EUMIR: WATCH ME. HIDILYN: WAIT FOR ME. Eumir Felix Marcial knocks out Thailand’s Weerapon Jongjoho in the second round of their light heavyweight bout on Sunday night to advance to the medal round of boxing, while Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo doesn’t medal in women’s 59 kg of weightlifting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Monday but sends a strong message on how she’ll be a force in the Paris 2024 Olympics. NONIE REYES
FOR the fifth consecutive year, a BusinessMirror reporter bagged the Best Statistical Reporting for Print award bestowed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) during the 12th National Statistics Month (NSM) Media Awards.
R eporter Cai U. Ordinario was awarded for her report titled “70% of children already working in 11 regions–PSA” published last March. You may view the article here: https://businessmirror .com.ph/2023/03/07/70-of-childrenalready-working-in-11-regions-psa/.
T his is the third year in a row that Ordinario won in the same category. Prior to her, another reporter, Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas, won the category for the newspaper two years in a row.
BusinessMirror as a news organization was also declared the Ambassador for Statistics during the 8th NSM Media Awards and was adjudged Best Media Advocate for Statistics during the 11th NSM Media Awards.
Other winners in the 12th NSM Media Awards were Ted Cordero of GMA News Online for Best Statistical Reporting in Online Media; Shyla Francisco of News5 for Best Statistical Reporting in TV Broadcast Media; and Michael Joe Delizo of ABS-CBN as Best Media Advocate for Statistics.
Running on its 12th season this year, the NSM Media Awards aim to recognize the significant role and contribution of media in promoting and popularizing official statistical information. This is done through their efforts to feature data/statistics and other products and services from the Philippine Statistical System in print, online platforms, television, and radio news service.
THE weakening of the Philippine peso drove the country’s outstanding debt to reach a fresh record high of P14.35 trillion at the end of August, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
T he Treasury said the national government’s outstanding debt rose by P105.28 billion from last month’s P14.244 trillion “primarily” due to peso depreciation.
T he Treasury pointed out that the local currency weakened to P56.651 in August from P54.834 in July against the US dollar.
O n an annual basis, the pesodollar exchange rate declined by P0.48 centavos from P56.171 recorded in August of last year.
Treasury data showed the state’s outstanding debt rose by 10 percent from P13.021 trillion recorded in the same month of 2022.
“Of the total debt stock, 31.8 percent are from external sources while 68.2 percent are from domestic borrowings,” the Treasury said on Monday.
T he country’s latest debt figure is already 98.09 percent of the national government’s anticipated P14.63-trillion outstanding debt by the end of the year.
R izal Commercial Banking Corp.
Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said fresh record highs for the state’s outstanding debt remains possible in the coming months in light of the national government’s foreign-denominated bond issuances.
T he national government offered retail dollar bonds (RDB) recently, which finance officials noted could exceed $1 billion. The state is expected to debut its Islamic bonds or sukuk bonds before the end of the year, which is projected by finance officials to raise $1 billion for the national government.
The new record high in the outstanding national government debt may be attributed to wider budget deficits amid higher prices/inflation that also bloated government expenditures, higher interest rates that raised borrowing costs of the
THE
year.
B ased on the latest East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Economic Update for October, the Philippine
economy is expected to grow by 5.8 percent next year from the initial estimate of 5.9 percent in April.
T he GDP growth estimate for this year was maintained at 5.6 percent.
The consumption slowdown in China, one of the country’s biggest trade partners, is expected to negatively affect the economy next year.
“Overall, growth in developing EAP excluding China would be re -
duced by 0.1 percentage points in 2024. The heterogeneous impact across EAP countries reflects differences in their exposure to developments in China,” the report stated.
A part from what the World Bank termed “domestic difficulties” in China, other risks could dampen growth in 2024.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosigUNITED States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris led America’s start of celebration of Filipino American History Month.
Filipinos and Filipino Americans have helped forge the very idea of America. This
Filipino American History Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to honor generations of Filipino Americans who have ensured our nation remains a land of hope, opportunity, and optimism,” the White House
posted on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday.
Filipino Americans are the fourth-largest Asian American ethnic group in the US after Mexicans, Indians, and Chinese. As of 2021 census, out of 45.3 million immigrants in the US, 2 million are from the Philippines. Nearly one in seven Asian immigrants in the US is a Filipino.
T hey are the first documented Asian people to arrive in the US.
Popular children’s television show, “Sesame Street,” also commemorated the start of Fil-Am History Month.
T he manufacturing sector’s PMI recovered to 50.6 percent in September from 49.7 percent posted in August, signaling an improvement in the growth of the sector. However, the sentiment of the manufacturing sector in terms of whether this growth will be sustained slipped to a 15-month low. Only 40 percent of panelists anticipated growth in the output for 2024.
The World Bank said this includes intensifying geopolitical tensions and the possibility of natural disasters.
T hese disasters, the Washingtonbased lender said, include extreme
“ Despite increasing material, fuel and supplier costs exerting pressure on operating expenses and pushing up selling prices at a faster pace, both input prices and output charges rose at historically muted rates,” Maryam Baluch, Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said.
“ Global headwinds including muted foreign demand conditions, weighed on overall growth in Sep -
weather events, which are considered additional downside risks to the region’s economic outlook.
“ The East Asia and Pacific region remains one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in the world, even if growth is moderating,” said World Bank East Asia and Pacific Vice-President Manuela V. Ferro.
Over the medium term, sus -
tember, with mounting concerns regarding the sustainability of future demand reported by firms. Nonetheless, firms sought to expand staffing numbers despite signs of spare capacity amid hopes of further pick ups in new orders,” she added.
S &P Global Market Intelligence said the recovery in the manufacturing secttor’s growth in September was due to an increase in new orders.
T he demand for various goods increased while factories raised their staffing levels. This marked the first time this occured in four months.
However, preproduction inventories still fell in September, with companies often utilizing their stocks to meet current demand requirements. The latter was depleted at the fastest rate in nearly three years.
“ The rate of growth remained historically subdued, thus suggesting some weakness still present
taining high growth will require reforms to maintain industrial competitiveness, diversify trading partners, and unleash the productivity-enhancing and job-creating potential of the services sector,” she added.
Growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) is projected to average 5 percent in 2023 but will
within the sector. Moreover, latest data suggested that growth was supported by the domestic market as export sales fell for the first time in nine months,” Baluch said.
S &P Global Market Intelligence said despite the increase in workforce numbers, work backlogs remained high, marking the third copnsecutive month this occured.
T his was also the worst in the past seven months. S&P Global Market Intelligence said its data suggested that there is still spare capacity within the sector.
L ast month, the country’s manufacturing performance fell below the neutral 50 threshold at 49.7, the first contraction or below 50 since 2021.
P rior to this, the country’s PMI was above the 50-mark for 23 months or since September 2021.
(Full story: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2023/09/02/ amid-weak-demand-decline-infactory-jobs-manufacturingperformance-dips-to-2-yr-low/).
ease in the second half of 2023. This forecast is lower than the 5.1 percent the World Bank projected in April.
For 2024, the World Bank said the region is forecast to post a growth of 4.5 percent. This is also lower than the 4.8 percent average estimated in April 2023.
Growth in the region is expected to be slower after almost 3,000 new restrictions were imposed on global trade in 2022, three times as large as those in 2019.
“ The external environment remains challenging for EAP countries. Global growth is projected to fall to 2.1 percent in 2023, from 3.1 percent last year,” the report stated.
“ Even though inflation is declining in major economies, core inflation in the US and EU remains elevated and labor markets remain tight, leading to continued high-interest rates,” it added.
Services sector
MEANWHILE , the World Bank said the services sectors could play an increasing role in driving development in a region known for manufacturingled growth, a Special Focus section of the report says.
S ervices sectors have become key contributors to aggregate labor productivity growth over the last decade. Services exports have grown faster than goods exports.
T he Washington-based lender said the growth of foreign direct investment in services has exceeded that in manufacturing by a factor of five in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
T he diffusion of digital technologies and services reforms are improving economic performance.
In the Philippines, the adoption of software and data analytics by firms increased the productivity of firms by 1.5 percent on average over the period 2010-2019. “ Services reform and digitalization can generate a virtuous cycle of increasing economic opportunity and enhanced human capacity, powering regional development,” said World Bank East Asia and Pacific Chief Economist Aaditya Mattoo.
I n Vietnam, reducing policy barriers such as restrictions on foreign entry and ownership in transport, finance, and business services led to a 2.9-percent annualized increase in value-added per worker in these sectors over the 2008-2016 period.
T he elimination of barriers also led to a 3.1-percent increase in labor productivity in the manufacturing enterprises that use these services, benefiting small and medium private enterprises most significantly.
T he combination of services reform and digitalization is not only creating new opportunities but also enhancing the capacity of people to take advantage of these opportunities.
For example, distance education and telemedicine supported by wellselected, trained, and motivated local staff have led to better learning and health outcomes in the region, though there remains significant inequality in access.
government, weaker peso exchange rate vs. the US in recent years that raised the peso equivalent of the government’s foreign debts, continued increase in infrastructure spending,” Ricafort said.
R icafort pointed out that tax and fiscal reforms as well as intensified tax revenue collections are critical in reducing the country’s outstanding debt and bringing down the national government’s debt-to-GDP ratio below 60 percent.
He noted that the easing of the national government’s debt-toGDP ratio to 61 percent as of the end-second quarter could be attributed to faster economic growth that “increased the denominator and mathematically reduced” the ratio more than to declining debt.
However, the outstanding national government debt could still go up especially if government borrowings are frontloaded again to finance the budget deficit, also partly to hedge government borrowings in view of the still rising trend in US/global/local short-term interest rates in recent months,” he said.
THE Treasury said the country’s domestic debt as of end-August settled at P9.79 trillion, about P21.24 billion lower than the previous month’s P9.812 billion.
T he Treasury explained that the country’s domestic debt fell on a monthly basis because the state’s debt redemption offset its total amount of new domestic debt issuance.
In their post on X, TJ, the first Filipino character muppet of the show, and Eugene Cordero, a Los-Angelesbased Fil-Am actor, and Cookie Monster shared a banter about a unique Filipino expression. Ayos!” Cordero said.
“ That means ‘OK,’” TJ replied.
“Ayos!” Cookie Monster repeated, to the amusement of Cordero and TJ.
Cordero then segued to showcase Sesame Street’s celebration of the “amazing and rich cultural history of the Filipino-American community.” https://x.com/sesamestreet/status/ 1708466802513129809?s=20
A number of states and cities are also celebrating the Filipino American History month.
CA is home to 1.5 million Filipino Americans. California is grateful for their immense contributions to our state’s rich tapestry. From culture and cuisine to art and innovation, your impact is immeasurable!” California Governor Eleni Kounalakis tweeted.
P hilippine Consul General to Los Angeles Edgar Badajos also announced the launching of their project “Fil-AMazing Month” which will acknowledge the “sterling achievements” of renowned Fil-Ams.
T he consulate will feature in their social media pages throughout the month of October Fil-Am achievers which include labor leader Larry Itliong, teen sensation Olivia Rodrigo, and standup comedian JoKoy.
A fter years of campaigning, the
P hilHealth’s system was left vulnerable during those times since it did not have the necessary infrastructure in place because the procurement is still ongoing.
Basically we were open. It is the possible entry point of the hackers. We were vulnerable,” De Vera said.
“ We feel during that period the hackers exploited [the vulnerability],” he added.
Systems in place
NONETHELESS , PhilHealth of -
ficials disclosed that the agency has installed an interim software to protect its system from the attacks, thanks to its previous supplier that provided a 30-day protection at zero cost for the government.
Ph ilHealth also expects both its regular and emergency procure -
New domestic debt issued during the month totaled P229.29 billion with debt redemption of P253.43 billion, resulting in a net repayment of P24.14 billion,” it said.
This was partially offset by the P2.90-billion incremental value caused by peso depreciation on foreign currency-denominated domestic securities,” it added.
However, the domestic debt was 9.5 percent over the P8.943 billion recorded in August of 2022. Since end-December 2022, the national government’s domestic debt has already increased by P582.74 billion, according to the BTr. Meanwhile, the national government’s external debt during the reference month was estimated at P4.56 trillion, P126.52 billion higher on a monthly basis.
Peso depreciation against the US dollar caused a P146.85-billion upward revaluation of US dollardenominated debt in August, although partially offset by the P22.11-billion downward revaluation of the third currency debt component,” the Treasury said.
“ Net availment of foreign loans also added P1.78 billion to the reference month’s external debt stock,” it added.
Nonetheless, the state’s external borrowings was 11.8 percent higher than the P4.078 trillion recorded amount in August of 2022, based on BTr data.
“[National government] external debt has increased by P347.98 billion or 8.3 percent from the endDecember 2022 level,” it said.
US Congress finally recognized the contribution of the Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the US. October 18, 1587 marks the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in continental America—in Morro Bay, California. October is also the birth month of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong.
T his is why in 2099, US Congress marks October as Filipino American History Month. “ Whether it be the 1587 landing at Morro Bay, California, the establishment of Juan St. Malo in Louisiana, the Delano Manongs and United Farmworkers’ contributions to labor rights, or our veterans and nurses serving our country, Filipino American history is American history,” the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), also tweeted. W HIAANHPI was organized by President Barack Obama in 2014 to bind communities from Asia, native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders who constitute the fastest growing ethnic group in the US. I n 2015, Obama became the first US President who celebrated the Filipino American History Month in the White House.
T he highest concentration of Filipino migrants are in California (42 percent), Hawaii (6 percent), Texas, Illinois, Nevada and New York. If one wants to look further, they are mostly in Los Angeles, San Diego, Honolulu and Clark County.
ment for its cybersecurity to be completed within the month.
For his part, Ledesma described as a “bluff” the threat of the Medusa ransomware group to release publicly the information it allegedly hacked from the PhilHealth’s system. He emphasized that the critical and sensitive information of PhilHealth’s members remain “intact” and unscathed from the ransomware attack.
“ Clearly it is a bluff. Walang nawala sa [None was lost of the] membership data. Isang araw na lang hintayin na lang natin iyong bluff nila [It’s just one day left, so we’ll just wait for them to pursue their bluff],” he said, referring to the Medusa’s deadline of exposing the state health insurer’s files by October 3.
FILIPINOS buying various goods kept the manufacturing sector afloat in September as the country’s Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) score bounced back to health, according to Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Market Intelligence.• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug
THE Philippines is bracing for flash floods and landslides that may be triggered by heavy rains brought by tropical cyclone “Jenny” (international code name: Koinu), which reached typhoon category on Monday morning.
The center of the typhoon was spotted 675 kilometers (419.4 miles) east of Aparri in northern Cagayan province, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 150 km/hour, weather agency Pagasa said. It’s moving northwestward at 10 km/hour.
The typhoon is enhancing the
southwest monsoon that causes rains and thunderstorms in the main Luzon island. Koinu is forecast to exit the Philippine territory on Thursday when it’s expected to make landfall over the southern part of Taiwan, Pagasa said.
The Philippines suspended its currency and fixed income markets on September 1 after government offices including the central bank were shut due to monsoon rains from three cyclones. About 20 cyclones pass through the Philippines each year, making it one of the world’s worst-hit countries. Bloomberg News
has discharged a firearm because nitrates or nitrites can be absent even if a person has fired a gun or present if the person has held substances other than gunpowder but with nitrates present in them.
Yamsuan recalled that former PNP chief and now Senator Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa also said that even a non-shooter could yield a positive paraffin test if someone fires a gun near him or her.
among others, with conducting a study on modern criminal investigation methods and their applicability to the Philippine setting and creating a crime investigation manual for law enforcement officers according to the standards set under the bill.
The CIMC is also responsible for sending scholars for training in forensic science and related fields. These scholars are required to render government service for at least 3 years after completing their studies and training.
missile corvette for Navy to start construction in November
SOUTH Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will start construction of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) second missile corvette this coming November.
“The work commencement of the second corvette will be conducted in November this year,” the company added.
The South Korean shipbuilder also said this phase involves the laying of the “first block” of the ship.
HHI also confirmed that the first missile corvette, whose construction started this May, will be delivered by 2025, while those of the second ship is slated for 2026.
“We plan to deliver the first corvette by 2025 and the second corvette by 2026. HHI is on track for the target delivery dates as the construction of the vessels are on time,” it added.
These missile corvettes are expected to support the two Jose Rizal-class frigates now in PN service.
The Department of National Defense (DND) and HHI signed the P28 billion contract for two brand-new corvettes, which are capable of conducting anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare missions on December 28, 2021.
Then DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said acquiring the two corvettes from HHI, where the two Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigates were also acquired, will ensure commonality and interoperability.
The two ships will also serve as backstops for the two Jose Rizalclass frigates now in commission with the PN.
“With a common shipbuilder for all our naval platforms, we expect ease of maintenance and repairs,” Lorenzana emphasized. Rex Anthony Naval
SOME 53 assorted firearms were seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during operations in Marikina City last Friday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. announced Monday. The operation is in line with ongoing police efforts to crackdown against the proliferation of loose firearms and recognize the potential risks and threats that may affect the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this coming October 30.
“Armed with two search warrants issued by the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region of Marikina City, CIDG operatives in collaboration with other PNP units, swooped down on the residence and store of an unlicensed gun dealer, which resulted in the recovery and confiscation of 26 long firearms, 27 short firearms, assorted ammunition, as well as major and minor parts, tools, and machines
used in manufacturing firearms,” Acorda said.
Investigations revealed that the arrested person had no license to operate a firearms business and had not submitted any application to the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office for dealing and manufacturing firearms.
“The investigation further revealed that the suspect uses his establishment and social media to trade unlicensed firearms wherein among his customers are high-profile gun enthusiasts, politicians with alleged private armies, and some uniformed personnel from the police and military,” Acorda said.
A criminal complaint for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition punishable under Republic Act 10591 was filed against the arrested suspect on October 1 at the Office of the City Prosecutor, Marikina City.
The PNP chief commended CIDG personnel behind this operation even as he assured the public that the police would continue to maintain peace and order throughout the country.
THE Philippine Embassy in Turkey warned Filipinos in Turkey to be vigilant following the suicide attack on government buildings in Ankara.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said based on the report of Consul General Jed Dayang, there were no Filipinos casualties or affected by the suicide attack.
“Kaugnay ng nangyaring insidente sa Ankara, pinapayuhan ng Pasuguan ng Pilipinas ang ating mga kababayan na maging alerto at sundan ang mga balita upang masiguro ang kaligtasan,” the Philippine Embassy said in its post on Facebook Sunday.
Bicol Saro Party List Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said shifting to modern crime investigation method using technology and forensic science will help the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcers better secure evidence at crime scenes and improve their case buildup in court.
These modern techniques should be complemented by continuing education and retraining on police operational procedures, Yamsuan added.
He said one obsolete technique— the use of paraffin tests on persons suspected of discharging a firearm— has long been ruled by the Supreme Court (SC) as unreliable more than 30 years ago and abandoned as part of casework in other countries.
To do away with such obsolete procedures, Yamsuan filed House Bill (HB) 7975, which aims to modernize the crime investigation methods of law enforcement agencies and
put in place rigid standards for ensuring the integrity of evidence at crime scenes.
“Out with the old, in with the new. Our law enforcers should ditch outdated crime investigation methods and embrace technology and science in doing their jobs. This would not only ensure airtight cases against crime suspects; it would also help build the public’s trust in police investigations,” said Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises the PNP.
The SC has already held in several rulings that paraffin tests for gunpowder residue are inconclusive in proving whether or not a person has fired a gun, Yamsuan noted.
He said the High Court has already pointed out that the procedure only establishes the presence or absence of nitrates or nitrites on the hand. This is inconclusive as evidence that one
Aside from doing away with obsolete crime investigation methods, Yamsuan said HB 7975 also stresses the importance of securing crime scenes and preserving them with minimal contamination and disturbance of physical evidence.
Yamsuan said this is important because a report quoting the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that 90 to 95 percent of cases filed by law enforcement agencies before state prosecutors are dismissed “due to lack of documents or technicalities.”
Also, he said 80 to 90 percent of cases filed by prosecutors are dismissed by the courts because of a lack of evidence or technicalities. These shortcomings are often committed by law enforcers at the scene of the crime.
