding and inferred political alliances—are rippling through financial markets and will increasingly weigh on the economic outlook,” Adriaan du toit,
London-based director of emerging market economic research at AllianceBernstein Ltd., said on Friday. “A higher risk premium is clearly justified based on what we know today.”
even before Brigety’s remarks, south Africa’s political risk had risen to a record while the nation’s economic risk score is at the worst in seven years. In an effort to prevent the economic and political fallout from worsening, r a maphosa’s government summoned the Us envoy, while the International r e lations and Cooperation Minister na ledi Pandor spoke to Us secretary of state Antony Blinken Friday. statements issued in the wake of both of those meetings didn’t address the veracity of the envoy’s claim. t hat may leave investors unimpressed.
Foreign direct investment into the nation has remained stagnant, while fund managers are shunning stocks that rely on the domestic economy.
s hoprite Holdings Ltd., which is dependent on south Africa for
& Tobias
By Josep Borrell FontellesOn May 13, at our initiative, ministers from the indo-Pacific and the european Union and partners gathered in Stockholm. Our meeting was a call for action as much as it was a demonstration of the eU’s continuous commitment to the indo-Pacific region.
We met as the world grapples with aggression, geopolitical tensions, economic turbulence, and the climate crisis. In these consequential times our partnerships are essential, and never before has the case for cooperation between our regions been so convincing. t h e Indo-Pacific region is of strategic importance. t he region holds the larger part of the earth’s population and economy. t h rough its waters passes the major share of world trade. st ability and freedom
of navigation in the Indo-Pacific are vital for our prosperity. t he fate of climate change and the health of oceans are largely decided there. When fundamental freedoms and openness are threatened, be it in eu rope, the Indo-Pacific or elsewhere, the eu ropean Union is not indifferent. We live in a world of shared security. t he rise of tensions in parts of Asia has global consequences.
Correspondingly, developments in eu rope reverberate also in the
Indo-Pacific. r u ssia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is felt through its flagrant breaches of the principles of the U n charter and through food and energy price hikes. We have a common interest in addressing these challenges and upholding the U n Charter and international law. Indeed, the aims of Ukraine—to protect its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity—is of fundamental importance for all.
In the challenges we face there are many notable parallels between eu rope and the Indo-Pacific. supply chains are stretched, inflation destabilizing, energy insecure, technology competitive, disinformation proliferating, and cyber security threatened. In short, the futures of eu rope and the IndoPacific are inextricably linked, and our interests align in many ways.
to gether, the eu ropean Union and the Indo-Pacific are strong enough to make a real difference on free trade and supply chains, technology and climate change, and broad security. We account for more than two-thirds of global trade, GDP, and population. t h rough closer relations we can further influence cooperation on key global challenges.
In the eu ropean Union’s st rategy for Cooperation in the IndoPacific we pledge a growing engagement and invite our partners to join us in addressing common challenges. We envision deeper partnerships on sustainable prosperity and the environment, digital connectivity, and security, including human security.
o u r Indo-Pacific s t rategy is above all an invitation to our part-
ners in the region to dialogue and to address the issues at stake.
t he proposition of the e u ropean Union is clear. We are ready to act on a broad palette of cooperation reflecting our extensive and long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
t he latter is exemplified through our Free tr ade Agreements, where we have active negotiations with Australia, India, Indonesia, and Kenya, having relaunched negotiations with t h ailand and expect to sign an agreement with ne w Zealand soon. We engage in infrastructure, development cooperation and ocean conservation stretching from the African coast well into the Pacific.
Importantly, the e u ropean Union’s approach constitutes an open and inclusive partnership
about 90 percent of its revenue, has dropped 10 percent this year. t hat compares with a 48 percent gain for local billionaire Johann rupert’s Cie Financiere r ichemont sA , the luxury-goods maker that sources most of its revenue from Asia and europe.
Meanwhile, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. is speeding its retreat from south Africa, where the gold miner was formed more than a century ago, with plans to list in new York and make London its new headquarters.
“It does seem that south Africa continues to shoot itself in the foot, with many of the current issues self-made,” Michele santangelo, a portfolio manager at Independent securities in Johannesburg. t he recent news reinforces the firm’s investment strategy, which is to have a “strong bias towards offshore investments and rand hedges,” he said, referring to investing in companies that make most of their revenue overseas. With assistance from Colleen Goko, Paul Vecchiatto and S’thembile Cele / Bloomberg
model for the Indo-Pacific where we cooperate based on common interests and the protection of shared values and principles. t h is design allows us to address the challenges we face more effectively. o u r goal is to build strategic trust and promote joint leadership in addressing global challenges.
Discussions at the eU -Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in stockholm on May 13 focused on our common interests, challenges and values with the goal of supporting closer coordination and integration. It is a clear message of the long-term eu ropean commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
AS the one-year appointment ban on those who ran in the May 2022 elections lapsed, lawmakers urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resist the temptation of appointing or recycling candidates who lost in the last elections and Cabinet secretaries with no plans to run for office in 2025.
C agayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, in separate statements, made the appeal as the one-year ban on the appointment of election losers expired.
A ccording to Rodriguez, if the President now fills vacant Cabinet jobs, “it should not be because of the lapse of the one-year appointment ban but because there is real need for full-time Cabinet members, including one at the Department of Agriculture, which is temporarily headed by the Chief Executive himself.”
“ I have nothing against election losers, but [the] Cabinet and other
government jobs should not be a refuge of political has-beens. There are many deserving and competent career service officers and individuals from the private sector with vast experiences,” he said.
H e added that the President should stop the practice of recycling “or rewarding defeated candidates with government positions.”
A mong the departments that are in need of full-time permanent secretaries are those of agriculture, health and national defense.
I n the case of the Department of Agriculture, Rodriguez said the President should give way to a fulltime secretary “because he has his hands already full in international
relations and immediate domestic needs and problems of the country, including rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”
“ I would recommend that the next agriculture secretary be from Mindanao, the island being the Philippines’s breadbasket. It is also high time to transfer the DA central office to Mindanao where our country’s agricultural battle ground is set,” he said.
He should have competent people helping him. He is very fortunate that he has his principal ally in Congress, our Speaker Martin Romualdez, to rely on not only in terms of legislative and moral support but in solving problems the nation faces,” he added.
For his part, Libanan said the President should preferably pick new department secretaries who are ready to serve for the next five years.
“Our suggestion is for the President to appoint highly capable department heads who can focus entirely on their jobs until 2028, and who do not have any plans to run in the 2025 elections, which is just 24 months away,” Libanan said.
“ Secretaries keen on running for office in the mid-term polls
are bound to become preoccupied with partisan political activities in a matter of months,” Libanan added.
L ast week, Marcos said he intends to reorganize his Cabinet soon, as he wants to appoint new members, including individuals who lost in the last elections, following the lapse of the 12-month prohibition on their appointment.
L ibanan said there is nothing wrong with the President’s plan to tap individuals who ran and lost in the May 2022 elections.
As long as they are highly qualified and competent individuals, it does not matter if they lost in the previous elections, considering that the ban has already expired,” Libanan said.
L ibanan urged the President to designate permanent heads for the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of National Defense (DND).
T he President concurrently heads the DA, while Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. serve as officers-in-charge of the DOH and the DND, respectively.
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian, noting that most crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) involve human trafficking cases, said at the weekend this indicates that organized criminal groups tied to the industry are running the racket.
C iting findings by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the senator said this is “concerning and alarming and can have serious implications on the country’s national security.”
He said he received a letter from the NBI “containing the summary of POGO-related cases handled by the Investigation Service,” and its “shows that POGO-related crimes have totaled 113 from November 2019 to March 2023.”
T he March 23, 2023 letter was signed by Atty. Medardo De Lemos. The NBI report informed Senate probers that based on data provided by the Bureau, a total of 65 or 58 percent of the total number of cases involved human trafficking.
S en. Gatchalian affirmed that “human trafficking is a heinous crime that exploits the most vulnerable in our communities and the data from the
NBI shows that some POGO operators are into human trafficking, too.”
T he senator vowed that “we cannot allow such horrific crimes to happen in our country.”
A s chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian led the inquiry into the socioeconomic benefits of maintaining POGO operations in the country following numerous reports of crime attributed to the industry.
A fter a series of public hearings, Gatchalian pressed for the immediate lockout of POGOs in the country in a bid to help maintain peace and order and sustain economic growth.
T his was conveyed in his Committee Chairman’s Report on their inquiry which was provided to the Office of the President for appropriate Executive action.
A side from the 65 cases of human trafficking, the NBI report also shows there were 33 cases of international operations that were investigated, 7 cases of cybercrimes, 4 anti-organized and transnational crimes, 3 cases of fraud, and one case of anti-violence against women and children— all related to POGO.
