Manila Standard - 2024 August 30 - Friday

House witness tags PNP as ‘biggest crime group’

Police leadership, Dela Rosa reject EJK accusation

By Vince Lopez, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

APOLICE officer

who served as witness in the ongoing House committee probe into the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs tagged the Philippine National Police as “the biggest crime group in the country.”

In his affidavit, Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido said the directive to eradicate illegal drugs during the previous administration involved a quota and reward system for every suspected drug personality killed. But when he dismantled the Kerwin Espinosa drug syndicate, Espenido said he was punished with a onemonth suspension because of people

who protected the group.

“From my experience I can say that the PNP is the biggest crime group in this country. I did my job faithfully but I could not be promoted because I am always in some derogatory list,” he said.

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Marcos signed into law the Loss and Damage Fund Board Act that will help the country push for climate change impact financing.

The Philippines was earlier selected to host the LDF Board after earning a spot in the body during the United Nations 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai in December 2023. The new law grants juridical personality and legal capacity to the LDF Board, a global finance mechanism to help vulnerable states dealing with the effects of climate change, to operate in the Philippines.

The board will also have the legal capacity to negotiate, conclude, and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank as interim trustee and host of the global LDF secretariat.

FRIENDLY VISITS. Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Secretary General Marcin Czepelak listens intently as President Marcos, Jr. drives home a point during a conversation at the Malacanang Palace yesterday. Czepelak paid a courtesy call on the President as part of the PCA’s customary visits to member-states to further promote peaceful resolution of international disputes. Inset photo shows visiting Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo trying out the cockpit of a FA-50 jet, with General Brawner as his wingman during a visit of EDCA facilities at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga. PPA POOL / PAOAFP.

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine government on Thursday announced its intention to purchase 40 new multi-role fighters (MRFs) to enhance its ability to provide territorial defense amid mounting external aggression.

DOJ: More cases to be filed against Shiela Guo, Ong

By Maricel Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Department of Justice said yesterday that criminal charges have been filed against Cassandra Li Ong and Shiela Guo also known as Zhang Mier. DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said Shiela Guo faces cases for disobedience to legislative summons and using a false Philippine passport while Cassandra Li Ong, representative of Lucky South 99 POGO, would face disobedience to summons and obstruction of justice cases.

The Philippine National Police, however, rejected the accusation

“We are honored to have a seat on the Board itself, ensuring that the Philippines will be a formidable voice in promoting and advancing global climate

This initiative represents a significant expansion over the 12 MRFs it originally wanted to acquire to strengthen its lackluster aerial defense capabilities. Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro made the announcement during a House Appropriations Panel

By Rex Espiritu and Charles Dantes

THE Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) head magistrate paid a courtesy call on President Marcos at Malacañang Palace on Thursday in an encounter that is widely seen as a reaffirmation of the international tribunal’s support for the Philippines’ claim over portions of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

PCA Secretary General Marcin Czepelak is touring the Philippines as part of the global dispute resolution body’s activities for its 125th anniversary.

During their meeting Mr. Marcos assured his visitor that the Philippines will continue adhere to international law. The Philippine leader cited the importance of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which he said is a vital part of Philippine foreign policy considering all the present challenges it faces.

“The Permanent Court of Arbitration is an important part of our foreign policy considering all the challenges that we are facing right now. And our continuing adherence to international law,” the President told Czepelak.

hearing, wherein he disclosed that the Department of National Defense (DND) is now open to entertaining bids from prospective suppliers. He explained that that bidders must provide a financing plan allowing for spread out payments.

RTC affirms decision for De Lima in last drug case

THE Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 affirmed its decision to acquit former senator Leila de Lima in her last drug case filed during the Duterte administration, ABS-CBN News reported.

In a decision promulgated on August 7, the court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by government prosecutors who sought the reversal of the verdict.

The trial court invoked the principle of double jeopardy in denying the

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of Espenido, who insisted he was made a scapegoat for drug-related extrajudicial killings during the previous administration.

"We are saddened because there are many police officers who are serious and loyal to their duty. Many have given their lives and it is sad that the whole organization was labeled by him," PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said. While admitting that “a small

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action— an issue of critical interest to the country. Hosting the LDF Board reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and our leadership role in ensuring that the voices of those most affected by climate change shape the future of international climate policies,” Mr. Marcos said in July when the Philippines was chosen as LDF Board host. For his part, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the Philippines is set to establish a gold standard for climate finance and action globally

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Quiboloy, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 said yesterday.

PRO 11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey said obstruction of justice and direct assault complaints were filed against the KOJC members.

"Some of them are in the Davao City Police Office custodial facility but were processing their bail," she said.

Dela Rey said the 60 cops are now recovering from injuries. The police treated at least two KOJC members who were also hurt during the operation, she added.

Previously, some KOJC members filed a complaint against the police after allegedly sustaining injuries during the police operation in the religious group's compound in Davao City.

“My instructions are to spread out payments to 60 percent of the useful life of the assets… that should be the time covered by the financing, so it will be more digestible to the (Philippines) economy,” he said in Filipino. He, however, did not specify which models the Philippines was seeking to procure, or potential bidders.

The defense chief was not clear on the timeframe of the planned procurement.

To support this modernization effort, the government is exploring affordable financing options, including

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Ty said money laundering cases will also be filed against Shiela Guo and Ong.