HB 7975 also calls for the creation of a Crime Investigation Modernization Committee (CIMC), chaired by the Secretary of the DILG and with the chief of the PNP, the director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and two forensic experts appointed by the President as members.
Yamsuan said the CIMC is tasked,
THE Philippines is now in the process of redesigning its reserve force to make it more attuned to the changing security environment, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said over the weekend.
He made this comment during the closing ceremonies of the 44th National Reservist Week that was held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City last Saturday, September 30.
“We are in the process of redesigning our reserve force based on the needs of the times. Hopefully, we can come up with a synergistic, ready, and relevant Reserve Force
not only now but lay the foundations for building it and changing the shape as needed in the future,” he added.
Teodoro also highlighted the need to build up the country’s nonmilitary civil defense units to further secure Philippine communities as he witnessed a capability demonstration of 27th Naval Affiliated Reserve Group.
“What we witnessed today was something that I wanted to underscore on a strategic basis. We have to build up our reserve force handin-hand with building up non-military civil defense units in order to secure our communities,” he added.
In line with this, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. hailed reservists and reserve units for their significant contributions to the country.
“You have been instrumental in responding to natural disasters, providing humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal security operations and territorial defense operations. Your sterling performance stands as a testament to your dedication and resolve in the name of duty as we forge ahead in our mission to safeguard our nation and our people,” Brawner said.
He added that the AFP aims to continue expediting Reserve Force
Within 2 years after its creation, the CIMC should also complete a study to be submitted to Congress on the feasibility of creating a course on forensic science in state universities and colleges (SUCs), according to Yamsuan. Under the bill, the CIMC is also duty-bound to engage in dialogues with foreign police agencies for the possible transfer of technology in forensic investigations.
Yamsuan said within three years after its creation, the CIMC would also be also tasked with submitting a report to Congress on the costs and ways of implementing a comprehensive program on modernizing crime investigations.
“The science of criminal investigations should also change to keep up with the rapid pace of modern life and the heavy reliance on computers and technology for a wide array of transactions. Keeping up with strategies is significant in the maintenance of peace and order in our society and in the administration of justice,” he said.
Development program with a focus on territorial defense operations, which will give a bigger role for reservists in attaining the AFP’s overall mission.
“I thank you for living to our virtues of volunteerism, patriotism, and nationalism. I urge you, therefore, to continue enhancing your skills and capabilities to ensure unit and individual readiness in times of crisis and national emergencies. Under the leadership of our Chief of Staff, General Brawner, and through the supervision of the J-9, [AFP deputy chief of staff for reservists and retirees affairs] the state of affairs of our Armed Forces will be on an upward trajectory,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in a message. Rex Anthony Naval
AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday underscored the need for barangays to intensify the campaign against garbage by implementing proper waste segregation at source.
Interviewed at the sidelines of the Asean Centre for BiodiversityManila Observatory (ACB-MO)
properly dispose of garbage collected from various sources, including households.
problem of ocean plastic pollution and flooding.
A bomb exploded in front of the Turkish Interior Ministry in the capital Ankara Sunday. Authorities said it was a terrorist attack perpetrated by two suicide bombers. Two police officers were wounded.
A few hours after the bomb attack, multiple suspicious packages and bags were “detonated in a controlled manner.”
Filipinos in Turkey who need assistance may reach the Embassy at 053-45772344, or through ankarape. atn@gmail.com.
There are around 5,000 Filipinos in Turkey, 810 of whom are based in Ankara. Most of the Filipinos in Ankara are household service workers or married to Turkish nationals.
Partnership launch in Quezon City on Monday, DENR Undersecretary for Operations in Luzon and Visayas Juan Miguel Cuna said proper enforcement of the garbage law, particularly the proper segregation and disposal of waste, should be done “every step of the way.”
The partnership between ACB and MO was facilitated by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga who was a former executive director of the Manila Observatory to bring together science-based solutions to concerns brought about by climate change and biodiversity loss.
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 calls for the proper segregation of waste. It mandates local government units (LGUs) to
“It should start in every home. I grew up in Manila and I know where the problem lie, especially for those who live near esteros,” said Cuna, a former Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), as he underscored the need to relocate informal settler families away from waterways to address the perennial garbage and flooding woes, particularly in Metro Manila.
The EMB, along with the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) enforces RA 9003.
Cuna noted that primarily, the garbage problem is caused by poor solid waste management practice at home, and the failure of barangays and LGUs to properly collect and dispose of garbage.
“What we really need to do is impose penalty every step of the way, for their failure,” he said, citing the case of rivers being the biggest garbage dump years back.
Informal settlers, he said, continue to dump wastes in waterways, thereby contributing to the
The failure of RA 9003 to effectively address the garbage problem, particularly plastic wastes has also prompted the government to pass the problem of recovering waste to the private sector through Republic Act 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 and its implementing rules and regulations.
The law requires large-scale companies to establish a mechanism for the recovery of their plastic packaging.
Cuna said the implementation of the EPR law would be a big boost to the government effort to address not only garbage, but also ocean plastic pollution that have become a global problem.
“Definitely, if we implement the law, which requires companies to recover the waste they produce, it will help. Imagine after a certain year, they recover 20 percent, then 40 percent and so on, this will really help reduce plastic pollution,” Cuna said.
Under the EPR, companies are obliged to implement proper and
effective recovery, treatment and recycling or disposal of their products after they have been sold and used by consumers.
The EPR law will also help in advancing a circular economy that mitigates climate change and protects our life-supporting ecosystems by avoiding or minimizing pollution while maximizing the use of materials.
According to Cuna, the DENR is keenly supporting a United Nations initiative to study the need to forge a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution among countries.
“There will be a meeting next month on plastic pollution… It will be the third meeting and we look forward to this initiative,” Cuna said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Faced with ocean plastic pollution problem, the Philippines will benefit from a legally binding treaty, as it will help address the problem on plastic, he said.
“Definitely, with our problem on plastic, we can learn from other countries how they address plastic problem,” Cuna said. Jonathan L. Mayuga
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALAWMAKER urged law enforcers to phase out obsolete and unreliable investigation procedures, such as paraffin testing, to make way for modern, science-driven techniques in gathering and preserving evidence at crime scenes.
THE Philippines may need to import more refined sugar in the current crop year, as previous rounds have been “unsuccessful” in pulling down retail prices of the sweetener, an international agency said.
The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDA-FAS Manila) said the Philippines’s refined sugar imports in crop year 2023-2024 would reach 257,000 metric tons (MT).
The volume, the USDA-FAS Manila explained, already includes the 150,000 MT authorized volume under Sugar Order (SO) 7 of crop year 2022-2023.
This means that the Philippines may allow the entry of an additional 90,000 MT in the current crop year, which would end on August 31 of next year.
Meanwhile, the USDA-FAS Manila does not see the Philippines importing a single volume of raw sugar in the current crop year as the state “seeks to protect local producers.”
“Post sees no raw sugar importation as the Philippines government seeks to protect local producers but forecasts refined sugar imports of 240,00 MT [257,000 MT raw equivalent] to stabilize consumer prices and provide two months of buffer stocks,” the USDA-FAS Manila said in its latest Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report published recently.
“This includes the 150,000 MT refined imports approved by President Marcos as stated in SO7,” it added.
The USDA-FAS Manila projected the country’s raw sugar imports to remain flat at 1.8 million MT in the crop year 2023-2024.
The international agency’s projection is 50,000 MT lower than the 1.85 MMT forecast
of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
The USDA-FAS Manila explained that the “prevailing” high sugar prices would drive planters to expand their production, especially those in Mindanao, which would offset the anticipated supply loss in Batangas caused by the shutdown of the Central Azucarera Don Pedro (CADP) mill.
“Post estimates MY 2024 sugarcane area at 385,000 hectares [ha], slightly below the USDA Official estimate of 390,000 due to loss of area in Batangas supplying CADP,” it said.
“Despite the loss of area in Luzon, expansion in sugarcane areas in Mindanao will partly compensate for the sugarcane farms covered by CADP, about 10,500 hectares,” it added.
However, the USDA-FAS Manila pointed out that refined sugar prices at the wholesale and retail levels remained elevated due to anemic domestic sugar output despite the
influx of imported stocks.
Citing its computations, USDA-FAS Manila said imported refined sugar from Asean can be sold between P60 per kilogram to P65 per kilogram.
“Consumers wait to see prices decline, but prices continue to be more than P100/ kg [$1.76/kg] since January 2023 despite high inventory. Prices had been stable since January but have not gone down to previous levels, not even closer to 2021 prices,” it said.
“Wholesale and retail prices of refined sugar remain elevated despite the country having ample refined sugar stocks. To date, the SO6 and SO7 have failed to address the high retail prices affecting consumers and food manufacturers,” it added.
The Gain report indicated the refined sugar prices in Metro Manila remained above the P100 per kilogram level in August for the tenth consecutive month.
“Consumers continue to wait for lower prices, which have doubled from just over a year ago. Importation brought buffer stocks to a comfortable level until the end of MY 2023 but failed to affect the high retail prices of refined sugar,” it said.
FOLLOWING the removal of the State of Public Health Emergency due to Covid
19, employers are still responsible in ensuring “safe and healthy working conditions” in the workplace, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In Labor A dvisory 23-23 dated September 20 by DOLE, employers should review and update their current workplace safety and
health program, and include the provision of regular health monitoring of workers.
E mployers should also develop a referral mechanism to the nearest health service provider, which workers could have access to, said DOLE.
The cost of preventive and control measures for workplace illnesses and diseases, including the cost of vaccines, shall be borne by the employer,” the labor
advisory stated.
T he Labor Advisory added employers should promote vaccination of all employees and their families, including contractual workers.
The directive also encouraged employers to develop a company policy for sick leave benefits, providing medical insurance, isolation assistance, paid vaccination leave, among others.
AT least 900,000 public school teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive their World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) of P1,000 each on October 5, a member of the House appropriations committee said.
“In the 2023 Gener al Appropriations Law, Congress earmarked the amount of P900 million to pay for the WTDIB in the amount of P1,000 per teacher on October 5,” Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo disclosed.
He emphasized Congress’s unwavering commitment to ensuring annual appropriations for the incentive.
Rillo noted that in the recently approved 2024 national budget, an additional P912 million has been earmarked for the WTDIB in the following year, underscoring their dedication to supporting teachers.
“In fact, in the 2024 national budget that the House approved last week, we’ve set aside another P912 million to pay for the WTDIB of our teachers next year,” Rillo said.
T his incentive was introduced four years
OIL companies on Monday announced they would implement mixed adjustments” in fuel pump prices this week.
Petron, Shell, Caltex, Seaoil, Total, Unioil, PTT, and Phoenix said the per-liter cost of diesel would go up by 40 centavos, while gasoline will drop by P2 per liter. Kerosene, meanwhile, will also go down by P0.50 per liter.
T he price adjustment takes effect at 6 a.m. on October 3 for most oil firms.
Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will implement the price adjustments at 12:01 a.m.
This week’s price adjustment brings cumulative per liter increases to P15.30 for gasoline, P13.80 for diesel and P8.95 for kerosene.
Local oil firms adjust prices every week to reflect movements in the world oil market.
Since the Philippines is a net oil importer any spikes in international oil prices push up local pump prices.
P ursuant to Labor Advisory 7-22, employers were reminded to submit the monthly work accident and injuries report, as well as the annual medical report to the DOLE Regional or Provincial office.
C ovid-19 positive cases must be reported to the local government units (LGUs) in accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order 20200013, said DOLE. Patrick V. Miguel
Last week, oil firms reduced pump prices after more than two months of price increases.
The series of upward price adjustments in the past 11 weeks were triggered by global production cuts recently implemented by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Saudi Arabia and Russia have extended their oil export cuts by one million daily and 300,000 barrels per day, respectively.
B ased on the monitoring of the Department of Energy (DOE), global crude market may remain tight until the end of the year, as production cuts may not likely be implemented anytime soon.
“Definitely, we will not return to the March and May level wherein Dubai crude is at $77 per barrel. Now, it’s at $91. So definitely we do not expect to go back to the $70 level,” DOE Director Rino Abad said in a radio interview.
Last week, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the public should manage their expectations that the trend for oil prices is going down.
“It is volatile and we have to always be ready. We are already moving towards the winter months. Normally, prices will increase then, but let us hope that the external factors like Ukraine, and Russia will stabilize,” Lotilla said.
ago through the General Appropriations Law of 2019, with an initial funding of P800 million.
It ack nowledges the vital role of teachers in shaping the future of children and adolescents, aligning with the international celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October 5, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
Moreover, Republic Act No. 10743 designates October 5 as National Teachers’ Day in the Philippines, honoring the teaching profession.
Meanwhile, Rillo pressed for the passage of House Bill No. 203, which seeks to increase by 36 percent the starting pay of public school teachers.
Under the bill that Rillo co-authored, the entry-level monthly pay of public school teachers would be bumped up to P36,619 (Salary Grade 15).
At present, the starting monthly pay of DepEd teachers is pegged at P27,000 (Salary Grade 11).
HB 203 also seeks to fix at P16,000 the minimum monthly pay of all non-teaching personnel employed by DepEd.
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz By Henry J. SchumacherIHATE to say this: Artificial intelligence (AI) as a technology is maturing.
Far from the stuff of science fiction, AI has moved from the exclusive regimes of theoretical mathematics and advanced hardware to an everyday aspect of life. Over the last several years of exponentially accelerating development and proliferation, our needs and requirements for mature AI systems have begun to crystallize.
Trust is not an internal quality of an AI system like accuracy, or even fairness. Instead, it’s a characteristic of the humanmachine relationship formed with an AI system. No AI system can come off the shelf with trust baked in. Instead, trust needs to be established between an AI user and the system, which must be dominated by humans!
The highest bar for AI trust can be summed up in the following question: What would it take for you to trust an AI system with your life?
Fostering trust in AI systems is the great obstacle to bringing into reality transformative AI technologies like autonomous vehicles or the large-scale integration of machine intelligence into medicine. To neglect the need for AI trust is also to downplay the influence of the AI systems already embedded in our everyday financial and industrial processes, along with the increasing interweaving of our socioeconomic health and algorithmic decision-making.
AI is far from the first technology required to meet such a high bar. The path to the responsible use of AI has been paved by industries as diverse as aviation, nuclear power, and biomedicine. What we’ve learned from their approaches to accountability, risk, and benefit, forms the foundation of a framework for trusted AI.
The challenge now is to translate those guiding principles and aspirations into implementation, and make it accessible, reproducible, and achievable for all who engage with the design and use of AI
systems. This is a tall order but far from an insurmountable obstacle.
What do we mean by ‘Dimensions of Trust’?
We trust an AI system in three main categories:
1. Trust in the performance of our AI/machine learning model.
2. Trust in the operations of our AI system.
3. Trust in the ethics of our workflow, both to design the AI system and how it is used to inform your business process.
It’s worth acknowledging that trust in an AI system varies from user to user. Trust signals refer to the indicators you can seek out in order to assess the quality of a given AI system along each of these dimensions. But trust signals are not unique to AI—it’s something that we all use to evaluate even human-to-human connections. Think about what kinds of trust signals you intentionally seek out when meeting a new business partner. It will vary person-to-person, but we all recognize that eye contact is important, especially as a sign that someone is paying attention to you while you speak. For some people, a firm handshake is meaningful, and for others, punctuality is vital; a minute late is a sign of thoughtlessness or disrespect. Reflective language is a powerful way to signal that you are listening. To complicate things, think about how trust signals change when evaluating a new acquaintance as a potential friend compared to a business partner.
How does this relate to an AI system?
Depending on its use, an AI system might be comparable to any of these human relationships. An AI that is embedded in your personal banking is one that you need to be able to trust like a business advisor. An AI system that is powering the recommendation algorithm for your streaming television service needs to be trustworthy like a friend who shares your genre interests and knows your taste. A diagnostic algorithm must meet the credentials and criteria you would ask of a medical specialist in the field, and be as open and transparent to your questions, doubts, and concerns.
The trust signals available from an AI system are not eye contact or a diploma on the wall, but they serve the same need. Metrics, visualizations, certifications, and tools can enable you to evaluate your system and prove to yourself that it is trustworthy.
In conclusion, yes, AI is part of our future, but it is essential to understand the need for its ethical deployment. It is to be understood also that humans need to manage AI and see to it that AI does not drive the performance of the organization in the wrong direction.
The 10 percent is our projection for next year. So, on a high side or a high note, we are looking at 13 percent. So, of course we’d like to be able to seize that for next year, before next year finishes. But our planning is really on a five-year stretch,” Sherill R. Quintana, chairman of PFA, said at a media briefing in Quezon City on Monday.
I n 2022, PFA said the industry generated P27 billion in revenues. For 2023, the industry is targeting a 13 percent growth from last year.
THE recently concluded interoperability exercise (IOX) between the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Army (PA) highlights the two services’ commitment to “seamless integration and synchronized operations.”
T his was stressed by Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon commander Brig. Gen. Rocky J. Binag during the closing ceremony held last Saturday, September 30, held at the 5th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela.
Brig. Gen. Binag encouraged all participants to take a moment to reflect on the profound significance of the PA-PAF IOX 02-23. He emphasized how this exercise not only enriched the Armed Forces with invaluable lessons but also fostered strong camaraderie among its troops, further solidifying their unwavering commitment to a future marked by seamless integration and synchronized operations,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said on Sunday.
Th is year’s PA-PAF IOX started on September 25 and formally ended on the 30th.
The PA hosted this year’s IOX, which saw a remarkable turnout of 836 participants coming from both the PAF and the PA. These dedicated men and women trained side-by-side, diligently working together from September 25 to 29, 2023. The exercise encompassed a wide spectrum of activities, including command post exercises, subject matter expert exchanges, and field training exercises,” Castillo said.
S he added that the PAF expressed confidence that the skills and knowledge acquired during this year’s IOX will significantly enhance the capabilities of both branches to effectively conduct air-to-ground communication and operations.
This newfound synergy promises to pave the way for more efficient and coordinated joint operations, bolstering the nation’s defense and security efforts,” Castillo said.
Rex Anthony NavalSENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, through a relief operation conducted by his staff, provided assistance to 653 fire victims in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday, September 26.
T he distribution activity was held at Barangay Pag-asa covered court where the fire victims received food packs and drinking water. There were also select recipients of a bicycle, a mobile phone, and a new pair of shoes from the senator.
M eanwhile, a team from the National Housing Authority conducted an on-site assessment where qualified families may receive necessary housing assistance to help them rebuild their homes.
Yung mga mag -qualify ay maaaring mabigyan ng National Housing Authority ng ayuda pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa upang maisaayos muli ang kanilang mga tirahan ,” Go said in a video message. G o has emphasized that the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) represents a substantial advancement in strengthening the capabilities of first responders.
R epublic Act No. 11589, also known as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act was authored and cosponsored by Go in the Senate. The mandated modernization program includes procurement of new fire equipment, expansion of manpower, and conduct of specialized training for firefighters, among others.
G o, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, likewise urged those with health issues to visit Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in the town where they can conveniently avail of medical assistance through the Malasakit Centers.
T here are currently 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide that have assisted over seven million poor and indigent Filipinos. The Malasakit Centers Act was principally authored and sponsored by Go to ensure that underprivileged Filipinos have convenient access to medical assistance programs from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The PFA chairman noted that food, retail and service sectors are expected to drive this growth. For the service sector, Quintana said, “With the service sector really receiving the clock end during the pandemic, we’ve seen a lot of growth… for the service sector where there’s a clamor in the overseas market. But of course food has been a winner
through and through.”
For his part, PFA President Chris Lim said the food sector has been driving the franchising industry’s growth a lot, while the salons and spas are yet to recover next year.
“A lot of the food players— they’re probably higher than prepandemic levels already. Services in the industry have lagged behind mga salons, spas, [as] some of them have not even fully opened yet. But we see a lot of them recovering and opening by next year,” Lim said.
But, Lim noted that among the sectors, retail has a “faster turnover” since “they are much faster in terms of bringing these brands globally.”
The PFA president, meanwhile, noted that a new sector that the franchising industry would have to watch out for is Agricultural franchising. “There’s a very big push for Agriculture. There’s a big push in
agriculture here and franchising can serve that sector a lot,” Lim said.