Butch Fernandez
B1
Monday, May 15, 2023
“Our april sales are actually ahead of the 2 percent, slightly above 2 percent. We’d like to see that further improve in the months ahead,” said meralco head of investor relations r andwil dinbo macaranas last week. at the end of the first quarter, meralco energy sales slightly went up by 2 percent to 11,287 gigawatthours (GWh). From January to ma rch, the commercial segment delivered an 11 percent sales increase while residential and industrial segments declined by 3 percent each. The share of the commercial segment climbed to 37 percent while that of residential and industrial declined to 33 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
m e ralco is hoping that sales growth for the year will improve
further with increase in mobility. a lthough we did end the first quarter at 2 percent, we’d like to improve that for the rest of the year.”
macaranas said the warm weather would boost residential energy sales.
“With warmer temperature, as it gets hotter, families and households tend to use more air conditioners. So, they prioritize comfort. hopefully, that helps pump up the residential segment from a decline of 3 percent.”
Energy sales in the commercial sector are also expected to improve as demand continues to return to prepandemic levels.
“For industrial, it’s a little bit more unpredictable given that the impact is really or the decline in particular for the first quarter is largely because of economic headwinds, inflation.
Phinma Corp. said its income in the first quarter declined by 2 percent to P484.56 million from last year’s P493.46 million, but the company said it expects stronger growth in the coming months.
Consolidated revenue for the period grew 6 percent to P4.78 billion from the previous year’s P4.49 billion.
Core net income, which excludes revaluation adjustments and nonrecurring items, grew by 15 percent to P558.49 million from P448.14 million last year.
“The strong topline growth we saw in the full year of 2022 has continued in the first three months of this year. We had to address the headwinds but we were also able to ride the tailwinds in our industries,” Phinma President and COO Chito B. Salazar said.
“The numbers we report today reflect the capability of Phinma and the people that make up our company to persevere through the challenges to be able to serve our customers.”
Phinma Education holdings i nc. posted consolidated revenues of P1.49 billion for the three-month period, 48 percent higher from last year, driven by a 30 percent yearon-year increase in total enrollment during the second semester during the current school year.
The growth, the company said, made Phinma Education the largest tertiary education network in the country. a lthough the increase in enrollment resulted in higher salary expenses for the period, Phinma Education was able to temper overall operating cost increases, causing its consolidated net income to double to P431.05 million P216.16 million last year. The construction materials
Overall, hopefully it improves in the second half of the year as the year progresses. We’re still quite positive that we can still reach that 4 percent in growth,” macaranas said. meralco President and CEO r ay C. Espinosa said earlier that the growth in energy sales volume, particularly the strong performance of the commercial segment, signifies that public confidence has returned and demand for power will certainly continue to increase. With this, the
utility firm said it will pursue strategic energy sourcing activities for its medium- and long-term requirements. meralco’s net income in the first quarter grew to P8.07 billion while core net income surged by 40 percent to P9 billion.
“meralco’s operational and financial performance in this first quarter indicate that we are off to a good start,” meralco Chairman ma nuel V. Pangilinan said.
Sin G a P O r E - h E a dq U a rT E r E d Blueleaf Energy is committed to invest over $2 billion in renewable energy (r E) projects with a combined capacity of as much as 3 gigawatts (GW) over the next 5 years.
“Our ambition for Blueleaf’s overall portfolio is going to be all onshore renewable technologies. Our major focus is solar PV, wind, as well as storage. We are looking at investing into a couple of hydro, run-off river hydro, large hydro assets. But specifically for Philippines, i would say it’s more solar, onshore wind and storage.
Our intention is eventually to provide in the future a 24/7 renewable energy supply for the Philippines’s people. it ’s not real-
izable immediately right now, but we’re working towards a pathway to reach it. Our goal is we would like to at least do between two to three gigawatts of renewables in the Philippines over the next five years. a nd that would translate to investment commitment in excess of $2 billion,” said Blueleaf CEO r ag huram natarajan last week. in the Philippines, Blueleaf has partnered with Sun a sia Energy for the development of 610.5 megawatt foating solar facilities on the water surface of Laguna Lake – that spans through the cities of Calamba, Sta rosa and Cabuyao as well as the towns of Bay and Victoria. natarajan said its long-term investment in the Philippines would include other local partners. Lenie Lectura
group, composed of Union Galvasteel Corp., Philcement Corp. and Phinma Solar Energy Corp. posted combined revenues of P3.2 billion for the first quarter, while combined net income of the group for the period was at P161.67 million.
This is attributed to soft construction demand that persisted in the beginning of the quarter, as construction activities only started to pick up in m a rch.
i n its affiliate, Phinma Property holdings Corp., the company had an equitized a net loss of P41.04 million during the period compared to an income of P23.15 million during the same period last year.
Equitized net income in Coral Way City hotel Corp. reached P2.25 million, a significant turnaround from the same period last year, as the company continues to benefit from the continued recovery of the leisure, corporate and meetings/ conventions market segments.
“The Phinma Group looks forward to sustained growth for the rest of the year across its business units, which is expected to be driven particularly by the large underserved market outside metro m a nila,” the company said.
Phinma Education plans to continue its robust enrollment growth trajectory in the school year 20232024 and has been undertaking various capacity expansion projects required to meet this forecasted demand. a s public and private construction activities have begun to pick up in m a rch and cost pressures are stabilizing, the construction materials group is optimistic it has significant room for growth. The group has several projects in its pipeline that are aimed towards capturing growing demand through increasing capacity, improving accessibility, and broadening its product mix. VG Cabuag
The Manila electric Co. (Meralco) likely registered a 2-percent increase in energy sales growth in April, buoyed by the continued recovery of business operations and resumption of social activities.Blueleaf to invest $2B in PHL
SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatch-
alian favors new taxes but only on health-related ones like higher taxes for surgary drinks and cigarettes, but stressed that no new ones should be imposed until the systems that favor corruption are not dismantled at the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Guesting in a radio interview last Sunday, Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee, said: “So ang punto ko lang naman sa kalusugan, sang-ayon ako. Pero hindi ako sang-ayon na taas tayo ng taas ng buwis pero hindi natin inaayos ang proseso natin .” [My point is if it’s about health, I agree to impose new taxes. But I do not agree that we raise and raise the tax rate but we are not fixing our process.]
For instance, Gatchalian said he has been receiving complaints against corruption at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
“ Marami pa rin akong nakukuhang complaint na pahirapan ang pagbayad ng estate tax, pahirapan ang pagbayad ng buwis natin dahil ang daming fixer na umaaligid sa labas ng mga BIR offices kaya ang punto ko dito, bago tayo mag-usap ng pagtataas ng buwis, pag-usapan muna natin ano ang mga repormang ginawa natin para dumali ang buhay ng pagbabayad ng buwis at hindi na nakokorap ang sistema natin at napaparusahan ang mga umaabuso,” the senator said.
[I still get many complaints that it’s still difficult to pay the estate tax and that there are many fixers hanging around outside the BIR offices. So my point here is, before we talk about raising taxes, let’s first talk about the reforms we have made to make the life of taxpayers easier and our system is no longer corrupt and abusers are punished.]
At pangalawa, marami pa rin akong nababasa tungkol sa smuggling. Kailan lang may nabasa akong may smuggling ng gasolina, tapos may tripping ako sa mga ibang kumpanya at nasabi sa akin na ang dami pa ring smuggling na nangyayari .”
[Secondly, I still read a lot about smuggling. I recently read something about fuel smuggling. And during a trip with executives of companies, I was told there is still a lot of smuggling going on.]
“So tataas tayo ng buwis sa isang banda pinapayagan naman natin
ang smuggling na pumapasok na hindi natin nabubuwisan.” [On one hand, we increase taxes but on the other hand, we allow smuggling goods that we don’t earn taxes from.]
Gatchalian, however, hastened to clarify (in Tagalog) that his only point is that “before we deliberate on passing higher taxes, let us first deliberate on reforms, fight smuggling and make lives easier paying taxes.
(“Ang punto ko lang naman bago natin pag-usapan itong pagtataas ng buwis, pag-usapan muna natin ang mga reporma sa paglalaban sa smuggling at pagdadali ng buhay sa pagbabayad ng buwis.)
Asked about raising taxes on sugar products and motor vehicles, plus 1-percent withholding tax for online merchants, the senator replied he agrees:
Ako sang-ayon ako doon sa mga health tax dahil alam naman natin, for example paninigarilyo, pag-inom ng alak, yung minatamis na inumin, lalo na ang matatamis talagang diabetes ang bagsak mo dyan , proven na ’yan, hindi na natin kailangang pagdebatehan pa ’yan na kapag umiinom ka ng matatamis lalo na ang mga hindi natin alam ang mga soft drinks, ’yung powdered drinks, kapag tinignan mo asukal ’yan na may coloring. ’ Yung 3-in-
1 wala namang kape doon, asukal lang ’yun saka coloring, konti lang ang kape doon .”
“ Madali magtaas ng buwis pero mahirap kumolekta at ’yung pagkokolekta ang dapat nating ayusin.
Dahil kung magtataas at magtataas lang tayo ng buwis ang matutuwa dyan ’yung mga hindi nagbabayad dahil hindi sila nagbabayad .”