He added that qualified human trafficking would soon be filed against Ong for her alleged links to the POGO in Porac, Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives quad committee has al-

motion of the prosecution, stressing that the dismissal of De Lima’s case through demurrer to evidence was tantamount to an acquittal.

“Thus, such order of the court cannot be appealed as it will place the accused to double jeopardy,” Presiding

percentage...may stray from the straight path,” Fajardo said the PNP has "existing internal disciplinary mechanisms" to address such cases.

"An organized crime group is formed for one purpose only – it is to commit crimes. This is far from the reality of why the PNP was established, so we don't know where this police officer is coming from. It casts doubt, casts shadow on the integrity of the entire PNP," she said.

"This is evidence that the PNP leadership consistently upholds what is right and strives to provide the best possible service to the nation, setting

with the new law that enables its hosting of the LDF Board.

“The LDF Board Act is one of many decisive actions we take to escalate our climate initiatives and solidify the Philippines' leadership in championing the voices of those most impacted by climate change. We are determined for our hosting to set the gold standard for climate finance and action, not just across Asia and the Pacific, but around the globe,” he said.

By hosting the LDF Board, the Philippines will play a leading role in helping attract significant support from developed countries and development partners to provide

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For his part, Czepelak, a Polish jurist and former ambassador of Poland to the Netherlands, expressed interest in exploring the potential for establishing a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Philippines to facilitate PCA hearings within the nation.

“It is my first time (to visit the Philippines) and it is fantastic experience to be able to, first, I meet a lot of people and then I’m allowed to even visit some places. And I’m very happy that you found the time,” the visiting PCA told his host.

In a statement, Malacañang said Czepelak’s visit “offers a valuable opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ commitment to international law, peaceful dispute resolution, and the PCA, as well as to congratulate the Arbitral Court on its 125th anniversary."

As this developed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the United States military’s offer to escort

syndicated loans from private lenders, according to Teodoro.

In the ASEAN region, we (the Philippines) have the lowest defense spending… it’s so low that we are now forced to catch up (on defense capabilities) so, the amount we have to spend seems quite large. But it is still small compared to what our neighbors are spending on defense,” he noted.

In July, President Marcos has authorized the military’s proposal to acquire MRFs to enhance the country’s defensive capabilities.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) was erstwhile considering the purchase of 12 MRFs, the leading candidate being the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen

lowed Ong to testify before the Senate Committee on Women chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros on the POGO issue.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, head of the megal panel, made the announcement before the closing of the 13-hour-long hearing last Wednesday.

As this developed, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian described as "premature" suggestions to use Guo or Zhang Mier as "state witness"

Judge Gener Gito, quoted by ABSCBN News, said.

The court noted that the only way it will reverse its judgment is if it committed grave abuse of discretion but the prosecution was silent on the matter.

Senators earlier welcomed the dismissal of the final drug case against the former senator and raised the possibility of her returning to the Upper Chamber.

Senate President Francis Escudero said in a statement voiced strong support for De Lima and hoped the former Justice Secretary would

an example for others to follow," Fajardo added.

Government records showed more than 6,000 have been killed in anti-drug operations since June 2016 until May 31, 2022, a month before Duterte’s term ended, but human rights groups estimated the death toll may be as high as 30,000.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, likewise belied Espenido's claim that he ordered the killing of drug suspects.

"I didn't order them (police) to

concrete financial contributions in averting, minimizing, and addressing losses and damages, Recto said.

“It will also serve as an avenue for the Philippines to showcase its game-changing initiatives, transformative reforms, and sciencebased innovations on adaptation and mitigation actions as well as disaster risk management aligned with its national plans and strategies,” he added.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs earlier reported that in2023, at least 12,000 people died globally because of floods, forest fires, cyclones, storms, and landslides, representing a

Philippine ships in delivering muchneeded supplies to outposts in disputed areas of the WPS.

However, AFP Chief-of-Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr. told US counterparts that the Philippines would rather rely on its own capabilities despite China’s unceasing efforts to block Philippine vessels conducting Rotation and Reprovision (RoRe) missions to distant outposts.

“We’re happy that the United States has given us a lot of options, including that of joining or escorting us for the voyage,” Brawner said.

“But as I said earlier, we are going to do the mission unilaterally,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro told lawmakers during a budget hearing on Thursday that options or proposals for joint naval operations with allies must first be approved by the members of National Maritime Council (NMC).

“It just adds one option to us, one option in our toolkit that we can use in case it is necessary. However, that

from Sweden, but a version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the US was also reportedly being evaluated.

Meanwhile, the US Indo-Pacific Command's commander on Wednesday visited one of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) facilities in Basa Air Base in Pampanga.

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. accompanied Admiral Samuel Paparo in inspecting the facilities developed under the EDCA.

The inspection focused on improvements and upgrades made to enhance the operational capabilities of the PAF and promote joint interoperability between the two armed forces.

Basa Air Base, one of the sites des-

against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping.

In Thursday's Kapihan sa Senado, Gatchalian said it is still too early to use her a state witness with regard to the illegal POGO operations in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.

He also has misgivings if Shiela will testify against the former mayor. "If she will be a state witness, what we want is for her to give in -

consider running for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the US State Department and foreign envoys hailed the acquittal of De Lima from drug charges filed during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The United States welcomes the acquittal of former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima on the final criminal charge against her. This decision follows her release on bail in November 2023 after nearly seven years of detention and her

kill," Dela Rosa said. For his part, Senator Christopher Go chided Espenido for linking him to the reward system during Duterte's war on drugs, which the police officer claimed came from intelligence funds and POGO money “funneled downward from the level” of Go.

