BusinessMirror May 15, 2024

SSS co-investing with MIC only in brownfields

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

@reine_alberto

STATE-RUN Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando L. Macasaet clarified on Tuesday that the pension fund would only co-invest with Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, in “brownfield” investments.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Macasaet stressed that the pension fund will only invest in an existing project or facility to launch a new activity or invest -

ment opportunity that already has a stable cash flow.

“Pension fund  kami, hindi kami development fund.  Ang pera ng  SSS,  hindi ko pwedeng ilagay sa mga  high-risk investments. [We’re a pension fund, not a development fund. I cannot put the funds of SSS in high-risk investments],” Macasaet said, referring to “greenfield” investments or facilities that have yet to be constructed.

This, after Macasaet said earlier that the pension fund is keen on co-investing with the MIC in brownfield investments.

Macasaet noted that if the MIC

injects its capital into an infrastructure project and if he sees it fit for the pension fund, then he would invest as well.

The SSS chief said the pension fund will not invest in a toll road that’s about to be built as this would entail risks. Instead, it would put its funds into an existing one, such as the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), which already has a stable cash flow.

Ang SSS,  hindi ko ilalagay ang pera sa isang korporasyon na nagsisimula pa lang ang  construction. [I will not put SSS’s funds into a corporation that’s beginning its construction],”

Macasaet underscored.

For the SSS to preserve its capital, it invests the contributions of its members to government securities, corporate or multilateral institutions and equities, short and medium-term loans, money markets, and other investment instruments approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.  SSS and other governmentowned and -controlled operations providing social security and public health insurance, are prohibited from investing in the Maharlika Investment Fund.

BILL AMENDING RTL GETS HOUSE 2ND-READING OK

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

THE House of Representa -

tives on Tuesday approved a bill on second reading that seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Lawmakers passed House Bill 10381 through a voice vote, aiming to enhance the government’s ability to stabilize rice prices and prevent manipulative pricing and hoarding during periods of market volatility.

The bill grants the National Food Authority (NFA) to require the registration of all grain warehouses to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Additionally, it allows the NFA to inspect these warehouses to maintain standards related to rice quality and supply.

House Bill 10381 restores the NFA’s functions of price stabilization and supply regulation and gives the NFA the power to regulate foreign investment in the rice and corn industries.

The NFA is mandated to maintain sufficient buffer stock sourced from local farmers and cooperatives. If local sources are insufficient, the NFA is authorized to: (1) purchase local milled rice; (2) buy up to 30 percent from accredited importers at cost; and (3), as a last resort, directly import rice

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

MEASURES aimed at eliminating import duties for European cars should be included in the EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with “immediate effect upon ratification,” according to the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).

ECCP noted in a recent statement that while there is a “positive trend” toward market increase according to industry players, European

automobile brands tend to “lose out” in the Philippine market in terms of price competitiveness because their goods are generally in the “high-price-tiered segment.”

“Adopting these measures will ensure that European automobile brands are more competitive in the local market,” the chamber noted.

The ECCP pointed out that European vehicle firms in the Philippines are subject to “several” taxes and duties, including customs, value-added tax,

See “ECCP,” A2

ABy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

GRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has urged lawmakers to support the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) extension.

In his report to the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization led by Senator Cynthia Villar, Laurel called the Rice Fund a “dynamic economic strategy” that bolstered farmer’s productivity and incomes through the tariffs.

“The RTL has leveraged tariff

revenues to fund critical initiatives that have brought transformative changes to our agricultural landscape. Notably, the provision of high-quality seeds and modern machinery through the RCEF has led to a remarkable increase in rice yields and a reduction in production costs,” the agriculture chief was quoted as saying.

“Specifically, our data shows that from 2019 to 2023, palay production across the 57 RCEF provinces increased by approximately 7 percent,” he added.

The RCEF allocates P10 billion

See “RCEF,” A2

HG Hyundai-Cerberus deal to boost PHL shipbuilding

By Samuel P. Medenilla  @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said fresh invest -

ments of HG Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Subic will help the country finally achieve its goal of becoming the top shipbuilder in the world.

The chief executive made the remark during the announcement of Cerberus and HD Hyundai’s partnership in Subic in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“With this initiative of Cerberus and HG Hyundai, we will have a fresh start and a strong foundation in realizing our vision to be amongst the largest and most consequential shipbuilders

and excise tax, which it said “raises the cost of the vehicles by nearly 102 percent of their retail prices.”

Meanwhile, it noted that the European vehicle firms’ Asian counterparts benefit from more “competitive and preferential tariff rates” as a result of existing bilateral and

in the world,” Marcos said in his speech at the event.

No official details of the Cerberus-HHI agreement were released by the Palace as of press time.

Marcos said the Philippines was only the seventh-largest shipbuilder in the world, contributing almost 400,000 gross tons of newly built sea and oceangoing vessels.

The country was the second largest shipbuilder when Hanjin Philippines was still operating in Subic. After Hanjin shut down its operations, its shipyard in Subic was acquired by Cerberus Global Investment LLC in 2022.

The Korea-based HHI is one of the world’s largest shipbuild -

multilateral trade agreements, particularly the country’s FTAs with Japan and South Korea through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-South Korea FTA as well as the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

In fact, the ECCP pointed out that the Philippines-South Korea FTA signed on September 7,2023 would remove the 5-percent tariff on cars from Korea upon entry into force of the agreement. It added that tariffs on

ing companies and a major heavy equipment manufacturer.

Aside from shipbuilding, HHI is also expected to boost the country’s access to renewable energy.

“HG Hyundai’s initial focus on the development of offshore wind platforms holds well for our goal through transitioning to renewable energy,” Marcos said.

For its part, the US-based Cerberus, the President said, is expected to invest on microelectronics, semiconductors, and critical metals.

“The investments that will be created hereafter are especially beneficial to Subic because these will strengthen the Freeport area’s vital role as a hotspot for

vehicle parts, including those of electric and hybrid vehicles ranging from 3 to 30 percent, will also be scrapped within five years.

“The ECCP and its Automotive Committee believe that an FTA between the EU and the Philippines will level the playing field for European firms to prosper in the country and offer consumers wider options that can compete in terms of high-quality sustainability and safety standards,” ECCP said.

industrial, commercial, and other economic activities,” Marcos said.

During the President’s meeting with Cerberus top executives in May 2023, it was announced that HHI will be using two drydocks in Subic for shipbuilding and will employ 5,000 to 15,000 workers.

“We encourage HG Hyundai to partner with our Commission on Higher Education  and Technical Skills Education Development Authority, or Tesda, in finding projects for the development of our very talented workforce,” Marcos said.

It was also announced that Cerberus plans to convert the Subic Airport into a cargo and logistics hub.

The 27-member bloc European Union (EU) and the Philippines announced in March that they are relaunching their negotiations for a free trade deal.

Tariffs on imported EVs

MEANWHILE the ECCP also said it strongly supports the plan to lift the tariffs on imported electric vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

“To help encourage the adoption of electric vehicles in the Philippine market, the Chamber and its Automotive Committee strongly support the plan to lift the 30-percent duty on imported electric vehicles,” the European chamber noted.

Following the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 12, which temporarily modifies import duties on EVs, parts, and components, ECCP said, “We advocate for a broader scope in tariff removal. The ECCP Automotive Committee strongly urges the extension of tariff exemptions to cover all types of EVs coming from all countries.”

The scope should include two-wheelers and buses as well as more than four-wheelers such as trucks, said ECCP.

The chamber also underscored the need for an “extended elimination of EV tariffs spanning at least eight years,” saying this would give ample time for alignment of EV development and “maturity” of charging station infrastructure.

Contrary to the Department of Trade and Industry’s take on the imposition of tariffs on hybrid electric vehicles, however, the ECCP emphasized that “Expanding tariff exemptions to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is essential to facilitate a smoother transition towards greener transportation alternatives.”

“Considering the DTI’s recent rejection of including HEVs in the list of zero-tariff EVs, we propose revisiting this decision to include PHEVs in the zero-tariff list or maintaining a reduced tariff duty of 15 percent for at least four years to encourage their widespread adoption,” the ECCP noted.

In March, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual stressed that imposing zero tariffs on hybrid vehicles is “not justifiable” right now, as doing so would go against the government’s goal of having a critical mass of electric vehicles in the Philippine market.

The Trade chief earlier said the objective of reducing tariffs on pure electric vehicles is to “have the critical mass of EVs to make the setting up of charging stations a feasible business, feasible operation.”

Should duties for hybrid vehicles be eliminated, he said this will not contribute to the attainment of the government’s objective.

with authorization from the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The bill also enhances the regulatory powers of the Bureau of Plant Industry, allowing it to inspect warehouses to ensure compliance with sanitary, phytosanitary, and food safety standards.

Moreover, the measure authorizes the DA Secretary, upon recommendation from the National Price Coordinating Council or the Local Price Coordinating Council, to declare a food security emergency under conditions of rice supply shortage, sustained price increases, or extraordinary price hikes.

The bill extends the period of validity of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for another six years.

The proposed amendments extend the validity of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for another six years and increase its annual appropriation from P10 billion to P15 billion. The fund allocation will now be divided as follows: 53.5 percent for farm mechanization, 29.7 percent for seed components, 3.3 percent for training, 6 percent for rice credit assistance, 4 percent for soil management, 2 percent for pest management, and 1.5 percent for the Rice Industry Development Project Management Office (PMO).

The bill empowers the President, through the recommendation of the DA Secretary, to reallocate the P15 billion rice fund and the excess tariff revenues to the core programs should the need arise.

It also establishes the Rice Industry Development Program Management Office to oversee the effective implementation of rice programs.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez expressed the goal of having the RTL amended by July, targeting a reduction in rice prices to below P30, making it more affordable for Filipino families. Currently, rice prices range between P40 and P45, sometimes exceeding P50.

Address issues; support farmers, consumers

FOR his part, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the bill seeks to address several pressing issues within the rice industry and ensure continued support for rice farmers and consumers alike.

“The House’s expeditious action on the RTL amendments stems from three critical factors,” Salceda explained. “First, the current rice price crisis has exposed the shortcomings of the global rice trade and underscored the importance of domestic support. Second, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund [RCEF] is set to expire in 2025 and requires a thorough review and renewal. Third, the National Food Authority [NFA] still plays a crucial role in making affordable rice accessible to the poorest of the poor.”

Meanwhile, Salceda and other House leaders are calling on the Senate for prompt action by passing the measure to address the urgent needs of the rice sector and secure the economic stability and food security of the nation.

“President Marcos has achieved record palay yields, but clearly, even the best isn’t good enough. I’m glad that he recognizes this problem and is working to solve the policy issues that underlie it,” Salceda added.

department has sought the extension of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to 2030.

Continued from A1

for farm mechanization (P5 billion), inbred seeds (P3 billion), rice credit assistance (P1 billion), and rice extension service (P1 billion). However, the DA earlier proposed to increase the Rice Fund to P15 billion.

The additional fund would be earmarked for other components such as soil health improvement, pest and disease management, and the creation of the Rice Industry Development-Program Management Office.

According to Laurel, the Rice Fund “provided a substantial revenue stream for the government to finance essential development projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of the rice sector in the Philippines.”

He added that the Rice Fund has helped over a million Filipino rice farmers since its implementation five years ago. Aside from its proposal to add P5 billion to the Rice Fund, the

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11954 or “An Act Establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund,” the MIC is created as the “sole vehicle for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions aimed at gen -

The DA also proposed several changes to the RTL regarding the mandate of the National Food Authority (NFA). Among these is providing the NFA temporary powers to intervene in the rice market when necessary to correct significant price disparities and perform its price stabilization function during food security emergencies and sudden price hikes.

The department also proposed the creation of an office that would coordinate various rice programs of the government and strengthen regulatory functions particularly targeting anti-competitive practices such as rice hoarding and price manipulation to protect consumers and ensure market fairness.

“These strategic enhancements aim to bolster the resilience and sustainability of the Philippine rice industry, securing long-term food security and economic stability for the nation,” the DA said in a statement.

erating optimal returns on investments [ROIs].” The Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines remitted P25 billion and P50 billion, respectively, to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) in September last year, contributing a total of P75 billion to the sovereign wealth fund.

Escudero eyes govt-mandated

testing to cover all illegal drugs

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Francis Escudero suggested on Tuesday that drug test requirements by government agencies should encompass all types of drugs, to include the so-called “rich man’s drugs” such as cocaine and ecstasy.

Escudero noted that limiting drug tests to only a few substances, such as methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” and marijuana, which is the current practice, “creates a loophole” in law enforcement agencies’ efforts to maintain a drug-free environment.

He added that the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), the policymaking body mandated to plan and formulate policies and programs on drug abuse prevention and control in the Philippines, must determine “the most effective and efficient ways” to conduct drug tests that are still affordable to the people.

Escudero suggested that “the tests should include all types of drugs—not just shabu and marijuana—for drivers, firearms license holder, pilots license applicants and those subjected to random testing, among others.”

“We should also go beyond the usual urine test if only to ensure that we capture every illegal substance

in the person’s system,” he added.

At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, presided by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Escudero explained that it is within the DDB’s authority to establish clear policy guidelines for drug testing in different instances, such as job applications, driver’s license acquisition, and permits for carrying firearms outside of residence.

It was during the hearing that Escudero discovered there were no explicit guidelines regarding the specific drug tests required for individuals applying for a driver’s license or permits to carry firearms outside their residence.

DDB Chairman Catalino Cuy has acknowledged that the existing requirements for various drug tests, including those for substances like “shabu” and marijuana, are not derived from written policy guidelines but rather stem from established practices.

“It’s the board’s job under the law in so far as the type of tests to be conducted whenever drug testing is required as the case maybe in driver’s license or for the issuance of a permit to carry firearms outside of residence or other circumstance the executive branch may necessitate,” he said.

LTO rejects solons’ bid to end contract with IT provider, says Dermalog support is crucial

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has turned down lawmakers’ recommendations to terminate its contract with its current information technology service provider for the land transportation management system (LTMS).

During a House Committee on Transportation hearing on Monday, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza declared that the agency lacks the capability to independently manage the LTMS, which processes the registration of millions of motor vehicles and driver’s licenses annually.

“We cannot on our own run the system without the assistance of our IT service provider, Dermalog,” Mendoza explained in response to a query from committee chairman Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.

Dermalog, a German company leading a joint venture with local firms, was contracted by the LTO in 2018 to develop and manage the LTMS, now owned by the government. A representative from the German embassy observed the hearing.

Mendoza emphasized that the LTO lacks the necessary IT expertise and personnel to take over the system.

Acop urged Mendoza to terminate the Dermalog contract, citing an adverse 2023 Commission on Audit report.

“I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that our position is in the best interest of the government. We can explain it in a closeddoor session because of the presence of parties here that are litigants in a case pending in the Supreme Court (involving the contract),” Mendoza responded.

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta endorsed former LTO IT service provider Stradcom as a replacement for the Dermalog joint venture.

However, Mendoza, a former party-list House member like Marcoleta, declined the suggestion.

Mendoza, appointed LTO chief in July last year, said he needed to assess Stradcom’s track record. “We will have to validate their capability to walk the talk,” Mendoza said.

For his part, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Reinier Paul Yebra said the DOTr was interested in efficient service.

“This is a contract between LTO and its IT provider. As the mother agency and per the directive of Secretary Jaime Bautista, we want to ensure there is no disruption in service to the public,” he said.

A transition period is currently in place, during which Stradcom is required but has failed to turn over all data collected during its contract with the LTO.

In a letter dated May 2, Secretary Bautista reminded Stradcom president Anthony Quiambao to comply with the requirement.

He said the data submission “is crucial for a smooth transition to the new vehicle registration module and to expedite transaction processing for better service to our clients and stakeholders.”

“However, due to delays in transmission and missing data in the entries submitted, there are still obstacles to the execution and implementation of the new vehicle registration module of the LTO,” Bautista said in his letter.

CHR probers swoop down on Muntinlupa

their children.

TBong Go advocates for enhanced skills development

SBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started an investigation into the alleged abuses committed by prison personnel during strip searches of visiting relatives of prisoners.

In a statement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said four CHR special investigators arrived at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntiniupa City to check on security measures are being implemented for visitors of prisoners.

The CHR special investigators—lawyer Rommel Tinga, Michele Tuliao, Mays Sylvette Rojas and Ma. Milanie Arao were armed with a mission order signed by Director Jasmin Navarro Regino of the CHR’s Human Rights Protection Cluster.

The investigators were met by BuCor Head Executive Assistant, CTC Supt. Fe Marquez; the New

Bilibid Prisons Acting Superintendent, Corrections Chief Insp. Roger Boncales; the NBP Maximum Security Camp Commander, Corrections Senior Insp. Abel Ciruela and Corrections Insp. Evangeline Rabara, chief of the Inmate Visitation Service Unit.

BuCor officials gave the investigators a briefing and simulation of the strip cavity search to give them an idea on how visitations are conducted inside the NBP to maintain peace and order.

They toured the investigators around the NBP Maximum Camp, including the conjugal facilities and the park for PDL visitors and

The CHR investigators told BuCor officials that subpoenas would be issued to compel the female jail guards who conducted the strip search on the complainants to submit their sworn statements.

Earlier BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang expressed his willingness to fully cooperate with the CHR, where several wives of prisoners sought redress for what they called “degrading and traumatic” strip searches being conducted by NBP guards.

Strip search is implemented by searching a person for contraband suspected hidden on their body and clothing which usually not found by performing frisk search.

The BuCor has relieved seven prison personnel from their posts pending the result of its internal investigation and the CHR probe.

Catapang disclosed that he sent a letter to the Focal Commissioner for Prevention on Human Rights, lawyer Faydah Maniri Dumarpa, to assure her that BuCor is one with their cause of upholding human rights.

“Just like everybody else, we want to ferret out the truth…,” he said.

Senators miffed by delay in improvement of regional airports

ALARMED by the slow pace of progress in improving domestic airports across the country even as the Philippines is ramping up invitations for more foreign and local tourists, to travel, the Senate Committee on Public Services conducted a public hearing Tuesday, seeking an inventory from the Department of Transportation of all domestic airports across the country.

At the hearing, senators led by the panel chairman, Sen. Grace Poe, heard testimony from stakeholders who briefed them of problems on the ground.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas said he had repeatedly complained to authorities about problematic facilities, especially repeated malfunctions of escalators at the Iloilo International Airport.

Trenas also told senators he was puzzled over the slow pace of moves to let in private business, given that there had been offers for a PPP project for the international airport since last year.

At the hearing, Sen. Nancy Binay noted that several regional airports are facing technical problems such as defective escalators and the breakdown of air-conditioning units.

Binay, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tourism, also narrated the problem of Caticlan Airport when she visited Boracay Island a few weeks ago. She said that in going to Manila, she had to take a bus for 30 minutes to reach the airport and that the tarmac itself is very narrow and short.

“We want to increase the number of tourists to go to Boracay but the airport itself does not have the capacity to accept more visitors,” Binay said. “Maybe we have to address such issues...the problems in regional airports,” she added. Butch Fernandez

Devotees on prayer to mark centenary of St. Thérèse’s canonization

DEVOTEES of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the Catholic faithful worldwide have been celebrating her anniversaries since 2023.

Therese’s 150th birth anniversary was marked on January 2, 2023; the 100th year of her beatification on April 29, 1923; while the coming centenary of her canonization will be on May 17, 2025.

As part of the celebrations in the country, the Philippine Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites will mount its second Congress on Prayer with the theme “Confidence in Love” on April 9, 2025, as the highlight of the observance of the saint’s canonization centenary.

Led by the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites-Philippine Province of St. Teresa of Jesus, the Congress on Prayer II will be launched on October 1, 2024, the feast day of Thérèse, a Carmelite nun.

Known for her religious name, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, the Catholic Church’s patroness of missions was canonized on May 17, 1925, by Pope Pius XI. and beatified her two years earlier, on April 29, 1923.

Also called “The Little Flower,” Thérèse died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 on September 30, 1897.

The second Congress on Prayer will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. It comes exactly a decade after the Carmelites’ first congress was held on March 15, 2015, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The 2015 congress marked the celebration of the 500th birth anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila, the first woman Doctor of the Church.

The Spanish foundress of the Discalced Carmelites, also known as St. Teresa of Jesus, is considered one of the great spiritual

St. thérèSe, then aged 15, very eager to become a nun, had fixed her hair in a bun so she would look older. It was during an audience with the bishop of the Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux to ask his permission to allow her to enter Carmel of Lisieux. But the bishop said she still had “plenty of time.” FILE PHOTO

geniuses and mystics in recent history.

The first congress, with the theme “Prayer, a Dialogue of Love,” was attended by more than 7,000 faithful who heralded “prayer as an experience of friendship and a deepening encounter with Christ.”

The second congress will continue to promote the Teresian Carmelite spirituality and the Discalced Carmelite vocation for the friars, nuns and seculars.

It will be open to the public, but with Araneta Coliseum-issued ticket reservations.

In celebration of St. Thérèse’s 150th birth anniversary, Pope Francis issued an apostolic exhortation “C’est la confiance

EN. Christopher Go extended his support to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholars in Malabon City on Saturday, May 11. Through a video message, Go emphasized the crucial role of skill development in boosting employment and economic growth in the country, saying, “By enhancing skills, we open up more employment opportunities, which is vital for our country’s progress.”

“As your advocate in the Senate, I firmly believe in the transformative power of vocational and technical education. These programs are pathways to employment and building blocks of a resilient economy and a proactive workforce. We can uplift lives and foster sustainable development across our beloved country through initiatives like these,” the senator continued.

During the Perpetual Help Technological School Inc. orientation, the senator’s Malasakit Team gave away shirts, masks, snacks, and basketball and volleyball balls to 24 TESDA beneficiaries. They also gave shoes to select recipients. Continuing his message, the senator highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to economic improvement and stressed the importance of collective efforts to support Filipinos who are unemployed or have lost jobs due to economic shifts or crises.