Asked if Department of Finance officials talked with the senator, on the pending tax bills, Gatchalian replied: “ Wala naman; wala naman kaming pag-uusap pa sa ngayon .”
“ Nababasa ko lang sa news ang aming tinatapos ngayon ang unanguna ang Taxpayers Bill of Rights para mabigyan natin ng karapatan ang ating mga taxpayer labanan ang korapsyon at pang-aabuso. Ang isa ’yung Ease of Paying Taxes na sa ngayon pwede na sa internet na magbabayad ng buwis at pangatlo, meron kaming inaayos na Real Estate Property tax para mas mabilis ang pagbabayad ng real estate taxes sa LGUs [local government units] natin. Kaya marami dito administration hindi natin binabago kumbaga ang level ng tax rates kundi ’yung pagbibilis lang ng pagbabayad ng buwis.”
FINANCIAL technology (fintech) firm UBX Philippines Corp. announced it has tapped Singapore-headquartered Aboitiz Data Innovation Pte. Ltd. (ADI) to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology for UBX’s lending platform.
The agreement calls for ADI to provide UBX with AI solutions that will improve the credit scoring capabilities of the platform, which provides access to business financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“We are leveraging their AI capability to help us score credit risks for unbanked and underbanked Filipinos and more importantly for the MSME segment of the economy,” UBX President John Januszczak said on the sidelines of the agreement’s signing. “There’s been a lot of digitallybased lending for consumers and we can do more. But the MSME segment we identified that a few years ago as a big opening as they are very underserved.” ADI utilizes alternative data
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has ordered an investigation into the incident for any “potential data breach,” while the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is probing to “get to the bottom of this incident and determine the facts to guide appropriate action.”
“We have been in constant coordination with the authorities and regulatory bodies like the BSP and the NPC in providing the necessary information required of us,” read a statement by G-Xchange.
The wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. maintainted “there was no hacking nor glitch that occurred in the
GCash platform.”
The firm explained that the incident last May 8, “was a deliberate phishing attempt that happened outside of the GCash app.”
“Some users may have unknowingly shared their information to suspicious sites masked as legitimate brands or institutions. Upon detection of these unusual transactions, [we] immediately activated security protocols, and deployed preventive security measures,” the statement by G-Xchange read. “This swift action enabled us to mitigate the impact to our customers, which was why we were able to correct their e-wallet balances immediately
within 24 hours.”
As early as May 7, GCash users saw deductions from their e-wallets with funds being transferred to an East West Banking Corp. (PSE:EW) account that ends with 5239.
EW’s statement last week said the lender “has been made aware of news reports regarding unauthorized cash transfers from GCash into allegedly certain EW account.”
“EW immediately acted on these reports and initiated its own internal investigation,” the lender said. “Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities and other institutions involved in the said report. We are working towards the immediate resolution of this matter.”
“We placed the app on extended preventive maintenance in order to ensure we’ve exerted all means necessary to mitigate the impact of this incident. Majority of our customers put their hard-earned money on GCash and rely on it for their everyday transactions. No preventive measures are too much if it is meant to protect all hardworking customers that placed their trust on GCash,” the statement read.
It added that the system downtimes are “proactive efforts” that are “in compliance with global cybersecurity standards and in line with our commitment as a financial services provider regulated by the BSP.”
“We remain steadfast in ensuring the protection of our customers’ funds and data as we continue to invest in the latest cybersecurity technologies and capabilities,” the statement by G-Xchange read. It added the company is coordinating with authorities in “intensifying efforts in going after scammers and fraudsters.”
“We enjoin the NPC in reinforcing efforts to educate everyone on the importance of being vigilant in securing their personal information. The safety and security of all our customers remain our topmost priority. We will not stop working with the authorities as we endeavor to eliminate fraudsters as our common enemy,” the firm’s statement read.
The firm also called on customers to practice good cyber hygiene, reminding them to “never share their” one-time personal identification number and mobile pin with anyone.
FINANCIAL technology firm
Dragonpay Corp. announced it has tapped service-as-asoftware platform provider Wix.com Ltd. for Dragonpay’s digital payment gateway.
According to Dragonpay, it expects the move to open an opportunity as it targets micro-scale, smallsized and medium-scale enterprises
and tap into a wider customer base. The firm didn’t disclose the value of the partnership. Dragonpay said online sellers can now connect to its platform, process credit cards and a variety of other payment methods, including cryptocurrencies.
What’s more, they are likely to complete their purchases, reducing the number of abandoned carts, the firm said. The company also promises that personal and financial data are secured.
“We are always working to provide Wix merchants with a variety of convenient and innovative payment solutions tailored to local and global business needs. The integration with Dragonpay gives our merchants in the Philippines more choice and flexibility in the payment methods they offer their customers, enabling them to remain competitive, increase conversions and ultimately grow their revenues,” said Wix.com executives Amit Sagiv and Volodymyr Tsukur.
“Dragonpay has been around for 13 years now, processing over 300 million transactions to date. We know that our job will never be done. We remain steadfast in our commitment to empowering every online Filipino business and consumer through secure, accessible and reliable payments. Hence, we continue to forge partnerships that share the same passion and vision that we have like Wix,” added Dragonpay CEO Robertson Chiang.
IN today’s market, there is a growing trend of artificial intelligence (AI), which is intelligence demonstrated by machines, helping modern businesses increase revenue and boost operational savings. In particular, the applicability of AI technologies for a variety of use cases has enabled value creation for organizations across multiple industries, including IT services, health care, cybersecurity, financial services, retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics.
ship use cases of AI can result in tangible business benefits, buyers need to consider the following risks in the acquisition of AI companies:
to help determine the credit score of borrowers. This can help hasten the process of extending loans as well as provide borrowers with “better rates.” UBX’s lending platform called “SeekCap” can use ADI’s credit scoring platform to retrieve credit scores of borrowers and share them with SeekCap partner lenders, in accordance with data privacy laws.
“With your consent, that can be funneled to other lenders— that’s the other big thing. Connecting borrowers to the lenders is kind of the mechanics of it, but the fundamental underlying principle of open finance is if you can make the data accessible to all the data belongs to the consumer, not the institution that holds it or collects it,” Januszczak said.
SeekCap is touted as the Philippines’ first same-day approval digital lending marketplace. The platform processed over P14 billion of business loans in 2022 from more than 65,000 MSMEs, according to UBX. Lorenz S. Marasigan
In recognition of AI’s benefits, private equity firms and corporations are progressively acquiring companies that leverage AI capabilities. While AI has increasingly embedded itself into organizational processes, we have seen several commercial, technology, organizational and data security risks inhibiting successful value creation in the deal context.
KPMG in the Philippines Technology Consulting Partner Michael Ian Emerson E. Royeca shares the same sentiments citing that “advancements in technology bring about both breakthroughs and risks hence, it is critical for leaders to identify which opportunities could entail progress and profit and which changes are just windows to greater threats.”
Proactively managing the key risks early in the process can help maximize the value of AI systems and position the buyer for digital leadership. “Business and corporate leaders must see things proactively by implementing security and safety measures even before certain risks arise,” Royeca added.
Key acquisition risks
WHILE driving the digital leader-
1. Commercial risks. Sellers often showcase the commercial value offered by proprietary AI systems, which typically require several years to develop. However, the systems may be quickly outdated by offthe-shelf AI technologies, especially those developed by nimble software companies that have rapid product development cycles. In these instances, the revenue-generating potential and commercial standing of the acquired technologies would be limited.
2. Technology risks. Integrating AI systems into the technology environment after an acquisition requires the development of comprehensive data management platforms, the use of modern software development methodologies, and the reinforcement of mechanisms to extract advanced analytics insights. This requires robust technology capabilities, which the buyers may not have fully developed at the time of the transaction.
3. O rganizational risks. The rapid pace of innovation in AI requires that the talent pool be equipped with the required technological and operational skill sets, and able to quickly scale the organizational capabilities for evolving business requirements. An inability to identify, hire and retain suitable talent can pose a potential risk to the buyer’s strategy to fully leverage AI.
4. Data security risks. AI engines are fuelled by data, much of which can be sensitive consumer or proprietary information. Failing to protect this data from cyberattacks
can create legal liabilities for the buyer, especially when operating in regions with strict data protection and privacy rules, such as California’s Consumer Privacy Act.
Due diligence focus areas
THERE is an opportunity to mitigate the key risks by applying the following framework in the pre-deal due diligence phase:
Sound product roadmap. In the acquisition of AI companies, it is important to confirm that the seller’s technology is unique and that it cannot be rebuilt using AI tools and solutions already available in the market. Also, the product strategy that dictates the degree of customization of the AI modules and their applicability to the buyer’s business requirements should be factored into the diligence process. These considerations are important to mitigate commercial risks.
Robust technology tools and processes. The buyer should validate that the seller’s technology tools and processes can enable the maintenance and periodic upgrades of the AI technologies. These include AI development kits as well as maintenance modules from reputed vendors. These proactive steps would promote the seamless integration of the AI systems into the buyer’s technology environment, thus mitigating the technology risks.