"It's just alarming how my name was included in his affidavit. When I was still the Special Assistant to the President, I never handled any funds related to the drug war and most especially anything from POGO. More so when I became senator in 2019," Go said.

30 percent increase compared to the figures recorded in 2022.

Developing countries are the most vulnerable on the list and bear a disproportionate burden in terms of experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), developing countries have 15 times more victims of natural disasters than developed countries. As of March, at least $661 million was pledged to the Fund, led by France, Italy, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates which each committed $100 million or more.

proposal we’ll have to go to the National Maritime Council and discuss in the council and approve, if ever.” He said.

“We will depend on ourselves first and we will try to exhaust all the options first before asking for help. After we exhaust all the options and nothing works, then, that’s the time we can ask for help,” Brawner on the other hand explained.

On Tuesday, US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr. who is in the country to attend the Mutual Defense BoardSecurity Engagement Board meeting in Baguio City, said having US ships escort Philippine vessels on resupply missions in the WPS is “an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty.”

“But what we do now, based on our guidelines, our operational commanders have all the necessary authority under the discretion in order to secure in order to execute resupply missions in areas within their jurisdictions, of course with notification with NMC.” Teodoro explained to the lawmakers.

ignated under the EDCA, has been equipped with various infrastructure upgrades and facilities to support the Philippine military’s modernization efforts and contribute to the country's overall security and defense posture in the region.

"The improvements in our facilities at Basa Air Base demonstrate our commitment to strengthening our defense capabilities and ensuring that our forces are prepared to respond to any security challenge," Brawner said. As this developed, the Philippine Marine Corps' 1st Marine Brigade received state-of-the-art equipment intended to boost its fighting capabilities.

formation on Alice Guo and what she's doing particularly her involvement in POGO," he said. But he admitted that it will be difficult because she and Alice Guo have the same lawyer. Furthermore, the senator noted that there were several gaps and loopholes in her testimonies on her escape with Alice and Wesley Guo, and her association with them and Ong.

"There were also many inconsis-

acquittal on two separate politically motivated criminal charges,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

The spokesperson reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with the Philippines in strengthening “democracy and human rights” around the world.

“We continue to urge the Philippines to resolve politically motivated cases, including those against journalists and civil society, in a manner consistent with its international human rights obligations and commitments,” Miller added.

marriage

SC rules long absence from home ground for voiding

THE decades-long absence of an individual from the marital home can be used as evidence to prove psychological incapacity in marital obligations, the Supreme Court (SC) said.

In a decision promulgated on April 17, 2024, SC granted the petition of Leonora Dela CruzLanuza against her husband Alfredo Lanuza, Jr., ABS-CBN News reported.

The couple got married in 1984 and separated after ten years after Alfredo’s behavior changed. He also refused to provide financial support to his family and married several women after the separation, the report further said.

Records show that Leonora filed a petition to nullify their marriage but was denied both at the Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals levels.

The SC however ruled that their marriage was void because of Alfredo’s long absence from his marital home which showed psychological incapacity and made him unable to fulfill his marital duties.

The SC noted that under Article 68 of the Family Code, spouses are obliged to live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity and render mutual help and support.

“Respondent’s infidelity, failure to give support to his wife and children, and unjustified absence from his family are all indicative that he is not cognizant of the duties and responsibilities of a husband and father,” the court said in the decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

The SC also noted in the decision that it was clear that Alfredo’s “personality disorder” developed from his childhood and is correlated to his inability to fulfill his obligations as a husband and father.

The court further noted that his disorder appears to have been caused by how he was raised by his family as he was deprived of appropriate parental supervision and the leniency of his parents encouraged him to be “extremely assertive.”

“His psychological incapacity developed during his formative years and existed prior to his marriage to the petitioner,” the court, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.

tent details. She said it was her first time to be with Cassandra in Malaysia, but there was flight details that she was with her and Warren Yu,"said Gatchalian.

"Shiela also said she has no knowledge about the businesses of the Guo's but her name appeared in the documents that she's a corporate secretary, treasurer or Chief Financial Officer and incorporator for the past nine to 10 years and she signed the documents 96 times," he said

Experts: Legal

gun owners ‘force multipliers’

By Miguel C. Gil

TWO organizations representing firearms enthusiasts and other licensed gun owners urged the government to beef up the country’s defenses and make it better prepared to repel an invasion by a foreign power.

War anxieties have gripped many Filipinos amid China’s increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the recent discovery of pockets of Chinese nationals entrenched in several communities around the country, some found to be armed and involved in illegal enterprises.

In an interview, lawyer Ernesto Tabuhara III, secretary general of the lobby group Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (PROGUN) Philippines, pointed out that despite hurried efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it is still likely to find itself short in manpower if pitted against Beijing’s twomillion-strong army.

“The recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea have once again brought to the forefront of discussions our preparedness as a people (to put up resistance) against foreign invaders. What are clear-cut territories of the Philippines are now being forcefully claimed by China. Allowing civilians to arm themselves (creates) a force multiplier for our military… which is woefully undermanned and ill-equipped,” he told Manila Standard on Thursday.

Tabujara said that the incumbent administration’s recent decision to restore civilians’ ability to purchase “military-style” rifles, with bore diameters not exceeding .30-caliber, is a step in the right direction.

Customs, DA prep for ‘ber’ months

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are enhancing security at Manila port to handle the anticipated surge in goods during the upcoming holiday season and “ber” months.