Go further advocated for implementing specialized training programs that prepare individuals for the job market and significantly contribute to the nation’s economic development. “Such initiatives are not just about job creation but about fostering a resilient economy where everyone has a role,” he added.

In line with his support for vocational and technical education, Senator Go mentioned his legislative efforts, including filing Senate Bill No. 2115. This bill aims to institutionalize technical vocational education and training (TVET) and livelihood programs tailored for rehabilitated drug dependents. The proposed legislation seeks to provide these individuals with the necessary skills training to enhance their employability, helping them reintegrate into society and positively contribute to their communities.

Through these initiatives, Senator Go advocates for educational and economic policies that help build a stronger, more inclusive society where every Filipino can succeed and contribute to the country’s growth.

Comelec appeals to public to help in vetting poll bets

[It is trust]” on October 15, 2023, the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila.

In the document, the pope presented Thérèse as the “mature fruit of the reform of the Carmel and of the spirituality of the great Spanish saint.”

Quoting Thérèse, the pope said: “It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love.”

“These striking words...sum up the genius of her spirituality and would suffice to justify the fact that she has been named a Doctor of the Church,” Pope Francis added.

“Confidence, ‘nothing but confidence,’ is the sole path that leads us to the Love that grants everything,” he wrote.

“With confidence, the wellspring of grace overflows into our lives, the Gospel takes flesh within us and makes us channels of mercy for our brothers and sisters,” the pope said.

Proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope St. John Paul II on October 19, 199—one of only 37 saints and among only four women granted the title—Pope Francis commended the “little greatness” of “one of the best known and most beloved saints in our world.”

The pope even cited Thérèse’s recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as “one of the most significant figures for contemporary humanity.”

Unesco said: “The celebration of her [150th] birthday [on January 2, 2023l can be an opportunity to highlight the role of women in religions, in the fight against poverty, and the promotion of inclusion.”

“It can also reinforce Unesco’s message on the importance of culture [poems and written plays] in the promotion of universal values and as a vector of interreligious dialogue,” it added.

THE controversy surrounding the alleged misdeclaration of the Filipino citizenship of Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, has prompted the Commission on Election (Comelec) to intensify its call to the public to help in the vetting of candidates for the 2025 polls.

In a Viber message, Comelec Chairman George M. Garcia stressed the important role of voters in verifying the declaration of candidates in their certificate of candidacy (COC) like their age or citizenship.

“Our [election] law is okay. Our voters just have to be vigilant to file DQ [disqualification] cases against candidates like her [Guo],” the Garcia said. The Comelec, he said, would include this appeal in the voters’ education process for the 2025 elections. Since Comelec’s acceptance of the COCs is part of its ministerial duties, Garcia said the poll body is mandated to presume that its contents are factual until the certificate is assailed through the filing of a disqualification or cancellation case against a particular candidate. The previous attempt by the poll body to verify the content of the COC by requiring aspiring candidates to submit additional documents such as a certification they are not a drug user, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Garcia said this was what happened in the case of Guo, when she submitted her COC to run for mayor in the 2022 polls.

In her COC, Guo said she is a Filipino citizen, despite allegedly being a Chinese national. Citing their records, Garcia said no individual or party has filed a disqualification or cancellation of candidacy against Guo. Comelec said Guo can be charged with perjury if it will be proven that she faked the details

Telcos warn vs ‘spoofed’ text messages

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) on Tuesday warned against the escalating threat posed by “spoofed” text messages, urging mobile phone users to exercise increased caution to fight this “sophisticated scam.”

“Spoofing,” is a deceptive technique used by fraudsters who impersonate legitimate text channels.

PCTO said there has been a surge in the occurrence of spoofing, particularly in Metro Manila. This surge coincided with the enforcement last year of SIM registration that is aimed at curbing text fraud.

PCTO President Froilan Castelo said instances have been reported where messages, masquerading as sender IDs of telcos and banks, lure recipients with false promises of

rewards, including non-existent mobile devices.

Those ensnared by these spoofed SMS and interact with the senders unwittingly disclose personal and sensitive information, granting fraudsters access to their online accounts, such as social media profiles and banking credentials.

In response to this growing threat, telcos, banks, and financial institutions have taken proactive measures, including issuing public warnings and collaborating with partners and law enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrators.

“Spoofing is a form of cybercrime that is increasingly difficult to detect. We’re urging everyone to be extra cautious with any SMS that asks for personal information or prompts to click on a link. Verify the authenticity of such messages by contacting the official customer service channels,” Castelo said. He noted that spoofing is not

confined to the Philippines but is a global menace.

It is facilitated by the use of illicit equipment such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers or fake cell towers. These devices, transportable by foot or vehicle, mimic cell towers to intercept mobile communications within a specific radius, enabling fraudsters to send messages to phones within the covered area using sender IDs that mimic official accounts.

Unfortunately, this method circumvents telco networks’ spam filters, rendering detection and prevention difficult.

Castelo said mobile users should promptly report any suspicious messages to their respective service providers and to adhere to best practices for digital security. These digital hygiene practices include refraining from clicking on links from unknown sources, abstaining from sharing personal information via text, and staying informed about the latest scam tactics.

Electricity rates up ₧.46 per kilowatt hour

PBy Lenie Lectura @llectura

OWER rates for this month will increase by P0.4621 per kilowatt hour (kWh), bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P11.4139 per kWh from P10.9518 per kWh last month, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said Tuesday. For residential customers consuming 200 kWh, the adjustment is equivalent to an increase of around P92 in their total electricity bill.

The generation charge, the largest component of an electric bill, went up by P0.4455 per kWh primarily due to higher costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs).

Charges from WESM went up by P1.7913 per kWh due to the tight supply condition in the Luzon grid during the April supply month as

demand went up by 2,401 megawatts (mW).

There were three days with yellow alert and five days with yellow and red alerts from normal conditions the previous supply month. In addition, the secondary price cap was triggered 19 percent of the time in April as compared to only 7 percent the previous month.

Similarly, charges from PSAs increased by P0.2871 per kWh due to lower excess energy deliveries of some PSAs, which were priced at a discount, and charges from an emergency PSA that covered Meralco’s supply requirements while awaiting regulatory approval of PSAs that underwent a series of Competitive Selection Process (CSPs).

Peso depreciation, which affected 14 percent of PSA costs that were dollar-denominated, also contributed to the increase.

The increase in generation charge was partly offset by the P0.6942 per kWh reduction in

charges from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) due to higher average IPP dispatch and lower fuel prices.

WESM, PSAs, and IPPs accounted for 30 percent, 36 percent, and 34 percent respectively of Meralco’s total energy requirement for this period.

The transmission charge, taxes, and other charges also registered a net increase of P0.0166 per kWh.

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

Meralco’s distribution charge, on the other hand, remained unchanged since the P0.0360 per kWh reduction for a typical residential customer beginning August 2022.

May 15, 2024

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s:

NO. ESTABLISHMENT

1 DEJUDIGM CONSTRUCTION INC.

003 Maligaya Street, Cagsiay I, Mauban, Quezon

2 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

3 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

4 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

5 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

6 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

7 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

8 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

9 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

KIM, JONGDUG

Powerplant Project Consultant

Brief Job Description:

Participate in client/contractor meetings and resolve client engineering and management project issues

PINTO, EDMUNDO MATIAS

Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NG WEN NEE

Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Malaysian Customer Service Representative

PAULINE KAYAN

Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MYO LIN AUNG

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NAING THU THU AUNG

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NAN HOM NOM KHAY

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NAN MO HWAM AYE

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NANG LAIN SENG

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: With 2 years experienced in construction industry and can speak English and Korean language

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Angolana language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Malaysian language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Malaysian language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Covelandia

Qualification:

to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

21 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

22 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

23 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

24 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

25 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

26 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

27 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

BUI, SY HOAI

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CU, A QUY

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

DUONG, VAN LAM

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HO THI LOAN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HOANG QUOC TUAN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LANG, THI THUC

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LAU CUN PHUC

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Covelandia

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language Salary Range:

Covelandia

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN, NGOC NGA

THI

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

35 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

THI VI

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN, THI Y

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN, TRUNG DUC

VAN THANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

XUAN DONG Vietnamese

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Remulla orders NBI to probe leak of WPS ‘new model’ transcript

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an in-depth investigation against the Chinese Embassy, which released the alleged transcript of the conversation between a Philippine military official and a Chinese diplomat detailing an alleged “new model” agreement between the two countries involving the disputed Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement, Remulla justified his directive by stressing that “diplomatic immunity is never absolute” and “is always regulated within the bounds of law enforced by the receiving State.”

Remulla said the NBI should investigate whether Philippine laws

have been violated by the Chinese embassy in releasing the transcript of the alleged conversation.

The DOJ, according to Remulla, is ready to take legal action, if warranted, against the diplomats involved.

“Diplomatic immunity should never be used as a license to exploit our country’s peace and harmony for selfish motives. This privilege does not shield anyone from the consequences of the Rule of Law,” Remulla said.

Remulla pointed out that under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats, employees of international organizations and their immediate family members are covered by a certain degree of diplomatic immunity during their stay in a receiving State.

However, he said diplomatic immunity is only with respect to official acts performed in the exercise of of-

ficial duties and functions necessary for advocating international comity, policies and interests.

Two high-ranking government officials have called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to impose sanctions against the Chinese diplomats involved in the release of the transcript.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said Chinese embassy personnel behind the release of the transcript should be kicked out of the country for illegal wiretapping and “serious breaches of diplomatic protocols and conventions.”

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro also called on the DFA to take legal action against Chinese Embassy officials for release of the supposed transcript between Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western command chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos and a Chinese diplomat.

LTO rushes vehicle plates release

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has launched a campaign against the late release of licensed plates to motorists as part of its commitment to achieve zero backlog of unreleased plates.

In a press briefing in Malacañang the LTO chief, Transportation Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II disclosed that the agency has started issuing show cause orders against motor vehicles dealers that fail to promptly release the plates of their customers.

“Today [May 14] we issued over a hundred show cause orders to dealers to explain why they were not able to issue the plates of their motorists,” Mendoza said.

The LTO official explained that the list of dealers was based on the reports from law enforcers on vehicles without license plates.

“We asked our law enforcers to...those without plates, they flagged down the vehicles. They took pictures of the sale invoice [of the said motorists] and this became [the basis of the list of dealers], which received the

DOT: SOFITEL MANILA CLOSURE ‘SIGNIFICANT LOSS TO TOURISM’

Continued from A18

Poor guest reviews

ALTHOUGH considered a five-star hotel, which once had excellent views of the iconic sunset over Manila Bay, it has garnered its share of poor guest reviews lately on  widely-read travel engines and booking platforms. Guests point out “only one in six elevators working,” the long queues at check-in desks, “cold food” at the buffet dining outlet, among others. Despite the “tired and old” building, guests have also praised the graciousness of the hotel’s service workers including housekeeping, waitstaff, and shuttle drivers.

Peña Sy had shared with this paper that for the hotel to continue to operating at top performance, it has to be fully renovated, which is estimated to cost roughly P8.6 billion.

Designed by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin, Sofitel Manila has been managed by international hospitality chain Accor since 2006, the last time the hotel had undergone renovations. It has hosted international dignitaries like US President Barack Obama, Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and celebrities like Madonna and Erykah Badu. Its Spiral Restaurant is a popular buffet-dining outlet in the Metro.

In the ‘80s, the hotel’s bar Siete Pecados was one of the go-to places in Manila, as it featured the popular singers and bands of the time. It was where singer Nonoy Zuñiga lost his leg when a bomb went off in the hotel’s men’s room.

The hotel was one of 12 luxury properties completed under the Marcos Sr. administration for Manila’s hosting of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings in 1976.

show cause order today,” Mendoza said.

He said the agency will give the dealers a week to respond to the show cause order.

Dealers that fail to comply with the prescribed timeline in releasing licensed plates can face closure.

Prescribed release period LTO said it will also be disciplining its personnel who fail to comply with the five-day processing period in releasing license plates, official receipt (OR), certificate of registration (CR), and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers for vehicles with four-wheels and above.

Upon being released by LTO, the plates should be released by motor vehicle dealers to their customers within six days. This brings the total release period for the licensed plates to 11 days. Vehicle owners can report erring LTO officials and dealers to LTO’s text hotline at 0929-292-0865.

Mendoza said they are confident of

eliminating the backlogs in the release of license cards and motor vehicle license plates by July after the agency has successfully bid out the 9.7 million license cards and secured the engraver machines for plate production.

“By July 1, all four-wheeled motor vehicles and above should have their plates already,” he added.

LTO made the commitment during the sectoral meeting of President Marcos in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Marcos lauded the improvements in LTO efforts to eliminate its backlogs compared to last year. The July target, Mendoza said, will not apply to motorcycle plates, which still has an 11 million backlog.

“By the end of 2024, we would have addressed more or less 50 percent of the [motorcycles plates] backlog. By June 2025, we would have finished the backlog as far as motorcycles are concerned,” Mendoza said. Samuel P. Medenilla

Transport fix: Ferry system on Pasig River, 3 waterways

Continued from A18

Once the feasibility study is completed this year, the project will be submitted for evaluation of the interagency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

“A big focus of the administration is to use private expertise, private capital, and private efficiency to be able to develop our transportation system,” de Velez said.

Part of the study includes the use of electric ferries as well as the possibility of allowing bicycles on board these ferries. This is also consistent with the government’s efforts to encourage active transport.

De Velez said the interconnectivity of the Pasig ferry system is one of the primary concerns of commuters in terms of maximizing its use.

“One of the things we are considering is allowing bikes on board. So that’s one possibility as well, rather than having mga bike racks,” de Velez said. “So there are two options...these are having bike racks on the station or allowing bikes inside the public utility vessels or vehicles.”

Earlier, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who also heads the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), said this is one of the reasons the project is not only for beautification. The revitalization project aims to capitalize on the full potential of the Pasig River and bring it to the level of other major waterways such as the Thames River in London, the Chao Phraya in Bangkok and the Seine River in Paris. Acuzar said notable among these waterways, aside from being popular tourist attractions, are the commercial and mixed-use developments that surround it. With the successful revitalization of the Pasig River, commuters can transition from surface roads to water transport through the project through bridge walks.  These will be constructed at major points serving as pickup and drop-off points for the water ferries. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/02/05/ pasig-river-revitalization-seen-to-offeralternative-transport/).

17.

18.

19.

Brief

ZHANG, JIACHENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

20. ZHANG, JIANAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Brief

54.

Brief

55.

Brief

56. CHEN, WENJUN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief

57. DAU DUC TOAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Correcting errors and organizing the information in a manner that will optimize swift and accurate capturing. Basic Qualification:

58. DU, SHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Correcting errors and organizing the information in a manner that will optimize swift and accurate capturing. Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize

59. FU, QI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Scanning through information to identify pertinent information. Basic Qualification: Have

60. LI, YU Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief

61. LU, MING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Scanning through information to identify pertinent information. Basic Qualification:

62. LY, TRUONG GIANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Scanning through information to identify pertinent information.

63. ZHANG, XIAOXUAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Brief Job Description: Scanning through information to identify pertinent information.

64. GEORGE KUO THIEN HAW Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

65. HUANG, HUAHAI Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

66. LIU, YU Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Have excellent

Basic Qualification: Have

67.

Brief

105.

Brief

Brief

107. WANG, LUO Chinese Customer

108. WANG, ZHONGDI Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job

services.

and

109. WU, JIALIN Chinese Customer Service

Brief

110. XIONG, LUPING Chinese Customer Service

111. XU, JINAN Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

112. YANG, BO Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

113. YANG, CHUNCHUN Chinese Customer Service

Basic

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services. Basic

195.

196.

Brief

Description: Receive and convey messages in writing, verbally and electronically/ e-mails. Register new patients and different categories of patients. Understands the different categories of patients and their type of payment.

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

198. LI, PENGFEI Host - Emerging Market Business Development

Brief

TRENDSETTER MANAGEMENT INC.

U-2a 2/f Eurovilla Ii Condo Bldg., Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

199. CHEN, FENGYA Mandarin Speaking Advanced Digital Account Security Specialist

Brief Job Description: Responsible for keeping

protected through Mandarin to English language translation.

200. CHEN, MINGHAI Mandarin Speaking Advanced Digital Account Security Specialist

Brief Job Description: Responsible for

data and electronic records protected through Mandarin to English language translation.

CHEN, PINGLIAN Mandarin Speaking Advanced Digital Account

Security Specialist

201.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for keeping data and electronic records protected through Mandarin to English language translation.

202. KE, JIANYE Mandarin Speaking Advanced Digital Account

Security Specialist

Brief Job Description: Responsible for keeping data and electronic records protected through Mandarin to English language translation.

VEHICLE MASTER SERVICE CORP.

#27, T. Santiago St., Canumay West, City Of Valenzuela

CHEN, HUA Chinese Mechanical Specialist

203.

Brief Job Description: A Chinese Mechanical Specialist is who installs, maintains, repairs, and troubleshoots various types of mechanical equipment and systems.

204. WANG, YUEHUI Chinese Mechanical Specialist

Brief Job Description: A Chinese Mechanical Specialist is who installs, maintains, repairs, and troubleshoots various types of mechanical equipment and systems.

205. LIU, XIAOSHAN Marketing And Sales Consultant

Brief Job Description: Identify effective marketing campaigns that will reach targeted audiences effectively and efficiently.

Mandarin and

Basic Qualification: Must have good problemsolving, analytical, and communication skills. Must be highly motivated and able to work with minimum supervision.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must have good problemsolving, analytical, and communication skills. Must be highly motivated and able to work with minimum supervision.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Strong knowledge of sales and persuasion techniques coupled with excellent knowledge of the products. Knowledge of data analysis and market research. Intuition about customer desires and practical needs.

Salary Range: Php

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Misery deepens in Gaza’s Rafah as Israeli troops press operation

By Wafaa Shurafa, Joseph Krauss & Samy Magdy The Associated Press

RAFAH, Gaza Strip—Aid workers struggled Monday to distribute dwindling food and other supplies to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by what Israel says is a limited military operation in Rafah, as the two main crossings near the southern Gaza city remained closed.

The United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees said 360,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah over the past week, out of 1.3 million who were sheltering there before the operation began. Most had already fled fighting elsewhere during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has portrayed Rafah as the last stronghold of the militant group, brushing off warnings from the United States and other allies that any major operation there would be catastrophic for civilians. Hamas has meanwhile regrouped and is battling Israeli forces in parts of Gaza that Israel bombarded and invaded earlier in the war.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that another 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced in northern Gaza following recent Israeli evacuation orders there. That would mean that around a fifth of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people have been displaced over the past week.

Thirty-eight trucks of flour arrived through the western Erez Crossing, a second access point to northern Gaza, said Abeer Etefa, a spokeswoman for the UN’s World Food Program. Israel announced the crossing’s opening Sunday. But no food has entered the two main crossings in southern Gaza for the past week.

The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been closed since Israeli troops seized it a week ago. Fighting in Rafah city has made it impossible for aid groups to access the nearby Kerem Shalom

crossing with Israel, though Israel says it is allowing supply trucks to enter from its side.

For the past week, the Israeli military has intensified bombardment and other operations in Rafah while ordering the population to evacuate from parts of the city. Israel insists it is a limited operation focused on rooting out tunnels and other militant infrastructure along the border with Egypt.

Israeli forces were also battling Palestinian militants in Zeitoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, areas where the army had launched major operations earlier in the war.

Etefa said WFP was distributing food from its remaining stocks in the areas of Khan Younis in the south and Deir al-Balah farther north, where many of those escaping Rafah have fled.

Inside Rafah, only two organizations partnering with WFP were still able to distribute food, and no bakeries were operating.

“The majority of distributions have stopped due to the evacuation orders, displacement and running out of food,” she said.

Israeli protesters halted a convoy of aid bound for Gaza at a checkpoint between the occupied West Bank and Israel. Videos circulating online showed them hurling some of the aid off trucks and destroying it. Police said a number of arrests were made, without elaborating.

Almost the entire population of Gaza relies on humanitarian aid to survive. Israeli restrictions and

ongoing fighting have hindered humanitarian efforts, causing widespread hunger and a “full-blown famine” in the north, according to the UN

The director of the Kuwait Hospital, one of the last functioning medical centers in Rafah, said medical staff and residents living near the facility have been told to evacuate. Sohaib al-Hams warned that any evacuation of the hospital itself would have “catastrophic consequences.”

The international charity Oxfam, meanwhile, warned of disease outbreaks in Gaza following an estimated $210 million worth of damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, mass displacement and the onset of summer.

“Oxfam staff in Gaza have described piles of human waste and rivers of sewage in the streets, which people are having to jump between. They also reported people having to drink dirty water and children being bitten by insects swarming around the sewage,” it said in a statement.

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 250 hostage. Militants still hold about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

Israel’s offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Israel marked an especially somber Memorial Day on Monday, with ceremonies commemorating fallen soldiers, including the more than 600 killed since October 7, more than half of them in the initial attack. Sirens announced two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.

At a ceremony at Mount Herzl

cemetery on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed once again to defeat Hamas.

“We exacted and will exact a high price from the enemy for their criminal acts. We will realize the goals of victory and at the center of them the return of all our hostages,” he said.

Protesters and hecklers interrupted some of the ceremonies, reflecting growing discontent with Israel’s leaders that has brought thousands of protesters into the streets in recent months. Critics blame Netanyahu for the security and intelligence failures that allowed the attack to happen and for the failure to reach a deal with Hamas to release the hostages.

Months of internationally mediated talks over a cease-fire and hostage release ground to an apparent standstill last week after Israel launched its incursion into Rafah. Israel has refused Hamas’ central demands for an end to the war and the withdrawal of its forces from the territory, saying that doing so would allow the militant group to regain control and launch more October 7-style attacks.