Effective talent strategy. In our view, while the rise of AI may appear to be eliminating the human element, the opposite is true. Skilled talent is still required to develop, monitor and fully leverage AI platforms. Ensuring that the seller’s talent strategy fosters those skills
from within and brings the right set of individuals into the team is an important step toward mitigating organizational risks. Reliable data security mechanisms. An AI platform is enabled primarily by the data that drives the platform’s algorithms. In many cases, however, the data owned and managed by the seller is deemed sensitive and is governed by regulatory constraints. The seller should, therefore, protect the data against breaches through robust cybersecurity controls and policies to mitigate the data security risks.
Summary and conclusion
BUYERS need to recognize the commercial, technology, organizational, and data security risks involved in the acquisition of companies that own proprietary AI systems. Early assessment in the pre-deal due diligence phase can help identify and mitigate these potentially material risks and help position the buyer to maximize value by driving revenue generation and boosting operational savings.
The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://kpmg.com/ca/en/ home/insights/2023/01/managing-risks-in-dealsinvolving-ai.html.
© 2023 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG Intl. Ltd., a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. For more information, Email ph-kpmgmla@ kpmg.com or visit www.home.kpmg/ph. This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.
EXECUTIVES of G-Xchange Inc. said they will cooperate with regulatory bodies in their probe into the anomalous fund transfers that GCash users reported last week.
One effective way to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion is through meditation.
For more than 20 years, as a clinical psychologist, research scientist and educator, I taught meditation to students and clinical patients and took a deep dive into the research literature. My recent book, The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head, highlights much of that research. I learned even more when I evaluated mental health programs and psychology classes that train participants in mindfulness and compassion-based techniques.
Defining mindfulness and self-compassion
M I n DF u lne S S m eans purposefully paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of interest or curiosity rather than judgment.
Self-compassion involves being kind and understanding toward yourself, even during moments of suffering or failure.
Both are associated with greater well-being.
But don’t confuse self-compassion with self-esteem or selfcenteredness, or assume that it somehow lowers your standards, motivation or productivity. Instead, research shows that selfcompassion is linked with greater motivation, less procrastination and better relationships.
Be patient when starting a meditation practice
I DID n ’ T l ike meditation—the specific practice sessions that train mindfulness and self-compassion—the first time I tried it as a college student in the late ’90s. I felt like a failure when my mind wandered, and I interpreted that as a sign that I couldn’t do it.
In both my own and others’ meditation practices, I’ve noticed that the beginning is often rocky and full of doubt, resistance and distraction.
But what seem like impediments can actually enhance meditation practice, because the mental work of handling them builds strength.
For the first six months I meditated, my body and mind were restless. I wanted to get up and do other tasks. But I didn’t. e v entually it became easier to notice my urges and thoughts without acting upon them. I didn’t get as upset with myself.
After about a year of consistent meditation, my mind seemed more organized and controllable; it no longer got stuck in self-critical loops. I felt a sense of kindness or friendliness toward myself in everyday moments, as well as during joyful or difficult experiences.
I enjoyed ordinary activities more, such as walking or cleaning. It took a while to understand that anytime you sit down and try to meditate, that’s meditation. It is a mental process, rather than a destination.
How meditation works on the mind
Ju S T having a general intention to be more mindful or self-compassionate is unlikely to work.
Most programs shown to make meaningful differences involve at least seven sessions. Studies show these repeated workouts improve attention skills and decrease rumination, or repeated negative thinking.
They also lessen self-criticism, which is linked to numerous mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Meditation is not just about sustaining your attention—it’s also about shifting and returning your focus after the distraction. The act of shifting and refocusing cultivates attention skills and decreases rumination.
Trying repeatedly to refrain from self-judgment during the session will train your mind to be less self-critical.
An interconnected group of brain regions called the default mode network is strikingly affected by meditation. Much of this network’s activity reflects repetitive thinking, such as a rehash of a decadeslong tension with your sister. It’s most prominent when you’re not doing much of anything. Activity of the default mode network is related to rumination, unhappiness and depression.
Research shows that just one month of meditation reduces the noise of the default mode network. The type of meditation practice doesn’t seem to matter.
Establishing the formal practice
A COMMOn m isconception about mindfulness is that it’s simply a way to relax or clear the mind. Rather, it means intentionally paying attention to your experiences in a nonjudgmental way.
Consider meditation the formal part of your practice—that is, setting aside time to work on specific mindfulness and selfcompassion techniques.
Cultivating mindfulness with meditation often involves focusing on paying attention to the breath. A common way to start practice is to sit in a comfortable place and bring attention to your breathing, wherever you feel it most strongly.
At some point, probably after a breath or two, your mind will wander to another thought or feeling. As soon as you notice that,
you can bring your attention back to the breath and try not to judge yourself for losing focus for five to 10 minutes.
When I was just getting started meditating, I would have to redirect my attention dozens or hundreds of times in a 20-to30-minute session. Counting 10 breaths, and then another 10, and so on, helped me link my mind to the task of paying attention to my breathing.
The most well-established technique for cultivating selfcompassion is called loving-kindness meditation. To practice, you can find a comfortable position, and for at least five minutes, internally repeat phrases such as, “May I be safe. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.”
When your attention wanders, you can bring it back with as little self-judgment as possible and
continue repeating the phrases. Then, if you like, offer the same well wishes to other people or to all beings.
e v ery time you return your focus to your practice without judging, you’re flexing your mental awareness, because you noticed your mind wandered. You also improve your capacity to shift attention, a valuable anti-rumination skill, and your nonjudgment, an antidote to self-criticism.
These practices work. Studies show that brain activity during meditation results in less selfjudgment, depression and anxiety and results in less rumination.
Mindfulness also occurs when you tune into present-moment sensations, such as tasting your food or washing the dishes.
An ongoing routine of formal and informal practice can transform your thinking. And again,
doing it once in a while won’t help as much. It’s like situps: A single situp isn’t likely to strengthen your abdominal muscles, but doing several sets each day will.
Meditation reduces self-criticism
S T u D I e S s how that mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation reduce self-criticism, which leads to better mental health, including lower levels of depression, anxiety and PTSD.
After an eight-week mindfulness program, participants experienced less self-judgment. These changes were linked with decreases in depression and anxiety.
One final point: Beginning meditators may find that selfcriticism gets worse before it gets better.
After years or decades of habitual self-judgment, people often judge themselves harshly about
losing focus during meditation. But once students get through the first few weeks of practice, the self-judgment begins to abate, both about meditation and about oneself in general.
As one of my students recently said after several weeks of mindfulness meditation: “I am more stable, more able to detach from unhelpful thoughts and can do all of this while being a little more compassionate and loving toward myself.”
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/mindfulness-meditation-and-self-compassion-aclinical-psychologist-explainshow-these-science-backedpractices-can-improve-mentalhealth-198731.
Mindfulness and self-compassion are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research—ongoing, voluminous and worldwide—clearly shows how and why these two practices work.
kindness a lot of times. So now, aside from [that] it’s free, I give kindness to everyone, because this kindness can go a long way, can motivate someone, can give radiance to their days, because this kindness also made me transform myself from a woman who had nothing to a lady that has the universe in her doorstep.”
ON its fourth edition as a standalone competition, Miss Universe Philippines crowned its newest queen on May 13 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Bay City, Pasay City. The coronation night was hosted by GMA actors Alden Richards and Xian Lim, and Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa.
Michelle Marquez Dee, representing Makati City, bested 37 other delegates to earn the right to compete at Miss Universe 2023 to be held in El Salvador later in the year.
Though she is a “legacy,” being the daughter of the legendary Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979, Michelle opted to finish her studies first before plunging into pageantry. She graduated from De La Salle University in Manila with a degree in psychology. She also completed a certificate program in entrepreneurship essentials from the Harvard Business School.
Michelle, 28, also followed in her parents’ footsteps and entered showbiz. She is a member of the Sparkle GMA Artist Center and was last seen in the recently concluded Lihim ni Urduja TV show. Before her triumph on Saturday night, she shared a post to her 293,000 followers on Instagram:
“Throughout life, we will always go through something that will beat us down and test our perseverance.
“I can honestly say that this year has been the most difficult so far. From what felt like losing a dream to taking on the responsibility of taking care of two households due to my parents’ accidents to becoming the primary caregiver of my two autistic siblings while having the drive to still work on myself and my dreams.
“I finished a television show while once again trying to win the crown—and that ultimately took its toll on my body as I underwent emergency surgery a few weeks ago for uncontrollable bleeding [on my birthday no less]. But, here I am, with the knowledge that I am much stronger than any reason life will give me to give up. That’s not in my nature and it’s definitely not in the nature of us Filipinos, too.”
“BARDAGULAN”
THIS year was the most competitive so far. The swimwear round was truly scintillating, the evening gowns were an eleganza extravaganza, and the questions were more intelligent with more articulate answers. The ladies also had to give exceptional performances, what with two winners as judges: the reigning Miss Universe, USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel; and our Margarita Moran, who is celebrating her 50th year as Miss Universe.