The “ber months,” a reference to September, October, November, and December, are critical for Customs because unscrupulous traders will try to find the opportunity to sneak in their illegal goods in time with the high volume of imports at the ports.

On Thursday, agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation ServiceManila International Container Port (CIISMICP) foiled the entry of about P8.422 million worth of suspected smuggled agricultural products in North Harbor Manila.

‘Gov’t

The shipment, which consisted of 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges, came from Thailand and lacked the required import sanitary clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

CIIS Director Verne Enciso said that the “derogatory information” they received from the BPI led them to the seizure of the shipment.

“This interception highlights the coordination and collaboration among and between key government agencies, and even the various units within the BOC.

The information we received was imme-

TRAGIC DISCOVERY. One of three bodies found in Romblon, believed to be a passenger from a motorboat that capsized off the coast of Antique. Romblon PIO

collaboration needed to protect marine resources’

MARINE science and geopolitical experts urged the government, private sector, and international community to collaborate to protect the country’s marine environment in the West Philippine Sea amid massive coral destruction due to China’s continuous illegal activities in the area.

The experts made the statement during a West Philippine Sea marine conservation forum on Tuesday, organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokes-

person Col. Francel Padilla-Taborlupa noted the massive coral destruction in the West Philippine Sea due to China’s reclamation activities.

She cited the Center for Strategic and International Studies report bearing the 21,000 acres of coral reefs damaged by these illegal Chinese activities.

To combat further harmful activity, PadillaTaborlupa said they stationed the biggest coast guard vessel in the Escoda Shoal to prevent Chinese reclamation of the area following the dumping of dead corals in the area.

Stratbase ADR Institute president Profes-

Doctors’ organization rolls out TB assistance

DOCTORS Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will start providing tuberculosis (TB) medications for 141 patients in Tondo, Manila starting today. The organization said this is to support the Manila Health Department (MHD), which has been struggling with drug shortages over the past year.

This will enable patients whose treatment has been pending for several months to start taking their medication, MSF also said.

Since January 2024, over 300 patients have been diagnosed with TB through the active case-finding activities of Doctors Without Borders in Tondo, Manila.

While some patients were able to start treatment, many others were unable to start treatment due to the unavailability of TB

sor DindoManhit said the joint efforts among all sectors of society and the international community are necessary to protect our seas and oceans and to uphold the rules-based international order.

“We believe that in our collective pursuit of marine conservation, people are tasked not only to protect our marine resources but to ensure their sustainable and responsible use. As we fight to assert our rights and safeguard our marine environment, collaborating with key stakeholders in the government, private sector, and the international community is crucial,” he explained.

diately verified by our officers and with the help of agriculture experts, we were able to pin down the cargo,” he said. The failed attempt to smuggle fresh oranges from Thailand was made possible by the timely information shared by the BPI that the shipment lacked the mandatory Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC).

CIIS-MICP chief Alvin Enciso said his team immediately implemented the order as unsanitary imported agricultural products can pose a health risk to local consumers.

IN BRIEF

Coast Guard continues search and rescue in Antique

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is continuing its search and rescue (SAR) operations for the seven missing passengers of two motorbancas, the MBCA Ure Mae and an unnamed boat, that capsized off the waters of Caluya Island in Antique on August 26.

Initial investigation revealed that the boats departed Boracay Island at 4 AM on August 26 en route to Caluya, Antique.

Three hours later, the boats reportedly encountered big waves and inclement weather, causing them to capsize. The boats each have 20 passengers on board, including the boat captains.

The PCG, Municipal Police Station (MPS) San Jose, and MDRRMO-San Jose, immediately launched a SAR mission to locate and rescue the other passengers. Vince Lopez

Cops arrest second most wanted felon in Maguindanao

MEMBERS of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) arrested the second most wanted person (municipal level) in Maguindanao del Norte.

The suspect is also a known leader of a suspected private armed group, authorities said.

Acting on a tip-off, joint operatives of Sultan Mastura MPS (Lead Unit), together with Police Intelligence Unit-Maguindanao, Regional Intelligence Unit-15, and Regional Intelligence Division PRO-BAR, proceeded to the area and served the warrant of arrest against the accused, who was charged for a violation of Article 248 (Murder) issued by the Presiding Judge of the 12th Judicial Region, Branch 14 of Cotabato City, dated September 4, 2013.

The operation was executed without any resistance from the accused, who was fully informed of his rights and the nature of his arrest. He is currently in the custody of Sultan Mastura MPS, where he is undergoing documentation and awaiting the issuance of a Commitment Order from the court. Vince Lopez

BOC agents intercept illegal shipment of oranges

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted a shipment of illegally imported oranges from Thailand worth more than P8.5 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). The confiscated shipment consisting of 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges was intercepted at the MICP after discovering that the fresh fruits were not covered by the required import sanitary clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“The unlawful importation of the oranges was halted due to the timely derogatory information shared by the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) that the shipment lacked the mandatory Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC),” the BOC said in a statement. Vito Barcelo

PREPARING THE CATCH. Fisherfolk in Noveleta, Cavite prepare the fish they caught to be made into “tuyo” or dried fish. Fishing activities in Cavite can now resume, as the oil spill that disrupted the livelihoods of fishermen is nearly contained. Norman Cruz

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024

Bill addresses lack of textbooks in public schools

By Maricel V. Cruz

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker is pushing a bill that aims to resolve the persistent problem of inadequate textbooks for students in public schools with “future-proof” learning materials in the country’s basic education system.

Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said the enactment of Resources Plan as provided under House Bill (HB) 10734 will strengthen the partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) which would be jointly tasked to formulate and implement a National Textbook and Learning Resources Plan. Yamsuan said he filed the bill after the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) established that students in public elementary and high schools struggled to learn for about a decade with incomplete or no textbooks at all.

“Our bill provides the answer to the long-standing problem of our public school learners who find it hard to study because of the lack, and even the complete absence, of textbooks. This has a big negative impact on their ability to study efficiently, especially in the subjects of Math, Science and Reading, where Filipino students have logged low test scores,” Yamsuan said.

He cited the 2022 findings of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that Filipino students were among the weakest in the subjects of Math, Reading and Science, and even in creative thinking skills compared to learners from 81 countries that took part in the global study.

Calabarzon reports first case of Mpox

HEALTH authorities are keeping a close watch over the reported first Mpox case in an undisclosed place within the Calabarzon region. Reports have it that the patient had no history of recent travels. The symptoms started manifesting last Aug. 10, with fever and rashes.

Officials said the patient was recovering at home, but remained under strict monitoring by health authorities.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the MPXV. It can spread among the people, mainly through close contact with the skin or mucosal lesions of an infected person, by talking or breathing, kissing, touching, hugging, sexual intercourse, or respiratory secretions.

Transmissions can also occur via indirect contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing, or linens.

Common symptoms of Mpox include skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks, accompanied by fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches and back pain, headache, and low energy. Dennis Abrina

S. Leyte town gets new ambulance thru Japan

THE Japanese Embassy in Manila has donated $42,200 to the local government of Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte meant to buy an ambulance to boost healthcare services to the residents.

Nishimura Tokiko, second secretary of the Japanese Embassy, turned over the fund to Padre Burgos Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa.

Padre Burgos was reportedly using only one ambulance to respond to medical emergencies and disasters.

But due to excessive use and lack of proper maintenance, the vehicle has bogged down, necessitating immediate replacement..

Nishimura expressed hopes that the new ambulance would enhance the capabilities of both the Rural Health Unit and the community hospital in providing daily services and emergency response during and after calamities.

Maguindanao Marines acquire new battle gear

THE Philippine Marine Corps’ 1st Brigade on Wednesday in Maguindanao del Norte has acquired new battle equipment to boost its proficiency in combined arms operations.

The gear arrived at the Palloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte for the newly deployed members of the 65th Force Reconnaissance Company, along with latest armor, artillery, and patrol craft.

The package included two V150s, one V300 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV), three V300 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), two Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURCs), two 105mm howitzers, two 155mm howitzers, one Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) and one Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS).

The event was attended by Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central as guest of honor and speaker. Rex Espiritu

SBMA hands out revenue shares to select Zambales, Bataan LGUs

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday raised alarm over the reported disappearance of an environmental advocate from Quezon province following her release from detention at a Lucena City jail.

The CHR stepped into the case of Rowena Dasig who was reported missing after being set free after charges against her were tossed out by the Gumaca Regional Trial Court Branch 172 on Aug. 13, “As of (this) writing, there have been no updates on the whereabouts of Dasig after she had been freed from the LCDJ,”

Ramon Magsaysay awardees to be announced on Aug. 31 CHR intercedes for missing environmentalist

WINNERS of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards will be announced this coming Aug. 31 on the occasion of the 117th birthday of the seventh Philippine President.

In a statement, Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) chairperson Cheche Lazaro reflected on the importance of this year’s event.

“As we celebrate the 117th birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay, we are reminded of his profound impact on Asia and the world. The 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees embody the same spirit of selfless service and transformative leadership, making significant contributions to their respective communities and the wider Asian region,” Lazaro said.

This year’s key visual, prayer flags, will also be featured prominently in the announcement. The prayer flags, which symbolize peace, compassion, strength, and

the CHR said in a statement.

Dasig was arrested along with Miguela Peniero, a community health worker on July 12 last year in Arizonan, Quezon for alleged illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Peniero remains in detention up to now.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 85th Infantry Battalion earlier released a statement, tagging Dasig as a leader of the New People’s Army.

The CHR called for an the exhaustive search for Dasig, adding it was closely monitoring the incident to ascertain her whereabouts and safety.

“We also call upon all relevant government and law enforcement agencies to immediately conduct efforts within their respective mandates,” it said. The agency urged the government to strictly implement Republic Act No. 10535 or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Law.

“It is important that human right defenders in our country are able to effectively conduct their work without any fear for their own welfare. It is about time that we strengthen the safeguards on the rights of activists to address their susceptibility to violence, harassment and even red-tagging,” the CHR stressed.

By Butch Gunio

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has released ₱204.7-million in net revenue shares of certain local government units (LGUs) in Bataan and Zambales provinces as mandated by law.

SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the funds were received by the eight contiguous localities as part of the five-percent corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises from January to June 2024.

“We are hoping that these revenue shares will augment their funds for development projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation,” Aliño said.

He also disclosed that the revenue shares of the LGUs during the first semester of the year were slightly higher than last year’s ₱203 million for the same period.