US President Joe Biden’s administration, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support for the overall offensive, has expressed growing impatience with Israel, saying it won’t supply offensive arms for a full-scale Rafah assault.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Sunday that Israel could face an “enduring insurgency” if it doesn’t come up with a realistic plan for postwar governance in Gaza. Israel has rejected US proposals for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with help from Arab states because those plans depend on progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu opposes.

Krauss reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Lee Keath in Cairo, Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

Blinken visits Ukraine to tout US support for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s advances

By Matthew Lee Ap Diplomatic Writer

KYIV, Ukraine—US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday in an unannounced diplomatic mission to reassure Ukraine that it has American support as it struggles to defend against increasingly intense Russian attacks.

The visit comes less than a month after Congress approved a long-delayed foreign assistance package that sets aside $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, much of which will go toward replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defense systems.

On his fourth trip to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Blinken will underscore the Biden administration’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense and longterm security, US officials said. They noted that since President Joe Biden signed the aid package late last month, the administration has already announced $1.4 billion in shortterm military assistance and $6 billion in longer-term support.

It is “trying to really accelerate the tempo” of US weapon shipments to Ukraine, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

“What I am going to suggest is that the level of intensity being exhibited right now in terms of moving stuff is at a 10 out of 10,” Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing Monday.

Artillery, air defense interceptors and long-range ballistic missiles have already been delivered, some of them already to the front lines, said a senior US official traveling with the secretary on an overnight train from Poland.

Blinken will “send a strong signal of reassurance” to Ukrainian leaders and civil society figures he will meet during his two-day visit, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Blinken’s meetings.

In a statement released after Blinken’s arrival, the State Department said he would meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials “to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of new US security and economic assistance, long-term security and other commitments, and ongoing work to bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery.”

Delays in US assistance, particularly since Israel’s war with Hamas began to preoccupy top administration officials, triggered deep concerns in Kyiv and Europe.

Blinken, for example, has visited the Middle East seven times since the Gaza conflict began in October. His last trip to Kyiv was in September.

The US official added that Blinken also would give a speech later Tuesday extolling Ukraine’s “strategic successes” in the war. It is intended to complement a Blinken address last year in Helsinki, Finland, deriding Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s strategic failures in launching the war.

Since the Helsinki speech, however, Russia has intensified its attacks, most noticeably as the US House sat on the aid package for months without action, forcing a suspension in the provision of most US assistance. Those attacks have increased in recent weeks as Russia has sought to take advantage of Ukrainian shortages in manpower and weapons while the new assistance is in transit.

Top Biden administration officials and Ukrainian national security officials held a call Monday “about the situation on the front, about the capabilities that they are most in need of, and a real triage effort to say, ‘Get us this stuff this fast so that we can be in a position to effectively defend against the Russian onslaught,” Sullivan said. Zelenskyy said over the weekend that “fierce battles” are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers try to push back a significant Russian ground offensive.

The Kremlin’s forces are aiming to exploit Ukrainian weaknesses before big batches of new military aid for Kyiv from the US and European partners arrive on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months, Ukrainian commanders and analysts say. That makes this period a window of opportunity for Moscow and one of the most dangerous for Kyiv in the two-year war, they say. The new Russian push in the northeastern Kharkiv region and a drive into the eastern Donetsk region come after months when the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line barely budged. In the meantime, both sides have used long-range strikes in what largely became a war of attrition.

The Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

Palestinians mark 76 years of dispossession as an even larger catastrophe unfolds in Gaza

By JOSEPH KRAUSS The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Palestinians on Wednesday will mark the 76th year of their mass expulsion from what is now Israel, an event that is at the core of their national struggle. But in many ways, that experience pales in

comparison to the calamity now unfolding in Gaza.

Palestinians refer to it as the “Nakba,” Arabic for “catastrophe.” Some 700,000 Palestinians—a majority of the prewar population—fled or were driven from their homes before and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war that followed Israel’s establishment.

After the war, Israel refused to allow them to return because it would have resulted in a Palestinian majority within its borders. Instead, they became a seemingly permanent refugee community that now number some 6 million, with most living in slum-like urban refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

In Gaza, the refugees and their descendants make up around three-quarters of the population.

Israel’s rejection of what Palestinians say is their right of return has been a core grievance in the conflict and was one of the thorniest issues in peace talks that last collapsed 15 years ago. The refugee camps have always been the main bastions of Palestinian militancy.

Now, many Palestinians fear a repeat of their painful history on an even more cataclysmic scale.

All across Gaza, Palestinians in recent days have been loading up cars and donkey carts or setting out on foot to already overcrowded tent camps as Israel expands its offensive. The images from several rounds of mass evacuations throughout the seven-month war are strikingly similar to black-and-white photographs from 1948.

Mustafa al-Gazzar, now 81, still recalls his family’s monthslong flight from their village in what is now central Israel to the southern city of Rafah, when he was 5. At one point they were bombed from the air, at another, they dug holes under a tree to sleep in for warmth.

Al-Gazzar, now a great-grandfather, was forced to flee again over the weekend, this time to a tent in Muwasi, a barren coastal area where some 450,000 Palestinians live in a squalid camp. He says the conditions are worse than in 1948, when the UN agency for Palestinian refugees was able to regularly provide food and other essentials.

“My hope in 1948 was to return, but my hope today is to survive,” he said. “I live in such fear,” he added, breaking into tears. “I cannot provide for my children and grandchildren.”

The war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack into Israel, has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, making it by far the deadliest round of fighting in the history of the conflict. The initial Hamas attack killed some 1,200 Israelis.

The war has forced some 1.7 million Palestinians—around three quarters of the territory’s population—to flee their homes, often multiple times. That is well over twice the number that fled before and during the 1948 war.

Israel has sealed its border. Egypt has only allowed a small number of Palestinians to leave, in part because it fears a mass influx of Palestinians could generate another long-term refugee crisis.

The international community is strongly opposed to any mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza—an idea embraced by far-right members of the Israeli government, who refer to it as “voluntary emigration.”

Israel has long called for the refugees of 1948 to be absorbed into host countries, saying that calls for their return are unrealistic and would endanger its existence as a Jewish-majority state. It points to the hundreds of thousands of Jews who came to Israel from Arab countries during the turmoil following its establishment, though few of them want to return.

Even if Palestinians are not expelled from Gaza en masse, many fear that they will never be able to return to their homes or that the destruction wreaked on the territory will make it impossible to live there. A recent UN estimate said it would take until 2040 to rebuild destroyed homes.

The Jewish militias in the 1948 war with the armies of neighboring Arab nations were mainly armed with lighter weapons like rifles, machine guns and mortars. Hundreds of depopulated Palestinian villages were demolished after the war, while Israelis moved into Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, Jaffa and other cities.

In Gaza, Israel has unleashed one of the deadliest and most destructive

Russian assault opens new front, diverting Ukraine forces as Western aid trickles in

By Samya Kullab & Illia Novikov The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Russian troops were locked in intense battles with Ukrainian soldiers around the embattled town of Vovchansk in northeast Ukraine on Monday, pushing ahead with a ground offensive that opened a new front and put more pressure on overstretched Ukrainian forces. Moscow’s renewed northeast offensive, launched late last week, was the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began.

In just two days, Moscow has captured from 100 to 125 square kilometers (38 to 47 square miles) that include at least seven villages, most of them already depopulated, according to two open source monitoring analysts.

Vovchansk, among the largest towns in the area whose pre-war population of 17,000 had dwindled to just 2,500 before Russia renewed its ground assault last week, has emerged as a key focus of the pitched battles engulfing the Kharkiv region. By Monday, only 200 to 300 residents remained, said Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov, as Russian forces closed in from three sides.

Poorly built fortifications and long-term ammunition shortages enabled Russia’s sweeping advance in the area since Friday, local officials and soldiers said. The Kremlin’s forces were seeking to divert and distract Ukrainian troops across the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line until a big batch of new military aid for Kyiv from the US and European partners arrives on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months, Ukrainian commanders and analysts said.

That makes this period a window of opportunity for Moscow and one of the most dangerous for Kyiv in the two-year war, they said. By intensifying offensive operations, Russia seeks to stretch

Ukraine’s forces thin and forge breakthroughs.

Russian forces claimed to have taken an additional 90 square kilometers (35 square miles), which has not been independently confirmed.

Opening a new front from two points along the border with the Russian region of Belgorod was the easiest tactic to pin down and divert Ukrainian forces from heavy battles raging in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Russia’s most sought-after prize.

“The enemy identified the most geographically convenient place...the state border line,” said Yurii Federenko, commander of the ACHILLES battalion of the 92nd brigade. His unit was among others rotated into the northeast from the Donetsk region to stabilize the northeast front, he said.

He fears a similar front may be opened in the Sumy region, which also shares a border with Russia.

The string of villages captured along the contested gray zone, where enemy shelling precludes the building of fortifications, were also the easiest for Moscow’s forces to nab. Their momentum will likely slow as they approach better-fortified settlements, Ukrainian commanders said.

Small batches of US military aid have started to trickle into the front line in the form of much needed artillery, said Federenko, whose unit received some of the aid. But it will take at least two months before incoming supplies will meet Kyiv’s needs to hold the line, he said. Until they arrive, Ukraine won’t be able to seize the battlefield initiative, he said.

“They now have an opportunity to attack us while we cannot properly reply,” he said.

Russia’s offensive seeks to take advantage of this window of time. “In order to achieve success, in my opinion, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the enemy needed to spread...our defense forces. Accordingly, the enemy started the campaign in

military campaigns in recent history, at times dropping 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs on dense, residential areas. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to wastelands of rubble and plowed-up roads, many littered with unexploded bombs.

The World Bank estimates that $18.5 billion in damage has been inflicted on Gaza, roughly equivalent to the gross domestic product of the entire Palestinian territories in 2022. And that was in January, in the early days of Israel’s devastating ground operations in Khan Younis and before it went into Rafah.

Yara Asi, a Palestinian assistant professor at the University of Central Florida who has done research on the damage to civilian infrastructure in the war, says it’s “extremely difficult” to imagine the kind of international effort that would be necessary to rebuild Gaza.

Even before the war, many Palestinians spoke of an ongoing Nakba, in which Israel gradually forces them out of Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories it captured during the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for a future state. They point to home demolitions, settlement construction and other discriminatory policies that long predate the war, and which major rights groups say amount to apartheid, allegations Israel denies. Asi and others fear that if another genuine Nakba occurs, it will be in the form of a gradual departure.

“It won’t be called forcible displacement in some cases. It will be called emigration, it will be called something else,” Asi said.

“But in essence, it is people who wish to stay, who have done everything in their power to stay for generations in impossible conditions, finally reaching a point where life is just not livable.”

The Associated Press journalists Wafaa Shurafa and Mohammad Jahjouh in Rafah, Gaza Strip, contributed.

Kharkiv region specifically,” Federenko said.

Top Biden administration officials and Ukrainian national security officials held a 90-minute call on Monday to discuss the situation on the ground in Ukraine as Russia intensifies its bombardment around Kharkiv.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, and head of the office the president Andriy Yermak, according to Sullivan.

“It was a detailed conversation about the situation on the front, about the capabilities that they are most in need of, and a real triage effort to say, ‘Get us this stuff this fast so that we can be in a position to effectively defend against the Russian onslaught,” Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing.

Sullivan added that a new influx of US weaponry for Kyiv was expected to be announced by the US administration in the coming days. The Kharkiv incursion has effectively pinned Ukrainian forces in the region, while potentially drawing precious reserves away from heavy battles in the Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar areas of the Donetsk region, where Russia’s advance has been far more significant and strategically important. Ukrainian local officials said they feared Vovchansk’s fate may mirror that of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, Ukrainian cities where fierce fighting and scorched earth tactics forced Ukrainian withdrawals.

Russian forces were inching closer to Vovchansk, and heavy battles were ongoing on the town’s outskirts. Using assault infantry units Russian forces are attempting to secure positions in three directions, as Ukrainian forces attempt to dislodge them using firepower. Ukrainian commanders describe the battles as dynamic and complicated.

Russian troops have so far entrenched themselves in the villages of Strilecha, Pylna, Borysivka, Krasne, Oliynykove, Mrakovets, Pletenivka, and from there were launching attacks near Hlyboke Zelene Hatysche, and Buchansk.

Xi’s visit to Hungary, Serbia brings new Chinese investment and deeper ties to Europe’s doorstep

By Justin Spike The Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary—When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary last week, he arrived to one of the few places in the European Union where his country is considered an indispensable ally rather than a rival. By the time he left on Friday, he’d secured deals that provide fertile ground for China’s plans of economic expansion in Europe.

After meeting with nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday, the leaders addressed a small group of select media in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, announcing the formation of an “all-weather partnership” that would usher in a new era of economic cooperation.

As most EU countries make efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China, Hungary has gone in the other direction, courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future.

While Xi and Orbán didn’t unveil concrete agreements following their meeting, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó later said in a video that a deal had been reached on a joint Hungarian-Chinese railway bypass around Budapest, as well as a high-speed train link between the capital and its international airport.

The two countries also agreed to expand their cooperation to the “whole spectrum” of the nuclear industry, Orbán said, and deals were reached on China helping Hungary build out its network of electric vehicle charging stations and on construction of an oil pipeline between Hungary and Serbia.

Zsuzsanna Vegh, a program assistant at the German Marshall Fund and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said those deals were “a clear signal that China sees Hungary as a key and reliable ally” in the EU as it seeks to reverse Europe’s toughening de-risking policy.

Xi’s visit, Vegh wrote in a statement, shows that Hungary’s government “remains indifferent to its allies’ concerns and will continue to strengthen its bilateral ties with China in order to position itself favorably in what it perceives as a developing multipolar world.”

Pursuing a similar strategy is Serbia, Hungary’s neighbor to the south, which has also provided wide opportunities for Chinese companies to exploit its natural resources and carry out large infrastructure projects.

Like Orbán, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has built a form of autocratic governance that eschews the pluralism valued in more traditional Western democracies— making both countries attractive to China as opaque direct deals help to eliminate red tape.

During Xi’s visit to Serbia last week, he and Vučić signed an agreement to build a “shared future,” making the Balkan country the first in Europe to agree on such a document with Beijing.

Vuk Vuksanović, a senior research -

er at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, said that Xi’s interest in Serbia reflects his strategy of appealing to countries that are less committed to a US-led economic and political community.

Xi’s “shared future” agreement with Belgrade, Vuksanović said, promotes “China’s vision of the international order, the one where China is much more powerful, the one where the Western powers, primarily the US, no longer have the ability to dictate the agenda to others.”

China has poured billions of dollars into Serbia in investment and loans, particularly in mining and infrastructure. The two countries signed an agreement on a strategic partnership in 2016 and a free trade agreement last year.

While Serbia formally wants to join the 27-nation EU, it has been steadily drifting away from that path, and some of its agreements with China aren’t in line with rules for membership.

Vučić is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and has condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine but refused to join international sanctions against Moscow.

The red-carpet treatment by Serbia and Hungary has worried some of their Western partners, which see China’s incursion into the region as both an economic and security risk. According to Gabriel Escobar, US envoy for the Western Balkans, Xi chose to visit the neighboring countries because they “are open to challenging the unity of the Euro-Atlantic community.”

“We caution all of our partners and all of our interlocutors to be very aware of China’s agenda in Europe,” Escobar said last week.

In February, Hungary followed Serbia’s lead by concluding a security agreement with Beijing whereby Chinese law enforcement officers would be permitted to assist their Hungarian counterparts in police actions within Hungary.

The government has said the officers will ensure public safety among Chinese tourists and members of Hungary’s large Chinese diaspora. But critics say the officers could be used as an extension of Xi’s singleparty state to exert control over the Chinese community.

As Orbán has deepened relations with Beijing, he has also been engaged in a protracted conflict with the EU that has seen billions in structural funds frozen to Budapest over concerns that he has captured democratic institutions and abused the bloc’s funds.

That money shows no sign of arriving any time soon, and Hungary’s pursuit of additional Chinese developments shows its government “does not envision the possibility of financing such strategic infrastructure projects from EU funds,” Vegh wrote.

While the inflow of Chinese capital is a boon to Hungary’s sputtering economy, having production sites on EU territory also helps Beijing to circumvent costly tariffs and Europe’s increasingly protectionist policies.

In December, Hungary announced that one of the world’s largest EV

manufacturers, China’s BYD, will open its first European EV production factory in the south of the country, and has invited large direct investments in the production of EV batteries.

Such investments, Orbán said Thursday, are what will keep Hungary competitive in the future, from wherever they come.

“The concept driving the Hungarians is that we want to win the 21st century, and not lose it,” he said.

Jovana Gec contributed to this report from Belgrade, Serbia.

Poultry industry’s tech investments pay off, shielding our growers from El Niño’s impact

ChiCkEN is one of the favorite protein sources of Filipinos. Just look at the number of restaurants currently offering various poultry dishes in the Philippines. Both young and old Pinoys especially love fried chicken, a popular fare offered by fastfood chains in the country.

That is why the poultry industry is considered a major contributor to the country’s farm output. In the first quarter, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that it accounted for 16 percent of agricultural output.

What was pleasantly surprising about the latest data on farm output is that the poultry subsector buoyed the sector’s performance in January to March. (See, “Q1 farm output inches up 0.05% despite El Niño,” BusinessMirror , May 9, 2024). This is because the crops subsector, which accounted for nearly 58 percent of output in terms of value, contracted by 0.3 percent. The poultry subsector practically prevented the agriculture sector from slipping into negative territory in January to March, when El Niño had already started to unleash its fury in local farms.

While the hot weather torched crops and prevented fishers from increasing their catch, a senior research fellow from government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies told this newspaper that investments made by commercial poultry growers in technology shielded their flock from the ill effects of El Niño. This investment may have been initially costly, but they are now reaping the gains. Other food producers incurred huge losses during the period, but their investment in the right technology cushioned the impact of the adverse weather condition on their bottomline.

The experience of commercial poultry growers underscores the importance of investing in technology and innovation to increase food production and eventually shield consumers from price spikes. The continued reliance on old methods of food production will not help the cause of the country to achieve food security. Unfortunately, the country’s spending on research and development (R&D) is still miniscule at less than 1 percent of gross domestic product. Even the target of the government for this year will not even reach 0.5 percent of GDP. (See, “PHL R&D spending to rise to 0.4% of GDP,” BusinessMirror , February 2, 2024).

The country’s gross domestic expenditure on R&D (Gerd) was pegged at only 0.322 percent of GDP in 2018, based on data from Unesco, which had recommended that Gerd should be at 1 percent of GDP. The country’s R&D spending pales in comparison to that of Vietnam (1.9 percent of GDP) and Malaysia (1 percent of GDP). The two Southeast Asian nations have a vibrant agri-food sector and are exporters of key farm commodities, such as rice and palm oil.

It would do well for the government to step up its investments in technology and other innovative means of raising agricultural output to achieve food security. Sans these investments in technology and R&D initiatives, the Philippines will be hard pressed to reduce waste and improve the productivity of farms. Worse, the failure to raise incomes by improving agricultural productivity will continue to discourage the youth from going into food production.

Catching up with our neighbors

tMark Villar

THE BUILDER

hE government is clearly dissecting the nitty-gritty of building and completing infrastructure projects. Finishing them on time is ideal to quickly spread their benefits to the population and the economy.

Building key infrastructure projects, however, is not an easy job. It will require a holistic approach and the participation of almost everybody, including local government units and down to the barangay level.

The nation’s competitiveness with the rest of the world is at stake insofar as infrastructure is concerned. For one, the Philippines is not the only nation that is racing to complete infrastructure projects. The US and other developed nations, as well as our neighbors in Asia, are rushing to build mega projects, such as roads, airports, bridges and seaports, that will give them an edge in trade and economic competition.

A poor infrastructure network is a factor that limits economic output and raises the cost of products and services. An inefficient transportation system and traffic jams, for one, will add to the final cost of a product.

A recent study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) showed that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila alone

is estimated to cost the Philippine economy at least P3.5 billion a day, or totaling P1.27 trillion annually. The Philippines, thus, will find it hard to compete in trade and tourism if it does not speed up transportation and the flow of services and goods.

Time and again, economists have been lecturing on the many economic benefits that infrastructure projects bring. They generate jobs during the construction stage and create a multiplier effect that expands the production cycle.

I’d like to refresh the memory of our readers about the column I wrote last week. Briefly, I wrote that the government’s plan to speed up the approval process for infrastructure projects was very timely—and crucial to closing the infrastructure gap.

Bureaucratic procedures, originally designed to ensure fiscal prudence and project feasibility, can often delay project implementation and inflate costs.

The National Economic and De-

The nation’s competitiveness with the rest of the world is at stake insofar as infrastructure is concerned. For one, the Philippines is not the only nation that is racing to complete infrastructure projects. The US and other developed nations, as well as our neighbors in Asia, are rushing to build mega projects, such as roads, airports, bridges and seaports, that will give them an edge in trade and economic competition.

velopment Authority now expects faster rollout of major infrastructure projects following the signing of an executive order by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. EO No. 59, signed by President Marcos on April 30, aims to expedite the implementation of the country’s infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs).

“The primary goal of this EO is to minimize, if not eliminate, delays in the implementation of IFPs. We are in a hurry to catch up with our neighbors in the region so the government must enable—not hinder—the timely completion of these projects,” said National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Mr. Balisacan said the EO would support the goals of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 by expanding and upgrading the country’s infrastructure sector as part of the government’s efforts towards social

and economic transformation.

“By streamlining the processing of IFPs, we are making it easier for implementing agencies and more attractive for our partners in the private sector to execute transformative infrastructure projects that would spur job creation for our people and enable us to sustain our economy’s rapid expansion,” he said.