For his part, Richard Sanz, the overall co-chair of Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 and Founding chairman and CEO of Bibingka chain BBK Group said, “One more thing that we observe that can possibly drive the growth for the next 5 years, we have seen the trend on drinks, especially coffee.”
“
During the pandemic we noticed that there were a lot of home brewers who really specialized or upgraded their coffee experience. When things opened up, there was a void that needed to be filled in the urban sector’s cities and this is driving so many coffee shops to open,” Sanz added.
Meanwhile, this year’s International Franchise Expo is seen to gather over 1,000 international and local franchise brands in the food,
retail, and service sectors.
E xpo Committee Chair and Bo’s Coffee President and CEO Steve Benitez said there would be special zones for Emerging Franchises, Highly Franchise-able Concepts, Business Solutions Providers, among others.
Coinciding with the Expo is the “twin meetings” of the Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) and the World Franchise Council (WFC) hosted by the Philippines from October 25-27, 2023.
I n a statement released on Monday, PFA said, “These events, along with the other activities on Franchise Asia week, will be attended by hundreds of delegates from 30 franchise association members of the WFC, including 16 from the Asia-Pacific region that comprise the APFC and 16 European national franchise associations.”
5 D r. Wilson Chua, PhD.—District Deputy of Knights of Columbus, District M43.
A fter a thorough screening process by the judges to ensure that only the most qualified papers were selected as winners, the following were chosen from among 20 entries:
Senior High Category:
F irst Place: Jasmine Genevieve Q. Ong of St. Peter the Apostle School, Paco, Manila.
Second Place: Rachel Ann C. Lim of St. Peter the Apostle School, Paco, Manila.
THE Chinese-Filipino Catholic Apostolate in the Philippines concluded its national convention on September 30, 2023, with a 4 p.m. Mass at the Binondo Chinese Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, recognized as the Mother of all Chinese-Filipino Catholic parishes in the Philippines.
The main celebrant for the Mass was Most Reverend Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD, DD, Bishop of Bangued, Abra. He was joined by the parish priest of the Binondo Chinese Parish, Reverend Father John Vianney O.P., Reverend Monsignor Esteban U. Lo, LRMS of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, and Reverend Father Aristotle C. Dy, SJ.
The Mass was attended by priests from various Chinese-Filipino Catholic parishes in the Philippines, as well as officers and members of the Chinese-Filipino Catholic Apostolate in the Philippines, and parishioners of the Binondo Chinese Parish, led by its PPC President, Dra. Gladys So.
A s part of the celebration, an
announcement and presentation of awards were made to the winners of an essay writing competition with the theme “Virtues of San Lorenzo Ruiz: Freedom, Creativity & Synodality.” This competition was launched on September 28, 2022, by Saint Lorenzo Ruiz - Knights of Columbus Council 7344 of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Binondo Chinese Parish in partnership with the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, in commemoration of the 35th Canonization Anniversary and the 385th Martyrdom Anniversary of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
The primary goal of this competition is to highlight the deep connection between the virtues exemplified by San Lorenzo Ruiz and the Chinese-Filipino Apostolate. San Lorenzo Ruiz, celebrated as the first Chinese-Filipino saint and martyr, holds a unique place in the hearts of the Chinese-Filipino community. This competition aims to inspire young minds to emulate and exhibit devotion toward San
Lorenzo Ruiz’s core values, which include freedom, creativity, and synodality.
I nvitations were extended to schools such as Xavier School, with campuses in Greenhills and Nuvali, St. Peter the Apostle School, St. Jude Catholic School, and Lorenzo Ruiz Academy. The competition was divided into two categories: Junior and Senior High. To ensure fairness and impartiality in evaluating the competition entries, a distinguished panel of judges was assembled, including:
1 Reverend Monsignor Esteban Lo, LRMS—Rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
2 Reverend Father Richard Ang, OP, PhD.—Rector and President of the University of Santo Tomas.
3 Ms. Margaux Salcedo—Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Catholic DominusEst.PH.
4 Professor Gabriel Ma. J. Lopez, PhD., EnP—A licensed Philippine Environmental (Urban-Regional) Planner, who also serves as an educator at Loyola School of Theology.
T hird Place: Amalia Lapid Juan of Xavier School Nuvali, Nuvali, Calamba, Laguna.
Junior High Category:
First Place: Zayden Marcus U. Noguera of Xavier School, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.
Second Place: Kaneshiro S. Ong of Xavier School, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.
Th ird Place: Patricia Elizabeth Y. Yu of Saint Jude Catholic School, Ycaza street, San Miguel, Manila.
The awards were presented by Most Reverend Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian S.V.D., D.D., Bishop of Bangued, Abra, National Coordinator for the Chinese Filipino Apostolate, assisted by Monsignor Esteban U. Lo, LRMS, Assistant National Coordinator; Reverend Father Aristotle C. Dy, S.J., National Secretary; Sir Knight Henry Sy Go, Grand Knight of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz’ Knights of Columbus Council 7344 of the Binondo Chinese Parish and Sir Knight Dr. Wilson S. Chua, District Deputy M43.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte have suffered double-digit decline in their approval and trust ratings last month based on the latest survey of Pulse Asia.
I n a news statement issued last Monday, Pulse Asia said the approval rating of the Chief Executive dropped by 15 percentage points from 80 to 65, while Duterte’s declined by 12 percentage points from 87 to 75.
Although the President and the Vice-President continue to enjoy majority approval scores at the national level and across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, both experienced significant erosion
in their respective approval ratings during the period of June 2023 to September 2023,” it added.
The percentage points of those who are undecided about the performance of both top officials rose during the said period, with Marcos rising to 25 (+8) and Duterte to 22 (+8).
The disapproval rating of the President also slightly increased to 10 percentage points (+6), with Duterte at 5 percentage points (+3). T he approval ratings of following top officials also decreased to the following percentage points: Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri, 50 (-6); House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, 41 (-11); and Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo 34 (-10).
THE trust rating of Marcos and Duterte also dwindled with the former dropping to 14 percentage points to 71 and the latter by 12 percentage points to 75.
Meanwhile, Zubiri’s trust rating was at 49 percentage points (-8), while that of Romualdez and Gesmundo were at 38 (-16) and 33 (-10), respectively.
Based on the said survey results, Duterte still retained her status of having the highest approval and trust rating, while Gesmundo got the lowest rating for both criteria. Malacañang has yet to issue a reaction on the survey results as of this writing.
P ulse Asia conducted its latest nationwide survey from September 10 to 14, 2023. It covered 1,200
respondents and had a 2.8 percent error margin with a 95 percent confidence level.
P rior to the conduct of the survey, among the notable political developments in the government were the ongoing congressional deliberations on the P5.7-trillion 2024 national budget, which included a P4.8 billion confidential and intelligence funds; and the President’s call on China to stop the “dangerous use of coast guard” in the South China Sea. There were also major economic developments during the said period, which included Marcos’ issuance of Executive Order No. 39, imposing a price cap for regular milled and well-milled rice and inflation accelerating to 5.3 percent last August from 4.7 percent in the previous month.
THE Philippine franchising industry is projecting a 10-percent to 13-percent growth in the next five years, with the food, retail, and service sectors driving the growth, according to an official of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA).
PAF, Army
‘seamless integration’ in the future
The foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member countries converged on the Ukrainian capital for an unannounced informal meeting that officials said would review the bloc’s support for Ukraine and discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposed peace formula.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the foreign ministers’ first joint meeting outside EU borders sent a signal that EU support is “unwavering” and underscored the EU’s commitment to Ukraine.
The United States, the EU and the United Kingdom have provided massive military and financial
support to Ukraine, enabling it to stand up to the Kremlin’s attack. The assistance is crucial for Ukraine’s weakened economy and has so far been open-ended.
But uncertainty has set in over how long Kyiv’s allies will keep sending it billions
MINISTERS and oil industry chiefs are gathering for the biggest energy conference in the Middle East as crude heads toward $100 a barrel. Whether prices can hold at these levels and the outlook for Opec+ supply cuts are among topics that will be discussed from Monday.
But this year, climate is looming large over the forum. Delegates at the annual Adipec summit in Abu Dhabi, which has been dominated by oil in its long-running history, will devote a lot of their time to the energy transition. The meeting comes just two
months ahead of the United Arab Emirates also hosting the crucial COP28 conference.
Chief executive officers of Shell Plc, TotalEnergies SE and Occidental Petroleum Corp., among others, will later Monday discuss plans for the energy transition.
UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei and Opec SecretaryGeneral Haitham al-Ghais are also scheduled to speak.
Opec+ currently has the “right policy” for the oil market, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al Mazrouei said in an interview at the Adipec conference in Abu Dhabi. Prices will increase if there’s no further investment in the industry, he said, adding that Opec isn’t
setting a price target.
A crude oil pipeline running from Iraq’s Kurdistan region to the Mediterranean coast of Turkey will resume operations this week, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
The pipeline was shut earlier this year after an arbitration court ordered Ankara to pay about $1.5 billion in damages to Iraq for transporting oil from Kurdistan without Baghdad’s approval.
Brent crude will collapse to the low $70s a barrel next year as the global market swings back to a surplus, according to Citigroup Inc. The shift reflects “more oil coming into the market,” analysts including Ed Morse said in
of dollars (euros).
US President Joe Biden on Sunday reassured allies of continued US financial support for the war effort, after Congress averted a government shutdown by adopting a short-term funding package that dropped assistance for Ukraine in
a quarterly report.
“Higher prices in the near term could make for more downside for prices next year,” the Citi analysts said.
There’s a lot of support for oil prices and the market will continue to tighten, Halliburton Co. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Miller said in a Bloomberg TV interview at the Adipec conference.
The company is returning cash for our shareholders, he said.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are unlikely to deepen their production cuts, Eni SpA CEO Claudio Descalzi said in a Bloomberg TV interview. Crude prices in London rose almost 10% last month as ongoing supply curbs squeeze the market.
A lack of investments in projects is the main issue for oil, while demand remains strong, Descalzi said. With assistance from Nayla Razzouk, Ben Bartenstein, Leen Al-Rashdan, Salma El Wardany and Yousef Gamal El-Din/Bloomberg
its battle against Russia.
Many US lawmakers acknowledge that winning approval for Ukraine assistance in Congress is growing more difficult as the war grinds on.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters that Ukraine held discussions with representatives of both parties in the US Congress to ensure more help will arrive.
“The decision was taken as it was, but we are now working with both sides of the Congress to make sure that it does not repeat again under any circumstances,” Kuleba said.
“The question is whether what happens in the US Congress last weekend is an incident or a system. I think it was an incident,” he added.
The EU meeting in Kyiv took place after the weekend election victory in EU member Slovakia of Robert Fico, whose pro-Russian
agenda has increased the question marks about the EU’s continued support for Kyiv.
The small eastern European country could bring more tension to the EU’s discussions on Ukraine, as has happened with Hungary’s at-times cool attitude toward Kyiv. Budapest has maintained close relations with Moscow and argued against supplying arms to Ukraine or providing it with economic assistance.
The foreign ministers of Hungary and Poland were not at the Kyiv gathering.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Europe must be ready to provide further help “for many good reasons.”
“First of all, in order to support Ukraine, but also to send a strong trans-Atlantic signal that what’s going on on our own soil is something we have to take on a great responsibility for,” Løkke Rasmussen said.
STOCKHOLM—Six days of Nobel Prize announcements begin Monday with the unveiling of the winner of the medicine award.
The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was won last year by Swedish scientist Svante Paabo for discoveries in human evolution that unlocked secrets of Neanderthal DNA which provided key insights into our immune system, including our vulnerability to severe Covid-19.
The award was the second in the family. Paabo’s father, Sune Bergstrom, won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1982.
Nobel announcements continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel
Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the economics award on October 9.
The prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million). The money comes from a bequest left by the prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896.
The prize money was raised by 1 million kronor this year because of the plunging value of the Swedish currency.
The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. The prestigious peace prize is handed out in Oslo, according to his wishes, while the other award ceremony is held in Stockholm.
Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands.
ANKARA, Turkey—Turkish warplanes carried out airstrikes on suspected Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq on Sunday following a suicide attack on a government building in the Turkish capital, Turkey’s defense ministry announced.
Some 20 targets of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were “destroyed” in the latest aerial operation, including caves, shelters and depots, the ministry said, adding that a large number of PKK operatives were “neutralized” in the strikes.
Earlier on Sunday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near an entrance of the Interior Ministry, wounding two police officers. A second assailant was killed in a shootout with police.
The PKK, which maintains bases in northern Iraq, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, according to a news agency close to the rebel group. Turkey’s Interior Ministry also identified one of the assailants as a member of the outlawed group. It said efforts were still underway to identify the second attacker.
The attack happened hours before Turkey’s Parliament reopened after its three-month
summer recess with an address by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The two assailants arrived at the scene inside a light commercial vehicle, which they seized from a veterinarian in the central province of Kayseri, according to the Interior Ministry. The pro-government daily Sabah reported that they shot the man in the head and threw his body into a ditch by the side of the road. They then drove the vehicle to Ankara, roughly 300 kilometers (200 miles) away.
“Our heroic police officers, through their intuition, resisted the terrorists as soon as they got out of the vehicle,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters.
“One of them blew himself up, while the other one was shot in the head before he had a chance to blow himself up.”
“Our fight against terrorism, their collaborators, the (drug) dealers, gangs and organized crime organizations will continue with determination,” he said.
Police found plastic explosives, hand grenades and a rocket launcher at the scene, a ministry statement said.
Erdogan gave his speech in Parliament as planned and called the attack “the last stand of terrorism.”
“The scoundrels who targeted the peace and security of the citi -
zens could not achieve their goals and they never will,” he said.
The president reiterated his government’s aim to create a 30-kilometer (20 mile) safe zone along Turkey’s border with Syria to secure its southern border from attacks.
Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border offensives against the PKK in northern Iraq. It has also launched incursions into northern Syria since 2016 to drive away the Islamic State group and a Kurdish militia group, known by the initials YPG,
in the area.
Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which is listed as a terror group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The PKK has waged an insurgency against Turkey since 1984. Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict.
Last year, a bomb blast in a bustling pedestrian street in Istanbul left six people dead, including two children. More than 80 others were wounded. Turkey blamed the attack on the PKK and the YPG.
Security camera footage on Sunday showed the vehicle stopping in front of the Interior Ministry, with a man exiting it and rushing toward the entrance of the building before blowing himself up. A second man is seen following him.
Earlier, television footage showed bomb squads working near a vehicle in the area, which is located near the Turkish Grand National Assembly and other government buildings. A rocket launcher could be seen lying near the vehicle.
Turkish authorities later imposed a temporary blackout on images from the scene.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation has been launched into the “terror attack.”
“These attacks will in no way hinder Turkey’s fight against terrorism,” he wrote on X. “Our fight against terrorism will continue with more determination.”
Police cordoned off access to the city center and increased security measures, warning citizens that they would be conducting controlled explosions of suspicious packages.
The two police officers were being treated in a hospital and were not in serious condition, Yerlikaya said.
Egypt, which has normalized
ties with Turkey after a decade of tensions, condemned the attack. A terse statement from the Foreign Ministry offered Egypt’s solidarity with Turkey.
The US Embassy in Ankara and other foreign missions also issued messages condemning the attack.
Erdogan in his speech did not provide any indication as to when Turkey’s parliament may ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO.
Stockholm applied for NATO membership alongside Finland following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. While Finland has since joined, Turkey blocked Sweden’s membership in the military alliance, accusing it of not doing enough to tackle groups like PKK from operating on its soil. In a posting on X, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Stockholm “strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack in Ankara.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to long-term cooperation with Türkiye in combating terrorism and wish for quick and full recovery of the ones injured,” he wrote, using the Turkish government’s preferred spelling for the country.
KYIV, Ukraine—Some of Europe’s top diplomats gathered Monday in Kyiv in a display of support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion as signs emerge of political strain in Europe and the United States about the war.HIGH Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during his press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday, October 1, 2023. AP/EFREM LUKATSKY
Military ties between australia and the Philippines date back to 1922 when rear admiral John Saumarez Dumaresq, the captain of HMaS Sydney during the last two years of the First World War (1917-1918) and the first australian born commander of the australian fleet, was accorded the equivalent of a State Funeral in Manila. australia’s current defense engagement with the Philippines is underpinned by an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program, with key pillars of maritime security and counter-terrorism.
In February, during President Marcos’s five-day official trip to Tokyo, the Philippines and Japan affirmed their commitment to strengthen defense and security cooperation. Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a joint statement this would be done through “strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment and capacity building.”
In April, the United States and the Philippines announced plans to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to include four new sites: Camilo Osias Naval Base in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; Balabac Island in Palawan; and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan. These new locations, in addition to the five existing sites, will strengthen the interoperability of the US and Philippine Armed Forces and allow them to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including natural and humanitarian disasters. The US Department of Defense also said it will work in lockstep with the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines to rapidly pursue modernization projects at these locations.
In June, the defense chiefs of US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines agreed to step up security cooperation in an effort to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore, was the first-ever defense ministerial talks involving the four countries.
The defense chiefs “affirmed that they have a vision for a ‘Free and Open IndoPacific’ and collectively make efforts to ensure the vision continues to thrive.” Among the plans being considered are joint maritime patrols by vessels of the four countries in the South China Sea, with the apparent aims of monitoring the movements of the Chinese military and acting as a deterrent, according to a diplomatic source.
Guam Rep. James Moylan, who serves on the US House Armed Services Committee, said in an op-ed article at The Hill that the Philippines should be added to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)—a strategic security grouping composed of US, India, Japan and Australia.
“As strong of a message as joint patrols are, our show of support for the Philippines must be multi-faceted. The United States should work to update and strengthen our mutual defense pact with the Philippines, ensuring a new era of cooperation can be formalized and continue the long friendship our two countries have enjoyed,” he said.
The US government is steering its other allies in increasing military presence in the South China Sea and helping the Philippines improve its capacity to deter China’s continuing harassment and coercion in the disputed seas. Ranking officials from the US State Department, US Department of Defense, and Coast Guard made this commitment during the hearing of the US House of Representatives foreign relations’ subcommittee on Indo-Pacific on Thursday in Washington D.C. (Read the BusinessMirror report, “Multilateral West Philippine Sea patrols with US, other allies eyed,” September 29, 2023).
“We are strongly supportive of not just bilateral patrols but exploring opportunities for multilateral patrols with the Philippines and with other partners as well,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Lindsey Ford.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs Dr. Jung Pak said: “One of the things that we’re working on with our allies and partners is globalizing the South China Sea issue. So much of the global economy runs through the South China Sea and it’s a vital economic throughway. So, this is not just about China, this is not just about the countries in the region, it’s vital for Europe, it’s vital for us.”
President Marcos has said while the government does not want any conflict with China, his administration is ready to defend the country’s maritime territory. Marcos on Friday said he will not allow China to erect any barriers within the West Philippine Sea, which can hamper the movements of Filipino fishermen.
The President’s boldness has encouraged the country’s allies to join the Philippines in countering China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, and its estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
WE often hear from private and government economists the term demographic dividend that our nation is now reaping or about to earn in the coming years. Economic experts do not doubt this a bit. the Philippines has a big and young population—an economic asset that must be nurtured and exploited.
To put it in layman terms, the growing population of workers will drive economic growth faster in the coming years. The country’s working age group is now growing faster than the overall population. Per the statement of National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan in a recent Senate public hearing, such demographic dividend would add around 3 percentage points to the gross domestic product.
When the number of productive working-age population hits its highest level, the economy’s growth sharply rises, as what we’ve seen in the case of Singapore and Thailand in the 1990s.
And with a larger workforce that can generate higher income and a less dependent population, the Phil-
Heavy infrastructure spending is another way of providing jobs to our young workers and creating more economic opportunities. I am pleased to learn that the government achieved its target spending of 5.3 percent on infrastructure as a percentage of GDP in the first half of the year.
ippines can budget its resources for economic development and social services, like housing, education, health and nutrition. South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong earlier experienced this window of opportunity in their economic growth story.