For shares generated during the first half of 2024, Olongapo City’s share amounted to ₱47.8 million; Subic will have ₱30.7 million; San Marcelino, ₱24.5 million; and San Antonio, ₱17.4 million For Bataan province, Dinalupihan will get ₱25.5 million; Hermosa, ₱21.9 million; and Morong, ₱18.1 million. Revenue shares are determined based on the following criteria; population at 50 percent, land area, 25 percent, and equal sharing, 25 percent.

This puts Olongapo on top of the list with the biggest share of the pie on account of its population. According to the 2020 census, Olongapo had 206,317 constituents, the biggest among the contiguous communities of the freeport. It was also the highest in terms of population density with 1,407.12 residents per square kilometer with a total of 185 sq. km. land area. Net shares are computed by adding the current base share to the 10-percent retention amount from two years prior, but

wisdom, resonate to the work of the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, serving as an inspiration to all, the foundation said in a statement.

RMAF president Susanna Afan explained the relevance of the prayer flags, saying; “Prayer flags are more than just symbols, they carry our deepest hopes and aspirations, sending positive intentions into the world. Much like our Ramon Magsaysay Awardees spread their ideals across borders through their inspiring lives and selfless work.”

“The five colors of the prayer flags— blue, red, white, green, and yellow—represent hope. In the same way, the lives and work of the Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, fueled by their unwavering dedication, bring hope and inspiration, contribute to the creation of a more inclusive world,” Afan said.

CAVITE SEAFOODS ARE SAFE. Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla gives assurances that mussels, oysters, and other sea foods in the province are safe to eat as officially declared by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. following two weeks of intensive laboratory tests on account of the Bataan oil spill. Dennis Abrina

OPINION

Is UP’s academic freedom at risk?

THE University of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines signed on Aug. 8 a “Declaration of Cooperation” under which a university think tank, the UP Center for Integrative Development Studies (UP CIDS), will pursue research interests with the AFP in areas relevant to UP’s role, mission and mandate.

Both parties also affirmed a common commitment to dialogue and intellectual freedom.

The center’s work under the agreement include the following: share its technical expertise through resource persons for the successful conduct of forums and workshops; solicit articles from AFP personnel for submission to the UP CIDS-published Philippine Journal of Public Policy, subject to peer-review procedures; organize dissemination of UP CIDS research and conduct capacity building for AFP personnel and affiliates in relation to strategic studies and security; and host AFP personnel visits, exchanges and research fellowships.

These suggest the UP-AFP agreement would not encroach on UP’s closely guarded academic freedom and even make the premier State University take an active part in safeguarding national sovereignty particularly under the rapidly changing security landscape in the West Philippine Sea.

That’s what UP President Angelo Jimenez is saying, responding to fear among stakeholders the “Declaration of Cooperation” with the military would curtail academic freedom on its campuses.

He said: “Our policy is engagement. The national defense establishment as an institution is not an enemy.”

The agreement, he added, is an initial framework to guide future areas of cooperation that “won’t curtail academic freedom because UP researchers can choose and define their specific terms of engagement. Any activity undertaken shall be mutually agreed upon by both participants.”

Jimenez said the Aug. 8 declaration was similar to initiatives that led to research collaborations between the university and the uniformed services.

He cited as an example the June 2023 memorandum of understanding between the UP College of Engineering and the Philippine National Police Research and Development Center, which involved studies to enhance ballistic defense materials.

In May 2023, he said, the AFP and UP Manila signed a five-year memorandum of agreement for the training of civilian and military dentists at the UP College of Dentistry.

The history department of UP Diliman also co-published books on Philippine military history in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, an attached agency of the defense department.

Despite the UP President’s explanation, the agreement has alarmed various sectors of the UP community.

Among the first to question the agreement were the university’s sectoral regents representing faculty, students and personnel, the student council alliance Kasama sa UP and Defend UP Network.

They issued a joint statement denouncing, among others, Jimenez’s “undemocratic action” of having entered into the agreement with the AFP without prior consultation.

The All UP Academic Employees Union added its voice to the objections.

The union’s vice president for faculty said if the AFP “did not mistakenly” post a press release about the declaration on its Facebook page, the rest of the UP community would not have learned about it.

We will have to wait and see whether the UP-AFP agreement will really allow the academe to take an active role in responding to strategic or long-term national security and sovereignty concerns

The new UP-AFP cooperation agreement is being criticized by the UP community as contrary to the UP-DND accord signed on June 30, 1989 by then-UP president Jose Abueva and then-defense chief Fidel V. Ramos.

The agreement laid down the guidelines on military and police operations inside the university.

The 1989 UP-DND Accord included several key provisions aimed at protecting academic freedom and ensuring the safety of the university community.

Among these were the requirement for prior notification by the military and police before the UP administration before conducting any operations within UP campuses.

Any request for assistance from the military or police had to be coordinated with the university officials.

These provisions were designed to create a safe and conducive environment for learning and free expression within the University of the Philippines.

We will have to wait and see whether the UP-AFP agreement will really allow the academe to take an active role in responding to strategic or long-term national security and sovereignty concerns while fully respecting the university’s academic freedom. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Continuing mandamus for environmental cases only

(First of 2 parts)

A PETITION for continuing mandamus is filed

“[w]hen any agency or instrumentality of the government or officer thereof unlawfully neglects the performance of an act which the law specifically enjoins [it to do] as a duty resulting from an office, trust or station…”

This is “[i]n connection with the enforcement or violation of an environmental law rule or regulation or a right therein, or [when someone] unlawfully excludes another from the use or enjoyment of such right…” (A.M. 09-6-8-SC, Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases).