The directives of EO No. 59, in my opinion, are wide-ranging. It introduces several critical changes and simplifies the requirements for the Neda Board-approved list of IFPs. It also ordered national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs to review their citizen’s charters to eliminate redundant and cumbersome procedures.

The participation of the LGUs in infrastructure building is critical. EO No. 59 specifically directed our LGUs to establish business one-stop shops, simplify interactions for investors and collaborate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to adopt interoperable ICT platforms.

“With this EO in place, the Marcos administration signifies its commitment to aggressively advance infrastructure development as a key driver to our social and economic transformation,” the Neda said. I second Neda’s assessment. Investing in infrastructure projects and completing them as fast as possible are our ticket to real progress and an inclusive economy.

For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@ gmail.com or visit our web site: https://markvillar. com.ph

Biden signs ban on imports of Russian nuclear reactor fuel

By Ari Natter

PrEsidENt Joe Biden on Monday signed legislation banning the import of russian enriched uranium, starting a 90-day countdown until limits on shipments of the reactor fuel take effect.

Biden’s signature also unlocks some $2.7 billion in spending, previously approved by Congress, to build up domestic uranium supplies for US nuclear plants. That money was contingent on the federal government imposing limits on Russian uranium imports. The move, which comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds into its third year, carries risks. Russia is America’s top foreign source of the fuel, supplying about a quarter of the uranium used in US reactors, according to Energy Department data. Russia makes about $1 billion a year from those sales. Cutting off that supply could raise uranium prices 20 percent, according to Jonathan Hinze, president of nuclear fuel market research firm UxC.

But the legislation lets the Energy Department issue waivers allow -

ing the import of Russian enriched uranium until 2028 if no alternative source is found or if the imports are determined to be in the national interest.

There’s also the possibility Russia could retaliate. In December Tenex, a Russian state-owned uranium supplier, warned American customers that the Kremlin might preemptively bar exports of its nuclear fuel to the US if lawmakers imposed a ban.

Fletcher T. Newton, president of Tenex-USA, Inc. said in an interview the company “fully intends to honor all of their contractual commitments in the United States.” But Tenex, he said, has no control over whatever action the Kremlin might take.

US nuclear plant owners have been planning for a ban. A spokesman for Constellation, the largest US nuclear plant operator, said the

The move, which comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds into its third year, carries risks. Russia is America’s top foreign source of the fuel, supplying about a quarter of the uranium used in US reactors, according to Energy Department data. Russia makes about $1 billion a year from those sales. Cutting off that supply could raise uranium prices 20 percent, according to Jonathan Hinze, president of nuclear fuel market research firm UxC.

“While we have other sources, they are not sufficient to replace the Tenex supply,” the report said. The company plans to apply for waivers.

The US was once a leading supplier of enriched uranium but lost its edge in the industry decades ago. The country now has just one commercial enrichment facility in New Mexico, owned by Urenco Ltd., a British, Dutch and German consortium. Centrus, based in Bethesda, Maryland, began production in October at a pilot project in Piketon, Ohio, and eventually expects the site to supply as much as 900 kilograms a year of specialized, highly enriched reactor fuel to be used in a new breed of advanced reactors.

Centrus also has secured approximately $900 million in conditional sales commitments to support a plan to produce conventional, low-enriched uranium reactor fuel, Chief Executive Officer Amir Vexler said Wednesday on an earning call. The company intends to compete for billions of dollars in See “Biden,” A17

company has worked with suppliers to secure enough fuel to power their operations into 2029, with contracts extending beyond then.  But analysts say there may still be smaller plant operators that haven’t fully prepared for the disruption. And fuel supplier Centrus Energy Corp., which is based in the US but relies on Tenex for the majority of the uranium it delivers, warned in its most recent annual report that a ban would pose “a significant risk” to the business.

Cabangon

Top China, South Korea diplomats hold rare talks in Beijing

By Soo-Hyang Choi

The top diplomats from South Korea and China held their first face-to-face talks in Beijing in some six years, showing differences over US policies on chip exports and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and China’s Wang Yi agreed in their talks Monday to cooperate for a trilateral summit with Japan “to be held soon” in Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said. Seoul has said the meeting could take place on May 26-27.

The trilateral summits have been on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic and political tensions. China has been feeling pressure as Japan and South Korea moved closer to Washington in recent years. The US and its two key allies in Asia have raised their security cooperation to some of the highest levels in decades, largely because of concern about North Korea’s behavior and China becoming more assertive militarily.

Wang pledged to work with South Korea to improve ties, according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, and appeared to reference Beijing’s concern about Seoul’s closer relations with Washington.

He urged South Korea to “abide by the one-China principle by properly and prudently handling Taiwan-related issues,” according to the statement. “Both sides should jointly oppose trade protectionism, safeguard the free international trading regime, and ensure the stability and smoothness of the production and supply chains,” he said.

Cho also expressed concern over North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia and asked China to use its influence on Pyongyang to rein in Kim Jong Un’s nuclear weapons program. Beijing has been Pyongyang’s biggest benefactor for years, providing a lifeline that has kept its economy afloat. China has also called on the US and its partners to do more to bring stability to the peninsula.

Seoul has accused North Korea of accelerating its weapons development in recent years and sending munitions to Russia for its war on Ukraine in return for food, raw materials and parts for arms manufacturing. South Korean officials say

continued from A16

funding the Energy Department will make available to support domestic enrichment, he said.

The Energy Department plans to use the $2.7 billion to help rebuild the domestic supply chain by creating a guaranteed buyer of Americanmade reactor fuel. Companies that could benefit from the spending include ConverDyn, a joint venture

South Korea has the biggest market share of memory chips in China, and it is the second-largest provider of silicon wafers for Chinese companies after Japan, according to a February report from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.

the cooperation could increase Kim’s threat to the region. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the accusations about their trade activities.

The meeting of foreign ministers also took place under the shadow of an intensifying US-China rivalry for chip supremacy.

Washington has imposed a wall of restrictions to deny Beijing access to the latest semiconductors, and the Biden administration is enlisting its partners to adopt export controls on sophisticated equipment needed to make the most advanced chips.

South Korea has the biggest market share of memory chips in China, and it is the second-largest provider of silicon wafers for Chinese companies after Japan, according to a February report from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.

On the economic front, data this year showed that exports to the US overtook China as the biggest market for South Korean goods abroad for the first time in two decades.

The upcoming trilateral summit will be the first major test on diplomatic front for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as he tries to maintain the momentum for the remaining three years of his term after suffering a major defeat in parliamentary elections last month.

The last time a South Korean foreign minister visited Beijing for direct talks was in late 2017, though Wang met former South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in Busan in November 2023. With assistance from Jacob Gu /Bloomberg

between Honeywell International Inc. and General Atomics that provides uranium conversion services, and Global Laser Enrichment, owned jointly by Silex Systems LTD and and Cameco Corp.

“To reduce—and ultimately eliminate—our current dependence on Russian uranium for civilian nuclear power reactors, the most important step the US government can take is to invest in US commercial enrichment,” the White House National Security Council said in a statement. Bloomberg

Michael Cohen testimony ties Trump to hush money payment

By Patricia Hurtado, David Voreacos & Erik Larson

MiChael CoheN directly connected Donald Trump to the hush-money payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to keep their alleged sexual encounter out of the news ahead of the 2016 election.

Taking the witness stand in the Manhattan criminal trial Monday, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer recalled an October 2016 conversation in which the former president said that public disclosure of Daniels’ story would spell “disaster” for his White House bid. Trump expressed frustration that Daniels was trying to shop her story to the media and told Cohen to pay her $130,000 to buy her silence.

“This is a disaster, a total disaster,” Cohen said Trump told him. “Women will hate me. Guys may think it’s cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign.”

Cohen, the star witness in the hush-money case, detailed how Trump signed off on a plan to cover up the $130,000 Daniels payment under the guise of legal fees. Cohen’s testimony offered an insider’s perspective into Trump’s state of mind when he entered into the agreement.

The testimony is a crucial moment for the district attorney’s office, which must convince the jury that Trump falsified dozens of business records in order to conceal the true nature of checks he made out to Cohen throughout 2017. It’s one of four criminal cases Trump is facing as he campaigns to return to the White House.

Under questioning by the prosecutor, Cohen elaborated on a trove

of e-mails, texts and heated discussions, including Trump’s directives, as the trial entered its fifth week. His testimony is potentially the most damaging against the former president so far, giving a first-hand account of Trump allegedly directing him to falsify financial records.

Cohen said he heard Daniels was speaking to publications about her story just after Trump was caught on an “Access Hollywood” tape boasting about sexually assaulting women. Prosecutors allege that the timing of the Daniels’ hush-money payment was motivated by the release of the tape, which lead to a media frenzy.

Cohen also described an ongoing arrangement with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who worked to shield Trump from unflattering stories long before the 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen testified that he was part of a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower in which Pecker assured Trump he’d help silence negative stories about him during the campaign. His testimony largely mirrored that of Pecker, who took the witness stand earlier.

In the weeks that followed the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Pecker balked at paying Daniels the agreed-upon $130,000 himself, Cohen said. Pecker told Cohen that Trump had failed to reimburse

him for earlier salacious stories he’d bought to protect the billionaire.

According to Cohen, Trump grew angry with him for not making the Daniels problem go away, since the lawyer had convinced Pecker to remove a 2011 article about her claims from a gossip blog.

“I thought you had this under control. Just take care of it,” Cohen said Trump told him.

Took out loan

COHEN decided to pay Daniels himself by tapping a home equity line of credit. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger walked Cohen through a raft of emails and banking records that he said showed how he worked out the hush-money deal, using what he described as a legal retainer for his services after he set up the company that made the payments.

“I’m not sure they would have opened it if it stated ‘to pay off an adult film star for a nondisclosure agreement’” Cohen said, chuckling. Cohen is set to return to the stand on Tuesday. Trump’s lawyers on cross-examination are expected to paint Cohen as a serial liar with a vendetta against his former boss, whose testimony can’t be trusted. Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

‘Beautiful woman’

COHEN described the chaos the Access Hollywood tape posed for Trump’s campaign. He worked with Pecker to shield Trump from unflattering stories long before the 2016 presidential campaign. The Daniels

Euro zone wage concerns keep ECB

By Alexander Weber & Mark Schroers

RoBUST early-year wage growth for euro-area workers will do little to calm the nerves of european Central Bank officials pondering how much they can lower interest rates.

Data from the bloc’s largest economies suggest increases in negotiated pay failed to slow significantly in the first quarter. The danger is that companies pass rising costs on to consumers, keeping inflation above 2 percent for longer.

A key culprit is Germany, where past deals—some of which are embellished by one-off payments— have driven salaries sharply higher. Policymakers are unlikely to be sufficiently consoled by evidence of moderation elsewhere in the region.

So while June’s planned initial reduction in the deposit rate is almost sure to proceed, any hopes for another quick-fire move the following month are receding. Underpinning the case for caution is stronger-than-expected economic expansion in the 20-nation bloc— even as inflation backpedals toward the target.

“For the ECB, strong German wage growth will be another reason to move very carefully with

rate cuts—even if wage growth in most other euro-zone countries is much more muted,” said Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING.

Pay gains probably slowed to 4.3 percent from a year ago in the first three months, compared with 4.5 percent for the final quarter of 2023, according to Bloomberg Economics. While not surpassing 3.5 percent in France, Italy and Spain, they reached 4.8 percent in Germany, it said.

“National data on negotiated wages have been trickling in over recent weeks and they point to a nearly steady rate of increase in pay settlements. That’s unlikely to derail the ECB’s first rate reduction in June but will keep policymakers nervous about committing to future cuts,” said David Powell, Bloomberg’s senior euro-area economist.

For the ECB, part of the challenge is that negotiations work very differently across the continent. Whereas many contracts in

story would be “catastrophic” for the campaign, Cohen said, because Trump was polling low with women. Cohen recalled Trump saying: “Push it out as long as you can, just get past the election. If I win, it has no relevance, because I’m president. But if I lose, I just don’t care.’” Cohen said Trump asked him to reach out to his media contacts and tell them that his words in the Access Hollywood recording were “locker room talk,” saying, “that’s how his wife, Melania regarded it.” Trump was more concerned about his political future than about his wife finding out about his infidelity, Cohen said. The lawyer asked about Melania Trump.

“Don’t worry, how long do you think I’ll be on the market? Not long,’” Trump said, according to Cohen.

Cohen kept Trump’s secrets for years before a bitter falling out in 2018, after the lawyer pleaded guilty to illegal campaign finance charges over the hush-money payment to the adult film actress. The relationship the two forged was shattered after Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in New York in August 2022, saying he’d paid two women so they did not disclose their “alleged affairs with the candidate.”

In addition to the payment to Daniels, Cohen admitted to facilitating an illegal contribution of $150,000, which former Playmate Karen McDougal received from the National Enquirer to quash her story about an alleged affair with Trump. With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron / Bloomberg

cautious on rate cuts

Belgium are directly tied to inflation, German and Italian workers must often await new rounds of talks that determine compensation over multiple years.

In France, meanwhile, bargaining is more flexible and salaries in a host of sectors are agreed on once a year, Barclays economists said last week in a note.

Such complexities are reflected in the array of views on the first quarter. While ING’s Brzeski sees acceleration to roughly 5 percent, Nomura analysts expect steady growth of 4.5 percent and the estimate over at Barclays is for a slowdown to about 4percent.

“There are some indicators from the labor market that suggest wage growth in the euro area is decelerating,” said Barclays economist Christian Keller. “This should contribute to further disinflation, which is already more pronounced than in the US.”

Those less optimistic point to a tight labor market that shrugged off a shallow recession in the latter half of 2023. Germany witnessed a string of transport strikes this year, and some construction workers seeking better pay are set to walk out this week for the first time in 17 years.

“The undersupply of labor will

Hong Kong condemns UK spying claims against trade officer

By Alan Wong

hoNg Kong’s leader condemned the UK’s move to charge three men with assisting an intelligence service from the city, underscoring tensions between the asian finance hub and the British government.

“Any attempt to make unwarranted allegations against the Hong Kong government is unacceptable,” Chief Executive John Lee said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday. He appealed for fair treatment for one of the suspects who works for Hong Kong’s trade outpost in London, and said his government had requested details of the case from the UK consulate general.

Among the trio charged Monday with foreign interference

and assisting a foreign intelligence service was Chung Biu Yuen, 63, who works as an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. The two other defendants are Chi Leung Wai, a UK Border Force Officer, and Matthew Trickett, a private investigator.

The men were alleged to have conducted information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to assist a foreign intelligence service be -

tween December 2023 and May 2024.

Authorities didn’t state the name of the agency. Hong Kong’s National Security Department, established in 2020 at the behest of a Beijing-imposed national security law, has an intelligence unit. It hasn’t publicized any overseas activities.

China’s embassy in the UK condemned the British authorities’ “fabrication of the so-called case” in a statement Monday, adding that it had made representations to the UK on the matter.

The charges come as London seeks to recalibrate its ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Foreign Secretary David Cameron in 2015 proclaimed a “golden era” of relations with

The charges come as London seeks to recalibrate its ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Foreign Secretary David Cameron in 2015 proclaimed a “golden era” of relations with Beijing during his time as prime minister, but ties have deteriorated over concerns about China’s alleged interference in the UK parliament and Beijing’s clampdown on freedoms in Hong Kong.

Beijing during his time as prime minister, but ties have deteriorated over concerns about China’s alleged interference in the UK parliament and Beijing’s clampdown on freedoms in Hong Kong.

The allegations put a spotlight on the overseas presence of the city’s Economic and Trade Offices, which promote Hong Kong’s commercial ties in 14 countries spanning Asia to North America. In London, the premises and staff of the office receive privileges and immunities similar to those afforded to diplomatic missions.

In the US, the existence of such offices were subject to debate after the Trump administration in 2020 declared the city no longer maintained a high degree of autonomy from China.

A US Senate Committee passed a bill last year that could shut down Hong Kong’s three economic and trade offices—in New York, San Francis -

put upward pressure on wages,” Berenberg chief economist Holger Schmieding said. “We therefore don’t project nominal wage growth to settle below 4 percent on a sustained basis.”

Official data on negotiated wages are penciled in for May 23, with another closely-watched gauge of first-quarter pay growth to come from Eurostat on June 7—a day after the ECB next decides on rates.

With timely information scarce, officials in Frankfurt have sought to provide more clarity through their own, newly developed trackers of euro-area pay.

Those “continued to show signs of easing,” according to an account of April’s policy meeting, published Friday. Rate-setters have also stressed that corporate profits should absorb some of the higher labor costs after margins expanded in recent years.

To what extent this happens in the services sector—a primary focus at the moment—is uncertain, the ECB’s policy account showed.

“While progress had been seen, monitoring the triangle between wages, productivity growth and profits continued to be key,” it said. Bloomberg

co and Washington—because of the city’s changed political status. The Hong Kong government condemned the legislation as interference in the city’s affairs.

Lee said Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices globally will continue to work to further economic and cultural ties.

“Any attempt to interfere with the work of ETO offices in different places will be against free trade and free economy, and will be harming the economy of the countries that try to do bad things to the operation of the ETO offices,” he said on Tuesday. The accused appeared at a London court on Monday and were granted bail. The next hearing is scheduled for May 24. Bloomberg

A18 Wednesday, May 15, 2024

SC’s not halting PUVMP, May 16 colorum drive a go

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE nationwide crackdown on colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs)  starting May 16 is likely to proceed after the Supreme Court (SC) did not immediately grant the plea of transport groups for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the full implementation of the   Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

In a statement, SC spokesman Camille Sue Mae Ting said the Court en banc has taken cognizance of the supplemental petition filed by transport groups led by Piston last April 29, 2024.

The Court also directed the respondents—Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)—to comment on the supplemental petition.

On the other hand, the Court merely required the respondents to comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days on the petitioner’s plea for the issuance of a TRO and/ or a writ of preliminary injunction.

In particular, the SC asked respondents for a status update on the current progress of the consolidation of PUV franchises within the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions of the country on a per route basis.

The Court also sought a status update on the Local Public Trans -

port Route Plan (LPTRP) per locality and the Route Rationalization Plan. Finally, the SC also asked respondents on the status of the hearings before the House of Representatives on the matter.

The magistrates acted on the supplemental petition during the SC’s regular en banc on Tuesday.

Prior to the Court’s action, transport groups led by Piston and MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena protested outside the SC to urge the justices to immediately issue a TRO against the PUVMP and hear their side by holding an oral argument.

“To our Supreme Court, don’t pretend you don’t hear us, don’t close your eyes, and look at the majority. The majority of Filipino people who are now having difficulty,” MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena said.

Valbuena said there is urgency for the Court to act on their plea for a TRO as the government is poised to conduct a massive apprehension

of PUVs starting May 16 that have yet to comply with the order to consolidate under the PUVMP.

The LTFRB  earlier announced  unconsolidated PUVs would be considered “colorum” starting May 16 and will be apprehended.

The PUVMP mandates consolidation of individual operators under transport cooperatives and corporations.

The program, starting in 2017, will replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace PUVs deemed not roadworthy by Land Transportation Office (LTO) standards.

In their supplemental with urgent reiterative motion for the issuance of a TRO and/or a writ of preliminary injunction, petitioners cited the amendment in Department Order (DO) No. 2017-011 issued by the Department of Transportation  on June 19, 2017, which is also known  as the blueprint of the PUV modernization program.

The petitioners noted that in their original petition with prayer for a TRO, they called for the nullification of seven issuances, including  DO No. 2017-011.

However, on December 29, 2023, or nine days after they filed the said petition, DOTr promulgated DO No. 2023-022, providing the guidelines on the implementations of PUVMP, superseding DO No. 2017-011.

It noted that DO No. 2023-022 inserted specific additional requirements on consolidation and management operations that were previously not included in the assailed DO No. 2017-011.

Essentially, the petitioners said, the new  DO No. 2023-022  includes the assailed forced consolidation and  its technical requirements  and directs the LTFRB to “adopt a policy on the consolidation of certificates  of public convenience [CPCs] and substitution of units,” which is not found in DO 2017-011.

Petitioners noted that DO 2023022 contains substantial changes from its previous version.

Business groups

THEY also anchored the supplemental petition on the business sector’s call to suspend the consolidation deadline for an indefinite period and create “an affordable, sustainable and carbon-neutral mass transport system.”

The petitioners cited business groups under The Leaders Forum such as the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., trade unions  Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Mangagawa and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines as among those supporting their call to halt the implementation of PUVMP.

DOT: SOFITEL MANILA CLOSURE ‘SIGNIFICANT LOSS TO TOURISM’

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM

Special to the BusinessMirror

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has described the impending closure of the 48-year-old Sofitel Philippine Plaza a “significant loss to tourism.”

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with officials of Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI), Sofitel Manila’s owner, and hotel management on Monday, where she was informed of the reason for the closure and the measures to ensure the hotel’s 500 workers’ welfare after their separation. “We are very dismayed with the announcement of the impending closure of Sofitel Manila, being an icon of Philippine hospitality for nearly 50 years. We heard the news with much concern, especially that we view our hotel and accommodation sector as a critical component of the industry, especially now that we are making efforts to elevate the status of Philippine tourism vis-a-vis our Asean counterparts,” she said in a news statement.

PPHI President Esteban Peña Sy had told BusinessMirror earlier that the hotel will be closed by July 1 for “safety reasons,” even as they continued to negotiate with its landlord, the Government Service Insurance System, for an extension on its lease con -

tract for another 25 years after it expires in 2041. The outcome of those negotiations will determine whether or not the hotel will be closed for good or just temporarily.  (See, “Sofitel Philippine Plaza workers will get nearly P300 million in separation benefits–hotel owner,” in the BusinessMirror , May 10, 2024.)