Per the account of Mr. Balisacan, our working-age population covering those 15 to 64 years old as of August 2022 comprised 63.9 percent of Filipinos, up from 63.3 percent in 2015 and 59.1 percent in 2000. This working age group will power the country’s expansion for several decades, in addition to the usual sources of GDP growth. Our demography has changed, as shown by the marked decline in mortality and fertility rates. The dependent age now hovers from 0 to 14, per the report of Neda, while
John ManguniN 650 BC, the Babylonians predicted the weather from cloud patterns. Chinese weather prediction extends at least as far back as 300 BC, around the same time ancient indian astronomers developed weather-prediction methods.
In New Testament times, Jesus himself referred to local weather patterns, saying, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.”
Yet, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that overall, “A five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather 90 percent of the time. A seven-day forecast can accurately predict about 80 percent.”
However, after nearly 3,000 years, a 10-day or longer forecast is only right about half the time, the same 50/50 as flipping a coin. Forecasting asset and stock market prices, the future of the economy, and cur-
rency exchange rates is overall no more accurate as how much rain we are going to get in October.
But we look at all those forecasts like the cultist followers of the Pythia at the Oracle at Delphi.
I do not make forecasts for any of the above markets as no one pays me—or should—for my predictions. However, I do make money on what does happen in the future. Here is how. If it rains, the guy selling rain boots “gets rich.” If there is strong sunshine, the one who sells sunscreen makes money.
But I want to be like the company that makes money rain or shine and who does not need to predict the coming weather. That is the umbrella company with products that are use-
the workforce has expanded to the 15-to-64 bracket. This transition is resulting in a steady rise in savings and investment, and thus, faster economic growth and improved living standards.
The Philippines, according to a Neda paper prepared back in 2018, is expected to be the last major Asian economy to benefit from the demographic dividend between the years 2025 and 2070. If not properly addressed, the country would need to wait until at least 2050 to benefit from the demographic dividend, or possibly miss it altogether.
We have to learn from the Thailand experience, though. By 2000, Thailand was enjoying high economic growth. By 2011, the World Bank upgraded Thailand’s income categorization from a lower-middle income economy to an upper-middle income economy, based on the country’s gross national income, which stood at $4,210 in that year. The
The problem with going to fortunetellers is you then operate on the assumption that they are correct. “Your life partner will be rich,” so you try to hang around “rich” people and then miss the love of your life. Watch stock market price movement and volume and don’t waste your time trying to predict the future.
ful in any weather.
In the biblical book of Leviticus, we are told: “Don’t turn to psychics to get help. You will be defiled by them.” Other meanings of “defiled” are contaminated and confused. And nothing can cost you more money than stock market analysis.
I trade the stock market almost daily to make profits, sometimes big and sometimes small. I trade the market almost daily and often take losses, but always small and “never ever never” big.
“But how can a person possibly trade the stock market without first making a prediction?”
When I first moved to Hawaii, I discovered that people living there only watch weather forecasts if there is an impending hurricane. Other-
Philippines, in contrast, remained in the World Bank’s middle-income category.
The Philippines’ total fertility rate, according to the same Neda paper, was still high at 2.9 children against Thailand’s less than 1.5 children.
The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is taking active measures to steer the country through a demographic transition and reap its dividend. But everything boils down to an effective population management to ensure a highly productive workforce.
In a recent study commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund in collaboration with Neda, Dr. Dennis Mapa of the University of the Philippines’ School of Statistics noted that countries that experienced growth following demographic transition had effective and sustained modern family planning programs. I believe the government is trying its best to check population growth in the Philippines. Our current K to 12 school curriculum integrates lessons on sex education to help students make informed choices about issues that affect their well-being. The Marcos administration is also investing in human capital through family health and educational interventions to make sure we stay on track with our growth objectives. A
See “Villar,” A15
wise, if there are clouds, it means rain and if “no clouds” it’s hot sun. And that can go back and forth several times a day. Almost everyone carries an umbrella at least in the car while never trying to predict the weather.
On the stock market “clouds” can be the volume, and the lesson is “Volume Precedes Price.” If the price is at a relatively low level (based on the past few weeks or so) and there is increasing volume with flat price movement, that is “accumulation” and the price will probably go higher. Conversely, if the price is at a relative high level and there is increasing volume with flat price movement, that is “distribution” and the price will probably go lower.
If the price is at a relative “bottom” and there is a sudden spike in the amount of volume, that may be “Smart Money” buying in. A confirmation is found days or even weeks later with another jump in volume —and usually also price—when the “Friends of the Smart Money” get on board.
Some time later will be another volume spike, usually at the high, which is the “Sucker Money” or Buying Climax with “The exhaustion of demand as the last buyers enter See “Mangun,” A15
President Joe Biden urged house speaker Kevin Mccarthy to follow up quickly with funding for Ukraine hours after congress passed a spending bill without it to avoid a Us government shutdown.
The omission comes at a critical stage for Kyiv as it steps up efforts to repel Russia’s invasion and shows how domestic political debate in Washington is starting to affect support for Ukraine. Less than two weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington to plead for new weapons systems and urged allies to keep up their financial and military support for Kyiv.
“I fully expect the speaker to keep his commitment to secure passage and support needed to help Ukraine as they defend themselves against aggression and brutality,” Biden said Sunday at the White House. “There’s an overwhelming number of Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate who support Ukraine. Let’s vote on it.”
On Saturday, Congress passed a bipartisan measure that would keep the US government funded until Nov. 17 with $16 billion in disaster funding. However, the lack of $6 billion in Ukraine aid is a blow to Biden.
Asked what he would say to Zelenskyy and other allies of Ukraine, Biden said, “I can reassure them. Look at me: We are going to get it done.”
But fresh assistance isn’t certain and becoming more difficult to achieve particularly as issues like US border security come to the forefront.
Kyiv has ramped up missile and drone attacks on Russian-occupied Crimea, targeting bases and supply lines as its four-month old counteroffensive makes halting progress on the ground ahead of winter.
Backing for Ukraine from the EU is also facing a fresh challenge after a candidate sympathetic to Russia won Slovakia’s election on Saturday.
Robert Fico has criticized EU sanctions against Russia and pledged to end military aid to Ukraine.
The concern for Kyiv is that opponents of aid in the US and Europe may feed off each other’s momentum after their successes over the weekend.
Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond when contacted for comment late Sunday. But Ukrainian officials broadly downplayed the situation in remarks on social media, saying they were working with US counterparts to secure fresh financial aid.
The situation won’t impact aid that was announced earlier, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko wrote on Facebook. “Support for Ukraine remains un-
Continued from A14
stronger and meaningful education system will equip our young population for the next decades of progress. Heavy infrastructure spending is another way of providing jobs to our young workers and creating more economic opportunities. I am pleased to learn that the government achieved its target spending of 5.3 percent on infrastructure as
Continued from A14
(and the “Smart Money” gets out) the market.”
If “Volume Precedes Price” both ways, you do not need to predict the market. Just carry an umbrella for sunshine or rain. The problem with going to fortunetellers is you then operate on the
waveringly strong—in the US administration, in both parties, in US Congress, and most importantly, among the American people.”
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, called the omission of aid for Ukraine “a decision that we have to regret.”
Yet Biden’s calls for Congress to provide funding separately offer “hope that this will not be a definitive decision and Ukraine will continue having the support of the US,” Borrell said at a news conference in Kyiv.
Senate leaders have said they would begin work to approve aid.
“In the coming weeks, we expect the Senate will work to ensure the US government continues to provide critical and sustained security and economic support for Ukraine,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement Saturday with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.
But McCarthy wants to link aid for Ukraine to Republican proposals for security at the US border that are opposed by Democrats, saying the border is “the priority for me” and the two policies should be dealt with jointly.
“I support being able to make sure that Ukraine has the weapons that they need, but I firmly support the border first,” McCarthy said on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday. “So we’ve got to find a way we can do this together.”
Ukraine is “not going to get some big package if the border is not secure” and the White House should be aware of that, he said, citing a House-passed border bill that hasn’t become law.
The bipartisan deal on shortterm government funding avoided a shutdown that threatened to hit the US economy.
A funding breach would have halted many federal functions and paychecks, while economists predicted a longer shutdown could impede the Federal Reserve’s efforts to counter inflation without widespread job losses. Markets were on alert to any actions from credit-rating firms just months after Fitch Ratings stripped the US of its top-tier rating, citing persistent concerns about US governance. With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska / Bloomberg
a percentage of GDP in the first half of the year.
With several big-ticket projects underway like the Malolos-Clark Railway, South Commuter Railway and Metro Manila Subway, I am confident the Philippines will reap the demographic dividend being presented to us. It is an opportunity that we should not miss.
For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph
assumption that they are correct. “Your life partner will be rich,” so you try to hang around “rich” people and then miss the love of your life. Watch stock market price movement and volume and don’t waste your time trying to predict the future.
Food security is important to any nation. as an archipelago, the Philippines is endowed with abundant marine resources with two thirds of its territory composed of bodies of water. its 36,289 kilometers coastline is host to 68 percent of its 110 million population. Unfortunately and ironically, they also comprise ¾ of the poorest and most marginalized sectors of Philippine society.
As a developing nation, the Philippines should be able to harness its marine resources in order to feed its people while creating employment opportunities. It can easily increase the average Filipino food intake, which is short of 300 calories daily, while lactating mothers will be able to avail themselves of the necessary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) requirement from fish needed for the neurological development of their babies (Ravenholt, 1982). This can be done responsibly without destroying the marine ecosystem (Quinn, Kuzawa 2012).
But like many other economic issues, there are political underpinnings to this. The fishery industry is elite-controlled. Fishing magnates control deep-sea fishing while they also dominate the medium scale fishery industry. What is left to the poor fisherfolk are the municipal waters and littoral areas, which are laden with restrictions. As a result of this, majority of the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing violations are committed by this sector. (I-FIT Assessment Report, 2022).
The agency in charge of the pro-
tection and management of the maritime domain, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is a small bureau among nine other bureaus under the Department of Agriculture (DA). It has 3.8 percent percent of the Department’s budget, which also runs eight attached agencies, eight attached corporations, and 16 regional field offices. As such, it is unable to provide the appropriate policy and support mechanisms to its constituents, much less prevent the occurrence of IUU fishing all over the country.
In 2014, the problem became apparent for the politicians, the media, and the citizens, when the Chinese started reclaiming four artificial islands from half-submerged features within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. By 2016, Chinese military bases were completed, which restricted the movement of Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and the Filipino fishermen in the area. This brought more misery to Filipino fisherfolk, whose only means of livelihood is fishing.
The continuous aggressive posturing of the Chinese today presents
an opportunity to push this agenda with the attention it is causing in the national psyche. The convergence of problem, politics, and solution streams begs for a multiple streams approach. The situation is ripe for the nation to unite on several agendas: the promotion of responsible fishing in the WPS, strengthening Philippine resolve to protect what is ours, sustaining peace and stability using non-military approaches, and enhancing the capacity of fishermen to harness marine resources in order to spur the local economy.
This agenda requires a punctuated approach to the challenges posed by foreign actors by capacitating BFAR into a full-grown Department, separate from the DA. It can absorb many of the other bureaus and agencies under DA, in order to push for a more robust maritime economic policy and programs to address a brewing crisis in the WPS region through non-military and non-aggressive ways.
Pushing this agenda to the public consciousness through an outside initiative model is possible with the intervention of respectable lobby groups or NGOs that advocate environmental protection, alongside other groups, which shall advocate for poverty reduction and social justice among fisherfolks.
The USAID Fish Right Program has been a reliable partner for this initiative. It can advance consciousness on marine life preservation by expanding its mandate. This will put
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz said on Sunday he’ll file a motion to vacate the chair this week, seizing on a parliamentary process that has not resulted in a speaker removal vote since 1910. McCarthy responded defiantly, telling CBS News he’ll survive any attempt to remove him.
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week,” Gaetz said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that c an be trustworthy.” Gaetz’s announcement came just hours after the House and Senate passed a temporary spending bill that attracted support from both sides.
Gaetz said his move stemmed from McCarthy’s embrace of a bipartisan deal that didn’t enact the steep spending cuts ultra-conservatives have demanded. That, he has said, is the latest in a string of promises McCarthy made to be elected speaker and has since broken.
“This isn’t personal. This is about spending,” Gaetz said. “This is about the deal Kevin McCarthy made.”
McCarthy, who portrayed himself as the “adult in the room” during the maneuvering that led to the deal, said he’s ready for the fight.
“Bring it on, let’s get over with it and let’s start governing,” McCarthy said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “If he’s upset because he tried to push us into a shutdown and I made sure the government didn’t shut down, let’s have that fight.”
McCarthy needs only a simple majority of House members voting to stop the effort to remove him. Republicans hold a slim majority and just five could join unified Democrats to bounce McCarthy from the speaker’s office.
Representative Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida, said he thinks McCarthy’s “in trouble.”
“I’m going to be totally blunt. There are a lot of trust issues in my chamber right now,” Donalds said on
“Fox News Sunday.”
Previously, some House Democrats have said any effort to save McCarthy from a hardliner revolt would be contingent on bipartisan compromises. Even if McCarthy survives the mutiny, Republican dissenters could call for a new vote at any time or impose procedural hurdles to block consideration of legislation. That essentially requires him to either maintain the alliance with Democrats—a de-facto coalition government in the House—or resolve differences with hardliners who now have one more reason to resent his leadership.
In 2015, then-Speaker John Boehner resigned when hardliners threatened such a rebellion rather than rely on Democratic votes to remain in power.
House Democrats led by Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York could decide to bail out McCarthy, even if they don’t actually cast votes to keep him in his post. Enough members could simply not show up, hold back their votes or merely vote “present,” lowering the threshold number of “nays” to removal that McCarthy needs to prevail.
Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota has said he and other Democrats would consider helping
pressure on policy makers to take action on the plight of poor fisherfolks, while addressing security concerns in the WPS.
In order to prevent failures in implementation, incremental changes may be necessary so as not to disrupt local governance, particularly as the mandate shifts from the DA to the new Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. This incremental approach is also important in order not to attract undue attention from outside forces that are also claimant states.
The government can draw lessons from and even copy Vietnam Strategy 2020. The Vietnam model embarked on “sustainable and effective exploitation of sources of seafood in association with national defense, security, and protection of sea environment.” (Vietnam Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020). The program surpassed its target to harness 50 percent of their GDP from their marine economy in less than five years. It ranked 7th in the world in terms of fish production with a total of 8.2 billion metric tons a year, as against the Philippines’ 5 billion metric tons, which kept it in 10th place in 2019 (FAO Fishery and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service, 2011).
To ensure an effective policy, a third party may be tapped to conduct process evaluation, cost-benefit evaluation, and eventually an impact evaluation.
McCarthy out. But he reeled back those comments after the speaker authorized formal impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, which Phillips considered an act of “pandering” to the Republican hard right. Still, it’s not too late for McCarthy to win back that potential support, Phillips and others say. Jeffries has said he hasn’t contemplated aiding McCarthy. “We’ll just have to cross that bridge, if and when we get to it,” he said.
Gaetz, a lawyer and fourth-term member of Congress, is seizing on the ability of any House member to file the motion, which is considered “privileged,” giving it priority consideration. That power dates from a parliamentary rules manual written by Thomas Jefferson.
While 90 House Republicans opposed the stopgap funding bill on Saturday, 126 GOP members joined Democrats in supporting it. Representative Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York who backed the bill, called Gaetz’s efforts “a diatribe of delusional thinking.” He said the party’s ultraconservative flank was why moderates had to compromise with House Democrats to pass the measure. With assistance from Alicia Diaz/ Bloomberg
CHINA S factories look to have stabilized for now, though the recovery has been far from swift and the momentum for growth may be in trouble without more policy support.
An official gauge of manufacturing activity returned to expansion in September for the first time in six months, a sign that stimulus may be taking root. But it’s not all smooth sailing: That index just barely cleared the dividing line between contraction and growth from the prior month, while a private gauge of activity in the sector underperformed and suggested the recovery isn’t on solid ground just yet.
“The macro economy has shown signs of stabilization,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, in a statement accompanying data showing the rate of ex-
pansion in factory activity slowing in September. “However, the economic recovery has yet to find a solid footing, with insufficient domestic demand, external uncertainties and pressure on the job market.”
The data adds up to a precarious outlook for the world’s second-largest economy, which is trying to regain traction amid challenges from weak consumer and business confidence along with the ongoing property crisis. China has rolled out stimulus including cutting bank reserve requirements, slashing interest rates and easing home-purchase requirements.
The private purchasing managers’ index from Caixin and S&P Global was evidence of how shaky things still look. Pickups in supply and demand were offset by employment pressures and weak overseas orders. The Caixin gauge surveys more export-oriented firms than the official one does.
“The surprise drop in the Caixin manufacturing PMI in September signals parts of China’s economy remain fragile. The decline bucked a pickup in gauges in the official survey. The Caixin setback suggests private businesses and exporters are still under heavy pressure,” said Bloomberg economist Eric Zhu.
An average of the official and private manufacturing surveys “is consistent with factory activity remaining largely unchanged last month,” said Sheana Yue, China economist at Capital Economics, adding that impacts from fiscal policy “could also prove short-lived.”
The slow recovery in China is clouding the outlook for global growth as central banks worldwide fight to tackle inflation. Data published on Monday showed manufacturing activity across Asia mostly worsened in September, undercutting cautious optimism that the
global economy is finding itself on steadier footing.
The weekend’s PMI data also suggested services activity is somewhat constrained. An official survey of the services sector picked up a bit to 50.9 in September, but the Caixin index eased significantly to 50.2—the lowest rate of expansion all year.
“Surveyed companies indicate that the slowdown in business activity was related to weaker-thanexpected demand,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists wrote in a research note Sunday. Soft readings for both the official and private services indexes were caused “potentially on a combination of fading reopening boost and weakening property market,” they added.
The real estate industry has been in turmoil for years, and economists in a recent Bloomberg survey see the sector posing the nation’s biggest challenge right now. Bloomberg
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October 3, 2023
THE Philippines is currently undergoing a mandatory audit, a litmus test of its compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards.
From October 2 to October 9, the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) is set to scrutinize the nation’s adherence to IMO instruments, determining its “full and effective implementation and enforcements” of international maritime practices and standards.
T hese regulations span crucial aspects of maritime safety, pollution prevention, seafarers’ training, certification, load lines, tonnage measurement of ships, and prevention of collisions at sea.
A s a longstanding member of the International Maritime Organization since 1964, the Philippines has ratified and acceded to 28 IMO Instruments, with ongoing efforts to ratify additional instruments aimed at bolstering the nation’s maritime industry.
T he IMSAS audit, mandated under IMO Resolutions A.1067(28) and A.1070(28), is designed to hold Member States accountable for meeting their obligations under a range of IMO Instruments. These obligations touch upon vital areas that bear a direct impact on global maritime safety and environmental protection.
T he audits are conducted at intervals not exceeding seven years.
To facilitate a coordinated effort among various government departments and agencies involved in maritime affairs, two
significant Executive Orders were issued: Executive Order No. 159, series of 2021, and Executive Order No. 84, series of 2019.
EO 159 refers to the adoption of an integrated approach in the ratification and accession to IMO conventions and instruments, as well as the reconstitution of the interagency committee to spearhead the initiative.
EO 84 creates an interagency council on the IMO member state audit scheme.
A ccording to Marina, government entities—the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Cebu Port Authority (CPA), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ‚ “have all actively prepared for this audit.”
As a maritime nation with a proactive maritime administration, the Philippines is steadfast in its commitment to effectively implement and enforce all laws, regulations, and recommendations in accordance with the IMO instruments. The country pledges to establish and maintain a robust system to fulfill its obligations as a flag, port, and coastal state, in full compliance with applicable international laws, ensuring the highest standards of maritime safety and environ
mental protection,” Marina said.
STATE-RUN Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said it will not pay a single peso of ransom to the Medusa ransomware group that attacked its system last week resulting in the shutdown of its online services.
However, the “unfortunate” incident forced the state health insurer to spend P172 million to beef up its information technology infrastructure that includes cybersecurity defenses.
T he amount includes P110 million in regular procurement and P62 million in emergency procurement.
“ We did not pay and we will not pay [the ransom],” PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. said in a press briefing on Monday in Pasig City, while
noting that the hackers demanded a $300,000 ransom in exchange for deletion of the alleged PhilHealth files that they hold.