IN 2008, a shampoo from Japan called Tsubaki was a precious commodity in the Philippines. If you had straight hair or wanted some semblance of it, Tsubaki, which is the Japanese word for camellia, was the brand of shampoo and conditioner for you.
Then owned by Shiseido, the brand was only available in stores that sold imported goods or online via preorders and “pasabuys.” In 2021, Shiseido sold its shampoo and affordable skin-care business to CVC Capital Partners as the Japanese beauty conglomerate places more of its focus on making and selling highend skin products. Among the brands included in the sale were Tsubaki hair-care products and Senka face wash.
Since 2006 when it was first launched, Tsubaki has had several changes in the formula. But what remains is that it has camellia oil extract, which can permeate the hair shaft and strengthen skin from the inside to help reduce breakage and increase hair elasticity.
Tsubaki is now finally available in the Philippines through official channels at Watsons and Lazada. Soon, the brand will be sold in Shopee.
The brand held an official Philippines launch hosted by The Beauty Edit last week at Hotel Okura and we learned about the changes and innovations the brand has gone through formula-wise.
For one, Tsubaki has been upgraded with the Damage Sensor Function so it can “find” and “repair” intensely damaged areas. Aside from camellia oil, the shampoo, conditioner, and repair mask contain royal jelly (rich in protein and lipids) and soy protein (rich in protein).
Cebu Province—Emmanuelle Vera; Marinduque— Christine Salcedo; Zambales—Christine Opiaza; Cavite—Samantha Panlilio;Davao Oriental—Klyza Ferrando Castro; Baguio—Krishnah Marie Gravidez; Isabela—Kimberlyn Acob; Bulacan—Princess Anne Marcos, the Smilee Casting Fan Vote winner.
After competing in the swimwear round, won by the bodacious Miss Baguio, the candidates were further reduced to a Top 10: Makati, Bohol, Davao
Rian Fernandez).
At the end of the night, the dreaded Final Question determined the placement of the winners: “Recently, the Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign: ‘We give the world our best.’ For you, what is the best that we could offer to the rest of world? Why do you consider it so?”
Krishnah Gravidez, Baguio: “Having to struggle at a very early age, I had uncertainties but I’ve received
One is the Premium Moist & Repair Range and the other is the Premium Volume & Repair Range. Both lines have a shampoo and a conditioner that can be used daily. The Premium Ex Repair Mask is for use once a week only.
FILIPINO BRAND RELEASES
HAIR-CARE LINE FOR COLORED HAIR
Angelique Manto, Pampanga: “I come here not just sharing my story but the multitude of stories that we have yet to hear, especially for those who are struggling in mental health. I believe the best that we could do and we could share is to remember and to remind everyone of the humanity in us, the empathy that has been inside of us all along, and to unlock it so that we could provide more humanity in humanity. The best way to share that is to allow people safe spaces for mental health so we could further this advocacy more.”
Pauline Amelinckx, Bohol: “The best that we can offer to the world is Filipino warmth. It is something that we feel in other countries when we see other Filipino communities, but it’s something we feel even more evidently here in the Philippines. And with this slogan at heart, with this value within us, we’ll be able to bring so many people together to make a meaningful change out there and show them the best that the Philippines has to offer.”
Christine Juliane Opiaza, Zambales: “We are moving forward in progress and the best that we can give to this world is to be a good cause, to find our purpose, to wake up every single day, be grateful that you still have a chance to lead and to see the beauty in life, to find your purpose and make something out of it, to create a great change for the people around yourself, your family, and your community. And I hope we strive for betterment and development of each and every individual.”
Michelle Dee, Makati: “The Philippines is home to very beautiful natural resources, from the beaches, to the mountains, but I firmly believe that the best natural resource that the Philippines has is us Filipinos. We are the true heart and soul of the Philippines, with the way we are hospitable, with the warm smiles, and we are the reason why the world keeps coming back for more. No matter where the universe takes me, I will always be proud to call the Philippines my home, and no matter what happens, I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy.”
BRAND-NEW CROWNS
MICHELLE won. Later on, in an anticlimactic move, Pauline of Bohol was assigned as Miss Supranational Philippines while Krishnah is Miss Charm Philippines. I think they could have switched titles. CJ is first runner-up and Angelique is second runner-up. This is Michelle’s third pageant, after winning Miss World 2019 (and Top 12 at the world finals), then Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022. As a precedent, Catriona Gray was Miss World 2016 (and Top 5 at the world finals) before winning Miss Universe Philippines 2018 and eventually becoming Miss Universe 2018.
After Celeste Cortesi failed to continue our placement streak at Miss Universe 2022, will Michelle be our pageant-crazy country’s salvation in El Salvador? n
Tsubaki was always known for preventing frizziness and flyaways, which is why it’s always been greatly coveted. Now, the formula is even better with the Moist Luster Charge Ingredient for richly lustrous and manageable hair to the ends, and the Airy Light Memory Essence for “airy light” hair from the roots.
Even better, the Tsubaki Premium Ex Repair Mask has an Ionic Repair Ingredient (aside from Damage Sensor Function) for intensive damage repair. This “repairs” intensively damaged hair.
The mask, which is for use once a week, also has twice the Golden Repair Ingredients of the conditioner.
The mask has a high-viscosity matrix that clings tightly to hair, while the Shield Mask Formula protects the entire hair shaft while beauty ingredients penetrate inside.
Meanwhile, Dual Amino Acids offer “Powerful Seal-in” of peeling cuticles.
In the Philippines, Tsubaki comes in two variants.
WHILE I like to use a purple shampoo for toning (meaning prevent it from looking brassy) my colored hair, I will have to admit that this can be drying. Recognizing this need, Zenutrients has launched COLORS, a colored hair after-care line for everyday maintenance. With the shampoo, conditioner and hair oil, your hair gets the benefits of gentle toning and extra moisture.
Like Zenutrients’ best-selling CURLS line, COLORS was also a concept born during the pandemic. Since the brand is known for coming up with hair products using natural ingredients, the brand tapped into nature for gentle yet effective components that would work to care for colored hair.
The COLORS products contain Blue Ternate Flower, a native to Asia, made for gentle toning and keeping your hair color vibrant. This flower is edible, by the way. Other main ingredients are Argan and Lavender. The shampoo and conditioner are must-haves, but to seal even more moisture and shine, the hair oil completes the routine.
The COLORS by Zenutrients products are meant to be used every day as maintenance care, to alternate
with that purple shampoo (I use one from American Crew). By the way, if you have curly hair, it’s OK to use CURLS products alternately with COLORS but not together.
The COLORS by Zenutrients line will initially be available on Shopee until May 18. Starting May 19, you can find it at all Zenutrients kiosks and the brand’s own website. Each product is on sale for P189 from May 19 to June 19. The regular prices are P215 for the 150ml shampoo and conditioner, and P209 for the 50ml hair oil. All the products are sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, and vegan.
IN a recent event held in Pampanga, Unilever Philippines announced its partnership with Greencycle Innovations Inc. with the ambition to deliver above the 20 percent plastic waste diversion target for the EPR law’s first year implementation.
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or Republic Act No. 11898 (also known as the EPR Law), obliged companies are required to adopt and implement policies for the proper management of post-consumer plastic packaging waste.
Unilever seeks not just to meet the targets set by law but also surpass them with the help of Greencycle Innovative Solutions and Shine and Fine—two partners that oversee consolidation and processing of post-consumer plastic waste from the Greater Metro Manila are and nearby regions.
“In order to achieve our goal at Unilever to make sustainable living commonplace, we need to work together and foster a multi-sectoral approach to address the issue of plastic waste. Greencycle has been helping us to collect and process flexible plastic waste like sachets and wrappers. This year, we’re proud to expand collection to include rigid plastics, to be upcycled with the help of Shine and Fine,” said Joseph Fabul, Philippines Communications and Corporate Affairs Head, Unilever.
The expanded partnership is the latest in Unilever Philippines’ longrunning waste management and education program Misis Walastik, which started in 2012 even before the implementation of the EPR law. Under Walastik since 2012 until end2022, over 4.6 thousand metric tons of post-consumer flexible plastic waste
THE premier lifestyle and tourism destination becomes a prime stopover for jet-setters as premium point-to-point (P2P) service provider, UBE Express, adds a stop at the Holiday Inn Express Manila-Newport City for its the airport loop route from April onwards. With the hot summer days in full swing, escape in comfort through an elevated transit experience from one epic entertainment destination to the next.
Settled within Newport World Resorts and conveniently located across NAIA Terminal 3, Holiday Inn Express ManilaNewport City hits the spot for tourists. For an overnight stay at P4,900 nett, hotel guests can savor a couple’s breakfast with up to two UBE Express passes. Enjoy a premium P2P bus service straight from NAIA Terminal 3 to the hotel. Have a delightful staycation before the next grand adventure. For hotel reservations, contact +63 7908 8600, email reserve.hiexmanila@ newportworldresorts.com, or book through www.manilanewport.holidayinnexpress.com.