‘Safety is paramount’ WHILE saddened by the closure, Frasco agreed that the safety of the hotel’s employees and guests were of paramount importance. She also expressed appreciation for the hotel’s contributions to the tourism industry. “It is one that has seen our country through many seasons, and has stood the test of time. We are in complete agreement in terms of prioritizing worker and tourist safety over and above anything else,” she added. She said the hotel’s workers will be assisted in finding new employment through job fairs. Earlier, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma also told this paper that the agency was ready to help the hotel’s displaced workers via referrals to other hotels and the conduct of job fairs, along with livelihood assistance.  (See, “Sofitel closure to further hike room rates in 5-star hotels,” in the BusinessMirror , May 13, 2024.)

Continued on A7

TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE national government is keen on maximizing Metro Manila’s natural resource, the Pasig River, to help ease commuters’ transportation woes. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development

Leonel Cray De Velez told reporters on Tuesday that they are already conducting a feasibility study on the project.

Once the study is completed, the agency will bid out the contract to develop the Manila Bay-PasigMarikina-Laguna lake ferry system by next year.

“It’s to provide an alternative east-west transportation corridor in NCR. So as you know, we have the North-South Commuter Railway, we have the subway. If you

see the maps, those are primarily north-south corridors,” de Velez said.

“We do not have what we call east-west corridors for mass transportation and Pasig River naturally is there and traverses east-west. So unlike a railway where we still have to build the tracks, for the Pasig River, it’s there. All we need to do is build stations and also buy ferries. So it’s naturally there already and we hope to take advantage of that,” he explained. De Velez said the DOTr is working with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on what is called the Manila Bay, Pasig River, Marikina River, and Laguna Lake ferry system. He said this is part of the initiative of the President and the First Lady to enhance the Pasig River and “make it livable again.” The project also aims to

create good walking spaces and help enhance urban development nationwide. The feasibility study for the project is being conducted to gather information of the possible number of passengers who can take the ferry. This is crucial in determining the stations and how many stations will be created. Currently, de Velez said, anecdotal evidence indicates that a lot of Filipinos living in Marikina and Rizal travel to the University Belt and the Central Business Districts like Makati.

But these are merely “anecdotal” evidence. “Until we have quantifiable studies and surveys, these are all anecdotes. So that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re figuring out how many people will actually use the ferry service in the future,” de Velez said.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

B1 Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Converge cuts capex goals due to cable project delay

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is cutting its programmed capital expenditures (capex) for 2024 by almost a third due to delays in the completion of its international projects and payment milestones for its data center initiative.

During a press briefing, Converge Deputy CFO Christine Blabagno said the company is lowering its capex guidance for 2024 to between P12 billion and P14 billion from as much as P19 billion.

“We expect capex to be lower than initially planned, bringing it down to P12 billion to P14 billion for 2024. This is due to the delay in the completion of our subsea cable project and the agreed pay -

ment milestones with our data center partners,” she said.

Blabagno was referring to the Trans-Pacific Bifrost Cable System. Initially, the international cable system was supposed to be scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“The international subsea cable is pushed back to the first quarter of 2025. So, the P5 billion allotted for that will come in 2025,” Converge

President Grace Uy noted.

Connecting Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines to the West Coast of North America, the Bifrost Cable System will span over 15,000 kilometers and will deliver capacity to “support the booming digital connectivity needs of the Asia-Pacific region and provide a critical, direct link with North America.”

Due to permitting issues in Indonesia, the Singapore-to-thePhilippines leg of the cable system is being pushed back by a quarter, Converge CEO Dennis Uy explained. However, he noted that the leg between the United States and the Philippines will likely be delivered on schedule.

Grace noted that the data center projects of Converge are on track.

“The data center, it’s progressing as scheduled. It’s just that the payment for them will come in 2025,” she said.

On Tuesday, Converge reported recording a 17-percent increase in

net profits to P2.55 billion in the first three months of 2024 from P2.17 billion the year prior, as revenues rose by 10 percent to P9.54 billion from P8.64 billion.

Residential revenues continued to take the lion’s share in the company’s revenue mix, growing by 10 percent to P8.17 billion from P7.40 billion. The company’s enterprise business, meanwhile, rose by a faster 11 percent to P1.37 billion from P1.24 billion.

Converge ended March 2024 with a total of 2.25 million subscribers: 2.09 million postpaid and 160,948 prepaid subscribers.

Its flagship broadband service called FiberX contributed 54,615 net adds out of the total 124,793 net adds—the highest quarterly net adds since the third quarter of 2021.

As of the first quarter, Grace said the company is treading on a growth path that is better than its 2024 revenue guidance of “mid-to-high single-digit growth.”

Alternergy swings to profit in 9 mos

RENEWABl E power pioneer Alternergy Holdings Corp. (Alternergy) posted a net income of P158.17 million in the nine months of its fiscal year ending March 2024, a reversal of the P8.6-million net loss it posted in the same period last year.

The company’s revenues shot up by 44 percent to P182.5 million, boosted by its newly energized Palau Solar battery energy storage system (BESS) which started commercial operations in January this year.

“With the start of its operations, we expect a steady flow of income from the Palau Project further boosting the company’s financial position as well as increase value to our shareholders,” said Alternergy President Gerry Magbanua.

The Palau BESS project is the company’s 11th operating asset. Alternergy is also starting construction of three projects with a capacity of up to 204 megawatts

(MW). These are the Alabat and Tanay wind power projects and the Solana solar power project.

The Alabat wind power project broke ground last May 9, signaling the start of construction. For the Tanay wind power project, the company is expecting to break ground in the next coming weeks. “With the line-up of operating assets and new projects, we hope to sustain Alternergy’s growth momentum onwards to our target of 500 MW capacity by 2026,” he added.

Total assets grew to P6.9 billion, up by 42 percent from June 2023, including P2.1 billion in cash ready to be deployed for construction of Tanay and Alabat wind power projects. Alternergy’s consolidated debt-to-equity ratio further improved to 0.39x from 0.66x during the period.

Consolidated equity meanwhile expanded to P4.3 billion as a result of the recent preferred shares issuance which were listed at the Philip -

pine Stock Exchange last March 22.

Alternergy’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) also grew by 78 percent to P267.2 million from P96.4 million from the same nine-month period in 2023 on the back of higher dollar denominated operating revenues from the Palau Project and higher share from net earnings of associates.

“Alternergy’s healthy cash position enables us to kick off the construction of the Tanay and Alabat wind power projects to meet the committed timeline under the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP),” Magbanua said.

“The country’s power industry has seen very tight supply coupled by aging power plants. At the same time, the demand for electricity continues to grow. Alternergy aims to assist the government in putting the needed additional capacity online and generate revenues for our shareholders,” he added. Lenie Lectura

Sony profit outlook misses estimates as PS5 appeal wanes

SON y Group Corp. said it expects operating income of ¥1.28 trillion ($8.2 billion) in the year to March, missing analyst expectations for both profit and sales as PlayStation 5 hardware sales wane.

The Tokyo-based entertainment leader also said it would buy back up to 2.46 percent of shares for ¥250 billion. The company will conduct a five-for-one stock split, effective October 1, it said in announcing fullyear earnings on Tuesday.

Profit in the most recent quarter was better than expected. Sony said net income in the three months to March was ¥189 billion, above the average analyst estimate of ¥153.2 billion. Sales reached ¥3.5 trillion.

The business in the current year will be bolstered by Sony’s music publishing and smartphone image sensors units, Sony said, both of which benefit from the weaker yen. In music, much of Sony’s revenue comes from streaming of content catalogs including artists like l il Nas X and Michael Jackson. Spotify Technology SA reported a 14-percent jump in paid subscribers for the past quarter, expanding the audience for that material.

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

SHE ll Pilipinas Corp. (SPC) has earmarked as much as P3 billion for its capital expenditures (capex) this year to support its expansion plans.

“For this year, we are planning to spend between P2 billion and P3 billion,” said company vice president for finance and chief risk officer Reynaldo Abilo during the company’s virtual annual meeting.

The capex will be utilized for its service stations. “About 50 percent of that will be dedicated in improving the asset integrity and efficiency of our terminals across the country, particularly our main one which is the Tabangao import facility, and about 50 percent will be dedicated towards in enhancing the mobility footprint we have in the country.”

The oil firm would have five import terminals by 2025. It has already put up three terminals in Batangas, Subic and Cagayan

de Oro. Construction is ongoing for its fourth medium-range capable import terminal in Darong, Davao del Sur, which will supply the growing energy requirements of the southern region.

SPC is the country’s secondlargest oil company with over a thousand retail stations nationwide.

“As we ended 2023 with a total of 1,179 mobility stations, we are planning to increase our mobility sites by about 20-25 stations this year,” added Abilo. Mobility sites are the oil company’s retail stations.

In 2023, SPC’s net income plunged to P1.2 billion from P4.1 billion in 2022. It cited “elevated interest rates and decline in global fuel prices” as reasons for the decline in its profit.

Nonetheless, Shell Pilipinas said it was able to “navigate through these obstacles by strategically increasing volumes and maintaining a focus on premium products.”

Sony makes its image sensors in Japan and sells them overseas. Smartphone markets returned to growth in the March quarter, with the Chinese consumer helping drive a recovery. Mobile makers are again increasing investment in new hardware and components, after whittling down inventories of unsold devices.

Shares in Sony have been under pressure this month as mounting speculation about the terms of its potential $26 billion bid for Paramount Global has weighed on sentiment. Investors are wary about the costs involved in acquiring Paramount’s film and TV library and integrating the business into Sony’s wider entertainment empire.

President Hiroki Totoki did not confirm Sony’s interest in Paramount, though he said it would be natural for Sony to explore attractive M&A targets and the company would be willing to make a move at the right price. The yen’s weakness will not pose a major challenge to completing acquisition deals that the company considers worthwhile, he added.

The Paramount takeover is one of several deals Sony is engineer-

ing, as the Japanese company seeks to expand its digital content collection. While a merger with India’s Zee Entertainment collapsed this year, Sony is bidding against private equity funds Blackstone and KKR for control of Japanese e-comics provider Infocom Corp. in a deal estimated to be worth around $1.3 billion. In the core games business, the PlayStation 5’s upcoming game pipeline appears questionable, as Sony has said it won’t release any titles from its biggest first-party franchises like God of War or Bloodborne in the year to March. The company’s executives have also said that the console, released in 2020, is now on the downslope of hardware sales— setting the stage for a potential updated edition for the holiday period this year. Sony sold 4.5 million PS5 consoles in the March quarter. Active users on its PlayStation Network declined to 118 million in the period. PlayStation 5 exclusives, such as Square Enix Holdings Co.’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, have not performed well in recent times, pushing publishers like Square Enix away from locking their content down on a single platform. Bloomberg News

T-bonds

THE national government partially awarded the long-tenor Treasury bonds (T-bonds) on Tuesday, raising only P11.5 billion than the programmed amount due to higher bid yields.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) borrowed P11.5 billion out of the P30 billion offering through the sale of reissued 20-year T-bonds (FXTN 20-23).

Banking&Finance

Mid-year bonus given to govt staff

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

GOVERNMENT employees are set to receive their mid-year bonus starting May 15, according to Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

in accordance with our existing rules and regulations,” Pangandaman was quoted in the statement as saying.

The mid-year bonus is equivalent to a one-month basic pay of entitled government workers as of May 15.

Civil personnel who have worked at least four months from July 1 of the previous year to May 15 of the current year will receive the mid-year bonus, the DBM said.

ing regular, casual and contractual employees.

Employees of appointive or elective positions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices will also receive bonuses

ippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority should also receive the bonus.

The provision of the said benefits to the qualified personnel is already under the jurisdiction of the concerned agencies, the DBM noted.

“We know that this is eagerly awaited by our fellow government employees and will significantly assist them in meeting their daily needs,” Pangandaman said. Govt fails to raise target for

With a remaining term of 14 years and eight months to maturity, the T-bonds’ average rate settled at 6.950 percent, according to the Treasury.

This is higher than the 6.905 percent comparable PHP BVAL yield on May 13, 2024, which declined from the one-year high of 7.11 percent posted on April 24, 2024, after the U.S. dollar/peso exchange rate went up to 18-month highs.

However, the average yield was lower by 0.108 percent than the 7.058 percent previous 20-year T-bond auction yield on April 30.

Data from the Treasury showed that offers made by investors for the yield ranged from a low of 6.880 percent to a high of 6.994 percent.

Tuesday’s auction was 1.2 times oversubscribed than the total offering of P30 billion, with total bids reaching P36.7 billion, the Treasury said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the T-bonds yield was higher due to the “mostly worse” or “softer” local economic data released recently.

Despite this, Ricafort added that these “could [still] support possible local policy rate cuts if the US Federal Reserve starts cutting rates later this year.”

Headline inflation settled at 3.8 percent this April, still within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s range of a low of 2 percent to a high of 4 percent.

The economy posted a growth of 5.7 percent in the first quarter of the year, higher than the 5.5 percent posted in the last quarter of 2023 but slower than the 6.4 percent posted in the first quarter of last year.

For the month of May, the Treasury aims to raise P150 billion from the sale of Treasury bonds. It is also targeting to raise as much as P60 billion from the sale of T-bills, with the combined sale totaling P210 billion.

The state also aims to borrow, following a 75:25 mix in favor of domestic sources, a total of P1.853 trillion from the domestic market through the sale of T-bills and Tbonds this year, based on state budget documents. Reine Juvierre Alberto

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized the shipment of smuggled cigarettes from Singapore worth an estimated P791 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last Tuesday. Through a statement dated May 14, the BOC said the shipment of three containers was consigned to Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading, initially declared to contain cases of tobacco products.

The “derogatory information” received by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) led to the suspicion that the shipment contained illicit cigarettes and other misdeclared and underdeclared items, read the statement.

The products found in all three containers included 4,215 master cases of assorted cigarettes and

This, after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced in a statement on Tuesday that qualified civil servants will receive their mid-year bonus after the appropriations for the grants were released to concerned agencies at the beginning of the fiscal year.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez told the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last Tuesday to ensure meeting its revenue targets for the year, recommending the use of tools to enhance tax-collection efficiency. Romualdez was quoted in a statement as saying that achieving these targets is crucial for government’s spending programs and to promote economic growth.

“Year on year, the BIR’s revenue collections grew by 17 percent this year. That’s welcome news, and I credit the BIR for that,” the Speaker. “But 17 percent growth from total collections last year will mean the BIR will fall short of the P3.05 trillion target set by the economic managers.”

The BIR collected P2.516 trillion in 2023. A 17 percent increase would bring total collections to P2.944 tril-

By VG Cabuag @villygc

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp. (PSE: Bloom), the gaming firm of billionaire Enrique K. Razon Jr., said its income for the first quarter of the year fell 11 percent to P2.6 billion from the previous year’s P3 billion on weak gross gaming revenues.

Total GGR at Solaire was P14.8 billion, a fall of 8 percent from P16 billion in the first quarter last year, on lower VIP rolling chip and mass table drop volumes, which was partly offset by strong growth in electronic gaming machines.

“We had a strong showing in the heavily domestic slot machines segment where revenue grew by 24 percent year-over-year. This strong local

“As always, we remind all government agencies and offices to ensure the prompt and timely release of bonuses to their employees,

lion this year, which remains slightly below the target.

“It’s a high bar to clear. That’s why Congress has given the BIR the tools to collect more effectively from taxpayers,” Romualdez said.

“We enacted the Ease of Paying Taxes, effective this year, to digitalize most of BIR’s transactions and encourage taxpayers to comply voluntarily. The law will also broaden the base of taxpayers since we made registering as a taxpayer simpler, more convenient, and, above all, free,” he said.

The Speaker pointed out that the country’s economic growth this year “depends in large part on the government carrying out the budget President Marcos proposed and Congress authorized. Of course, the sooner the BIR can collect the cash, the faster the government can fund its programs.”

“Government final expenditure grew by only 1.7 percent during the first quarter, so I’m hoping that the

demand heightens our anticipation for our second property which will open on May 25. By increasing our mass table offerings and effectively doubling our slot machine capacity, Solaire Resort North will put Bloomberry in a prime position to gain market share,” Razon, the company’s chairman and CEO, said.

“If net income were adjusted for P279 million of Solaire Resort North pre-operating expenses, net income would have declined by only 3 percent,” he said.

Solaire’s VIP rolling chip volume and mass table drop were P106.9 billion and P11.1 billion, representing year-over-year declines of 36 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

The domestic-focused electronic gaming machine segment recorded

Employees must still be employed in the government as of May 15 of the current year and should have received at least a satisfactory performance rating in the most recent rating period or applicable performance appraisal period, the DBM added.

The mid-year bonus will be provided to all civilian personnel, includ-

BIR will be able to collect more in the second quarter so government spending can also catch up. We need to fund both programmed spending and as much of the unprogrammed appropriations as possible to meet our growth targets this year,” Romualdez said.

“Tax is the lifeblood of the government, and the vitality of economic growth this year depends on whether the BIR can supply that lifeblood,” he added.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto commanded the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to work together as a team in further strengthening tax and customs administration to hit the government’s total revenue collection target of P4.3 trillion in 2024.

The bulk of the tax revenues amounting to P3.05 trillion will be generated by the BIR, while the BOC is expected to collect close to P1 trillion.

a 17 percent year-on-year increase in coin-in.Non-gaming revenues reached of P2.2 billion for the quarter, representing an increase of 4 percent from the P2.1 billion generated in the same quarter last year.

Bloomberry’s consolidated net revenue in the first quarter was P12.5 billion, a decrease of 3 percent from P12.9 billion in the same period last year.

First quarter consolidated cash operating expenses reached P7.6 billion, higher by 5 percent compared to P7.2 billion in the same quarter last year. The increase in cash operating expense was due to higher salaries, and general office expenses. Consolidated cash operating expenses were lower by 4 percent compared to the previous quarter.

State universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS), as well as local government units (LGUs) will also be entitled to the mid-year bonus.

Military and uniformed personnel including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense, as well as personnel from the Phil-

According to the DBM, the allocation of mid-year bonuses for personnel in provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays will be determined by their respective councils (Sanggunian), subject to policy conditions for the purpose under DBM Budget Circular 2017-2.

Financial literacy: An evolving advocacy

“Don’t save what money is left after spending. Rather, only spend the money that remains after saving funds.”

—Warren Buffet

FINANCIAL literacy as defined by Harvard Business Review is the ability to understand and use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting and investing, that has a direct impact on our daily lives.

A survey was done in the United States (US) and it found out that only 37 percent of US adults are financially literate (though 80 percent think they are). The respondents to the survey are 120,000 US adults.

The 37 percent was considered passed based on a standard financial literacy test (Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, 2020). This is quite revealing.

1,053 master cases of heat sticks. Each container has an estimated 1,756 master cases of varying brands of cigarettes namely Golden, Bind, Double Happiness, and H&P One and heat sticks of brands “COO” and “Like Premium Bluberry.”

“As an answer to the President’s directive, we will continue working to get to the bottom of this menace and stop the dangers these bring,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio was quoted in the statement as saying.

The shipment’s consigners and consignees will face charges for violating Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) and Section 1400 (Misdeclaration in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Cus -

toms Modernization and Tariff Act.

They will also face charges in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, RA 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law and the National Tobacco Administration Board Resolution 079-2005 (amended rules and regulations governing the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products).

According to the BOC, the shipment underwent a spot-check examination at the MICP’s designated examination area last Monday. Personnel from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency witnessed the examination, the BOC added.

Moreover, the assigned Customs examiner conducted a thorough, 100 percent physical examination of the containers on May 14. The CIIS officials were present during the inspection of the seized cigarettes, the BOC added.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appealed to the BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to ramp up their efforts in curbing tobacco and vape products smuggling to protect the country’s local tobacco industry.

“Enforcement and anti-smuggling and all that. You really have to beef them up and I think we’re doing that,” the President said.

“There will be [more efforts] with the [BOC] and BIR so that we can improve performance with that regard,” the President said.

Reine Juvierre Alberto

In the Philippines, financial literacy is a recognized concern. The Social Involvement Committee of the Finex Research Development Foundation Inc. (Finex Foundation) has been advocating basic financial literacy. In its ninth year of advocacy, the organization has conducted inter-active seminars/webinars to participants from various sectors of the society. It has covered the underprivileged, the elderlies, the men and women in uniform, the youth, micro-business owners, the retirees and more. It has been an immeasurable learning experience to the ones delivering the seminars/webinars and the attendees.

There are several modules in the basic financial literacy program but the very basic module (introductory) touches on the family and values, communication, importance of education and financial independence. Surprisingly, a number of the program participants who may have thought they are “financially literate” were victims of scams in varying magnitudes.

To have a ready reference for those interested in personal finance, the SIC of Finex Founda-

tion has published “A Handbook on Personal Finance” in 2021 and a Filipino-translated version “Gabay sa Wastong Pamamahala ng Pera” is now available. While Finance is oftentimes perceived as a challenging topic requiring technical knowledge, the basic financial literacy modules are meant to be simple and easy to comprehend. Aside from the inter-active sharing of basic concepts and ways of doing things, success stories and unfortunate experiences are taken up. More importantly, the modules include sharing of dimensions among participants as they deliberate on caselettes that feature ordinary and simple stories laced with financial concerns. A guidepost in developing and delivering the modules is the fact that adult students typically remember 20 percent of what they hear, 40 percent of what they hear and see and 80 percent of what they hear, see and do. Effective training involves participants in hearing, seeing and doing. Do you like to be part of this advocacy? If interested, you may contact the Finex Foundation at finexadmin@ finex.org.ph

Finex Free enterprise

Conchita L. Manabat

Treasuries Gain Photo shows the insignia of the us Treasury Department at the us Treasury building in Washington, DC. Treasuries extended their advance as traders await key us price data that could spur expectations for deeper and faster interest-rate cuts from the Federal reserve this year. Bonds rose globally as Treasury yields fell across the curve, with 2-year rates leading the way.