P hilHealth officials faced the media in a public briefing for the first time since it confirmed that the Medusa ransomware group attacked the agency at least a week ago.
Nelson S. De Vera, PhilHealth’s Acting Senior Manager of the Information Technology and Management Department, explained the state health insurer’s database of
its members was not affected since it was stored in a different database server.
W hat was affected by the ransomware attack, De Vera explained, were the application servers and workstations of PhilHealth in its head office in Pasig City.
D e Vera disclosed that the PhilHealth’s team will soon be able to restore five out of eight of its external servers while it has been able to install the necessary internal applications in its work stations.
“ I think that is already roughly 30 percent [restored],” he said.
Ph ilHealth has been able to restore its online services including its website, member portal and eclaims, a week after it was attacked by the Medusa ransomware.
However, PhilHealth said it remains “diligent” in restoring its other online systems such as the Health Care Institutions (HCI) portal and application servers as it undertakes “thorough security testing.”
‘Vulnerable point’
PHILHEALTH officials recalled the sequence of events to provide a glimpse of how the state agency was left vulnerable to the ransomware attack.
T hey explained that the antivirus protection of PhilHealth expired in April but was extended until May 15 by the service provider. T hereafter, PhilHealth wanted to renew its service provider, but it stumbled because of the latest procurement rules issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB).
PhilHealth Executive Vice President and COO Eli Dino D. Santos said they were “caught off guard” by the GPPB’s latest rules on renewal of regular and recurring services, which limited the renewal of contracts to a maximum of three years. We were caught off guard. We immediately started a new procurement,” Santos said.
Investor
INVESTOR confidence remains
“solid” in the Philippines with high reinvested earnings and rising foreign investment approvals despite the decline in the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the first half of the year, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.
“ In summary, although FDI in the Philippines declined in the first semester of 2023, there remains solid foreign investor confidence in the country, as demonstrated by the high reinvested earnings and the rising foreign investment approval by BOI and other IPAs (Investment Promotion Agencies),” Pascual said.
Pascual was reacting to a report that FDI declined by 20 percent to $3.9 billion in the first half of 2023, compared to the same period last year based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.
T he Trade chief noted—according to a statement by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Monday— that it is “essential” to recognize that FDI numbers reflect decisions that investors made well before the actual funds’ inflow recorded by BSP.
Pascual said global financial conditions, especially the high inflation and interest rates in the first half of 2023, contributed to this FDI decline.
Factors such as inflation rates and investment rates substantially influence FDI decisions. Stable inflation and competitive interest rates generally attract FDI, whereas high inflation and unfavorable rates can repel foreign investors,” Pascual noted.
H e explained that under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., a “repre -
sentative metric” of investment performance is the foreign investment approvals by the investment promotion agencies (IPAs) attached to the DTI.
However, he noted that certain foreign investments in the Philippines are not registered with the IPAs and “they happen without going for incentives.”
“ FDI in a particular year does not solely arise from recent investment leads. FDI inflows could be based on decisions made years prior and might be realized in stages over time. The gestation period, or the time from initiation to realization, varies considerably depending on factors like the project’s nature, the involved sector, and the host country’s regulatory environment,” according to him.
For example, BPO centers, if expanding or within established spaces, might only take months. Yet, if constructing a new facility, the timeline extends. Manufacturing projects, especially if new, can take 4-5 years. Renewable energy projects have varying timelines, with large-scale projects needing several years,” the statement quoted the DTI chief as saying.
A s for investment approvals by the Board of Investments (BOI), and other IPAs attached to DTI, Pascual noted a “consistent increase” since 2022.
In 2022, the BOI recorded investment approvals worth P729 billion.
A s of August 2023, the BOI said it already approved P720 billion worth of investment projects.
I n January, the BOI adjusted its 2023 investment approvals target for 2023 from P1 trillion to P1.5 trillion.
W ith this, the P720 billion worth of investment approvals recorded as of August is now equivalent to 48 percent of the revised P1.5-trillion investments target for 2023.
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and its infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), will help protect Filipino cinema legacy by allowing the construction of a film heritage building in Intramuros.
T he construction of the building was made possible through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DOT-Tieza and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The building will rise on an 800-square-meter lot along Sta. Lucia St., beside the Beaterio dela Compania de Jesus, and Tieza’s Light and Sound Museum in Intramuros.
I n an interview with the BusinessMirror, Tieza Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid said, “We are partnering with the FDCP through the film tourism program of the DOT and President Marcos Jr. The
building will be constructed from the GAA (General Appropriations Act) funds of FDCP.” He said the Department of Finance made out a “deed of assignment for the properties to DOT, then DOT assigned these to Tieza.”
L apid, himself an actor, described the agreement with the FDCP as a manifestation of government’s commitment in preserving the legacy of Philippine cinema. “This agreement… also amplifies the allure of Intramuros as a prime tourist destination in Manila. It enhances the experience of what this iconic site can offer, making our history and culture even more accessible and engaging. Let this MOA signing serve as a sign of our dedication to nurturing our nation's artistic and cultural architectures. Together, we make a journey that seamlessly integrates our cinematic heritage with heritage sites,” he said.
Pushing film tourism
IN a news statement, the DOT
said the agreement was signed on September 26, 2023, and shall last until February 25, 2045, subject to renewal of the parties involved. It did not say how much funds will be spent by the FDCP for the building’s construction. FDCP is an agency under the Office of the President, but is administratively supervised by the Department of Trade and Industry. FDCP is the agency that extends the tax incentives to foreign film and TV producers. (See, “Hollywood execs told: More fun to film in the Philippines!” in the BusinessMirror , April 24, 2023.)
T he film heritage building will house a cinematheque, film museum/gallery, film and media library, film storage/vaults, and film scanning and restoration room. It will also accommodate FDCP offices, lounge areas, a board room, as well as a merchandise shop and a cafe.
FDCP Chairman and Chief Executive officer Tirso Cruz III thanked both government agencies for approving the project. “Our facili -
ties will serve as a haven for enthusiasts, a source of deep and rich knowledge for students and a treasure trove of Philippine cinema for both our fellow citizens and visitors from all around the world. Together, let’s continue to nurture and celebrate our nation’s film and artistic heritage,” he said.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the collaboration with FDCP will help nurture the growth of the creative industry in the Philippines, especially with regard to promoting the Philippines as a major destination for film and TV productions. “We foresee that with our archives in cinema and film in the film industry, having a home, as well as in reaching out to the farthest reaches of the Philippines as far as the development of film tourism, it can only serve to grow the portfolio of Philippine tourism and most importantly, provide employment and livelihood to our fellow Filipinos who will benefit from expanding our film tourism portfolio,” she added.
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Globe said it sold its 77-percent stake in eCPay to Mynt for P2.31 billion.
It also announced that the minority stakeholder, Payment One
Inc., sold its 23-percent shareholding in eCPay to Mynt. based on the businessMirror’s estimates, this transaction amounts to some P700 million, bringing the total transaction to about P3 billion.
Globe’s sale of its shareholding in eCPay to Mynt allows it to “harmonize its payments-related businesses.”
“GCash’s meteoric rise to become
one of the top fintech brands and the aggressive expansion of its financial services has created a perfect environment for strategic synergies with eCPay,” Globe President er nest l Cu said.
“Mynt’s acquisition of eCPay will enable more efficient and effective sharing of each other’s strengths and resources, thus creating a seamless and upgraded experience for their customers.”
upon closing of the transaction, eCPay will have access to GCash’s platform, enabling eCPay to better traverse the ever-evolving digital financial landscape.
As for Mynt, it is expected to better harmonize the capabilities of both eCPay and GCash. The acquisition will help GCash “provide best-in-class services in the fintech space and further democratize financial access.”
“Mynt’s digital savviness will spill over to e C Pay, maximizing its previously untapped potential. GCash can further differentiate itself from its competition as mobile wallets in various shapes and sizes continue to pop up. With e C Pay in Mynt’s capable hands, Globe can better steer its ventures and synergistically grow the entire Globe Group ecosystem,” Globe CFO Rizza Maniego- e a la said.
eCPay, incorporated in 2011, is an electronic payment service provider that was acquired by Globe in 2019 to enhance its distribution network. The platform enables merchant partners to process bills payments, electronic prepaid mobile phone top-up loading, electronic pins, e-wallet and cash card reloading, airline ticket payments, online shopping pay-
ments, and credit card payments in their various outlets.
The disclosure mentioned that the deal is currently “undergoing thorough reviews” and that “completion is expected upon receipt of approvals from the relevant regulatory bodies and satisfaction of closing conditions.”
When asked whether the transaction has to undergo a review under the Philippine Competition Act (PCA), a Globe representative replied: “ yes, the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.” under current regulations, the Philippine Competition Commission requires parties to notify the antitrust body for mandatory review of “mergers and acquisitions that breach a Size of Party [SoP] of P7 billion and a Size of Transaction [SoT] of P2.9 billion.”
SoP refers to the value of assets or revenues of the u ltimate Parent entity of either transacting entity, while SoT refers to the value of assets or revenues of the acquired party and the entities it controls.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked the petition for mandamus filed by NOW Telecom Company Inc. (NOW Telecom) seeking to compel the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to comply with the orders issued by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The ARTA orders allowed NOW Telecom to operate a cellular mobile telephone service within specific frequency ranges.
In a 16-page decision penned by Associate Justice Tita Marilyn Payoyo-Villordon dated September 28, 2023, the CA’s Special Ninth Division held that NOW Telecom’s right to be issued the said frequencies “are still in legal limbo.”
The CA noted that the telecom company also failed to show that it has a “clear and legal right” over the frequencies which NTC failed to assign.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has launched a probe into the power outage incident Sunday night that affected 850,000 customers of the Manila electric Co. (Meralco).
“NGCP is investigating the root cause of the grid disturbance and will release information as soon as available,” the grid operator said.
At 6:45p.m., NGCP monitored a grid disturbance affecting the San JoseNagsaag 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line 2 and multiple power plants in luzon, resulting in automatic load dropping (AlD).
Meralco, for its part, said around 850,000 customers across its franchise area experienced power interruption after an A lD occurred at around 6:45 p.m. of October 1. Power was restored at 7:33 p.m., Meralco said.
NGCP also said that power was fully restored at 7:33 p.m. in all areas affected by the A lD in various provinces in luzon, including Metro Manila, Cagayan, Kalinga, Apayao, l a guna, Quezon, batangas, Camarines Norte. Lenie Lectura
It pointed out that ARTA’s resolution and Order of Automatic Approval (OAA) issued on March 1, 2021 directing the NTC to issue a provisional authority in favor of NOW Telecom to operate within certain frequency ranges is still in dispute as ARTA, itself, set aside the subject issuances in a resolution dated June 17, 2022.
In the said resolution, ARTA endorsed anew to the NTC the application of NOW Telecom for the assignment of frequencies for prompt disposition.
NOW Telecom sought reconsideration of the June 17, 2022 resolution, which ARTA denied in its resolution dated August 22, 2022.
ARTA’s March 1, 2021 resolution and order were the basis for NOW Telecom’s filing of the petition for mandamus before the appellate court. “It bears reiteration that the writ of mandamus may only be issued if the party claiming it has a well-defined, clear, and certain legal right to the thing demanded, and that it was
the imperative duty of respondent to perform the act required to accord the same upon him,” the CA noted.
“NOW Telecom’s prayer to be issued a ‘Provisional Authority to operate in the frequency range 1970 Mhz1980 Mhz paired with 2160 Mhz to 2170 Mhz and 3.6 Ghz to 3.8 Ghz’ on the basis of ARTA’s Resolution and Order of Automatic Approval both dated March 1, 2021 falls short of this standard, there being no clear, well-defined and specific duty on the part of NTC to issue the same,” it added.
Furthermore, the CA ruled that NOW Telecom failed to prove any ministerial duty on the part of the NTC which it neglected to perform to warrant the issuance of a mandamus.
The CA said that under the provisions of Republic Act 7925, also known as the “Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines,” it is NTC’s duty as the principal administrator of the said law, to take the necessary measures to imple-
ment its policies and objectives.”
Specifically, the NTC was tasked to adopt an administrative process which would facilitate the entry of qualified service providers, among other responsibilities.
“We should therefore refrain from intervening in the discretionary functions and prerogatives of the executive department. Moreover, considering that NOW Telecom failed to establish that it has a clear legal right over the concomitant frequencies, this Court is powerless to grant the remedy prayed for in the petition,” the appellate court declared.
Given the NTC’s prior disqualification of NOW Telecom due to noncompliance with legal requirements, the CA asserted that ordering immediate assignment of frequencies would infringe upon the NTC’s lawful discretion.
The CA upheld the principle that mandamus does not apply when public officers are required to exercise judgment in performing their duties.
INTeR NATIONA l Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said on Monday its Australian subsidiary Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) can now handle the largest box ships, thanks to the expansion of its port equipment.
“We are now ready to receive the largest vessels that will come to Australia as part of the upsizing strategy undertaken by all the major shipping lines in the world. This trend will lead to an increasing number of supersized vessels sailing into Phillips bay and mooring at VICT—t he only terminal in Melbourne capable of receiving them,” VICT CeO br uno Porchietto said.
The largest in Australia, the two new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes have a lift height of 49 meters or 10 meters higher than the terminal’s five existing STS cranes.
The 60-meter boom outreach enables the new cranes to operate 22 containers across on a vessel.
Meanwhile, the existing cranes are capable of handling 19 containers across with their 50-meter
boom outreach.
Porchietto noted that the new cranes also offer better productivity with their lashing platforms mounted 15 meters high compared to the cranes that only allow pinning to be completed at the quay level.
The new cranes are part of the Au D235-million expansion project that will increase the terminal’s capacity to 1.25 million T eus. This also includes the acquisition of six additional automated stacking cranes, which will be finished by the end of 2023.
l a st August, the company reported that its net income attributable to equity holders went up by 7 percent to $313.8 million in the first half from last year’s $294.48 million, due to the strong performance of its terminals across the globe.
In the same comparative periods, ICTSI recorded a 10-percent growth in gross revenues to $1.16 billion from $1.06 billion, owing to the 9-percent increase in consolidated volume to 6.28 million twenty-foot equivalent units (Teus) from 5.75 million Teus Lorenz S. Marasigan
B1
The Securities and exchange Commission (S e C ) has warned the public against investing in two firms, one of which is offering a “paluwagan” scheme.
In an advisory, the SeC said investors should avoid Mengay benta Slot Paluwagan or Nyu Meng’s Paluwagan headed by Neomi Grace de Guzmanhernandez and Wisteria lane as represented by Danielle l ance Alarcon.
As posted online, hernandez is offering investments to the public in the form of paluwagan slots or cash benta slots.
Individuals may invest a minimum of P1,000. based on one of the posted slots, it is offering an income of up to 210 percent to 225 percent in just 15 days.
The SeC said the slots with names, such as “complan megan,” “complan ice tea,” “complan sabon,” etc., has income but with inconsistent maturity periods.
“There is no certain computation or matrix on how much income is given per amount invested.”
The agency said an investment contract exists when there is an investment or placement of money in a common enterprise with a reasonable expectation of profits to be derived from the efforts of others which is prominent in the scheme of the paluwagan.
The SeC said its database showed that the company is not registered with them as a corporation or partnership.
Wisteria l ane, meanwhile, offers its accommodation with amenities through its Facebook page and the Airbnb application or website. It is currently offering two units located at Azure urban Resort Residences in Paranaque.
As posted online, the company is offering investments to the public ranging from P30,000 up to P500,000. Investors are entitled to 5 percent off on daily rates in all of the Airbnb at Azure, P2,500 to P50,000 shared income every month from the Airbnb business and its “other businesses” and a 5- percent commission for every successful referral.
Investors earn a monthly income of 5 percent and a contract with a lock-in period of six months from the date of signing. It provides options of payout through bank transfer or postdated checks.
Wisteria l ane is not registered with the SeC both as a corporation or a partnership, the agency said.
The operations of the two firms have the characteristics of a Ponzi scheme where money from new investors is used in paying fake profits to prior investors and is designed mainly to favor its top recruiters and prior risk takers and is detrimental to subsequent members in case of scarcity of new investors.
Publ IC ly listed Alternergy holdings Corp. (Alternergy) has tapped three leading investment banks to arrange a P12billion project finance structure for the construction of two wind power projects it won under the Green energy Auction 2 (Ge A 2) program last July.
Alternergy issued the mandate to bPI Capital, RCbC Capital and Sb Capital after a competitive process. The three investment houses are expected to assist Alternergy in finalizing the terms and structure of the debt financing for the Tanay Wind Power Project in Rizal and Alabat Wind Power Project in Quezon.
“Alternergy is delighted to work with these investment banks that will support us in expanding our green loan financing. We have been a long-term partner of RCbC Capital and equally excited to forge new partnerships with bPI Capital and Sb Capital,” Alternergy Chairman Vicente S. Pérez Jr. said.
Alternergy has established a strong track record of completing the construction of its renewable power projects through project financing schemes since 2014.
“The total P12-billion mandate would be the largest project financing deal to be undertaken by Alternergy and we appreciate the support from RCbC Capital, bPI Capital and Sb Capital to ensure that the transactions would yield the most benefit for the Tanay and Alabat Wind Power Projects as laid out under the DOe ’ s Ge A 2 Program,” Gerry Magbanua, Alternergy President, said.
he added that Alternergy and the three investment banks, as lead arrangers, are eager to proceed with the transaction to target financial closing by the end of the year.
The Tanay and Alabat Wind Projects have a capacity of up to 164 MW and are expected to be completed by 2025.
l ast March, the company said it need some P20 billion to bankroll its renewable energy (R e) projects under its expansion plan.
“For the entire group, in the next three to five years, we’re looking at a total capex [capital expenditure] of P20 billion for the lineup of the projects we have,” Magbanua said.
he said 70 percent of the planned capex will be funded through debt and 30 percent via equity. Lenie Lectura
Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt) has fully acquired electronic Commerce Payments Inc. (eCPay) for roughly P3 billion, Globe Telecom Inc. said on Monday.
get of the Department of Finance (DOF) and its attached agencies.
Gatchalian asked the PMO, one of the agencies attached to the DOF, to specify the books under which the assets have been valued on, and the status of privatization.
The PMO official told the senators, however, that the valuation would be very rough and tentative, because in many cases, “we discover the tax liability only when we are trying to dispose” of an asset, and such liability could impact the final valuation of these.
In reply, Gatchalian asked the agency, nonetheless, to submit the rough valuation with the caveat that the amount might change later.
a hearing on Monday led by Finance Committee Chief Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, on the 2024 bud-
WHEN you were a kid, I’m sure a lot of people asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up. And as you entered school, the question changed to what career you wanted to pursue.
It was exciting to answer these questions, primarily because we had the freedom to choose among many possibilities; to decide which direction we want to go in life.
However, upon graduation and as we begin to work in our chosen profession, which signals the completion of our young dreams, we start to pursue new goals of a different nature. Slowly, we begin to desire material stuff more instead of long-term goals. And as a result, we start to drift through life rather than blaze ahead.
Most people I’ve asked have a vague idea of what they really want for their future. Perhaps because they stopped asking themselves those questions that they heard too often as a child. And while seemingly unrelated, this has actually become one of the reasons why most people go down on a spiral of uncontrollable debt and spending; and commit bad financial decisions.
Without meaningful goals to pursue, they easily get distracted. They start spending needlessly on shortterm pleasures and begin living from paycheck to paycheck just to chase momentary enjoyment.
People without goals waste days pursuing the latest trends: working to buy that new gadget, wearing that new fashion, being seen in that new club. They become so preoccupied by these distractions they forget to think about what they really want out of life and how they want their future to be.
I used to be that way too. Fortunately, upon realizing that my life may be comfortable but not really going anywhere, I began to set long-term goals. And by that I mean specific and concrete goals; and not just abstract ideas of what I want.
You must be thinking—“Hey, I do have goals! I’m saving up to buy a car and a house. Those are goals, right?”
Well, is that want you really want? I’m saying this because I’ve met too many people commit the mistake of working on goals that they don’t really want but still pursue because that’s what society expects of them to achieve. Goals such as finding a job and then getting a promotion, buying a car and a big house, then getting married and raising a family.