Escape the ordinary at Newport World Resorts, you know you want to. For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook and Instagram, and @nwresorts on Twitter. Make the most of your visit and sign up for an Epic Membership or download the Newport World Resorts Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
ASTRAZENECA Philippines, the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines (CCPH), and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) have entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to amplify “Screen to Beat Lung Cancer,” a program aimed at early detection of lung cancer using artificial intelligenceassisted chest x-ray technology through the screening of at least 500,000 Filipino patients until next year.
The collaboration aims to eliminate lung cancer as the number one cause of death among cancer types in the Philippines by shaping an end-to-end lung cancer ecosystem solution with shift towards earlier diagnosis and equitable access to cancer care.
Lung cancer’s high mortality rate and low survival rate, both mainly determined by the stage at diagnosis, is a challenge to Filipino patients having low access for early screening. In fact, 60 precent of lung cancer cases are already in the advanced setting, significantly decreasing the fiveyear survival to 2.9%.
The earlier the disease gets diagnosed,
A PARTNERSHIP FOR A WASTE-FREE WORLD: Joseph
Communications
Corporate Affairs Head, Unilever,
Roland Vera Cruz
President
Manager,
Innovative Solutions, celebrate Earth Day by stepping up plastic program
Misis Walastik, Unilever’s long-standing plastic collection and education program. have been diverted out of landfills and waterways. Through efforts such as Misis Walastik, Unilever seeks to achieve several milestones by 2025, including the shift to 100 percent reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging; cutting the use of virgin plastics 50 percent; and even collecting more plastic than they sell.
“We’ve been working with Unilever since 2018 to support the Walastik program as their plastic waste aggregator. We are confident in yet another year of partnership as they commit to step up their plastic waste collection and processing to more than the 20 percent diversion target under the EPR law at the end of 2023”, says Roland Vera Cruz, President and General Manager, Greencycle Innovative Solutions.
Unilever courses all EPR compliance reporting and documentation through
the Philippine Alliance for Materials Sustainability Alliance (PARMS), an organization that brings together the private sector, non-profits, academic institutions, and the public sector in finding systemic solutions in waste management.
“While we in the private sector can drive innovation and investments in technologies and new practices, we look to the support and guidance of government to foster an enabling environment for a circular economy to scale up. We see that the recently passed EPR Law as a good start for this to happen, and we are grateful that our partners are with us in this shared journey,” adds Rondell Torres, Philippines Sustainability Lead, Unilever. For more information about Unilever’s Waste-Free World commitment and other efforts, visit www.unilever.com.ph
TIMEZONE , the popular family entertainment center brand with 61 locations in the Philippines, has launched an upgraded version of its Timezone Fun App. Thousands of Timezone guests have been enjoying the Fun App since its launch last year for its reward vouchers, mini-games, special promotions, and the hottest deals. The app is now taking the fun a little further by allowing guests to top up their Powercards, making it easier and more convenient to enjoy all the fun and excitement that Timezone has to offer. With just a few taps on their smartphone, guests can skip the lines and reload their
Powercards anytime, anywhere. The app will continue to offer exclusive deals, rewards, and prizes to users, enhancing their overall Timezone experience online and offline.
The Timezone Fun App can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store or on Google Play Store. As a special offer, new users who download the Timezone Fun App and register their Powercards will receive an exclusive P100 Powerload voucher.
To reload in the app, users simply add their Powercard to an account, click “Reload,” and select the desired amount. To add to the excitement, until June 30, 2023, guests will receive bonus load when they reload their Timezone Powercards through the app. The app accepts payments via credit or debit card.
the better the survival rate becomes, with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) having a five-year survival rate ranging from 13 to 36 percent; while in stage I NSCLC, it can be as high as 68 to 92 percent.
“AstraZeneca is committed to create value for society beyond the impact of our life-changing medicines through early detection, education, treatment, and posttreatment support. As lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancer types, we are steadfast in providing better chance at cure and equitable cancer care through our collaboration with PBSP and CCPH,“ said Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines country president.
For its part, PBSP has been helping companies and organizations reduce morbidity and mortality, improve nutrition, and achieve universal health coverage among poor families. PBSP will co-lead with CCCPH for the development of relations and coordination with government stakeholders in advocating Screen to Beat Lung Cancer program.
CCPH will provide technical expertise
in the development and implementation of the program specifically in patient management and referral, for specialty care, and public awareness activities for prevention, early screening, and proper management of lung cancer.
The Screen to Beat Lung Cancer program is particularly relevant in the Philippines, where lung cancer is often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) due to their similar presentation such as coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and common x-ray findings.
This misdiagnosis can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, which can greatly reduce a patient’s chances of survival. By incorporating lung cancer screening into PBSP’s existing TB screening initiatives and using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted chest x-ray technology, this program aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and save more lives through early detection.
The MOA signing ceremony held last May 3 in Mandaluyong City was attended by representatives from AstraZeneca, PBSP, and CCPH.
TIMEZONE the Philippines’ favorite indoor family entertainment hub, is introducing exclusive rewards for its loyal guests through the Timezone Fun App.
TO help a million Ka-Sangga farmers and to inspire 500 hundred thousand new Ka-Saripreneurs—these are the ambitious goals of Sarisuki.
Birthed during the peak of the pandemic, Sarisuki positioned itself as a unique platform where communities and farmers have a partnership.
Sarisuki is an online shopping platform that encourages a new generation of Community Leaders to explore the potential of selling affordable farm-fresh goods and other essential items. Eventually, Sarisuki grew with the support from venture capitalists such as Kickstart, Openspace, JGDec, and Foxmont, who saw the potential in Sarisuki. From its humble beginnings, Sarisuki’s network expanded, and it started to cater to places outside Metro Manila. It reached the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Quezon.
Now in its second year, Sarisuki aims to provide consistent farm fresh products at affordable prices, supply a convenient channel for e-commerce, and create sustainable financial opportunities for communities and farmers. Additionally, Sarisuki let consumers have a rewarding experience of grocery shopping. By providing affordable prices of produce and essential goods, Sarisuki creates a”‘wais” way for consumers to spend their hard earned money, thus the term, “Winner Pag Madiskarte.} Consumers are winners when they are Madiskarte with their purchases.
How can Sarisuki achieve its goals? First, Sarisuki gets its supply of farm fresh products and other essential goods directly from the source. Second, the motivation behind its service is heartmade. Sarisuki connects with its Ka-Sangga and Ka-Saripreneurs with passion.
Third, products are consistently of good
With over two million active players in the Philippines, Timezone continues to provide a fun and exciting experience for all. Since its launch in November 2022, the Timezone Fun App has already garnered more than 130,000 downloads in the country. Join the fun and download the Timezone Fun App now for your next visit to Timezone. With just a few taps on your screen, you can enjoy hassle-free entertainment and endless fun! quality and priced affordably. Sarisuki sees to it that the products delivered to your doorstep are in good condition as the last time, if not better. Lastly, where the Sukis are, that’s where Sarisuki goes because of its plans to expand in offline channels. Sarisuki is a platform that changes the scene of how e-commerce is done in the Philippines. With the success it gained over the two years, Sarisuki will continue to work towards achieving its goal.
Last May 5, 2023, Sarisuki showed its gratitude to its Ka-Sangga farmers, KaSaripreneurs, and SariSuki’s partners during its 2nd Year Anniversary with its Sarusuki Super Fiesta 2023!
Sarisuki Super Fiesta 2023 was held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Covered Court from 3pm - 9pm. Over 2000 people joined the fun and celebration! Sarisuki’s partners from Universal Robina Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, Bounty Fresh Chicken, and Gcash had special segments addressed directly to Sarisuki’s Ka-Sangga farmers and Ka-Saripreneurs. Eric Nicolas, Michael Pangilinan, and Amy Perez attended the event and provided entertainment to everyone. There were food stalls, lots of games, and raffles for all the attendees! Truly, it was a memorable experience for all of Sarisuki’s KaSangga, Ka-Saripreneurs, and Ka-Suki! The future’s so bright for Sarisuki that everyone had their big smiles all throughout the event, feeling hopeful and positive.
Multi-sectoral group led by AstraZeneca sign memorandum of agreement to combat lung cancer via early detectionFabul (left), Philippines and and (right), and General Greencycle under
IRECENTLY visited St. Scholastica’s College, following an invitation to be the keynote speaker for the College Week of the Liberal Arts Department. It’s been two decades since I last set foot in my alma mater. As expected, it brought back memories of the four years that I spent there.
As I prepared my speech, I asked myself, what key message should I impart to my audience?
You see, key messaging is a critical practice in the field of Public Relations, where I belong. Key message is the takeaway of the target audience that should not just inform, educate or even entertain—but should inspire, stir a more critical discussion or move people to take relevant actions.
I was lured by the glamor and dynamism of broadcast and advertising—that’s why I took up Mass Communication in 1992. While I had a significant experience in the country’s leading broadcasting company immediately after college, I got exhausted with the daily grind of back-end production. A former professor in Advertising and PR introduced me to the world of Public Relations. I never looked back since then.