REEL OR REAL

NOW that a big project is about to be announced, fans are wondering if the friendship of the two big stars will turn from reel to real. The two stars have been spotted going out with friends and sometimes, it’s just the two of them. The question in the minds of fans is whether the guy is paying attention to the actress because she is his leading lady or he really likes her. The guy is also surrounded by so many people who influence some of his major decisions. For instance, if they don’t like a girl that he is interested in, he will not likely pursue her. Meanwhile, the girl leans on her family but makes decisions on her own. So if they are indeed a couple or they will be a couple in the future, that could be a point of contention.

TRUE OR FALSE?

RUMORS persist that the actress, who is in hibernation, and her husband, who isn’t in show business, are already separated. There are talks that the husband already has a new love. There have been denials about these speculations and rumors. The actress’ fans wish these aren’t true. It doesn’t help that she is nowhere to be seen. The actress went into hibernation just like that, without making an announcement. Only her closest of close friends see her and there are no photographs. She probably barely goes out as there are no pictures of her taken by other people.

YOUNG AND RECKLESS

GEN Z may not know it but a beautiful actress, who is now married with kids, used to be the girlfriend of an actor who is now also married. But back then, they were young and reckless and the actor’s thing was doing the deed in semi-public places. The girl, at first, went along with her boyfriend as she was very much in love with him. Later on, she started to be bashful and refused to give in to his kink. That’s when he started to cheat on her until she decided enough was enough.

SWINGING COUPLE

A FORMER celebrity couple was said to be into swinging but they eventually broke up. They are also embroiled in a bitter legal battle. But another beautiful celebrity couple is also into swinging and they have been together for a long time and the relationship is going strong. According to rumors, it was the wife who got her husband into swinging as a way of spicing up their marriage. The husband is the type who will go along with anything that his wife is into because he is so in love with her.

Show BusinessMirror

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ reigns with $56.5 million opening

BY ANDREW DALTON The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES— reigned over the weekend box office with a $56.5 million North American opening, according to studio estimates on Sunday, giving a needed surge to an uncertain season in theaters.

The film from 20th Century Studios and Disney that built on the rebooted the third highest opening of the year, after the $81.5 million debut of Dune: Part Two $58.3 million domestic opening of week later.

The strong performance for the Apes—it played even better internationally with a global total of $129 million—comes a week after a tepid start for Ryan Gosling’s that the summer of 2024 is likely to see a major dropoff after the “Barbenheimer” magic of 2023.

By Eugenia Last

ARIES

Planet of the Apes easily made more than the rest of the top 10 combined.

The Fall Guy fell to No. 2 with a $13.7 million weekend and a two-week total of $49.7 million for Universal Pictures.

Zendaya’s Challengers was third with $4.7 million and has earned $38 million in three weeks for Amazon MGM studios.

The opening for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, helmed by Maze Runner director Wes Ball, was the second best in the series, after the $72 million opening weekend of 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

It’s the 10th movie in the Planet of the Apes franchise that began in 1968 with the Charlton Heston original with a twist ending.

“This franchise has never been allowed to lose its momentum,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. “There are very few franchises that have this kind of longevity.”

And it really is the property itself. The new

‘Black Rider’ now simulcast on GMA and GTV

film shares no central actors or characters with its predecessors. Kingdom came with strong reviews and positive buzz (80 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B” CinemaScore). It was especially praised for its visual effects and the way its CGI has caught up with its primates-on-horseback aesthetic even since the last film, 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes.

Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press called it “thrilling” and “visually stunning.”

While there are potential blockbusters that feel like safe bets, including Despicable Me 4 and Deadpool & Wolverine in July, others, like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga later this month and Twisters later in the summer feel like they could break either way. Pixar once brought almost guaranteed hits, but June’s Inside Out 2 may not thrive like the 2015 original. ■

VIEWERS enjoy more explosive nights as the hit primetime series and 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Bronze Medalist Black Rider now has simulcast airing on GMA and GTV at 8 pm.

Ruru Madrid continues his fight against evil as Elias/Black Rider, with the enemies getting bolder.

Not only do the people close to Elias need saving but the entire country as well as Madam President Valerio’s (Chanda Romero) life is in danger. She is now the target of the group of Calvin (Jon Lucas) and Senator William (Roi Vinzon).

Elias spends the long night chasing and

fighting for the president’s safety. Unknown to them, the Golden Scorpion is slowly making their way back because Señor Edgardo (Raymond Bagatsing) is about to escape from prison.

Will Señor Edgardo and his son Elias meet? What awaits the reawakening of the scorpions?

Meanwhile, at the 18th UP ComBroadSoc Gandingan Awards, Black Rider was conferred the Most Development-Oriented Drama Program.

Black Rider can be seen at 8 pm on GMA and GTV at 8pm since May 13. The series is also available via the digital channel Pinoy Hits and via livestream on Kapuso Stream.

implications. Don’t reveal personal information. ★★★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Discipline and control will be necessary when dealing with personal matters. Concentrate on your intent, and follow through instead of letting the changes and challenges others have weigh heavy on your conscience. Protect your emotional well-being,

GEMINI (May

look for an original way to be helpful. ★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stand back, be an observer and use your intelligence to decide the best way to handle unstable situations. Invest in yourself, update your skills and ensure you understand the consequences and possibilities before you agree to something that requires blood, sweat and tears. ★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll gain insight if you pay attention to detail. Gather information, be resourceful and devise a safe plan; victory will follow. Opportunity is apparent, so don’t miss out on it due to fear. Use your resources wisely, and you’ll surpass your expectations. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look for opportunities to do something that picks you up and offers the emotional momentum to follow through with your intentions. A financial change that helps lower your overhead will also help you allocate what you save toward your dreams. ★★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Unusual pastimes and people will grab your attention. Embrace experiences that touch your heart and make you think about what matters most. It’s time for a shift that offers stability and a path that leads to professional security and a stellar reputation. ★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t stumble because you didn’t feel it necessary to verify information. Be resourceful, question and adjust whatever doesn’t feel right. Don’t let pressure break you down when it is an indicator to be on your toes. ★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get out and gain experience. Interact, listen, ask questions and set aside time to ponder over your options. Refuse to let domestic situations wear you down. Reach out to people who assimilate to your standards. ★★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): One step at a time. Think matters through and act when you have a plan and a clear view of what you want. Only agree to someone else’s plan if it takes you to your destination of choice. It’s impossible to please everyone. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do whatever it takes to educate, understand and transform what dissatisfies you. Focus on doing what’s best for you and taking better care of yourself and what and who is important to you. ★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are possessive, resistant and aware. You are influential and curious.

NOA, played by Owen Teague, in a scene from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

In a world often driven by external measures of success— wealth, status, or recognition—it is crucial to take the time to define what success means to you on a personal level. True fulfillment and happiness come from aligning your goals and achievements with your own values and aspirations. Defining your own measure of success is crucial as it empowers you to make confident and decisive choices in your life. Success is a deeply personal concept that goes beyond societal norms or expectations. It encompasses achieving goals that resonate with your innermost desires and values. In this social media age, most people compare themselves with others and believe that what is posted on those platforms are real. There is nothing wrong with wanting something better for yourself. However, projecting an image that contradicts your true self can lead to self-deception, hindering your ability to acknowledge areas for growth and take the necessary steps toward self-improvement.

To achieve true success, start by identifying what you genuinely desire for yourself. Clarify your purpose and understand your motivations, values and long-term goals. Assess what you are passionate about and ensure your pursuits align harmoniously. recognize that success entails continuous growth and learning, both personally and professionally. If you feel stuck, evaluate whether you still find joy in your work because genuine success is about feeling fulfilled and content with your choices. This fulfillment will reflect in your positive impact on others and in the legacy you leave for future generations.

Discovering what truly matters to you starts with selfreflection. Consider moments in your life when you felt most alive and aligned with your values. Pay attention to activities and relationships that energize and inspire you. Additionally, assess your life priorities by considering different aspects such as career, relationships, health, personal growth, and contribution to society. Determine which areas hold the greatest significance for you and where you want to allocate your time, energy, and resources. Through this reflective process, you can gain clarity on your core values and life priorities, paving the way for more intentional decisionmaking and a fulfilling life path.

when setting goals, it is important to define them in a way that aligns with your core values and aspirations. Start by identifying what truly matters to you and what you aim to achieve in various aspects of your life—whether it is career, relationships, health, personal development, or community involvement.

Ensure that your goals are specific and measurable so that you can track progress and stay motivated. For example, instead of a vague goal like “improve fitness,” a specific and measurable goal would be “exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week.” By aligning your goals with your values, you create a roadmap for success that resonates with your personal vision and purpose.

Measuring success extends beyond traditional metrics and includes factors like work-life balance, mental wellbeing, happiness, and personal growth. It involves not only achieving career milestones but also maintaining harmony in life, nurturing mental health, and finding genuine fulfillment. Personal growth through continuous learning and aligning actions with values is essential. By evaluating success based on these holistic criteria, you cultivate a purposeful life that reflects true fulfillment and contentment.

Embracing failure and setbacks is crucial for growth and success. rather than seeing failure as a setback, view it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Developing resilience helps you bounce back stronger from challenges, maintaining a positive outlook in difficult times. Adaptability is key—being open to change and adjusting your approach ensures agility and proactive goal achievement. By embracing failure, learning from setbacks, cultivating resilience, and embracing adaptability, you lay the groundwork for lasting success and fulfillment in all aspects of life. you should also celebrate milestones and progress to boost motivation and commitment to your goals.

Acknowledging achievements, big or small, reinforces your dedication. Expressing gratitude for how others supported us fosters positivity and deeper connections. Self-appreciation builds confidence and empowers you to strive for excellence. Together, these practices create a supportive environment that fuels ongoing growth and achievement. remember, your definition of success is uniquely yours. It is essential to resist comparing yourself to others and instead focus on living authentically and in alignment with your values. By defining success on your own terms, you empower yourself to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life— one that brings you joy, satisfaction, and a deep sense of accomplishment.

Defining your own success is a transformative journey that requires self-awareness, introspection, and courage to pursue what truly matters to you. By setting meaningful goals, you pave the way for a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. Take the time to reflect on your values, set intentional goals, and celebrate your progress along the way. Ultimately, success is not about meeting external expectations but about living authentically and wholeheartedly pursuing your own vision of a meaningful life.

By Colin Marshall University of Washington

WHY is persuasion so hard, even when you have facts on your side?

As a philosopher, I’m especially interested in persuasion—not just how to convince someone, but how to do it ethically, without manipulation. I’ve found that one of the deepest insights comes from the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, a focus of my research, who was born 300 years ago: April 22, 1724.

In his final book on ethics, The Doctrine of Virtue, Kant writes that each of us has a certain duty when we try to correct others’ beliefs. If we think they’re mistaken, we shouldn’t dismiss them as “absurdities” or “poor judgment,” he says, but must suppose that their views “contain some truth.”

What Kant is describing might sound like humility—just recognizing that other people often know things we don’t. But it goes beyond that.

This moral duty to find truth in others’ mistakes is based on helping the other person “preserve his respect for his own understanding,” Kant claims. In other words, even when we encounter obviously false points of view, morality calls on us to help the person we’re talking to maintain their self-respect—to find something reasonable in their views.

This advice can come across as patronizing, as though we were supposed to treat other adults like children with fragile egos. But I think Kant is onto something important here, and contemporary psychology can help us see it.

THE NEED FOR RESPECT

IMAGINE that you had to postpone lunch because of a meeting. With only 15 minutes to spare and a growling stomach, you leave to get a burrito. On your way, however, you run into a colleague. “I’m glad to see you,” they say. “I’m hoping to change your mind about something from the meeting.”

In that scenario, your colleague has little chance of persuading you. Why? Well, you need food, and they’re getting in the way of you satisfying that need.

As psychologists of persuasion have long recognized, a key factor in persuasion is attention, and people don’t attend to persuasive arguments when they have more pressing needs—especially hunger, sleep and safety. But less obvious needs can also make people unpersuadable. One that has received a lot of attention in recent decades is the need for social belonging.

The psychologist Dan Kahan gives the example of somebody who, like everyone in their community, incorrectly denies the existence of climate change. If that person publicly corrected their beliefs, they might be ostracized from friends and family. In that case, Kahan suggests, it can be “perfectly rational” for them to simply ignore the scientific evidence about an issue that they can’t directly affect, in order to satisfy their social need for connection.

This means that a respectful persuader needs to take into account others’ need for social dignity, such as by avoiding public settings when discussing topics that might be sensitive or taboo.

...AND SELF-RESPECT

YET external needs, like hunger or social acceptance, aren’t the only ones that get in the way of persuasion.

In a classic 1988 article on self-affirmation, the psychologist Claude Steele argued that our desire to

students sometimes blame low grades on bad luck and difficult material, but explain high grades in terms of their own ability and effort.

Steele’s approach has yielded some surprising results. For example, one study invited female students to write down values that were important to them—an exercise in self-affirmation. Afterward, many students who had done this exercise earned higher grades in a physics course, particularly girls who had previously performed worse than male students.

That study and many others illustrate how bolstering someone’s self-esteem can equip them to tackle intellectual challenges, including challenges to their personal beliefs.

With that in mind, let’s turn back to Kant.

POLITICS ARE PERSONAL

RECALL Kant’s claim: When we encounter somebody with false beliefs, even absurdly false ones, we must help them preserve their respect for their own understanding by acknowledging some element of truth in their judgments. That truth could be a fact we’d overlooked, or an important experience they’d had. Kant isn’t just talking about being humble or polite.

about whom to vote for can feel like a direct attack on someone’s competence and moral decency. So providing somebody with evidence that they should change their views can run headfirst into their need for self-respect—our human need to see ourselves as intelligent and good.

MORAL MATURITY

PERSUASION, in other words, takes a lot of juggling: In addition to making strong persuasive arguments, a persuader also has to avoid threatening the other person’s need for self-respect. Actual juggling would be a lot easier if we could slow down the objects. That’s why juggling on the Moon would be about twice as easy as on Earth, thanks to the Moon’s lower gravity.

When it comes to persuasion, though, we can slow things down by pacing the conversation, opening up time to learn something from the other person in return. This signals that you take them seriously— and that can bolster their self-esteem.

To be ethical, this openness to learning must be sincere. But that’s not hard: On most topics, each of us have limited experience. For example, perhaps Donald Trump or Joe Biden validated some of your cousin’s frustrations about their local government, in ways you couldn’t have guessed.

Makati Medical Center launches Heart Institute

Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) launches the Makati Medical Center Heart Institute, a pioneering initiative set to redefine cardiovascular care in the Philippines. The Makati Medical Center Heart Institute consolidates all facets of the hospital’s centers for Cardiology under one comprehensive framework, including the Cardiac Diagnostic Laboratory, the Advanced Cardiothoracic and Vascular Care Center (Dr. Mariano M. Alimurung Center), the Cardiovascular Learning Unit, and the Vascular & Lymphedema Center. This integration facilitates a holistic approach to cardiovascular health, encompassing promotion, prevention and treatment. The unveiling of the commemorative marker on April 11, 2024 set a historic moment for MakatiMed, witnessed by esteemed clinical leaders and guests. The event underscored the

P. Javier, MD, medical director and interim co-president and CEO; Asuncion A. reloza, MD, head, cardiology subspecialty section, department of pediatrics; ricardo T. Quintos, MD, office in charge, section of peripheral vascular surgery; gary A. Lopez, MD, chief, section of critical care medicine; rosario P. Paguntalan, MD, chairman, department of pediatrics; Eda Bernadette P. Bodegon, MAn, rn, chief nursing officer, nursing and patient care services division; Victor L. gisbert, MD, director, Medical Doctors Inc.

PHOTO BY TOA HEFTIBA ON UNSPLASH

For the second consecutive year, the Gawad Edukampyon for Local Governance recognizes local government units (LGUs) and their leaders for their remarkable initiatives and extraordinary efforts whose outcomes benefit their communities and help change lives.

This gathering was organized by r ex Education, in collaboration with esteemed partners, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, and Center for Local Governance and Professional Development, Inc. (CLGPD). The ceremony was a celebration and heartfelt tribute to the integrity, respect and professionalism, unity of purpose, excellence, and resilience of LGUs and local chief executives (LCEs).

LGUs and LCEs have integral roles in nurturing their communities, from delivering basic services to going beyond, unfazed by challenges and taking solid action, they contribute to providing quality education and nation-building. As education duty-bearers and public servants, they are resolute champions. Their examples and stories inspire.

Through the Gawad Edukampyon, r ex Education recognizes not only ideals but also celebrates actual results. r EX honors all the dedicated LGUs and LCEs—education dutybearers improving the lives of fellow Filipinos in the communities they serve.

The 2nd Gawad Edukampyon is also a platform to share their stories, inspire others, and cultivate collaboration among LGUs nationwide.

A total of 37 provinces, cities, and municipalities, along with their respective LCEs, were acknowledged for their achievements and innovations during the awarding ceremony held on May 4, 2024, at Novotel, Quezon City.

Here are the recipients of the Gawad Edukampyon for Local Governance Awards:

Gawad Edukampyon for Capacity Development

P ro VINCE: Cavite: Hon. Juanito Victor C. r emulla (Governor)

HIGHLY U r BANIZED CITY

Manila City: Hon. Maria Sheilah H. LacunaPangan (City Mayor) Cagayan de o ro City: Hon. r olando A. Uy (City Mayor)

C o MP o NENT CITY: Koronadal City, South Cotabato: Hon. Eliordo U. o gena (City Mayor)

MUNICIPALITY: Barcelona, Sorsogon: Hon. Cynthia G. Falcotelo-Fortes (Municipal Mayor)

Gawad Edukampyon for Learning Continuity Plan

P ro VINCE: Cotabato: Hon. Emmylou TaliňoMendoza (Governor)

HIGHLY U r BANIZED CITY: Cagayan De o ro City: Hon. r olando A. Uy (City Mayor)

C o MP o NENT CITY: Balanga, Bataan: Hon. Francis Anthony Garcia (City Mayor)

The program was also live-streamed via the r EX Facebook page. r evisit the ceremony here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/sur9Zj6og EJBwYek/?mibextid=oFDknk Rex e ducation, Pa R tne R s c eleb R ate o utstanding

MUNICIPALITY: Cabagan, Isabela: Hon.

Christopher A. Mamauag (Municipal Mayor)

Gawad Edukampyon

Para sa Barangay

Gawad Edukampyon for Barangay Social Services: Barangay Talipapa, Quezon City: Hon.

Atty. Eric r . Yuan (Punong Barangay)

Gawad Edukampyon for Barangay Justice, Security, and Disaster Preparedness

Barangay Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto, Bulacan: Hon. Emmanuel S. Joson (Punong Barangay)

Barangay Caloocan, Koronadal South Cotabato: Hon. John L. Maanay

Gawad Edukampyon for Barangay Governance:

Barangay Malvar, Santiago City, Isabela: Hon. Manuel G. Santiago (Punong Barangay)

Gawad Edukampyon for Barangay

Accountability: Barangay Malvar, Santiago City, Isabela: Hon. Manuel G. Santiago (Punong Barangay)

Gawad Edukampyon for Fiscal Management:

Barangay Malvar, Santiago City, Isabela: Hon. Manuel G. Santiago (Punong Barangay)

Gawad Edukampyon for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)

Province

BULACAN: Hon. Daniel r . Fernando (Governor)

MISAMIS orIENTAL: Hon. Peter M. Unabia (Governor)

APAYA o : Hon. Elias C. Bulut Jr. (Governor)

QUI r IN o : Hon. Dakila Carlo E. Cua (Governor)

S o UTH C o TABATo : Hon. r eynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. (Governor)

Highly Urbanized City

QUEZ o N CITY: Hon. Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte (City Mayor)

ILo ILo CITY: Hon. Jerry Perez Treňas (City Mayor)

MUNTINLUPA CITY: Hon. r ozzano r ufino B. Biazon (City Mayor)

CAGAYAN DE oro CITY: Hon. r olando A. Uy (City

Mayor)

CITY o F MANILA: Hon. Maria Sheilah H. LacunaPangan (City Mayor)

Component City

SANTIAG o CITY, ISABELA: Hon. Alyssa Sheena P. Tan (City Mayor)

STA. ro SA CITY, LAGUNA: Hon. Arlene B. Arcillas (City Mayor)

TAGUM CITY, DAVA o DEL N or TE: Hon. r ey T. Uy (City Mayor)

ALAMIN o S CITY, PANGASINAN: Hon. Arth Bryan C. Celeste (City Mayor)

TAGAYTAY CITY, CAVITE: Hon. Abraham N. Tolentino (City Mayor)

Municipality

SU r ALLAH, S o UTH C o TABATo : Hon. Pedro M. Matinong Jr. (Municipal Mayor)

MA r AMAG, BUKIDN o N: Hon. Atty. Jose Joel P. Doromal (Municipal Mayor)

DUPAX DEL N or TE, NUEVA VIZCAYA: Hon. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton (Municipal Mayor)

GUIGUINTo, BULACAN: Hon. Agatha Paula A. Cruz (Municipal Mayor)

NAAWAN, MISAMIS or IENTAL: Hon. Dennis L. r oa (Municipal Mayor)

PANDI, BULACAN: Hon. Enrico A. r oque (Municipal Mayor)

o BAND o, BULACAN: Hon. Leonardo DC. Valeda (Municipal Mayor)

BELM o NTE Hotel Mactan is delighted to announce their recent accolade as a recipient of the esteemed TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award 2024. This prestigious honor places us among the top 10 percent of hotels worldwide, as recognized by reviews and rating garnered from millions of the platform’s

Y“This

a lot of our GCash users to travel to many destinations and for them to have insurance coverage against a real pain point, in what is supposed to be an exciting and much anticipated trip, is definitely a game changer,” said Winsley Bangit, GCash’s VP, Head of New Businesses Group.