Find some quiet time to ask yourself what do you really want. This is essential to avoid the mistake of drifting through life. So you can stop working on goals that have low value with respect to your self-fulfillment and happiness.
LALAMOVE Philippines Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with the Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIBIG Fund) so the logistics firm’s delivery men or “riders” can access the benefits and rewards of the state-run provident saving institution. According to Lalamove PHL, their riders were given Pag-IBIG cards to access the mutual fund’s
fitz Gerard Villafuerte
Personal fInance
Set aside society’s expectations and other people’s opinion, and ask yourself—if given the choice, what would you rather do? What would you rather buy with your money? What goals would you be proud to achieve in life?
A friend asked himself these questions, and shared to me that all he could imagine was traveling with his wife and kids, enjoying different sights, food, and culture. They’ll go on out-of-town adventures to discover new places and bond as a family in that experience. However, when I asked if he’s working to achieve that goal, he confessed that he’s currently just saving to build a dream house for his family.
“Why aren’t you saving for a travel fund too?” I inquired.
“Well, it’s not really a financial priority,” he replied.
“And yet, you say that it’s what you hopefully want to do in the future,” I said. “And if so, then it should make sense to include it in your financial priorities.”
That made him think and, more concretely, change his perspective.
A couple of weeks after, he called me to say that his wife agreed with him when he suggested that they could instead, just buy a modest home and not spend anymore on building their own.
Moreover, they also agreed to dine out less often, and eat more meals at home. They also decided to find less expensive but as fulfilling weekend activities for their family—like having picnics at the park, rather than spending the afternoon shopping and watching movies in cinemas.
With the surplus of money that they’re expecting to save, they are now excited to finally have those out-oftown family trips, which they plan to do at every six months starting next year.
Set aside time to answer those questions too. It is guaranteed to be an eyeopener, and will surely give you a greater sense of purpose. It will renew that lost excitement that you had in your youth.
And more importantly, it will help you make better financial decisions.
Fitz Villafuerte is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. Learn more about personal financial planning, attend the 104tg RFP Program this October 2023 To inquire, e-mail info@rfp. ph or text <name><e-mail> <RFP> at 09179689774.
housing and emergency loans as well as savings platform. Pag-IBIG CEO Marilene C. Acosta said they are “happy to bring” the Pag-IBIG card to Lalamove’s partner-drivers “so that they may gain added savings through the discounts they may enjoy using the card.” “This furthers our mission to improve the lives of all our members, the Filipino workers,” Acosta added. Roderick L. Abad
real estate, and that the PMO manages government shares in tollways, mining rights, shares in governmentowned or -controlled corporations, among others.
The total value of the assets is hard to estimate, explained the PMO representative, “because some assets were inherited from the Asset Privatization Trust a long time ago.”
ment is on track in setting up the MIF and that the process for choosing the top officers of the Maharlika Investment Corp.—its president and CEO, two regular directors and three independent directors—is proceeding apace.
posal reflects a prudent increase of 3.6 percent compared to the DOF 2023 budget.
THE senators learned that in all, the agency holds “28,000 titles” to
Also at the hearing, senators asked Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno for an update on the preparations being made to set up the Maharlika Investment Fund. During deliberations on the MIF law, Diokno had indicated that some assets for privatization, such as mining rights, are among those being eyed to provide the resources for setting up the MIF.
Diokno told senators the govern-
Senators were told that the seed funding has also been inputed: P75 billion each from Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines; and, P25 billion in declared dividends from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
AT the Angara-led hearing, Diokno presented the department’s proposed consolidated budget of P32.4 billion for 2024, including its attached agencies and corporations, before the Finance Subcommittee A.
Diokno said the 2024 budget pro-
According to Diokno, the agency’s comprehensive budget allocation encompasses new general appropriations (P24.7 billion), automatic appropriations (P2.9 billion), budgetary support to GOCCs (P4.5 billion) and unprogrammed appropriations (P210.5 million).
Also at the hearing, Angara asked Diokno if he favors allowing a certain agency to raise the salaries of their employees to attract talented employees.
“If we really want good people, we need to make the position special,” Angara pointed out.
Diokno, in response, agreed that there is a justification not only for salary adjustment but reclassification of positions as well.
THE national government failed to borrow the full P15 billion from the domestic market as investors demanded higher yields for short-term debt papers.
The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Monday made a mixed award during its auction of Treasury bills (T-bills), raising only P12.916 billion for the national government.
With the results, the Treasury snapped its six consecutive weeks of full awards of T-bills.
The Treasury made a full award for 91-day and 182-day T-bills but made a partial award for 364-day T-bills as yields rose for the second consecutive week.
The Treasury raised P5 billion
each from the 91-day and 182-day T-bills while P2.916 billion from the 364-day T-bills.
The 91-day T-bills fetched an average yield of 5.698 percent while the 182-day government security averaged 6.023 percent. The 364day T-bills, meanwhile, had an average interest rate of 6.215 percent.
The yields across all the three tenors of T-bills were higher compared to their previous week recorded levels and their recent secondary benchmark market levels.
The secondary benchmark market rates for the government securities were as follows: 5.705 percent for 91-day, 5.983 percent for 182day and 6.194 percent for 364-day.
Rizal Commercial Banking
Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said investors upped their
asking yields for the T-bills in anticipation of the faster inflation print of the country to be released this week.
“T-bill auction yields also went up recently due to hawkish signals from local monetary officials on possible local policy rate hike on or before the November 16, 2023 rate-setting meeting and could remain at similar levels in 1H 2024; ruled out cut/s in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in 2023 or as long as monetary policy remains restrictive but a RRR cut possible in 2024 amid the need to better align with the lower RRR in other Asian countries,” Ricafort said in an interview.
The 91-day T-bills fetched rates between 5.68 percent and 5.725 percent while the investors sought
yields from a low of 5.975 percent to a high of 6.054 percent for the 182-day debt paper. The 364-day T-bills saw yields ranged from 6.15 percent to 6.25 percent.
Nonetheless, the T-bills auction remained oversubscribed with total bids reaching P27.574 billion. However, demand for the T-bills was lower compared to the P40.202 billion bids recorded in last week’s auction.
The Treasury recorded the most offer for the 91-day T-bills at P10.01 billion followed by the 182-day at P9.106 billion. The 364-day T-bills had a total offer of P8.458 billion. For October, the Treasury plans to raise P150 billion from the domestic market through the auction of P60 billion T-bills and P90 billion Treasury bonds.
COMMITMENT fees paid by the national government for loans it obtained from the country’s development partners grew 23.44 percent in 2022, according to the latest data released by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
In its 2022 Official Development Assistance (ODA) Portfolio Review, Neda said the country’s commitment fees increased to $10.7 million in 2022 from the $8.67 million posted in 2021.
Neda said the proportion of commitment fees to the net ODA commitments was at 0.3 percent in 2022, the same share it had in 2021.
“A commitment fee is a levy or charge imposed by lenders to the borrowers on the undrawn scheduled availment of the loan. By paying this fee, the borrower demonstrates their commitment to taking the loan and compensates the lender for the cost of setting aside the funds,” Neda said in its report.
Neda said the project that posted the highest Commitment Fees in 2022 was the Malolos-Clark Railway Project, with a total commitment fee of $1.36 million.
The project is implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Other projects that incurred high commitment fees were the Department of Public Works and Highways’s Metro Manila Flood Management Project with $970,000, and the Department of Agriculture’s Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Tilting (SPLIT) Project with $870,000.
The Manila Flood Management Project is funded by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), while the SPLIT project is solely funded by the World Bank.
The list includes the Department of Health’s Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility Project-Additional Financing (HEAL 2-AF) with commitment fees reaching $820,000 and the DOTr’s South Commuter Railway Project with $790,000.
The HEAL 2 - AF is funded by the ADB and the AIIB, while the South Commuter Railway Project is solely funded by the ADB.
“Two of the loans financing the DOTr’s NorthSouth Commuter Railway Project (Malolos-Clark Railway Project and South Commuter Railway Project of ADB) incurred some of the largest CFs in 2022, consistent with the project’s low financial performance as a repercussion of an inadequate budget cover for FY 2022,” Neda explained.
Meanwhile, Neda data showed that as of December 2022, the total active ODA in the country reached $32.4 billion.
This comprises a net commitment of $30.2 billion from 106 loans, and $2.2 billion from 320 grants. The Neda said this figure is at par with the levels in 2020 at $29 billion and 2021 pegged at $30.15 billion.
The report stated that the ODA loans and grants were provided by 20 development partners (DP) and implemented by 84 partner agencies.
The data showed that the magnitude of the active ODA portfolio in 2022 grew by 0.5 percent from $32.24 billion in 2021.
“The magnitude of active loans as of December 2022 stood on par with the levels observed in both 2020 and 2021. Notably, the said figures represent a substantial increase compared to the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019,” Neda said.
“(This) demonstrates a sustained level of overall commitments for the past three years that
started to significantly rise in 2020 due to the influx of loans specifically for Covid-19 response and recovery,” it also said.
In terms of development partners, ADB emerged as the leading provider of ODA in the country, surpassing Japan which was the country’s top creditor for the preceding seven consecutive years.
The ODA provided by ADB accounts for a 33.47 percent share or $10.85 billion of the active ODA portfolio in 2022. ADB has also taken the lead in terms of new commitments in 2022, with a total of $2.51 billion composed of $2.5 billion for four loans and $10.2 million for seven grants.
Meanwhile, Japan secured the second spot with 30.75 percent worth $9.96 billion, followed by WB with $6.86 billion; China, $0.98 billion; and, Korea, $0.91 billion.
“Collectively, these top five development partners contributed about 91 percent of the combined amounts of ODA loans and grants as of December 2022,” Neda said.
ASenAte Finance subcom-
mittee has directed the Privatization Management Office (PMO) to submit a list of the total assets held by the government agency and their rough valuation, in order to give policy makers a better idea of the possible revenue stream from privatization, given the tight fiscal situation.
❶ SAIL to the Moonlight, Kenneth Montegrande, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 30” x 24”
❷ HARVEST Moon, Kenneth Montegrande, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 30”
Alexander Calder.
While Montegrande had been a rising star at that point—with his works calling into mind the techniques of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, as well JMW Turner, Claude Monet, and Rembrandt— the Maezawa distinction carried him to new heights. He became much more coveted by galleries and collectors, while achieving new feats along the way.
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS
DAY: Gwen Stefani, 53; Neve Campbell, 49; Michele Morrone, 32; Sean William Scott, 46.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Take an innovative approach to work, money, health and legal matters. You are overdue for a change, and implementing techniques and skills to suit trends will encourage positive change and personal gains. Refuse to get bogged down with matters that aren’t your responsibility. Concentrate on what will encourage you to do and be your best. Your numbers are 7, 18, 23, 28, 32, 35, 49.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Put your health and emotional well-being first. Don’t share personal information or secrets that might affect your reputation. Chase your dreams instead of taking on someone’s obligations. A physical routine will motivate you to stay in shape. ★★★
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your desire for change will leave loved ones feeling uncertain. Rely on your gut feeling when it comes time to make a decision. Intelligence will help you pursue a position that offers a bright future and a chance to use your skills diversely. ★★★★★
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be wary of gestures and compliments from someone likely to have ulterior motives. Get to the point, and find out what others want or expect from you. Don’t participate in something that will have ramifications at work or home. ★★
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Move things around at home to accommodate your needs or to approach your job intuitively. You’ll come up with a great way to be more efficient and successful. Make changes that will ensure fairness in personal and professional partnerships. ★★★★
WHAT the great Filipino artist Juan Luna proved in winning the gold medal at the 1884 Exposición Nacional del Bellas Artes in Madrid with his masterpiece Spoliarium stands to this day: Filipinos are world-class.
Such is the belief of visual artist Kenneth Montegrande as he attempts to strengthen his presence in the global art landscape. Noted for his poetic brand of abstract expressionism that captured the local art market, the self-taught artist made waves worldwide last year with his debut international exhibition in New York. Montegrande is set to follow up the act next month with his second solo abroad in another major art market, this time in Hong Kong.
Pasok ang galing nating mga Pilipino sa lahat ng industry, at sa art, pinatunayan ’yan ng isang Juan Luna,” said Montegrande, who’s fortifying his case to join the ranks of Ronald Ventura and Andres Barrioquinto as eminent Filipino global artists. “Gusto nating patunayan ulit na ang Pilipino, may pwesto sa international arts scene.”
Montegrande first proved his case in 2018 when he caught the attention of renowned Japanese megaart collector Yusaka Maezawa. Six of his works have been selected to join the collection of Contemporary Arts Foundation, founded and directed by Maezawa, earning Montegrande the title of the first Filipino and Southeast Asian artist whose works are housed in the prestigious collection. There, his artworks reside with several acclaimed pieces, including a world record-breaking Basquiat and select artworks of internationally renowned artists like Picasso, Christopher Wool, Jeff Koons, Bruce Nauman and
In 2019, Montegrande became the youngest artist to exhibit at the Malacanan Palace Museum. He has also been featured as a guest artist in museums like Fundacion Sanso, where he shared the spotlight with Presidential Medal of Merit Juvenal Sanso.
After impressing the Western market in his soldout New York solo, Montegrande turns his focus to his upcoming Hong Kong showcase. Making the exhibit more special is the debut of Montegrande’s moonscape series, which is inspired yet again by his faith-based messages of divine love.
“We always have to remember na laging nandyan si God, always lighting our paths,” he said. “He is so great that He gave us the sun to light up our days and the moon to light up our nights. In this show, sana ma-appreciate natin na kahit gabi, kahit madilim, God is always there providing us with light even in the darkest moments.”
The moon proves to be a natural addition to the scenes of Montegrande’s moving trifecta of seascapes, cloudscapes, and seascapes. It heightens the dramatic effect as a light source that breaks through the clouds and bathes the land and sea below.
Montegrande’s Hong Kong show will be hosted by Galleria Camaya. It will open on November 15, with the opening reception set at 6pm at the Visual Arts Centre at 7A Kennedy Road, Hong Kong Island.
The debut of Montegrande’s moonscapes comes on the heels of another series launch. The artist rolled out in his recently concluded exhibition with Provenance Art Gallery the lighthouse series, which also featured a new fitting element to Montegrande’s scenes.
The altruistic artist also continues to help those in need through his art. After assisting Fine Arts scholars through Fundacion Sansó’s active scholarship program in a previous exhibition,
SEE “MONTEGRANDE,” B5
CCP’s The Met: Live HD Season 8 continues with the special screening of Umberto Giordano’s thrilling drama Fedora on October 3, 2023, at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 in Makati City. A love story filled with murder, revenge and intrigue, the opera follows Princess Fedora in her quest to avenge her beloved count. Without her knowledge, the count whom she is madly in love with has betrayed her with another woman, the wife of the alleged murderer. After meeting the murderer and hearing his confession, Fedora realizes that she has fallen in love with the man who killed her betrothed. How would this complicated story unfold, and would Fedora find her happy ever after?
Struggling to pique the interest of modern audiences, Giordano’s masterpiece—which first premiered in 1898— made a comeback in 2022, with the Metropolitan Theater of New York taking it out of their repository after 25 years and giving it a fresh appeal. The Fedora features a cast of electrifying voices, led by soprano Sonya Yoncheva, one of today’s most riveting artists, playing Fedora; and star tenor Piotr Beczała singing Count Loris. Completing the cast are Rosa Feola as Olga, Piotr Beczala as Loris Ipanoff, and Lucas Meachem as De Siriex. Maestro Marco Armiliato conducts. Director David McVicar delivers a detailed and dramatic staging based around an ingenious fixed set that, like a Russian nesting doll, unfolds to reveal the opera’s three distinctive settings—a palace in St. Petersburg, a fashionable Parisian salon, and a picturesque villa in the Swiss Alps.
Now on its 8th season, the CCP’s The Met: Live in HD is a special program of the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division (FBNMD) under the Production and Exhibition Department (PED), showcasing operatic productions through high-definition (HD) digital video technology and Dolby Sound, recreating the experience of watching an opera production at the Met “live.” The program is co-presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas.
Tickets are priced at P450. Students and young professionals may enjoy the screenings at P100 upon presentation of a valid ID. Tickets are available at Greenbelt ticket booths and www.sureseats.com.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Think big, but stick to the basics. You can incorporate all the bells and whistles at a later date when the timing is right and the funds are available. Share your vision, but stick to your budget. Don’t mix business with pleasure. ★★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Change begins with you. Don’t let uncertainty stagnate you. Delve into whatever interests you and see where it leads. Picking up knowledge and skills is never a waste of time. Take whatever path feels right. You can always take a detour if necessary. ★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): It’s your prerogative to change your mind or try something new. You may not please everyone with the decisions you make, but you are the one who has to live with the outcomes. Do your best, forge ahead and pursue your dream. ★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Slow down, observe what’s going on around you and consider how best to use a situation to get ahead. Don’t feel you have to make a change just because someone else does. Let your intuition guide you. ★★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ve got more options than you think. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans. Be willing to do the work yourself. Maintain truth and honesty as you move forward. Don’t jeopardize your health; take every precaution necessary. ★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Unnecessary purchases will leave you short of cash. A joint venture will not turn out as planned. Protect against financial loss, manipulative individuals and taking risks with your health. Stick to what you do best, and look out for your interests. ★★★★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do more research before implementing a change that can affect your income or a partnership. Find out where you stand and what’s required; you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of emotionally and financially. ★★★
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Work alongside those who are willing to put out as much as you. Trying to please others by taking on additional responsibilities will leave you tired and unable to take care of your duties. Don’t jeopardize your health or reputation. ★★★
BIRTHDAY BABY:
You are genuine, helpful and understanding. You are quick-witted and persistent.
The Universal Crossword • Edited by David
Steinberg/Anna Gundlach
ACTOR, athlete, brand strategist and good friend Paolo Paraiso tied the knot with the lovely Jessica Sto. Domingo recently and all their loved ones and dear friends were in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas, to share the momentous occasion with the couple.
Paolo was wearing a barong suit created for him by designer Paulo Lazaro while Jessica, who is a property management specialist in the US, shared with us that she got her gown off the rack from a store in Los Angeles, California.
Despite the threat of Taal Volcano spewing sulfur dioxide and volanic smog two days before the big day and the forecast scattered showers that weekend, the special people of both the bride and the groom made sure that nothing could dampen the big celebration of this beautiful and well-loved couple.
The wedding took place at the quaint Saint Joseph Morello chapel in Laiya, a popular seaside destination which attracts both local and foreign tourists all year round. We were privileged to be part of the dozen pairs of godparents who gathered that special afternoon. Some of those who shared our ninong and ninang duties were club music godfather, iconic DJ and lounge lizard Manolet Dario, actor Richard Gutierrez, former Music Making Company vocalist Maria Carla Aurelio, Yolanda Zaragoza, art and music patron Irene Araneta, and Katinko’s John Thomas Yeung.
During the wedding, many were happily surprised to see the couple’s fun friends marching down the isle holding the rings, the coins, the Bible and the rosary instead of little boys. The Bible bearer was actor Geoff Eigenmann and the ring bearer was Jason Soong, who was later announced as the one who introduced Paolo and Jessica in 2018.
Paolo’s two teenage boys Tomas and Lucas were his best men, and his two beautiful sisters Dimples and Bubbles were assigned the cord and veil. Former actors-turned-politicians Bryan Revilla and Jeremy Marquez were also part of the entourage. Max Eigenmann, Joanne Castañeda and Phoemela Baranda
IN this era of online collaboration, GMA Integrated News (GMAIN) takes its commitment as “News Authority ng Filipino” a step further with its latest social media initiative: #BalitaKoChallenge.
Launched on September 18, the challenge complements GMAIN’s crowdsourcing and digital news-gathering arm #BalitaKo as well as its new tagline “Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan.” The challenge is already making waves among the younger audience with over 1.3 million views across popular social media platforms as of September 27.
Netizens can do the challenge with GMAIN’s roster of news anchors Vicky Morales, Mel Tiangco, Arnold Clavio, Emil Sumangil, Raffy Tima, Connie Sison, Susan Enriquez, Atom Araullo, Ivan Mayrina, and Pia Arcangel.
Five Breakups and A Romance lead actors Alden Richards and Julia Montes gamely took on the challenge with their video garnering over 120,000 views as of this writing.