PR is always mistaken for a job that is all about creating publicity. When I started as an associate in a PR agency, I was trained to do events management—the discipline of organizing gatherings such as concerts, art shows, press conferences, product launches, celebrity interviews and so on and so forth, as part of the communication strategy to reach out to a particular market. But more than organization skills, I was honed to anticipate certain level of ex -
pectations, be prepared in any unexpected setback, ensure that objectives are met, and more importantly, stay within the budget. I must admit, at a young age, those days were really fun.
Not long after, I was privileged to be exposed to the more serious stuff of public relations—Issues Management, Reputation Management, Media Training, Crisis Communication and Advocacies, or some may call it Stakeholder Relations or Social Investments. The Scholastican ‘calling’ to become an agent of social change suddenly made sense.
To make a case, being in the pharmaceutical and health care industry, the conventional thinking that the PR job requires only the responsibility of peddling brands is certainly far from reality. Health needs to be seen not just from a medical and marketing standpoint but even through the lens of cultural, social, historical and economic perspective.
How can we provide access to health care most especially to those who belong to the base of the pyramid? How can we make our efforts sustainable instead of just implementing donationbased projects? How can we improve the health seeking behavior of the public? How come incidences of tuberculosis and HIV are rising again? Why do we have teenage pregnancies? What is the state of the country’s mental health? How can we ensure that the next generation is not plagued by malnutrition and stunting?
These are just some of the concerns that are ailing our healthcare industry. As PR professionals, we can create a lot of noise about these topics. But these efforts will just become
n ElE si studios’ Franc K E vin Mangahas and BlacKpEncil advErtising’s icE rE y E s win gold at thE 2023 adoBo lia young crE ativE coMpE tition
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Last May 05, creatives gathered at the Astbury for a night of celebration as adobo Magazine, in partnership with the London International Awards (LIA), awarded the winners of the adobo LIA Young Creative Competition 2023. This year’s theme was “A Spotlight on Philippine Creativity” as the jury sought out the best creative solutions that answer the question of how the Philippines can become Asia’s top creative economy.
In the week leading up to the awarding, the panel of jurors, led by Octopus & Whale Founder and CEO Joey David-Tiempo, saw 145 ideas by young creatives from across the industry. While many of the answers to the brief were innovative and informed with a genuine passion for improving the Philippine creative economy, only two young creatives win a trip to Vegas where they will be part of Creative LIAisons Program.
“[Looking at the entries,] I see the dedication and the genuine concern of young creatives specific to the creative sectors they are passionate about,” Joey expressed. “The ones who were selected to represent the country are those who understand these sectors very very well.”
The idea that won Franc a trip to Vegas was Outsourced, a pitch to create an RPG game made entirely of Filipino talents with assets and
source codes made available for licensing. This won’t only offer an immersive gameplay experience based on the Philippines’ rich mythology and history. Rather, it also changes the perception of Filipinos in gaming as just talents to outsource for world-class games by foreign developers.
Meanwhile, Ice’s Redo-signs pitch was her ticket to Vegas. Sarisari stores can be found everywhere in the Philippines, and many of their signages, while classic, look dated. Redo-signs takes that as an opportunity to both beautify the stores and give artists a platform to show their work. This will be done by connecting local artists with store owners who want their signages redesigned, and in return, the creator’s art — along with a QR code leading to their info — will be visible to the community and anyone who passes by.
“For me, it was important to push
merely band-aid solutions if not complemented by relevant understanding and programs that include policy development, research, training needs analysis, health education, to name a few, that will pave the way for more appropriate actions.
Mr. Max Edralin, a respected figure in the local PR industry and a fellow member of the International Public Relations Association (Ipra) who passed away a few years ago, once told me, “Public relations is creating and nurturing relationships with its target public”. This definitely resonated to me since I do a lot of community engagements, without the need to publicize most of the time.
Improvement in health-seeking behavior is not an overnight task. It takes a consistent approach to be able to nudge the target public to make certain choices such as compliance with drastic lifestyle changes. It requires understanding of the terrain of a particular area or market—the influencers, the right spokesperson, the timely messages and news angles that can connect to the audience, political and social issues that cause the problems, cultural and faith-based norms that need to be taken into account. Undoubtedly, one company or
an idea that not only resonates with me as a creative but also as a Filipino. I wanted everyday Filipinos to be at the forefront of that first step into the kind of Creative Philippines we want to see in the future. This is why I took into account mediums that they are normally exposed to, which in my case, [are] tindahan signs,” Ice shared. “I look forward to flying to Vegas! Most importantly, [I look forward to] the opportunity of meeting advertising giants from all over the world and learning from them.”
Also standing out among the entries are the two Silver Winners: Cheil Philippines’ Gelo Marasigan and MullenLowe TREYNA’s Vince Divinagracia. The two creatives were awarded coveted slots for the LIAisons Virtual Program. This global one-to-one virtual coaching and networking program is the ultimate platform that allows young creatives around the world to connect with industry leaders.
brand cannot do it alone. A seasoned PR practitioner would know that validating assumptions, mapping out like-minded individuals and/or organizations and forging partnerships with them is an essential part of the PR job. And the commitment to go through the rigor of all these cements the company or the brand’s reputation, or as it is recognized now, authenticity—which is more lasting rather than a short-term promotion or gimmick.
In a society where information and disinformation coexist, in a world where a small box of gadget dictates our daily life, in a digital space where character judgment is based on comments and reactions of strangers, a decades-long well-meaning project or campaign of a company, a brand or an individual may be threatened by a click of a finger. This is a constant challenge to a PR person. But this also serves as a motivation that there is so much that should be done.
I ended my speech with a call to action among my fellow Kulasas who will soon become part of the ‘real world’. I strongly believe that anyone, even students, can call for disruption or question traditional thinking or system that may result to improvements or social changes.
Gelo caught the jury’s eye with Balagcast, which transforms Filipino trash talk, which has gained notoriety in global gaming communities, into poetic balagtasan. This solution taps Filipino poets, spoken word artists, and battle rappers as esports shoutcasters in an effort to redirect the spotlight away from the negative rep of Filipino gamers and back toward Filipino talent and creativity.
“Tackling the brief, I wanted to really delve into what I’m passionate about, which are tula and gaming — an unlikely pair,” he said. “This win really is a testament na when you advocate for your passions and when you’re having fun with the brief, you get to create some of the best ideas you could have.”
For Vince, his VoiceMyNPC.ph entry addresses the problem of Filipino voice talents being overlooked. This idea proposes a digital marketplace that acts as a talent pool for Filipino VO actors. Through this platform, users can generate non-playable characters
The availability now of several platforms should serve as a gift and a free means to connect and be heard. But just like the deluge of press materials that are sent to newsrooms every day, the overwhelming information online confronts us with a more difficult challenge to stand out. Hence, all the more that the practice of PR should remain. The responsibility to communicate and to communicate responsibly are the pillars of a genuine PR. The columnist wishes to congratulate all graduates of MassComm and PR this year.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Claire de Leon-Papa is the Head of External Affairs and Social Partnerships of Unilab, Inc. She is a member of Ipra-Philippines Chapter and the International Public Relations Association.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.
in this stage of voice talents and choose what they sound like among a variety of VO actors.
“In making video-form ads that include narration, we always outsource voice actors but not all of them get cast.
So, I wanted to make another avenue for voice actors to showcase their talents combining it with my love for gaming,” Vince said. “[I look forward to] meeting ad industry giants during this program. I want to be able to have the chance to ask how they create ideas because I’ve always been interested in how they go about cracking briefs here and there and how they make it look so easy.”
The awarding of the winners and finalists marks the end of this year’s adobo LIA Young Creative Competition 2023, which is brought to you by an 11-year partnership between adobo Magazine and LIA that invites Philippine creatives to present their innovative solutions and prove their creative chops every year.
‘PR is not just about developing publicity campaigns. It can be a means to implement relevant programs that can influence social changes.’
Members of Team Philippines hear Holy Mass at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Phnom Penh on Sunday morning. Seen being blessed by the Officiating Priest are Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Deputy Secretary-General Carl Sambrano, Chef de Mission Chito Loyzaga, Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon “Tats” Suzara and board member Tonyboy Liao, Ternate Mayor Lamberto Bambao and members of the taekwondo team.
PHNOM PENH—Six gold medals and the taekwondo
jins have emerged as the most successful athletes on Team Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. A nd it’s because of their perseverance and faith to God.
I forgot God and everything about Him after my Olympic [Tokyo 2021] campaign,” Kurt Barbosa— who beat his idol from Thailand, Ramnarong Sawekwiharee, in the men’s 54-kg final of kyorugi—told BusinessMirror on Sunday. “Until someone enlightened me and asked me to return to Him.”
I gave everything to Him as I trained,” he said. “And I’m so happy that He gave me my third gold medal in the SEA Games.”