This petition can be filed only when “there is no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.” The ultimate objective in filing the petition is to obtain a judgment “commanding the respondent to do an act or series of acts until the judgment is fully satisfied, and to pay damages [to the petitioner] by reason of the malicious neglect to perform the duties of the respondent, under the law, rules or regulations” (A.M. 09-6-8-SC).

The petition applying for the writ of

continuing mandamus “shall be filed with the Regional Trial Court exercising jurisdiction over the territory where the actionable neglect or omission occurred or with the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.” In all cases, “[t]he petition shall also contain a sworn certification of non-forum shopping” (A.M. 09-6-8-SC).

A petition for continuing mandamus can be filed only when ‘there is no other plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law’

In the case of Baquirin v. De la Rosa, concerned citizens and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines filed a Petition for Mandamus before the Supreme Court praying for the issuance of a

Vague ‘understanding’

WHAT exactly is the nature and scope of the supposed “understanding” between the Philippines and China with regard to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where our government deliberately grounded a derelict Navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, years back to serve as an outpost for our military in the West Philippine Sea?

What’s very clear at this point is that it is very vague in nature and scope, and neither side is talking. Is there an NDA or non-disclosure agreement by the two sides? We really don’t know.

The DFA previously said both parties to the “understanding” recognized the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea through dialogues and consultations “without prejudice to their respective positions.”

The DFA said after the latest Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting with their Chinese counterparts that amid recent incidents in the South China Sea, “both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction.”

Our guess is the ‘understanding’ or

provisional arrangement between Beijing and Manila is all about the regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions by our Navy and Coast Guard to Ayungin Shoal.

—“—

If the CCG idea of an ‘understanding’ is to intentionally ram our Coast Guard vessels bringing food and supplies to our Marine contingent in Ayungin Shoal protecting our maritime claim in our Exclusive Economic Zone, that’s not genuine de-escalation of the tension in the South China sea but a hostile act by Beijing that deserves condemnation by the international community

The Chinese side apparently wants the Philippines to inform them ahead of the date and time our Navy/Coast Guard vessel would conduct a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre

(First of 2 parts)

AS THE Philippines wrestles with the twin demons of corruption and political dynasties, a new force has risen from the ashes of disillusionment.

The Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) is not just another movement—it’s a rallying cry for those who believe that justice is worth fighting for.

Yet, the road ahead is treacherous, cluttered up with the leftovers of past efforts crushed by the very powers ANIM now dares to challenge.

The rise of citizen movements in the Philippines is not a new phenomenon; it is one that has been met time and again with formidable resistance.

The political landscape is littered with the remnants of once-promising reform movements, their aspirations crushed under the weight of vested interests and dynastic power.

The ANIM movement steps onto a stage where past attempts at electoral and political reform have been systematically undermined by those who benefit most from the status quo.

The roots of this struggle trace back to the post-Marcos era, when the nation’s collective cry for change birthed a new Constitution—one that included an anti-dynasty provision, a promise to the people that political power would no longer be monopolized by the few.

Yet, in the decades that followed, this provision remained nothing more than ink on paper, as successive governments failed to pass the enabling law necessary to enforce it.

writ of continuing mandamus.

They want “to compel the [Philippine National Police, Commission on Human Rights, and Department of Justice] to perform their duties under the Constitution… and to report to the Court the measures they will be taking in carrying out such duties” (G.R. 233930. July 11, 2023).

“The PNP implemented Oplan Double Barrel, which consists of Oplan Tokhang and Project High Value Target/Low Value Target.

where a small contingent of our soldiers are stationed on a rotating basis. Then the Chinese also want to be able to inspect every vessel on the way to Ayungin Shoal to determine whether it is carrying construction materials to repair the derelict Navy vessel. Both conditions, as far as we can ascertain, have been rejected by Manila, but maybe the purported “understanding” could have been an agreement to do away with one or both conditions. Our Department of Foreign Affairs has been conspicuously and deafeningly silent on this issue. Are they playing a game of diplomatic brinkmanship with their Beijing counterparts to gain a clear advantage later on?

Recently, however, the newly designated spokesperson of the National Maritime Council, Alexander Lopez, was quoted in a news report as saying the Philippines is “seriously studying” whether it should expand its recently formed agreement with China regarding the Ayungin Shoal to cover other areas of the West Philippine Sea. His statement came after China Coast Guard ships rammed two Philippine Coast Guard vessels conducting a routine logistics mission within the vicinity of Escoda Shoal.

If the Chinese Coast Guard idea of an “understanding” is to intentionally ram our Coast Guard vessels bringing food and supplies to our Marine contingent in Ayungin Shoal protecting our maritime claim in our Exclusive Economic Zone, that’s not genuine deescalation of the tension in the South China sea but a hostile act by Beijing that deserves condemnation by the international community.

ANIM movement: A David vs. Goliath battle for the Philippines’ future

The Philippines today stands as a stark testament to the dangers of unfulfilled promises, with political dynasties controlling 63 of the 82 provinces and nearly 40 percent of congressional districts.

A new hope or a familiar dream?

ANIM’s origins are rooted in the frustrations of retired military officers, religious leaders, businessmen, and civil society organizations who have grown

—“—

ANIM plans to file a petition with the Supreme Court, asking it to compel Congress to pass the longawaited enabling law

tired of the endless cycle of corruption and political monopoly.