Sparkle star Myrtle Sarrosa and award-winning actor Mon Confiado also joined the trend, along with reporters, Regional TV news producers, DZBB reporters, and Barangay LS DJs. Additionally, several NCAA athletes have also joined in.
To participate in #BalitaKoChallenge, netizens only have to follow these simple steps: visit the official GMA Integrated News Tiktok account, where they can browse through videos featuring their favorite anchors. They can then click on the “share” button located beside the video of their choice. Finally, opt for the “duet” or “stitch” feature, allowing them to craft their distinctive interpretation of the tagline. Don’t forget to use the #BalitaKoChallenge in the caption to join the trend.
On air, catch the news and infotainment program Balita Ko, anchored by award-winning and seasoned journalists Connie Sison and Raffy Tima, weekdays at 11 am, on GTV.
Meanwhile, Sanya Lopez gears up for more challenging and exemplary roles as she signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network last September
were referred to as “groomsbabes.”
Perhaps, happiest that day were the parents of the couple: Ramon and Marian Paraiso and Jesus and Leni Sto. Domingo. “Paolo is the very first to get married among my children, and I’m so happy. The family welcomes Jessica with open arms. We adore her!” enthused the beautiful Mrs. Paraiso, who used to be a model during her younger years. This week,
the couple will be celebrating Jessica’s birthday in Boracay, and we were told that the real honeymoon will be somewhere they have yet to decide. “It has to be a very special place, and it will definitely be a super fun honeymoon destination!” Paolo quipped.
We wish both Paolo and Jessica only the very best as they start their journey as husband and wife. Cheers! n
BEhIND the limelight, David Licauco—proclaimed and loved by the public as one of the rising stars of the new generation—is a hardworking and successful entrepreneur who continues to venture into the food business. With his insatiable interest in Filipino food, the actor came across a Facebook post about beef tapa that piqued his attention during free time at the onset of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
The passionate curiosity of the 29-year-old graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Computer Applications (BSBA-CA) from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde led him to research more on the food industry.
This gave birth to his well-received online food delivery business Sobra Café that started during the height of the pandemic.
Due to its wild popularity, under the premise of serving all-time comfort food and providing a welcoming ambiance, the project eventually expanded into a physical restaurant located at the Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Licauco, along with co-owners Chef Mike Victorioso and AC Adriano, recently celebrated the first anniversary of Sobra Café.
Expanding his food venture, the young entrepreneur also opened a Korean fast-food joint Kuya Korea at UP Town Center, Katipunan, Quezon City, that serves crowd favorites such as bulgogi, bibimbap, and bingsu.
He also launched Nature Intended, an online store which offers vegan and keto products.
From Korean food business to K-drama acting, Licauco flew to Korea last May, together with his onscreen love team Barbie Forteza—the duo popularly known as FiLay—to shoot their upcoming romantic comedy film That Kind of Love, which will be available worldwide.
With his popularity rising after his recent casting in the groundbreaking television series Maria Clara at Ibarra, the actor admitted that it was his biggest break. “I will treasure this all my life.”
Aside from his food and online business, he also established a construction company which is steadily growing.
The young actor recalled that the most underrated lesson he learned was networking. “Studying at Benilde meant I met different types of people. They became my real friends. They helped me in my business,” he recounted.
Despite the success, Licauco underscored that got better due to the failures he experienced.
“I failed, and because of that failure, I learned. And due to that learning, I’m getting better and better. So it’s all about trying and trying and trying and putting in diligent hard work,” he shared. He believes that continuous hard work and persistence are essential keys to achieve his goals.
When asked for his advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and actors, Licauco said, “Just like any industry that you wish to be a part of, it must be clear what you want and why you want it.”
28. The contract signing was attended by GMA chairman and chief executive officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, president and chief operating officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., executive vice president and chief financial officer Felipe S. Yalong, senior vice president for programming, talent management, worldwide, and support group, and president of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, and senior vice president for entertainment group Lilybeth G. Rasonable.
Also present were other senior GMA executives and Sparkle GMA Artist Center senior talent manager Tracy Garcia.
Sanya turned emotional as she thanked the network for all the opportunities she has received, Sobrang thank you po sa tiwalang binigay ninyo sa akin. Sobrang proud po ako at overwhelmed with happiness. Maraming salamat kay Tatay, Kuya Germs, kasi siya po ’yung naging daan para makilala ninyo ako.”
The homegrown GMA actress also affirmed that she will continue working hard on her upcoming projects, “For me po, hindi siya basta kontrata na pinirmahan lang. Reward po siya para sa akin Simple lang naman akong tao na nangarap at kayo po ang naging daan
para matupad ’yon. Gagawin ko po ang best ko at mananatili po akong Kapuso.
Meanwhile, Atty. Gozon highlighted the talent, beauty and good character of Sanya that makes everyone love her, “Nagpapasalamat ako kay Sanya dahil pumirma siya ng exclusive network contract. Ito ang kanyang sign ng loyalty sa GMA at ang GMA naman ay loyal din sa kanya. Now, she is a full-blown artist. Nais kong idagdag na wala akong nabalitaang problemang ibinigay sa amin ni Sanya. Batang-bata ka pa, malayo pa ang mararating mo sa industriya.
Rasonable also shared her excitement to work on one of the exciting projects lined up for Sanya: “It’s very nostalgic for us and we’re so proud kung ano ang narating mo ngayon. We look forward to the many projects that we will be working on together. Keep up the good work and keep your feet on the ground. We love working with you.”
Because of her charisma and range in acting and performing, it took no time for Sanya to amass admirers. Now, she is ready to light up everyone’s world like no one else can and continue her shining journey with GMA.
“Ask yourself if you’re determined and willing to reach that dream of yours. You need to have the persistence to work hard every single day. That’s it— you have to work hard,” he added.
Montegrande will donate part of his proceeds from the Hong Kong show to the International Care Ministries (www.caremin.com). The organization has been providing help, hope and change to impoverished families for 25 years.
Montegrande believes it is only right to give back and to continue to serve as an inspiration through his art. He also believes that while he has made remarkable progress in his career, many more talented Filipino artists deserve to be known.
“My hope in these international exhibitions is to ultimately widen my collector base, and to have my artworks reach more countries and inspire more people,” said Montegrande, whose foreign invasion will reach Europe early next year with a scheduled solo in Milan, Italy.
“Through my artworks, I want to tell the world about the remarkable talent of the Filipino people.” n
Journalists, personalities take on socmed challenge; Sanya stays with GMA
CIVIL Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo Nograles led the 2023 oath taking of 14 newly conferred and upgraded career scientists on September 13, 2023, at the Prime Hotel in Quezon City.
Together with Nograles during the ceremony were Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary and Scientific Career Council (SCC) Chair Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr.; National Academy of Science and Technology Director and SCC Executive Secretary Luningning E. SamaritaDomingo; National Research Council of the Philippines President and SCC Member Dr. Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio; as well as SCC Special Technical Committee Chairs Fabian M. Dayrit, Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., and Estrella F. Alabastro. Nograles, who concurrently holds the position of co-chair of the SCC, noted that the oath-taking ceremony is a celebration of a new chapter in the scientists’ career journey. It also serves as a validation of their excellence as they now belong to a distinct group who also hold an immense responsibility as torchbearers of knowledge.
“To all our scientists, always remember that your service to our kababayans and your contributions to your respective fields are foundations by which we build a stronger and better nation. As a government career scientist, it falls on your shoulders to advance the level of S&T
and innovation in the country and guide the policies by which we draft our laws and programs across all areas of development,” said Chairperson Nograles.
Among the 11 newly conferred scientists are Career Scientist II Jordan F. Madrid, Ph.D. and Career Scientist I Alvie A. Astronomo, Ph.D. from DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); Career Scientist I Juanito P. Jimenez, Jr., Ph.D. from DOSTForest Products Research and Development Institute; and Career Scientist I Melissa P. Montecalvo, MSc, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) National Crop Protection Center.
Also included are Career Scientist I Rodney H. Perez, Ph.D. from the UPLB National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Career Scientists I Jazelyn M. Salvador, MSc, and Joy Ann P. Santos, MSc from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) Natural Sciences Research Institute; and Career Scientist I Rene C. Santiago, DVM, MSc from Department of Agriculture (DA)Bureau of Animal Industry.
Three scientists from DA - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) also took the oath-taking ceremony, namely, Career Scientists I Ma. Cecilia R. Antolin, Ph.D.,Rodelio G. Idago, Ph.D., and Andres M. Tuates, Jr., Ph.D.
Meanwhile, the country has three newly
upgraded scientists, namely, Career Scientist II Fe M. dela Cueva, Ph.D. from UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding; Career Scientist II Danilda Hufana-Duran, Ph.D. from DA Philippine Carabao Center; and Career Scientist II Manuel Jose C. Regalado, Ph.D. from DA Philippine Rice Research Institute. Nograles urged the recently conferred and promoted scientists to ensure that their groundbreaking discoveries are made readily available to the public. Moreover, they were encouraged to serve as an inspiration to the younger generation, motivating them to consider a career in science, as the world requires an increased number of scientists.
“As the Chair of the SCC, I commit to continue supporting and encouraging the advancement of science and technology by fulfilling the responsibilities and functions vested in the CSC to develop and administer continuing programs and training and development for all scientific personnel in the government service together with the DOST. I have full confidence that you will persist in your efforts to enhance public well-being and promote our nation’s growth through science and technology,” Nograles said.
The establishment of the Scientific Career System (SCS) within the Civil Service was formalized through Section 19 of Executive Order No. 784, which was issued on 17 March 1982, by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
IN a significant move towards fostering biodiversity conservation and youth empowerment, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) proudly announced the renewal of their partnership during the 2023 ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes (ABH) Forum. This collaborative endeavor reflects their shared commitment to creating a sustainable future through the preservation of biodiversity.
Set against the backdrop of the 56th ASEAN Day and International Youth Day, the 2023 ABH Forum serves as a rallying point to empower the youth as catalysts for change in biodiversity conservation. By bringing together the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes, the Forum is a platform where their remarkable conservation stories converge with emerging and seasoned development communication practitioners, storytellers, content creators, journalists, and creative writers from across the region.
“Our renewed partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity reflects MPIC’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and biodiversity protection. We believe that our collective action can make a profound impact on the conservation
of our vast natural resources,” said MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla.
The ACB, in collaboration with MPIC and other esteemed partners, spearheaded the 2023 ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes Forum.
In its crucial role of fostering collaboration among ASEAN Member States to conserve and responsibly oversee the region’s biodiversity resources, the ACB assumes a central position in instigating transformative initiatives.
“We are happy to work side-by-side with MPIC as one of our private sector partners in championing biodiversity conservation in the country and in the whole of ASEAN. This partnership renewal is not just a recognition of the successes of our previous collaboration, but this speaks a lot about the effectiveness of our work in integrating biodiversity across various sectors,” said ACB Executive Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim.
In 2022, MPIC was also a key partner for the Seventh ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Conference with the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes Awarding Ceremony as one of the highlights. The conference served as a dynamic platform to enhance the cohesion of AHPs within the ASEAN
community. Organized every three years, the conference brought together AHP managers, AHP Programme Committee members, representatives from the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, as well as other esteemed stakeholders and partners. As the Philippines’ leading infrastructure investments company, MPIC ensures that sustainability is deeply embedded in its business. One of its sustainability philosophies is to design, build, and operate with the utmost consideration for social and environmental well-being, to strengthen its ability to create long-term value for stakeholders.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, President, and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, expressed, “At MPIC, sustainability is at the heart of our business ethos. We are proud to join hands again with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to champion biodiversity conservation. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to responsible leadership in the ASEAN region.”
The signing of the partnership renewal instrument was led by Dr. Lim and Cabal-Revilla, in the presence of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda who is also one of the recognised ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes, the highest distinction given to ASEAN citizens with outstanding contributions to biodiversity conservation in the region.
The partnership with ACB is aligned with MPIC’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly 13: Climate Action, 14: Life below Water, 15: Life on Land, and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The collaboration also intends to bolster programs under MVP’s Gabay Advocacies for a Sustainable Philippines, particularly Gabay Kalikasan.
THE “Most Trusted and Affordable Health and Beauty Products Provider” for 2023 of the prestigious Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers also has some of the most inspiring entrepreneur success stories in the country today.
Rich B. Health and Beauty Products Trading (Rich Beauty) had a soft launch only in February this year but it has so far exponentially grown to become one of the most promising and emerging brands not just locally but also internationally. In fact, a global kingmaker in the e-commerce and retail industry based in the U.S. has included Rich Beauty’s signature organic skincare products in a portfolio of A-list brands to be distributed worldwide and online.
The heart of Rich Beauty, Founder, CEO, and President Rachel Pulia, radiates empathy and pure intentions, especially to the company’s most important stakeholders: its people. Her sincere concern for the welfare of individuals who work hard with Rich Beauty could easily be cited as among the secrets to the brand’s inevitable success.
“We have worked for about two years to develop and test our revolutionary products before we could confidently introduce those to the market,” Pulia opened up. “The journey was long and tedious, but we had to make sure it would work because a lot of people are depending on it. That is of course on top of our priority to give Filipino consumers the best options when it comes to skincare, haircare, and other products promoting holistic wellbeing.”
Pulia has had her fair share of numerous failures and successes in her interesting entrepreneurial journey. She was exposed to running a business at an early age. She was then in high school when she started helping her father sell plastic bags in public markets north of the metro.
“I remember my father telling me that the sincerity I exude when I smile could lead me to business success someday. As a businessman, my father was certain that my sincere concern and empathy towards people would eventually make me a good business owner,” she reminisced. “I am sure he wanted me to be like him, a businessman who had always been fair and generous to people to the extent that he would often sacrifice his own revenues just to be of help to others.”
Looking back, the young Pulia then initially thought it was a disadvantage to be like her father when it comes to managing a venture. “There was one time I got mad at him when he failed to buy me a Barbie doll I had long yearned for as a birthday present. I told him, ‘you always break your promises.’
To my surprise, he remained calm and apologetic, which instantly melted my heart
and made me cry in apologies right there and then,” she narrated. That touching memory has since left a massive impact on Pulia. “My father assured me that someday, I would be successful and would afford to buy my heart’s desires, just as long as I work hard, remain kind, and continuously pray. He was and will always be my guiding star,” she continued sharing. Her father was eventually diagnosed with a serious ailment that he vigorously battled for 14 years until his demise. Pulia, the eldest of five siblings, had to work to continue her studies. She once signed up as a retail store helper, a local shoe brand sales lady, and a beauty consultant for a beauty retail chain to make ends meet and send herself to school.
“One of my greatest regrets is that I did not have enough money for my father’s treatment,” she shared. That challenging time pushed her further to do well in life. Upon starting her own family, she joined her husband in putting up a fish stall in a market. She admitted that the business did not generate enough profit during the initial years and discovered why. “My husband was always stern and stiff when dealing with customers. So I advised him to loosen up and be a little generous in giving discounts (tawad).”
After putting up a small water station in their community (while keeping the fish stall), Pulia decided to use one of her passions to put up a new business, a restaurant. “I desperately wanted it to succeed so I gave it my all. I barely had time for my family and kids. It went well until one day, I fell prey to a scam, which forced the restaurant to shut down.”
ROBINSONS Appliances, one of the leading appliance stores in the Philippines, recently opened its newest store in Festival Mall, Alabang last September 15, 2023. This new store is part of the company’s expansion plans and commitment to provide their customers with a wider range of products and a better shopping experience.
Located on the upper ground floor of the East Wing, near the main entrance of Festival Mall, the new Robinsons Appliances store boasts of a modern and sophisticated design. The store offers a wide range of appliances, from basic home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines to high-end products such as smart TVs and home automation systems. Customers can also find a variety of small appliances, such as coffee makers, blenders, and oven. Just like all Robinsons Appliances branch their newest branch also offers the latest laptop, mobile phones and other gadgets.
Robinsons Appliances is known for offering high-quality products from trusted
brands at competitive prices. The new Festival Mall branch is no exception, with a wide selection of products from popular brands such as Samsung, LG, Sharp, and Panasonic.
“We are excited to open our new store in Festival Mall and bring our high-quality products and excellent customer service to the Alabang area,” said Donna San Luis, Marketing Services Manager of Robinsons Appliances. “We are committed to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible, and we believe that our new store in Festival Mall will do just that.”
The opening of the new Robinsons Appliances store in Festival Mall is a testament to the company’s dedication to providing their customers with the best products and services possible. With a modern design, a wide range of products, and the latest technology, the new store is sure to become a top destination for appliance shopping in the Alabang area.
For more information about Robinsons Appliances and its product offerings, please visit www.robinsonsappliances.com.ph or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok
As part of its expansion program, Robinsons Appliances opens its newest branch in Festival Mall, MuntinlupaEditor: Angel R. Calso
As oil palms approach their commercial lifespan of a quartercentury, they provide less of the versatile edible oil, used in everything from ice cream to cosmetics and fuel. Some plants become too ungainly to tackle for laborers, who rely on hand-held sickles attached to long poles. New palms, however, take several years to yield fruit in commercial quantities.
In palm-producing regions of Malaysia and Indonesia, where the pandemic led to a critical shortage of the manual labor on which the industry depends, an army of farmers has been postponing the inevitable. Squeezed by high costs and falling yields, many smallholders argue they can’t replant—and have no choice but to keep going.
The result is a significant delay to plantation renewal that will dent harvests in coming years, constraining exports from two countries that account for 85 percent of global production, which in turn may reduce profits for cultivators while pushing up global prices.
Oil World, a market researcher,
warned last month of the consequences of an “alarming decline” in average yields due to slow replanting. Annual output growth may fall to 1.8 million tons or less in the 10 years to 2030, from an average of 2.9 million tons in the decade to 2020, the Hamburgbased outfit estimated. The El Niño weather phenomenon won’t help, and in the year ending September 2024, the annual output increase could be the smallest amount in four years.
“The concern is that the cost of production will become uncompetitive,” said Ivy Ng, head of plantations research at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur. “The cost is going up, labor cost is going up, everything is going up—and yet your yield is falling because you didn’t replant.”
Higher prices could also mean demand destruction, nudging large commercial buyers and households toward what are normally more expensive alternatives, like soybeans and rapeseed, especially in price-sensitive markets like India.
“In the past, palm was growing very fast and the advantage was the low cost,” Ng said. “But now you’re no longer low cost and then you’re still selling to the same market. So the question here is will the buyers be able to afford it? Can you pass on the cost?”
For governments, it may well add up to a multi-billion financial aid bill. Small farmers underpin the industry, accounting for roughly two-fifths of the planted area in Malaysia and Indonesia, and they form an important voting bloc. Malaysia’s top growers’ group is already seeking tax breaks and grants in the nation’s budget this month in order to accelerate replanting—going well beyond an existing loan scheme.
Oil palms start bearing fruit at three years old, with yields increasing annually and peaking between nine to 18 years. After that, the volume of fruit starts to decline, and by around 25 years, trees are typically uprooted and replaced. But the pandemic’s labor upheaval and temptingly high
palm prices last year—touching a record—have thrown off that schedule.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Association estimates 664,000 hectares (1.6 million acres), or about 12 percent of the nation’s planted area, consists of trees aged 25 years and above. It has warned that over a third of the planted area could be classified as old by 2027. The average cost to replace them is about 20,000 ringgit ($4,265) per hectare, or almost $3 billion, according to Chief Executive Joseph Tek.
Indonesia’s smaller farmers, meanwhile, can get 30 million rupiah ($1,937) per hectare for replanting, but the nation’s palm oil association says the actual cost can be as high as 70 million rupiah. Based on the current level of assistance, Jakarta may need to provide at least $5 billion to help with the replanting costs.
Among those caught in the dilemma is Jamari, who like many in Indonesia only uses one name. Having switched from rice to palm
oil two decades ago, the planter owns two hectares in the Riau islands. But some of his trees are now 19 and 18 meters high, and the harvest is shrinking.
“There are fewer trees that still produce palm fruit,” he said, adding that where farmers once had 132 to 143 producing trees in one hectare, some now have only 20. He estimated his crop at only 400 kilograms a month of fresh fruit bunches, a sharp drop from the estate’s prime.