The 23-year-old pride of Bangued in Abra has as company in taekwondo’s golden circle veteran Kirstie Elaine Alora, Samuel Morrison and Arven Alcantara in kyorugi and Patrick King Perez (recognized men’s individual) and Jocelyn Ninobla, Aidaine Laxa and Nicole Labayne (recognized women’s team) in poomsae.
B arbosa beat the two-time world championships bronze medalist Sawekwiharee, 6-3, in the final he marked with an 11-8 score in the first round and a technical knockout in the second round at the Chroy Changvar Center Hall F for his third gold after 2019 in Manila and 2022 in Vietnam. “ I pray most of the time to Saint James. As a Roman Catholic, my faith in God always lives on,” he said. “So now, I can now focus on my training for the next two tournaments.”
B arbosa is seeing action in the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 29 to June 6 and the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games from September 23 to October 8.
A return to the Olympics, he said, would follow after he hurdles the two major tournaments.
At 33, Alora hinted at retirement—she competed in SEA Games since 2013 in Myanmar. She won gold here also last Saturday in women’s -73 kgs where she booked a 2-1 win in the final over Vietnam’s Thi Huong Nguyen.
Yes I am considering retirement so definitely this is my last. That’s why I did my best to have a good exit here,” said Alora, an Export Management graduate at the College
road
cyclists missed the top of the podium but the bronze medals in men’s criterium and road race of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games were enough to signal a potential bright future.
It’s an improvement,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who also heads the national federation for the sport PhilCycling.
“They’re little yet significant accomplishments in a cycling discipline that’s never easy at all.”
R eforms in PhilCycling’s road organization have started to bear fruit—the coaching staff and national team composition were revamped in February.
R onald Oranza clinched both bronze medals in criterium and road race where riders from four of the six participating countries partook of the medals—Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam won a gold each in both genders.
Hard work and focus, and more importantly, it’s the motivation that the riders projected from their selection to the national team in February to the month-long training camp in April,” said Reinhard Gorantes, who’s joined in the road coaching staff by Virgilio Espiritu, Alfie Catalan, Marita Lucas and Gerald Valdez.
PHNOM PENH—Noelito Garcia
Jr. claimed a silver medal in fencing and proved that his shift from arnis was worth it.
Garcia, 26, who shifted fencing in 2015, finished second in individual play of men’s epee at Hall D of the OCIC Wedding Center in Chroy Changvar District.
I made the right decision, this silver proves so,” said Garcia, who captured the same medal last year in Vietnam to improve on the bronze he got in 2019 back home.
national contingent—backed by the Philippine Sports Commission
Singapore’s gold medal production
already breaking the 60-gold mark.
Vietnam was on its way to taking the overall crown anew by approaching the 100-gold mark, with Thailand sure of taking at least second before it hosts the next edition of the games in 2025.
of Saint Benilde. “It’s time to pass the responsibility to the young guns.”
A lora, who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympian, said she’s unsure if she could go for a third bronze medal—or better—in Huangzhou. “
It depends on my coaches,” she said. “But I’m no longer considering myself to be at the Paris Olympics. I am already okay with what I have achieved.”
U nder the watchful eyes of coach Carlos Padilla, Morrison added the men’s 87 kgs gold and Alcantara the 68 kgs title to Team Philippines’ success.
Patrick King Perez (recognized men’s individual) and the women’s recognized team of Jocelyn Ninobla, Aidaine Laxa and Nicole Labayne.
T he poomsae team had former national world champion Rani Ortega as coach.
More kyorugi fighters are eyeing gold medals on Monday—Dave Cea (men’s -74 kgs), Joseph Chua (men’s -63 kgs), Jessica Canabal (women’s -53 kgs) and Laila Delo (women’s -67 ksg).
KIRSTIE ELAINE ALORA yells after her gold medal conquest. ROY DOMINGO
Pwere true to form atop the ring and Elreen Ando shattered weightlifting records as the Philippines wrested fifth place from Singapore with a nine-gold medal binge Sunday in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Paalam and Petecio made it a 3-of5 golden campaign for the Filipinos at the end of boxing competitions with arnis delivering two golds and weightlifting, judo, esports and wrestling one apiece.
Paalam, who won a silver as a flyweight in the Tokyo Olympics, dominated Aldoms Suguro of Indonesia in the men’s bantamweight final while Petecio overwhelmed another Indonesian in the women’s featherweight division. Their victories sandwiched the gold medal conquest of Paul Bascon over Rujakran Juntrong of Thailand in a light welterweight clash as the Filipino boxers wound up with four gold medals, counting featherweight Ian Clark Bautista’s win Saturday.
A ndo kicked off the Philippines rally early Sunday by setting new records in the 59 kgs class of women’s weightifting, with judoka Rena Furukawa retaining her under 57 kgs women’s crown.
Esports delivered its second gold through the Sibol men’s team that swept Malaysia, 3-0, in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang final and Jason Balabal topped the 82kg class of men’s wrestling.
C harlotte Ann Tolentino and Jedah Mae Soriano delivered the first two of an expected avalanche of gold in arnis, ruling the women’s full contact padded stick finals in the bantamweight and lightweight classes, respectively.
The cycling competitions ended Saturday with Vietnam’s Thi That Nguyen winning the women’s road race—a 100.40-km four-lap ride over a 25.10-km loop.
Th e race was a bore with 20 of the 30 starters riding as a bunch from
start to finish. Thailand’s Jutatip Maneephan clinched silver and Malaysia’s Nur Aisyah Zubir bagged bronze with the same clocking as Nguyen.
M aura de los Reyes was the bestplaced Filipina at ninth, followed
by 2019 gold and silver medalist Jermyn Prado and Avegail Rombaon at 11th and 12th places, Mathilda Krog at No. 15 and Kate Yasmin Velasco at No. 17. They all had the same time as the gold medalist. A riana Evangelista captured silver
Gilas Pilipinas’ women’s squad in regular basketball humbled Thailand 82-70 and improved to 4-1 in a tie with Malaysia.
W ith Afril Bernardino showing the way with 18 points, the Filipinas dictated the tempo of the match, turning back the Thais’ desperate comeback bid.
They clash with Malaysia for the silver medal on May 15.
I ndonesia, which shocked the Filipinas 89-68 last Friday, looks set to win the women’s cage gold.
Furukawa proved too much for Chu Myat Noe Wai of Myanmar in their battle for the under 57kg class and delivered judo’s first gold medal here.
A ndo, taking over from the absent Olympic champ Hidilyn Diaz, topped the women’s 59kg class with a total lift of 216kg punctuated by new games records of 118kg in the clean and jerk and 98kg in the snatch.
A nother lifter, Rosalina Faustino, won a silver medal in the women’s 55kg category.
Table tennis contributed a bronze to the country’s tally courtesy of Richard Gonzales and John Russel Misal in men’s doubles action.
SIBOL team’s Rowgien Stimpson Unigo, coach Francis Glindro, David Canon, coach Vrendon Lin, Michael Angelo Sayson, Nowee Macasa, Angelo Kyle Arcangel and Marco Stephen Requitiano strike a championship pose with Cavite Vice Governor Athena Tolentino.
in women’s crosscountry eliminator and helped Shagne Yaoyao, RJ Flores and Jerico Rivera finish with the bronze medal in the mixed team event of mountain bike.
I ndonesia topped the overall medals table with five gold medals, followed by Vietnam with two and Malaysia and Vietnam with one each. Host Cambodia had one silver and one bronze. Jun Lomibao
Garcia’s chase for a gold medal continued late Sunday with the epee team, which is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee. He had to shift to fencing because arnis wasn’t part of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines program.
G arcia, who began practising the Filipino martial arts in Grade 5, had his biggest accomplishment as an “arnisador” when he bagged the gold in the 2013 Dumaguete Palarong Pambansa featherweight division.
But he got himself an athletic scholarship as a fencer at the University of Santo Tomas and finished with a degree in Physical Education Sports, Wellness and Management.
He’s been with the national team for nearly a decade now.
I hope I can make the team to the Asian Games,” he said.
The Asian Games are set in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8. Josef Ramos
PHNOM PENH—Charmaine
Dolar and Carl Joshua Tangonan bagged a bronzge medal in the mixed pair event at the close Sunday of the aerobic gymnastics competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the National Olympic Stadium.
Dolar and Tangonan scored 18.2670 to finish behind Vietnam’s Hoang Phong Le and Ngyo Thuy Vi Tran (19.2330) and Cambodia’s Has Sokhor and Mos Sreypov (18.7170).
It was the second bronze medal for the aerobic gymnastics team—and for Dolar in the women’s individual on Saturday.
The national team fell short in the Group 5 event and wound up fourth with 16.589 Vietnam (19.611), Thailand (17.467) and Cambodia (17.000) occupied the podium.
The gymnastics team collected four gold, two silver and two bronze medals—a respectable feat with the hosts limiting the participation of the foreign teams to their advantage.
The golds came from the artistic gymnastics squad led by Carlos Yulo with two, and John Ivan Cruz and Juancho Miguel Besana with one each. Jun Lomibao