With GCash being the #1 e-wallet and the Philippines’ only double unicorn with more than 81 million users, and its new partnership with o ona Insurance, both are at the forefront in creating customer-centric innovations, introducing game changing products like Smart Flight Delay, and making insurance protection easily accessible to millions of Filipinos who travel, all while ensuring a seamless experience to its users.

“GCash is a beloved brand and an integral part of every Filipino’s daily life and has made financial services simple, secure, and smooth. We are delighted to make our innovative travel insurance product available on GCash to bring worry free travel to more Filipinos as they explore the world. This is the first of many such innovative products we will be introducing soon,” said Abhishek Bhatia, Founder and Chief Executive

enhancement to its culinary brigade with the arrival of the new specialty Japanese sushi chef, Chef Ikuma Sato. He joins esteemed chefs, Chef Katsuji Kato, specialty teppanyaki chef, and Executive Chef Keiichiro Fujino, in the hotel’s relentless pursuit to offer an unparalleled Japanese dining experience with a splash of Filipino touch that rivals the authenticity and quality of Japan itself. Yamazato is the signature Japanese fine dining restaurant of o kura Nikko Hotels, offering an authentic Japanese dining experience. With a focus on seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques, our chefs craft dishes that are both visually stunning and deeply flavorful. o ur commitment to excellence has earned us a spot in the Japanese Fine Dining scene in the metro, making Yamazato a must-visit destination for connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine. With over two decades of experience in luxury Japanese restaurants from Switzerland to Hong Kong, Chef Ikuma Sato is a master of his craft. His expertise and passion for sushi making are a harmonious addition to Yamazato’s commitment to culinary artistry. From Thursday to Sunday, Chef Sato will take the helm of the sushi bar, serving both lunch and dinner. Patrons will have the privilege to savor his renowned tuna nigiri sushi among other exquisite creations, witnessing the finesse and passion that define his craft.

Chef Sato’s signature dish, a sublime interpretation of tuna nigiri

IsaIas B. UBana II, PhD Consultant, Center for Local Governance and Professional Development Inc., Jeanne Marie F. Tordesillas, Chief Marketing Officer, Rex Education, Dr. Teresita G. Inciong, ED, D.P.M Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC), atty. Dominador D. Buhain, hairman and President, Rex Education, Don Timothy I. Buhain, Chief Executive Officer, Rex Education.

Editor: Tet Andolong

BusinessMirror

Pushing the boundaries in uPscale living

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

Alveo land, the upscale brand of property juggernaut Ayala land Inc. (AlI), continues to raise the bar in fine living in the southern part of Metro Manila by introducing new concepts for such a market.

For more than 22 years, Alveo has developed a strong presence in the southern part of Metro Manila, to maintain its strong presence, Alveo introduced in the first quarter of 2024 its next generation residential concepts with backto-back launches within Ayala Land’s Nuvali and Vermosa estates.

“We are fortunate that the market segment we serve continues to grow and is fairly resilient. But we also recognize that the premium market is evolving – it is increasingly more sophisticated and has much higher expectations in terms of products and service standards,” said Alveo President, Joseph Carmichael Z. Jugo. “It is in this context that Alveo embarked on enhancing our residential product offerings starting with Sereneo Nuvali and Caleia Vermosa,” Jugo added.

Jugo said beefing up Alveo’s presence in the area has reaped dividends

as Sereneo Nuvali and Caleia Vermosa launchings almost P1.5 billion and P2.0 billion respectively, in year-to-date reservation sales.

A new kind of serenity PAu L o oN g, Alveo Land general manager for south operations, told reporters in a recent press briefing that Alveo’s latest Nuvali community features a multi-pavilion clubhouse strategically positioned at the development’s 3-hectare central park. Situated on a hilltop with splendid views is an impressive 770-square-meter pool complex—the largest pool amenity among all the neighborhoods in Nuvali.

Backed by ALI’s stellar record in property development, o ng says Alveo has applied the ALI experience in enabling Sereneo to offer more lots with premium views of either parks, amenities or the morning sun in the East.

Typical lots measure

Everyday suburban dynamism

A FTE r the success of Ardia, Alveo’s sold-out maiden project in Vermosa, Alveo launched its latest upscale brand—Caleia.

To promote sustainable living, o ng says Alveo has put an emphasis on introducing more greenery and well-planned amenities. He said that more than 3 hectares of its 28-hectare land area are dedicated for amenities and parks.

With a 1,700-square-meter park entrance, o ng points out it will surely amaze the guests this will then lead to an elegant, 20-meter wide, tree-lined main road. The multi-structure, Zen-inspired clubhouse built on the 2.5-hectare central park will feature a 550-square-meter pool complex, as well as a veranda

High takeup on flexible spaces bodes well

for other real estate segments

By Roderick L. Abad

THE real estate industry is certainly bouncing back and its shared office segment is expected to spur national growth, as well as bolster the performance of other property sectors, according to a top ranking officer of Colliers Philippines.

Following the “very disruptive years” when Covid-19 was declared a global health crisis and at its height between 2020 and 2021, the country has slowly recovered with the improving pandemic situation afterwards.

In fact, the Philippines, after ranking third in 2022, became the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia in 2023 with a 5.6-percent hike in annualized gross domestic product— slightly below the government’s 6.0 percent to 7.0 percent target.

“I really think that the property market is bound for rebound and the flexible [or flex] space market is one property segment that would benefit the Philippines’ growing economy,” Colliers Philippines Research Director Joey Roi Bondoc said during the launch of Our Space Solutions Inc., a joint venture company of Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) and KMC Community Inc. (KMC), held recently in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

“We’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. We are seeing green shoots of recovery. We are turning the corner. We started the year strong for the property and, hopefully, really finish strong and sustain the growth that we have been seeing,” he added.

Office market

CITING their latest study dubbed “Flexing coworking spaces,” Bondoc shared that the entire office market experienced a “pretty elevated vacancy” in Metro Manila at a rate of 19.3 percent as of end-2023, compared to at most 5 percent pre-pandemic. The downtrend is seen to continue with a projected slight surge of 19.6 percent in 2024.

“But the good news is that there’s an offshoot from this increasing vacancy from the office sector in general. And that is the flexi space,” he pointed out. Per the study, shared offices have been continuously taken up, thus bringing down its vacancy level to 16.7 percent last year.

“Definitely, it’s a vast improvement because at the height of the pandemic in 2020, vacancy in the flexible space market even increased at 41 percent,” the research director explained.

Given that 553,000 square meters (sq m) of new office space will be completed this year, he sees that “there will be substantial opportunities” waiting for co-working sites on the back of mobile Gen Z workforce who will really drive the demand for shared office facilities.

“Outside of Metro Manila, some of the most attractive locations for flexi spaces are the likes of Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao. So definitely these are very good locations for expansion of your flexi space facilities,” Bondoc said.

Residential sector

COLLIERS Philippines is seeing more rooms for expansion in the residential sector.

Per the company’s report, a total of 11,300 new condominium units will be finished across central business districts (CBD) in Metro Manila in 2024.

“This will be the biggest completion across the capital region since 2018. So we’re now seeing substantial delivery of new condominium units,” he noted.

Apart from end-users and investors, flexible workspace operators are also occupying residential towers because they want to be the midpoint of residential communities and the CBDs.

“Shorter commute, of course, benefits a lot of professionals, especially the young mobile employees. And we’re now seeing more flexible workspaces within masterplanned communities,” Bondoc revealed. “We believe that a key feature of new townships will be the integration of these flexible spaces within masterplanned communities.”

Retail segment

ANOTHER very interesting sector of real estate that is projected to also perform well is the retail, which will deliver an annual average of 162,300 sq m of space for trade from 2024 to 2026.

The top executive cited Colliers USA’s 2019 study, which showed that professionals working in a shared office facility within mall spend more, stay longer, and have the propensity to visit the shops and restaurants more frequently.

“If you are looking for tenants, flexible workspaces will definitely be a good tenant for these malls,” he said. “So what we have seen is that malls are ideal facilities also for coworking spaces. And this should support the further renovation and innovation of malls, especially as they are trying to attract high-spending consumers and the millennial workforces.”

Industrial estates FOR Bondoc, the increasing requirement for coworking spaces bodes well even for the industrial properties.

Around 100 hectares of new industrial supply will be completed in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas this year, disclosed the Colliers’ study. Semiconductor and electronic vehicle firms are likely to dominate the takeup, as interest from Japanese firms to locate in these areas will be sustained.

But industrial estates are also attracting shared office providers to come in. Because of this, he bared that they are now seeing developers “even integrating coworking facilities within the industrial park.”

Proof of which is FLI’s Innovation Parks in New Clark City, Pampanga and Calamba, Laguna.

“A lot of foreign employees are doing due diligence and looking at the viability of these industrial parks. And these are very good market for coworking facilities within these massive industrial parks that will be completed,” he said.

Hotels

NOW that mobility of people is not restricted anymore post-pandemic, tourism are again on the rise, thus requiring additional accommodation facilities nationwide.

Based on data from the Department of Tourism, a total of 5.45 million tourists visited the country in 2023. The agency expects foreign arrivals to reach 7.7 million this year and 12 million in 2028.

“What does that mean? We will see more business travelers that will be visiting Metro Manila [and other top] Philippine destinations—Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo. And we’re now seeing a lot of developers ramping up their business and leisure promotion,” Bondoc noted.

Assuming that outsourcing employees or foreign investors are on a business leisure trip here, hotels will be their top choice of accommodation where they can still conduct business.

“They will have MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions] activities and coworking facilities will be very viable locations for their business meetings, specially as hotel operators ramp up their business and leisure initiatives,” he said.

“If you look at all asset classes, office, of course, is very viable. But we’re also seeing that activeness of the retail, leisure, industrial and even the residential sector for the flexibility of coworkers across the country. And as so we see the next phase is really evolving,” he stressed.

pavilion and lounge. From the central park, future residents can take a stroll through a refreshing linear park, which leads to a multi-purpose picnic grove.

“The development already has a very generous green and park area and then this would be con -

nected to our central park area,” said o ng.

Similar to Sereneo in Nuvali, Caleia is also able to optimize lot placements and offers more prime inventory with parkside location or East orientation. Typical lots measure around 250 square

meters.

With all of these enhancements, Alveo has been able to generate a lot of positive reactions from the market. Furthermore, o ng says the proof is the very good sales performance for the two projects.

This is just the start for Alveo as there will be more project launches soon.

“The strong market reception to the Sereneo and Caleia launch emboldens our team to continue to innovate, to enhance our product offerings and elevate the living experience. We are truly grateful to our clients for the continued trust in the Alveo brand and for inspiring us to build places that people love,”adds Jugo.

A fusion of water and architecture: GROHE SPA unveils ‘Aquatecture’ spaces at Milan Design Week

THROUGHOUT history, the symbiotic relationship between nature and culture has significantly influenced art, fashion, and architecture. Aiming to unravel the various dimensions in which nature can serve as a wellspring of inspiration, Milan Design Week is centered around “Materia Natura.” Embracing this theme, the world’s largest annual design event serves as an ideal stage for GROHE SPA, the premium sub-brand of GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings. The word SPA originally comes from the first letters of “Salus per aquam,” which is the founding concept behind GROHE SPA. Celebrating the transformative power of water at the impressive Palazzo Reale near the Duomo, GROHE showcases carefully curated bathroom solutions that epitomize new luxury and bespoke quality in a holistic installation.

A tribute to nature and history B ASED on the concept of “Aquatecture”—the fusion of water and architecture—the GROHE SPA installation in the courtyard of Palazzo Reale unveils a series of spaces that elevate the significance and importance of water in architecture, and the health and well-being benefits this infusion brings. Conceived by the in-house LIXIL Global Design and Brand Identity team, the “Aquatecture” installation pays tribute to the history of the building, interwoven with the contemporary GROHE SPA “Salus per aquam” concept. Inspired by the former courtyard garden and in synergy with Milan Design Week’s theme “Materia Natura,” it thoughtfully blends nature and architecture to create immersive spaces that reflect the essence of GROHE SPA. These carefully curated spaces echo the former garden, creating sensual areas to reflect, revitalize, and energize.

“Through our installation at Palazzo Reale, we reflect the intricate bond between nature and human creativity, intertwining the rich history of the royal palace with the modern ethos of GROHE SPA. Inviting visitors on a sensory journey to deeply experience ‘Salus per aquam,’

our ‘Aquatecture’ spaces exhibit the powerful connection of water in architecture. They stand not only as showcases but as inspiration for architects and designers, encouraging collaboration and experimentation,” explains Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design EMENA.

Redefining spa luxury across four tiers E ACH “Aquatecture” space represents one of the four tiers that bring GROHE SPA to life. Visitors embark on their immersive journey at the fourth tier that shows industry-leading products to create the ultimate home spa hideaway. Shower solutions like GROHE Rainshower Aqua and the F-Digital Deluxe modules combine timeless elegance with modern technology, using light, steam, sound and smell to delight the senses. In addition, the GROHE Atrio Outdoor Shower provides a refreshing and rejuvenating experience, enabling a stronger connection to nature and the tranquility this brings. Transitioning to the third tier, the spotlight is on the GROHE Colors Collection with the new

Offering a luxurious touch and expanded design choices for a personalized look, the new finish is available for GROHE Allure and GROHE Atrio,

275 square meters.

Alv EO land management committee

SEREn EO Main Spine Greenway

Sports BusinessMirror

B8 Wednesday, May 15, 2024

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

IBy Josef Ramos

F it were a boxing match, Terrafirma would look like it’s throwing punches to a San Miguel Beer side that’s reeling against the ropes in their quarterfinals duel on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Whoever loses in the 4:30 p.m. match will be knocked out of semifinals contention in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

“We need to adjust in the knockout game,” said big man June Mar Fajardo, the seven-time Most Valuable Player of the 10-time all-Filipino conference champion Beermen.

“We have to defend real hard, they’ve got great shooters, not only Isaac Go, but also Juami [Tiongson] and Stephen Holt,” Fajardo added. Only Fajardo with 21 points and CJ Perez with 20 points showed up for the twice-to-beat Beermen in their 106-95 loss to the Dyip on Saturday night.  And Perez, who started his PBA career at Terrafirma in 2018, knows how strong the Dyip have become.

“You cannot underestimate this team,” Perez said. “It’s a different Terrafirma now, unlike before when you face them, you expect to win.”

The Dyip are the eighth-seeded team in the quarterfinals and are the David to the Beermen, who lost only one of the 11 games in the eliminations and are the Goliaths of the playoffs.

“As I’ve said, we beat them already so all we need is to play as impressively, or even more, as we did in Game 1,” Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel said. “We are prepared but we really have to prepare because that’s San Miguel Beer.”

The nightcap is also a win-or-gohome for fourth seed TNT Tropang Giga which was forced to the wall by fifth seed Rain or Shine in their bestof-three series.

Head coach Yeng Guiao has a young Elasto Painters crew managing the Katropa with Jhonard Clarito, a hardly heard player from De Ocampo College, scoring 29 points in their 121-113 Game 2 win that sent the series to a rubber match.

But Guiao said his wards need maturity specially at crunch time.

“Our young players need to learn to fight in the endgame,” Guiao said. “We were lucky they played with maturity in the fourth quarter of Game 2.” Their game is set at 7:30 p.m.

extraordinary things Ordinary mom doing

WREXHAM, Wales— Helen Ryvar goes through the same routine every night. She checks the weather forecast, lays out her running clothes, puts her running shoes by the front door, charges her cellphone and flashlight, and sets the alarm for 4 a.m. By 4:15 a.m., she’s out the door— rain or shine.

“I’m just an ordinary person doing extraordinary things,” says Ryvar, a single mother of three who runs her own cleaning business in normal daytime hours and pounds the streets, paths and trails of north Wales at a time when the rest of the world would typically be asleep.

The 43-year-old Ryvar took up running in 2020, just before Britain went into lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic and after being told her ex-husband had died following a mental health battle.

Four years later, she is a world record holder for consecutive half-marathons— her day-on-day tally, featured in the Guinness World Records book, has reached 743 this past weekend—and

an inspiration to many, all while raising money for her favorite charities.

“The runs have become the easy part—it’s juggling life that has become the daily ongoing task,” said Ryvar, who has a 17-year-old and 15-year-old twins.

Ryvar classed herself as a “mediocre runner” while at school and was never really into sports. Even now, she doesn’t have all the latest running gear, doesn’t follow any special diet—just three balanced meals a day—and doesn’t really care about her speed when she runs.

It is more, she says, about building a strong mindset and getting to know her body.

“I found doing it every day, you just get used to it,” she said. “Your body and mind just get used to the routine and you turn off that pity party that you had with yourself and get on with it.

“It is just flicking that switch in your head and say, ‘We’re doing this.’”

Key for Ryvar is:

n Running at the same time every day—in her case, before her kids wake up.

n Fitting some sort of exercise somewhere into the structure of your daily schedule. Essentially, “not

National U goes for UAAP volleyball season sweep

N ATIONAL University (NU) goes for a season sweep in Game 2 of the women’s volleyball Finals series with University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Bulldogs hope to duplicate what an Alyssa Valdez-led Ateneo Lady Eagles team pulled off in 2015 when they went 16-0 to win the crown in the match set at 4 p.m.

The continuation of the men’s Finals at 2 p.m. will also see the Bulldogs targeting a season sweep in Game 2 of their own series against the Tigers. NU will face a UST side whose principal weapon, Angge Poyos, is a doubtful starter after she injured her right angle in Game 1 which the Lady Bulldogs put away in three sets, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20. Poyos stepped on teammate Em Banagua’s foot in the second set and had to be carried to the bench. She didn’t see action after the incident which was reminiscent of the UST-Ateneo Finals

five years ago when Eya Laure suffered a sprain in Game 2.

“It’s unfortunately part of the game,” UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said. “It’s unusual and someone has to step up.”

Buds Buddin and the Bulldogs moved closer to securing a sixth— and fourth straight—championship following their 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 Game 1 win last Saturday.

Dante Alinsunurin is also eyeing his fifth league title with NU.

Diaz, Licayan stamp mark in Dr. Olivarez junior netfest

JANA DIAZ kept the momentum of her recent two-title romp by winning two divisions with Al Tristan Licayan pulling off the same feat in the boys’ category in the Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. National Junior Tennis Championships in Sucat, Parañaque, over the weekend. Diaz lived up to her top seeding in 16-and-under division by conceding only eight points in four matches with the imposing 6-0, 6-2 victory over Cadee Dagoon setting the tone for the rising Bacoor star’s other triumphs. She defeated second seed Joy Ansay, 6-1, 6-2, in the semifinals and blasted

JANA DIAZ (right) with Al Licayan (left) and Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez.

No. 1 Sandra Bautista, 6-3, 6-1, in the final of the 18-and-under class to extend her domination since the San Jose SALT tournament in Valenzuela City.

The victories allowed Diaz to draw more ranking points in the circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and Universal Tennis Ranking.

General Trias pride Licayan also captured two titles in the Group 2 tournament—drubbing Alexandre Coyiuto, 6-4, 6-2, in the 16-and-under and Ariel Cabaral 7-5, 5-1 (ret.) in the 18-and-under finals. The other winners in the five-day tournament held at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque City courts were Dagoon and Coyiuto (14-and-under), Ella Mhae Paglalunan and Jan Caleb Villeno (12-and-under), and Yuan Torrente (10-and-under unisex).

Upset axe hovers over San Miguel Beer’s head

giving yourself a chance to mess up,” as she puts it.

Experts think the same.

“The key is to find some protected time so it is just part of the routine,” said Dr. Michael J. Joyner, an expert on human performance and exercise at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. “This is why many habitual exercisers go first thing in the morning.”

In nearly two years of running a half-marathon each day, Ryvar says she has only had one injury—and that was when she changed running shoes, which triggered an old glute injury. Otherwise, her advice is fairly simple:

n Drink plenty of water.

n Have a balanced diet and early nights.

n Try out magnesium salt baths.

“They are key,” she said. “When I don’t have them, I notice.”

Joyner said the main risks of an exercise workload such as Ryvar’s are orthopedic aches and pains and more severe things like stress

days into your program,” he advises.

“Usually, light days are about less total distance, but they can also be about a less intense effort.”

Most important for Ryvar is learning to understand your own body and staying active, even if that means simply walking down the street on a regular basis.

“Keep accountable somehow—you’ll build up confidence in yourself and you’ll want to push more,” she said. “Form a habit. If you’re not comfortable doing it by yourself, join a group. There are loads of Facebook groups, or join a park run. Sign up for a race and commit. When you have a goal, it makes a massive difference.”

Ryvar’s goal is to reach 1,000 consecutive half-marathons, which would be some feat considering the previous record for officially timed half-marathons was 75. She would get to that milestone in January 24, 2025—a date she has circled on her calendar.

POYOS goes down in Game 1 and is a doubtful starter on Wednesday.

PRECIOUS ZARAGOSA

11 to 14 years

category in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) at the Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas, on Tuesday. Zaragosa’s standout performance included a hole-in-one on No. 3 while Sarines finished strong with two birdies in the last three holes at the front in scorching conditions.

The duo wrested a commanding lead over Lisa Sarines in one of the three age categories in the Luzon Series I of the of the 14-leg circuit organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

“I was really surprised,” said Zaragosa, who used a Mizuno pitching wedge and Titleist No. 2 ball to ace the 100-yard hole. “But I became nervous after that and made a double bogey and bogey in the next two holes.”

Like most of the 60 participants, Zaragosa intends to compete in all 14 legs of the JPGT, which will culminate in the Match Play Championship in October. Sarines acknowledged the need to improve on her approach shots.

“There’s still 36 holes left so I’ll just do my best and improve on those aspects,” she said. Levonne Talion and Aerin Chua carded 83 and 87, respectively, while Althea Bañez and Kendra Garingalao struggled with 91 and 93. In the boys’ 11-14 division, Race Manhit, 11, demonstrated his potential with an 81—despite going without a birdie—for a two-shot lead over Juan Antonio Cruz and Aenzo Sulaik, who had 83s. Javie Bautista and Iñigo Gallardo stayed within striking distance with 85 and 86, respectively.