The issue is not just financial, but raises structural questions. Environmental pressure on an industry that has often expanded at the expense of virgin jungle and forest has increased dramatically. Even if replanting does not involve fresh clearing, that means quicker—and ecologically devastating—options leaned on in the past, like clearing more land to boost production, are no longer available.
Then there’s the reality of plantation work. Sunflowers or rapeseed are waist-high row crops grown on flat fields that are suitable for tractors. In palm oil, by contrast, it takes teams of workers to cut down tightly packed bunches of fruit wedged between thorny fronds, each weighing between 16 to 35 kilograms. Even clearing planted land is more meticulous than long-used methods of slashing and burning, with cutting and chipping needed to avoid attracting pests.
“When prices are good, replanting is deferred. When prices suddenly fall, the pockets are empty and replanting is deferred,” said Carl Bek-Nielsen, the chief executive director of United Plantations Bhd. “It’s a vicious spiral.”
Founded in 1906, United Plantations is a top 10 producer in Malaysia with the highest yields among its peers. Bek-Nielsen says the company replants about 5 percent of its trees each year to maintain a “healthy age profile.” He says projections that put around 35 percent of Malaysia’s oil palm at 19 years or above by 2027 are worrisome, pointing out labor costs have climbed by at least 25 to 30 percent, along with spare parts and fuel.
Large producers are taking action. At Astra Agro Lestari Tbk’s unit in Central Kalimantan in Indonesia, in a vast plantation of neat rows of palms, the company works with seeds that can yield harvests by the age of 25 months after planting, much earlier that the average variety, which takes three to four years. They are also researching varieties that could keep trunks to 10 to 15 meters, even as trees age. Individual cultivators are moving less swiftly. In mid-2019, Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry said 2.78 million hectares owned by smaller owners needed to be replanted because trees were older than 25 years, and the aim was to renew 540,000 hectares over three years.
As of August, according to Heru Tri Widarto, secretary general for the directorate general of estate crops at the ministry, only about 216,000 hectares had been replanted.
“The real danger is when vegetable oil prices come down,” said Bek-Nielsen. “In such a situation, we will see that companies with the lowest yields and oldest age profile are the ones who will be taken to the cleaners first.”
VATICAN CITY—A few
years ago, Pope Francis told the head of the main Vatican-backed Catholic women’s organization to be “brave” in pushing for change for women in the Catholic Church.
Maria Lia Zervino took his advice and in 2021 wrote Francis a letter, then made it public, saying flat out that the Catholic Church owed a big debt to half of humanity and that women deserved to be at the table where church decisions are made, not as mere “ornaments” but as protagonists.
Francis appears to have taken note, and this week will open a global gathering of Catholic bishops and laypeople discussing the future of the church, where women—their voices and their votes—are taking center stage for the first time.
For Zervino, who worked alongside the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when both held positions in the Argentine bishops’ conference, the gathering is a watershed moment for the church and quite possibly the most consequential thing Francis will have undertaken as pope.
“Not only because of these events in October in Rome, but because the church has found a different way of being church,” Zervino said in a recent interview in her Vatican offices. “And for women, this is an extraordinary step forward.”
Women have long complained they are treated as second-class citizens in the church, barred
from the priesthood and highest ranks of power yet responsible for the lion’s share of church work—teaching in Catholic schools, running Catholic hospitals and passing the faith down to next generations.
They have long demanded a greater say in church governance, at the very least with voting rights at the synod but also the right to preach at Mass and be ordained as priests. While they have secured some highprofile positions in the Vatican and local churches around the globe, the male hierarchy still runs the show.
This three-week synod, which begins Wednesday, is putting them more or less on an equal playing field to debate agenda items including such hot-button issues as women, LGBTQ+ Catholics and priestly celibacy. It’s the culmination of an unprecedented two-year canvasing of rank-and-file Catholics about their hopes for the future of the institution.
The potential that this synod, and a second session next year, could lead to real change on previously taboo topics has given hope to many women and progressive Catholics. At the same time, it has sparked alarm from conservatives, some of whom have warned that the process risks opening a “Pandora’s Box” that will split the church.
American Cardinal Raymond Burke, a frequent Francis critic, recently wrote that the synod and its new vision for the church “have become slogans behind which a revolution is at work to change radically the church’s self-understanding in accord with a contemporary ideology
which denies much of what the church has always taught and practiced.”
The Vatican has hosted synods for decades to discuss particular issues such as the church in Africa or the Amazon, with bishops voting on proposals at the end for the pope to consider in a future document.
This edition is historic because its theme is so broad—it’s essentially how to be a more inclusive and missionary church in the 21st century—and because Francis has allowed women and other laypeople to vote alongside bishops for the first time.
Of the 365 voting members, only 54 are women and organizers insist the aim is to reach consensus, not tally votes like a parliament, especially since the October session is only expected to produce a synthesis document.
But the voting reform is nevertheless significant, tangible evidence of Francis’ vision of the Catholic Church as being more about its flock than its shepherds.
“I think the church has just come to a point of realization that the church belongs to all of us, to all the baptized,” said Sheila Pires, who works for the South African bishops’ conference and is a member of the synod’s communications team.
Women, she said, are leading the charge calling for change.
“I don’t want to use the word revolution,” Pires said in an interview in Johannesburg. But women “want their voices to be heard, not just towards decision-making, but also during decision-making. Women want to be part of that.”
Francis took a first step in responding to those demands in 2021 when he appointed French
Sister Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the synod’s organizing secretariat, a job which by its office entitled her to a vote but which had previously only been held by a man.
Becquart has in many ways become the face of the synod, traveling the globe during its preparatory phases to try to explain Francis’ idea of a church that welcomes everyone and accompanies them.
“It’s about how could we be men and women together in this society, in this church, with this vision of equality, of dignity, reciprocity, collaboration, partnership,” Becquart said in a June interview.
At previous synods, women were only allowed more marginal roles of observers or experts, literally seated in the last row of the audience hall while the bishops and cardinals took the front rows and voted. This time around, all participants will be seated together at hierarchically neutral round tables to facilitate discussion.
Outside the synod hall, groups advocating for even more women’s representation in the church are hosting a series of events, prayer vigils and marches to have their voices heard.
Discerning Deacons, a group pressing for the pope to approve female deacons, as there were in the early church, sent a small delegation; other groups pressing for women’s ordination to the priesthood are also in Rome, even though the pope has taken women’s ordination off the table.
“I’m hopeful that there is room in that space for these bold conversations, courageous
conversations, and particularly that the voices and experiences of women called to the priesthood are brought to the synod,” said Kate McElwee, director of the Women’s Ordination Conference.
Zervino’s group, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, a Vatican-based umbrella organization of 100 Catholic associations, conducted a survey earlier this year of Catholics who participated in the synod consultations. While a few women in North America and Europe called for female priests, there was a broader demand for female deacons in those regions.
Francis listens to Zervino, an Argentine consecrated woman. He recently named her as one of three women to sit on the membership board of the Dicastery for Bishops, the first time in history that women have had a say in vetting the successors of Christ’s Apostles.
Zervino says such small steps like her nomination are crucial and offer the correct way of envisioning the changes that are under way for women in the church, especially given all the expectations that have been placed on the synod.
“For those who think that there’s going to be a ‘before the synod and after,’ I bet they’ll be disillusioned,” she says. “But if women are smart enough to realize that we’re headed in the right direction, and that these steps are fundamental for the next ones, then I bet we won’t be disillusioned.”
The Associated Press writer Sebabatso Mosamo contributed from Johannesburg.
ACROSS swathes of Southeast Asia, maturing palm oil trees, some as tall as a 12-story building, are turning into a multibillion dollar headache for local farmers, regional governments and consumers everywhere.A WORKER uses a sickle to harvest palm oil fruits at a plantation operated by Genting Plantations Bhd., in Johor, Malaysia, in 2019. JOSHUA PAUL/BLOOMBERG SOUTHERN African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Communication Officer Sheila Pires poses for a portrait at The Vatican on September 29, 2023. Pires has been invited to take part in the next synod of bishops starting October 4. “I think the church has just come to a point of realization that the church belongs to all of us, to all the baptized,” she says. Of the 365 voting members, only 54 are women and organizers insist the aim is to reach a consensus, not tally votes like a parliament. But the voting reform is nevertheless significant, tangible evidence of Francis’ vision of the Catholic Church as being more about its flock than its shepherds. AP/DOMENICO STINELLIS
Diaz-Naranjo didn’t make the podium but got what she wanted at the 19th Asian Games that aren’t even a qualifier for her ultimate goal—return to Paris for her fifth straight Olympics.
Yes, wait for me in Paris,” said Diaz-Naranjo after her competition at 59 kgs—a weight category that’s above the 55 kgs class where won the Philippines’ first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.
I’m happy with today’s training…err…competition,” she said in jest as she herself—and Team HD— didn’t expect to beat the “monsters” of the weight class.
K im Ilgyong wielded a big broom as she won the gold medal in record fashion for North Korea, a team banned by the International Weightlifting Federation from its competition, but not here at the Asian Games.
O nly 20 years old, Kim broke the world, Asian and Asian Games record in snatch with her 59-kg lift and adding her 135 kgs, established herself as the new world record holder in total lift with 246 kgs.
She shoved former record holders Luo Shifang of China (107, 133 for 240) and Chinese-Taipei’s Kuo Hsing Chun (101, 126 and 227) to the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
D iaz-Naranjo was calm and calculated during the entire proceedings as she sent a message that she’d be in the podium sooner or later ahead of Paris 2024 with her fourth-placing performance of 97, 126 and 223 kgs.
At the end of the day, it’s the Paris Olympics that are the most important for me,” she said. “We’ll continue training and get qualified.”
She needs two more competitions to return to the Olympics—the World Cup in Qatar in December and in Thailand in February.
HIDILYN DIAZ-NARANJO starts her trek toward perfecting her lift at 55 kgs on Monday where she’s later joined after the competition by Team HD’s nutritionist Jeaneth Aro (left) and sports psychologist Dr. Karen Katrina Trinidad (right) and protégé Rosegie Ramos. NONIE REYES (CANON EOS R6)
D iaz-Naranjo could just have skipped Hangzhou because the Asian Games don’t have an effect on her Paris bid, but she insisted.
I want to represent our country here, I want to compete for our flag,” said Diaz-Naranjo, who came to Hangzhou from her world championships campaign
in Riyadh where she got almost similar results competing at 59 kgs. Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said despite Diaz missing the podium, he expressed confidence she’ll be ripe and ready for the Paris Olympics set from July 26 to August 11 next year.
performance in the ongoing world championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Yulo’s partipation in Antwerp, according to Carrion-Norton, secured Yulo his Olympic spot.
CARLOS “CALOY” YULO has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics bases on a recent report from the International Gymnastics Federation (FİĞ) technical committee.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion bared the good news from the FIG on Monday amid Yulo’s sub-par
C arrion explained that Yulo’s remarkable ratings in the World Cup competitions in Stuttgart, Doha and Baku gave him a solid foundation to reach the Antwerp world championships, a qualifier for Paris. She said Yulo made the Olympic grade under the FIG rule that says “the highest-ranked eligible athlete on each apparatus, based first on the apparatus finals results, and then if needed, on the apparatus qualification results, will
HANGZHOU—Carlo Paalam
squares off with a reigning world champion from Uzbekistan as he seeks to advance to the medal round of the men’s boxing competitions at the 19th Asian Games on Tuesday.
Paalam, Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo, and Uzbek Khalokov Abdumalik clash in a 57-kg quarterfinals duel at 7:30 p.m. at the Hangzhou gymnasium.
Paalam disposed of Uulu Munarbek Seiitbek of Kyrgystan, 4-1, in the round-of-16. Seiitbek, 27, was a bronze medalist in the this year’s world championship in Tashkent.
Now, Paalam will have to go through no less than the gold medal winner in Tashkent in a bid to join light fellow Olympic medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, who’s in the semifinals of the light heavyweight class following his second round knockout
victory over Thailand’s Weerapong Jongjoho on Sunday night.
Almost everyone in my class are tough boxers,” said Paalam, 25.
Head coach Ronald Chavez, however, likes Paalam’s chances. Carlo can beat the Uzbek,” said Chavez, unmindful of the fact that Paalam is the shortest in his division.
Paalam clinched silver in Tokyo as a flyweight but has to move up in weight in his bid to return to the Olympics. The 54 kgs division is out of the Paris program.
M arcial shrugged off anxious moments in the opening round to score the stirring knockout of JongJoho with 14 seconds remaining in the second round.
M arcial is now assured of bronze in the 80 kgs class and has a shot of advancing in the gold medal round should he get past Ahmad Ghousoon of Syria in Wednesday’s semifinals.
obtain one quota place by name.” Yulo will join early qualifiers Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat and Kazakhstan’s Karimi Milad in Paris, as well as American Frederick Richard, Canadian Felix Dolci and Japanese Daiki Hashimoto in the Olympics. Josef Ramos
I’M going to be a bit biased here because I follow American football, soccer or football, and basketball, but I think just being a professional athlete presents a lot of challenges.
I c ame across an article written by Zion Olojede, Kameron Hay, and West Wilson entitled “The Hardest Positions to play in sports, Ranked.”
“ We knew beforehand that Hidilyn’s hopes for a medal here aren’t that bright because she’s competing at 59 kgs,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said. “But we all know Hidilyn, she’s focused and disciplined so in a little under a year’s time, we’ll expect better from her in Paris.”
Coach Julius Naranjo said her Olympic champion wife is on track to getting into the groove at 59 kgs.
We’re taking it slowly, one at a time,” he said. “The world’s best in this weight division are here, and they got the job done.”
The 55-kg class where Diaz Naranjo prevailed in Tokyo was dropped from the Paris program, forcing her to go up in weight.
“ I tried to go for 100 [snatch] and 130 [clean and jerk], it’s my first time to lift those weights,” said Diaz-Naranjo who missed on both in her third and last tries. “I wondered, that’s how strong I have become and I’m getting closer to the top 5 or 6 in the world.” H er gold medal-clinching weights in Tokyo were 97 in snatch and an Olympic 55-kg class record 127 in the clean and jerk.
Just a few kilos more,” added Diaz, who was accompanied in the games by her now famous Team HD of nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and sports psychologist Dr. Karen Katrina Trinidad.
S he expects the Chinese and Taiwanese to perform well in Paris but also mentioned Colombian lifters and those form Ukraine and Canada as tough opponents.
HANGZHOU—Calvin Oftana and CJ Perez waxed hot in the first half as the Philippines crushed Qatar, 80-41, on Monday to set up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with Iran in the 19th Asian Games at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium.
The Philippines takes on the Asian powerhouse at noon on Tuesday in the same venue with both teams eyeing a semifinal slot.
Oftana, bloodied from a gash in the mouth caused by an errant elbow late in the first quarter, came out blazing with three straight 3-point shots to match Justin Brownlee’s nine points as Gilas raced ahead 33-13 in the first period.
Perez buried a buzzer-beating triple to cap a 15-0 first quarter run that had Gilas coach Tim Cone and team manager Alfrancis Chua applauding.
W ith a 57-23 lead at the half, Cone had the luxury of resting Brownlee, June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson for most of the game in preparation for the pounding they would go through against Iran.
Brownlee played under nine minutes while Fajardo and Thompson didn’t play longer than 16 minutes.
C hina is in the semifinal and will
SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada wants more severe penalties—including life imprisonment and substantial fines—against individuals who will be found guilty of manipulating games in professional or amateur sports in the country.
It is imperative that we uphold the true spirit of fair play and athletic excellence, preserving and protecting the integrity of sports activities against dishonesty and corrupt practices,” Estrada said during the recent Philippine Professional Sports Summit. E arlier this year, Estrada introduced Senate Bill No. 1641, also known as the proposed Anti GameFixing Act, which seeks to broaden the definition of game-fixing to include point-shaving, game manipulations, or any arrangement, agreement, scheme, or series of acts in which individuals
B asketball’s two toughest positions are the center and point guard positions.
A ccording to complex.com, “Often the smallest player on the court in a game dominated by giants, the point guard usually bears the most responsibility on the team as far as making sure everybody is on the same page and that the offense runs smoothly. And due to the lack of size that a small forward or a big man has, the point guard more times than not has to be the smartest and most skilled player on the floor to make up for their physical limitations.
Now, there are exceptions to the rule such as Russell Westbrook or prime Derrick Rose, who boasted elite physical traits and athleticism, but for guys such as Trae Young, Chris Paul, and Jalen Brunson it’s the IQ and skill set that allows them to be elite NBA players while often being the smallest player on the floor.”
A s for the center position, “Some people believe that basketball isn’t a physical game, but anyone who’s ever played the center position will say otherwise. Also known as the five, centers require height, weight, and strength in order to be successful. “ They’re responsible for posting up down-low under
attempt to influence the outcome of a game for the purposes of gambling, betting, or defrauding the public.
Under Estrada’s proposed legislation, the actual exchange of money or valuable considerations is not a requirement to constitute the crime of gamefixing. Instead, it will be considered prima facie evidence of its commission.
V iolators may face imprisonment ranging from three to 12 years and fines ranging from P1 million to P5 million, depending on the court’s decision.
L ife imprisonment or a fine ranging from P10 million to P50 million, or both, will be imposed if the offender is part of a syndicate.
I f the offender is a minor student, the liability will be limited to administrative or disciplinary actions by the school or learning institution.
the basket, and they take a lot of physical contact from defenders. They also need to be able to defend the rim on the defensive end while having the stamina to run up and down the court with the smaller, quicker players. In short, it’s tough for a team to succeed without a talented big man.”
The point guard is the “second coach” on the floor and like the quarterback, the point guard has to have a good knowledge and understanding of all both offensive and defensive schemes and sets and the point is tasked to create off the dribble and make something happen.
The center is usually the tallest and strongest on the team. The “5” patrols the paint, sets picks for the shooters, and alters or changes shots. The center position has evolved through the years. Currently, big men can now shoot from outside, slash to the basket and handle the ball.
In American football, similar to pitching, “throwing a football puts a tremendous amount of stress on the arm. Quarterbacks have to deal with a lot more than that, however.
First, they need to be able to memorize the entire playbook and know the responsibilities of each player on the offense.
They must also accurately read defenses and break down holes in coverage. Then, they have to deliver accurate
face the winner of the knockout game between South Korea and Bahrain Monday.
Jordan, which beat Gilas Pilinas in Saturday’s preliminaries, meets Saudi Arabia at 4 p.m. and Japan takes on Chinese-Taipei at 8 p.m. W inners in the round of 8 advance to the semifinals on Wednesday with games set at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. both at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center. It was 73-30 at three quarters as Gilas responded to Cone’s call for more aggressiveness during afternoon team practice last Sunday and later at dinner.
Their 71 percent field goal shooting (12 of 17) in the first quarter virtually sealed the game as the Qataris floundered on 4 of 14 from the floor. The biggest lead was 43 points. Every Gilas player chipped in with extended minutes with Oftana, after getting his cut fixed, retuning to add a baseline jumper to his output.
Cone left Ange Kouame practically gasping for breath inside for almost 30 minutes, the longest playing time for the team, to give the 7-footer a taste of what to expect when he goes up against the hefty Iranians.
Jun Lomibaopasses that put their receivers in position to make plays after the catch. To top it off, they have to do all of this while several defenders are coming for them at full-speed.” Soccer and ice hockey goalies have the unenviable task of stopping shots, “Hockey goalies are known for being, well, a little quirky, to put it nicely. But, can you blame them? They have to put their bodies in front of 100 mph slapshots, and only in the last few decades have they started wearing masks! Of course, they also have to be able to skate and have the durability to stop 30+ shots a game. On top of that, they are typically the target of opposing teams’ fans, and if they let in a weak goal, they will immediately hear about it.”
A s for soccer, “Sure, soccer goalkeepers only face a handful of shots each game. They are responsible for defending an 8x24-foot net, however, which would be hard to defend for someone like Shaq let alone a regular sized human. You won’t see them wearing any protective gear despite the fact that players can kick the ball as fast as 70 mph. Plus, they’re also responsible for organizing their team’s defense due to the fact that they can see the entire field, and if they let in a bad goal, you can almost guarantee they will spend years on the blooper reel.”
SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada files a measure seeking to broaden the elements of game-fixing and provide severe penalties.