“The greens are fast and I couldn’t get my putting right,” Manhit said. The JPGT, sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc., aims to nurture young talent and promote camaraderie among participants also in the 8-10 (36 holes) and 15-18 (72 holes) categories both boys and girls.

PRECIOUS ZARAGOSA conquers Splendido’s hole No. 3.

Aqua Haus, Arcadia Realty, Asia Cargo, Bryan Isaiah Trading & Const., ETON, Mightymart, Andelein Land, Waterworld, Eatwell Mancare, Handog Industrial Gasses, Hydro Tech Irrigation, Interconnect Systems, Primepower Manpower,

moniker given to June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and the now-retired Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot? In that Saturday’s unsavory loss to Terrafirma, only two of Gallent’s “Death 15” showed up: Fajardo with 21 points and CJ Perez with 20 points.  In contrast, Terrafirma’s gunners were firing on all cylinders, three of them banging away 20 points or more. Isaac Go had 22 points on the strength of six threes, Juami Tiongson

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BIÑAN’S PUTO LATIK FESTIVAL:

A CELEBRATION OF TRADITION, TALENT, AND IDENTITY

By John Eiron R. Francisco

BIÑAN CITY

—A city located south of Metro Manila, its vibrant tempo becomes even more palpable as it kicks off the Puto Latik Festival on May 15 each year. The much anticipated gathering is a celebration of its people, talents, and cultural richness of its 24 barangays.

City of Biñan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer BJ Borja told BusinessMirror that the festival, which involves all 24 barangays, reflects the Biñan logo with ripe stalks consisting of 24 golden grains symbolizing its identity as an agricultural town. Borja emphasized the need to strengthen the diverse offerings of each barangay to fully realize the city's rich identity in the festival.

The Puto Latik Festival, now on its 14th year, solely focuses on celebrating the city's two most iconic cultural products: Puto Biñan, a local rice cake made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and topped with cheese or salted eggs.

The festival likewise features the traditional Filipino folk dance, "Maglalatik," which symbolizes a mock fight between Moros (Muslims) and Christians over the coveted coconut meat. Dancers don coconut shells on their chests, backs, thighs, and hips, which the dancers tap to create rhythmic sounds as they perform.

Despite the challenges of modernization, the City of Biñan remains committed to preserving and empowering its cultural identity.

In accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 14, Sections 14 to 15 emphasized the government's duty to support the development and preservation of Filipino culture, promoting unity amidst diversity and encouraging artistic and intellectual freedom. Additionally, the State is mandated to protect

and promote the nation's historical and cultural heritage, as well as artistic works.

"We live up to that enshrinement in our Constitution. It's supreme that you really value your culture,” Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. told the Business Mirror.

Throughout the years, despite the growth and prosperity of the city, Dimaguila said that it's not just about getting richer and progressing continually but also about a town knowing its identity.

“You have to find what’s really iconic in your town, of course, one of the things we're proud of, when you say a town is prosperous, who are you proud of? People, because human resources are there, that's where talent and diligence come from,” he said.

By John Eiron R. Francisco

AS planning for the sustainability of the Puto Latik Festival remains a top priority, the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) underscored this year's unique challenge: how to do better than their last festival.

Each year, they are tasked to make the celebration better than the last, continually striving to surpass previous iterations, amidst the ongoing quest for improvement.

BCHATO Head Dr. BJ Borja, awarded Most Outstanding Tourism Officer of the Philippines by ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards in 2019, said the significance of celebrating festivals and serving a dual function.

In historical context, Borja highlighted that all these aspects collectively define Biñan as an agricultural community with truly hardworking members and with the majority engaged in farming. He observed a tangible impact wherein due to the abundance of farmers in Biñan, many people are provided with food.

He elaborated that they have no product that isn't made from rice—from rice cakes to rice-based snacks, everything else originates from rice, truly stemming from the land.

"We will return to our roots of being agricultural," he emphasized.

The Land Float Parade

Aside from commemorating its people and cultural wealth, the city of Biñan also showcased

the distinct offerings of each barangay through creatively designed land float parades, reportedly meticulously prepared by the delegates.

When asked how they managed to encourage all 24 barangays to participate in this activity, Borja stated that they didn't force anyone to join, but rather it's an unwritten obligation for them to participate because they are proud to promote what their barangay has to offer.

Some floats showcased local products such as the traditional sombrero (hat) and sapatos (shoes) that are made from indigenous materials such as abaca fibers or nipa palm leaves. These materials are known for their durability and suitability for the local climate.

While some barangays' floats featured

various industrial sites, historical landmarks, tourist attractions, and even emerging resorts within their jurisdiction that contribute to their economic advancement, these sites provide livelihoods and job opportunities for the residents, further boosting their progress.

In a clarification, Borja explained that the Biñan City government hasn't extended any financial or technical aid as the event remains a competition.

"Come and Experience Biñan, the City of Life!" This year's theme, "Come and Experience Biñan, the City of Life, challenges each participating barangay to unleash their creativity. The local government provides a platform to support their presentations and promote their respective areas.

According to Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel” Alonte, the barangays and the city government

are putting their funds to good use with this festival. The yearly festival, he said, is a good venue for residents to express pride in their city and hometowns. He also stressed the government's role in creating spaces to that instill a sense of community amongst the residents. Borja added, "I always tell everyone in all towns, you need to find the soul of the festival. If you don't find the soul of the festival, expect that festival to be dead in two or three years.” Honoring tradition and preserving it is an important aspect of the festival, said Borja. He said that if the festival in a particular town is altered due to a new leader taking office, one can anticipate public outcry because they have developed love and a sense of ownership for the festival.

‘Tourism as a By-Product of Culture, Not a Separate Entity’

are

just

or souvenirs—they

ture, history, and arts,” he said. He added that understanding one's culture, history, and arts lets a city engage in tourism further because they already have a clear product to promote.

He emphasized that one cannot sustain a festival if it is not anchored on the very essence of its celebration. Therefore, in every program for the Puto Latik Festival in Biñan, Borja stated that they truly incorporated the meaning of their tradition into the mechanics, whether it's for the street dancing competition, dance and singing showdowns, the cook-off challenge, or pageant.

“They should portray the name of the festival in how they perform on stage and incorporate its flavors into their performance and presentation,” he said.

Puto Latik Festival Reigns Supreme In a remarkable feat, the Puto Latik Festival of the City of Biñan has been hailed as the best tourism event in the Philippines for three consecutive years, as reports BCHATO. The festival's excellence has been acknowledged in various prestigious awards, including the "Best Tourism Event (Festival) Special Award" at the ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards 2018, followed by

Firstly, specity serve as a means of remembrance, particularly for towns that may have lost or forgotten their traditions, customs, music, dance, art, and cuisine.

Revitalizing these elements through festivals is imperative especially since they are ingrained in the collective consciousness of the community's history and culture.

Borja emphasized that festivals act as bridges that help revive cultural traditions and sustain them as part of the town's culture and history.

Furthermore, he highlighted that despite the wave of modernization, it is the youth of Biñan who actively push for their barangays to participate in the festival. By engaging in various activities during the

festivities, they showcase their deep love for their hometown and express their pride in their barangays.

Borja believes that this sense of community and tradition will be passed down to the next generation, which will ensure the festival's continuity and significance for years to come.

On the other hand, Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. encourages everyone to be part of a nine-day celebration of Biñan's culture, arts, and talents to experience what the city has to offer.

For more information and updates on the cultural, historical, artistic, and tourism celebrations in Biñan, visit https:// experiencebinan.com/.

FESTIVAL HONOR. Mayor Arman Dimaguila (in photo, right) receives the third best festival in the Philippines award, and Dr. BJ Borja (left) receives the Most Outstanding Tourism Officer of the Philip-

The City of Life’s vibrant community spirit becomes even more palpable with the show of support of its key movers ( above, from left) BCHATO Head Dr. BJ Borja, Mayor Arman Dimaguila, and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte; likewise, locals (below) involve the city's furry residents for added joy and fun. Street Dancing Competition Costume competition

BCHATO’s driving force, from left, Dr. BJ Borja, Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte and Coun. Dada Reyes received four DOT-ATOP Pearl Awards last 2022 for Biñan’s outstanding programs in culture, arts, and tourism.

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BIÑAN’S BIG THREE: GUARDIANS PROGRESS, KEEPERS OF HERITAGE

Legacy of continuity and consistency is revitalizing

By John Eiron R. Francisco

KNOWN for its historical sites, dynamic tourism, and vibrant culture, the City of Biñan prides itself in adopting a development direction guided by the leadership of ‘The Big Three.’

The Lone Congressional District of Biñan Representative Marlyn "Len” Alonte, Mayor Walfredo "Arman" Dimaguila Jr., and Vice-Mayor Angelo "Gel" Alonte assumed their positions in 2016 and have remained steadfast and united in serving their constituents. According to the residents, these three leaders have cemented a legacy of continuity and identity, profoundly influencing the perception of Biñan's character and what it means to be part of this dynamic city.

Cong. Len was pivotal in the transformation of Biñan from a small town to a bustling city. Under her leadership, the city flourished, with the introduction of various infrastructures and businesses investing in the area. Moreover, she spearheaded efforts in cleaning up the city, minimizing smoke and noise pollution to enhance its livability as a progressive city.

Mayor Arman, who served three consecutive terms (a total of nine years), is credited with implementing his unique strategy, leadership style, and vision aimed at advancing Biñan as a thriving urban center.

Local Voices Speak Noime Grace Sales, 21, one of the scholars from Biñan told the BusinessMirror that their mayor is

known for being hardworking and genuinely concerned about the youth.

She expressed her gratitude for the mayor’s dedication to allocating time and effort towards them, contrasting with other local government officials who may prioritize infrastructure projects exclusively, yet she saw no fault in this approach.

Noime believes that Mayor Arman provides platforms and prioritizes every sector of society, including the elderly, students, and the overall development of Biñan. Furthermore, she highlighted that Biñan is renowned for its culture and heritage, which the city continues to preserve despite ongoing modernization projects. Noime expressed appreciation for this balance, stating, "I think it’s good that despite having modern projects, the city still retains its heritage.”

Renowned cookbook author Chef RV Manabat, who hails from Biñan, echoed a sentiment shared by many, highlighting the remarkable evolution of the once modest rural town into a thriving urban center.

"Biñan has beautifully transformed from a humble rural town to a full blast developing city that still lives to its past," Manabat remarked. He added that despite the rapid

modernization and its proximity to the National Capital Region (NCR), Biñan stands firm in preserving its rich cultural heritage and gastronomic charm.

On the flip side, Cristina Layacan, a young entrepreneur who owns a stall in the town plaza area, expressed that aside from the infrastructure projects initiated by the current mayor, significant improvements to enhance the plaza and other areas in Biñan that were previously overlooked by the public. Now, these areas have been transformed into leisure spots where people, families, and tourists can spend time appreciating the surroundings. Moreover, Cristina noted

that businesses like hers have experienced a revitalization, attributing it to the vibrancy brought about by these developments. As part of the governments program to provide avenues for entrepreneurs to generate income, she is among those who have benefited and believes that this momentum will continue indefinitely.

Maribeth Arzola, a “balikbayan” or returning resident who spent years in New York, expressed her admiration for the remarkable transformation of their plaza.

She emphasized the importance of turning it into a gathering place for the community, providing a safe environment for cultural learning through museums and

educational displays. She also praised the enhancements made to the public market, noting its improved organization and the sense of security it brings to residents.

Similarly, Jart Resurreccion, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) originally from Biñan, observed various political administrations both locally and abroad. “What I really like with Mayor Arman is his authenticity. He's not trying to be someone else, he's just himself —a worker and public servant,” he said.

Meanwhile, cultural worker Cecille Gelicame recounted her experience conducting cultural mapping for Biñan in 2019, she keenly

felt the strong passion, determination, and commitment of their city mayor and his administration in preserving the city's culture and turning their positive vision into reality. Residents here firmly believe that Biñan has regained its greatness once again. On the other hand, Phi Palmos, renowned for his contributions to theater, film, and television, often visits and stays in Biñan, where he is deeply touched by its appreciation for history, culture, and heritage. He admires how the city's governance reflects a commitment to preserving its traditions while pursuing progress. Palmos passionately asserts

TASTE OF BIÑAN LIFE. As a full-blooded Anak ng Biñan, Chef RV Manabat frequently visits the Biñan Public Market to source ingredients for his food vlog channels on Youtube and Facebook. With almost 4 million subscribers, he promotes Biñan in most of his vlogs. Chef RV is renowned for his Biñan's Best Queso de Bola cake and ensaymada.

JUBILANT BIÑAN BEAT. Before leaving for Wisconsin last year to become a teacher, Jart Resurreccion presented the Maglalatik Dance Exergame at

he contributed to the protection and conservation of Biñan's native dance, the Maglalatik. He misses Biñan and his family greatly but brought a piece of his

SENSE OF PLACE. Maribeth Arzola Inocencio (right), 61, a balikbayan from New York and shown here with her niece Camille, visited her hometown last February. She made sure to make the most of her short vacation - strolling through the restored plaza and enjoying once again the Puto Biñan.

ADMIRATION FOR BIÑAN. Cecille Gelicame (second from the left) stood atop the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Church's belfry when they mapped their five antique church bells. Quoting her Facebook post on Nov. 23, 2019, after the Cultural Mapping Community Validation: “As I always say, you are special and unique, Biñan!”

GUARDIANS OF HERITAGE

that "A country with no culture is a society with no soul," and as an outsider, he sees Biñan's vibrant soul shining through the daily lives of its residents.

Biñan’s Bright Future

As a partner in the stewardship of Biñan, Vice Mayor Alonte envisions a promising future for the people and community of Biñan. With a positive outlook and strategic plans in place, he aims for the continuous development and elevation of the city's recognition on various fronts.

As our national hero, Dr., who called this city home, famously said, "Ang

ang pag-asa ng bayan " (The youth are the hope of the

Council

or

Three, who

Kabataan

nation),

-

Dada Reyes of Biñan emerges

beacon of

and leadership. Reyes is concluding her third term as the top councilor in Biñan. Additionally, she holds the role of ex-officio provincial member due to her election as president of all Laguna councilors, making her the youngest and first woman to achieve this position.

guiding principle, Dedikasyon at Aksyon" is inspired by the legacies of the Big

revitalized Biñan's national standing, paving the path for emerging public servants like her to perpetuate the legacy and commitment to excellence in governance.

ADOPTED SON OF BIÑAN. Phi Palmos visits once in a while because he has many friends in Biñan. Last year, he stayed for the entire Holy Week, participating in processions, conducting Visita Iglesia, witnessing Lenten rituals and street theater performances, and indulging in Semana Santa dishes.

ENTREPRENEURS. Cristina Layacan and her partner Jake Escopete beam with pride and gratitude during the Grand Peoples Parade at Araw ng Biñan in February. Their participation provided free promotion for their brand, which now boasts 46 branches nationwide.

STANDING TALL. The legacy of the Big Three (In photo, from left) Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Congresswoman Len Alonte, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte. Also in photo, Board Member-Councilor Dada Reyes. The Big Three continue to inspire a new generation of public servants in the City of Biñan, embodying a tradition of dedicated leadership and service to the people.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 www.businessmirror.com.ph

KAISA SA SINING

BIÑAN AS A CCP REGIONAL ART CENTER

CITY OF BIÑAN AND CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES CELEBRATE SEVEN YEARS OF COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP

By John Paul H. De Paz

SENTRONG Pangkultura ng Biñan was established in 2016, when Biñan City Culture, History, Arts, and Tourism Office (BCHATO) was created as the permanent department, committed to address the cultural, historical, and artistic heritage conservation, preservation and promotion. It houses the Biñan City Museum, Biñan City Studies Center and is the home of the resident performing arts group, the Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts, Inc. (BCPA). This initiative that aims to cultivate the culture and arts governance in the City of Life is one of the many thrusts of Atty. Walfredo R. Dimaguila Jr.’s leadership and administration.

The establishment of the cultural center led to the birth of the Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts, Inc. (BCPA) on May 21, 2017. The Centre’s prime showcase in artistic excellence is a resident company program and the performing arts wing of BCHATO, which is composed of various artistic groups in the field of theater, dance, and music, namely, Biñan Youth Performance Council (YPC), Biñan Folkloric Dance Troupe (BFDT), Biñan Metropolitan Chorus (BMC), Biñan City Brass Band (BCBB), Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble (BKME), Biñan Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) Biñan Symphonic Rondalla (BSR), and Biñan Vocal Ensemble (BiVE). For its commitment to become the “Home of Philippine History, Arts, and Culture in the South,” on February 2, 2018, the City of Biñan entered into an agreement with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), designating

the city as a Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) partner-CCP Regional Art Center. This marked the beginning of the expansion of the culture and arts program in the City of Life. As of 2024, Biñan is one of the 69 network members of KSS Cultural Exchange Program across the Philippines. This partnership program initiated by the CCP Cultural Exchange Department headed by Carmencita Bernardo opens many doors for the cultural workers and artists of Biñan to be professionally exposed, nurtured, and trained onsite (at the CCP venues), offsite (at regional venues) and online, in the homes of the best artists and committed cultural workers in the country. In 2018, the City of Biñan began sending participants to the KSS Apprenticeship Program. It is a month-long in-house capacity building training that covers mentoring on technical workshops in different fields, provision of lectures

and interactions, hands-on training though demonstrations, and exposure to practical applications in the culture and arts management.

This kick-off partnership program evidently enhanced the competence level and skills of the regional artists and cultural workers in the country.

Aside from the prerogative of sending staff to the CCP to be trained and mentored, the KSS Program also assisted the City of Biñan in the implementation of its various culture and arts-based initiatives. It exposed and immersed Biñanense artists to world-class performances and productions in the CCP, giving them the inspiration and motivation to be the best in their chosen crafts.

Part of being a KSS member is having access to the CCP venues.

On October 19, 2018, for instance, the “Culture-Based Governance Training” was held at the CCP with the attendance of Biñan City officials and department heads to further upskill themselves on holistic approaches in heritage appreciation and governance.

More importantly, the exchange program broadens the network of the regional art centers in the Philippines—opening doors to adopt best practices, exchange ideas and projects, and support initiatives that enhance and develop the culture and arts programs in their respective cities, municipalities, and regions.

Safe space for the arts

During the pandemic, the continuing programs from the CCP served as a support system for the City of Biñan to sustain the implementation of various cultural and artistic programs for the Biñanenses, even changing forms and organizing

these in life-threatening times.

From 2018 to 2024, nine BCHATO employees finished the KSS ap-

The PPO: Live in Biñan

on (Production Management); Shiela G. Legaspi (Library Management); Vicky L. Pacris (Arts Management and Venue Operation); John Paul H. De Paz (Venue Operation and Production Management); Jessalyn B. De Dios (Technical Theatre); John Michael G. Nava (Production Management); Marc Jhon Banaynal; and Ronilio Almazora (Technical Theatre). The KSS program shaped these apprentices to be professional, productive, and competent regional artists and cultural workers who are relevant to Biñan LGU's culture and arts management. As a result of the 2022 CCPKSS Regional Caucus, the KSS Luzon Network implemented a series of projects that enhanced and promoted artistic excellence among local artists. It likewise raised the awareness and appreciation of the audiences in various communities.

One of these projects is "Rigodon: The 2023 CCP KSS Luzon Collaborative Project," which was a collaboration program between two prominent performing groups from two different KSS Luzon organizations. The performing groups were paired to exchange tours and showcase the best of local cultural expressions, and innovative productions. In Biñan's case, the 20-year-old Biñan Youth Performance Council Inc. (YPC), BCPA's theater arts arm under the artistic directorship of BJ Borja, was paired with the resident theater company of Bulacan province, the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. (BKFI). The BKFI conducted lecture demonstrations for the young aspiring artists of the BCPA held at Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan on August 25 to 26, 2023. Meanwhile, YPC conducted basic theater workshop, lecture and demonstration on the Maglalatik dance to students of La Consolacion University-Malolos Bulacan on August 30 to 31 of the same year. This experience from different performing arts groups from different areas created a strong connection and linkage that developed a culture of art appreciation among communities. At the same time, the program allowed the people to experience art in their lives as program created initiatives to utilize different spaces for public art programs.

To grandly close the 14th Puto Latik Festival, the City of Biñan is organizing a free concert co-presented with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, “Isang Pasasalamat The Concert" featuring the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, which will be held at Plaza Rizal on May 23, 2024, 7 p.m.

Expect a night filled with music and celebration from the best musicians in the country. It will be a thanksgiving for CCP and Biñan's artistic partnership, and the bountiful and fruitful years given generously to the City of Life.

prenticeship courses: Arvin Jay B. Bongon (Visual Arts and Museum Management); Sigrid Anne D. Carre-

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Mayor Arman Dimaguila signed MOU with the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2018 designating the City of Biñan as CCP Kaisa Sa Sining-Regional Art Center.

BCHATO employees proudly finish CCP apprenticeship courses. (From L to R: Shiela Legaspi, Carmencita Bernardo (CCP CED Head), Arvin Jay Bongon, Sigrid Anne Carreon, Ronilio Almazora, Marc Jhon Banaynal, Dennis Marasigan (CCP VP and Artistic Director), premier stage manager Ed Murillo, John Michael Nava, Vicky Pacris, Jessalyn De Dios and John Paul De Paz)

Biñan Youth Performance Council Inc. (YPC) presents “Bingo,” an original play by RL Javier, at Malolos City as part of Rigodon Cultural Exchange Program.

Biñan Folkloric Dance Troupe (BFDT) choreographer Jordan Sarcia teaches Maglalatik to the students of La Consolacion University Philippines-Malolos City

Local artistic groups attend the BCPA launch at the Biñan Town Plaza as part of the Puto Latik Festival celebration in 2017.