Figures like General Edilberto Adan and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa lend the movement a gravitas born of decades in public service, but it is their decision to return from the comfort of retirement that speaks volumes about the urgency they feel. Their goals are as ambitious as they are necessary. They seek to initiate a People’s Initiative to push for an anti-dynasty law, an endeavor that will require mobilizing millions of Filipinos to sign petitions—

“The former involved police officers visiting the homes of suspected drug offenders to persuade them to stop using or peddling illegal drugs, while the latter focused on big-time and small-time drug personalities and their accomplices in the government” (op.cit.)

“Due to the varying statistics on the aforementioned killings from the PNP which were published in several news articles, the petitioners concluded that there is a lack of genuine, thorough, prompt, impartial, and independent investigation thereon.

“They allege that apart from some ‘high-profile cases and possibly a handful of others, many alleged extrajudicial killings remain uninvestigated’” (op.cit.)

Petitioners argued that the PNP, CHR, and DOJ “have failed to adequately perform their duty to prevent violations of the right to life and to investigate and prosecute the same under the Constitution, pertinent laws, and human rights treaties…”

a herculean task in itself.

They plan to file a petition with the Supreme Court, asking it to compel Congress to pass the long-awaited enabling law.

And they aim to challenge political families directly by filing complaints against them during the next election cycle. But these actions, while bold, raise critical questions about their feasibility and the movement’s capacity to withstand the inevitable backlash.

The Biraogo case: A cautionary tale

The 2013 Biraogo v. Commission on Elections, G.R. 190520, Aug. 7, 2013, serves as a stark reminder of the uphill battle against entrenched political dynasties.

Back then, I, Louis “Barok” Biraogo, an anti-dynasty advocate, fought to compel the Commission on Elections to enforce the anti-dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution.

The Supreme Court, however, dismissed my petition, citing the lack of a self-executing provision and the need for a legislative enabling law.

It was a crushing blow, highlighting the judiciary’s limitations in addressing this deeply rooted problem, effectively leaving the burden of reform squarely on the shoulders of a Congress that has consistently failed to pass the necessary legislation.

This experience underscores the grim reality that those who seek to reform the system from within often face insurmountable obstacles, leaving them vulnerable to the very forces they seek to challenge.

They further contended these agencies should be directed to “adopt adequate positive measures to prevent any and all further violations of the right to life in the course of the government’s anti-illegal drug operations” (op.cit.)

“[T]hey also cite the absence of reported convictions for extrajudicial killings despite the lapse of one year and the lack of public disclosure of actions taken against persons identified to have been involved in the said killings. In the same breath, however, the petitioners admit that the CHR commenced its motu proprio investigations on the alleged extrajudicial killings and that the DOJ directed the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the reported killings…” (op.cit.)

Harris in key test with 1st poll interview

IN BRIEF

1 convicted, 6 freed in bomb plot case

HONG KONG

– A Hong Kong jury on Thursday found one person guilty and acquitted six others in what authorities said was a plot to carry out a bombing to murder police officers in 2019.

The alleged bomb plot occurred when Hong Kong was undergoing massive and at times violent pro-democracy protests that year, which have since been quashed by police.

The seven defendants were part of two radical groups, including one called “Dragon Slayers”, that prosecutors said planned a bomb attack for a rally marking International Human Rights Day. They were charged under the antiterrorism act for conspiring to place two bombs along the rally’s marching route on December 10, 2019. This was the first time the law was invoked since its 2002 enactment. According to Hong Kong local media, six defendants were found not guilty on Thursday. AFP

Indonesia, Australia sign defense pact

MAGELANG, Indonesia – Indone-

sia and Australia signed a new defense agreement Thursday, pledging closer cooperation to counter security threats in the Asia-Pacific region .

The pact, announced this month, was signed during Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles’ visit to Indonesia this week and includes provisions for joint drills and deployments to each country.

The two countries have sought to boost security ties in the face of increased flashpoints in the region including the South China Sea, where several states claim sovereignty over disputed islands and waterways. Indonesia’s defense minister Prabowo Subianto described the Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement as a “historic milestone.”

“(The deal) was carried out together to… increase cooperation to help each other overcome various security threats and promote sustainable peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” he told a joint news conference Thursday. AFP

Floods submerge dragon fruit farms

HANOI – Floods submerged hundreds of hectares of dragon fruit farms in south Vietnam, residents told AFP on Thursday, with many villagers forced to seek shelter on higher ground. The flooding in Binh Thuan province was triggered by heavy rain and the discharge of water from an irrigation reservoir on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We lost all our dragon fruit and cucumber crops this year,” Ho Van Trung, 66, told AFP. Vietnam dragon fruit exports generated a record $1.8 billion in 2018, but the figure has been declining in recent years. Binh Thuan province is home to Vietnam’s biggest growing area, measuring 28,000 hectares and producing 600,000 tonnes of fruit each year. AFP

Powerful Shanshan slams into south Japan

FUKUOKA – One of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in decades dumped torrential rain across southern regions on Thursday, with authorities warning of life-threatening flooding and landslides.

Typhoon Shanshan packed gusts of up to 252 kilometers per hour as it smashed into Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu early Thursday, making it the most powerful storm this year and one of the strongest at landfall since 1960.

After making landfall gusts eased to 198 kph.

Three people were killed in a landslide on Tuesday night as heavy rains from the approaching typhoon pummelled the area.

Authorities issued their highest alert

in places, advising hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate.

The coastal city of Miyazaki, littered with debris from nearly 200 damaged buildings, reported 25 injuries -- including some from a tornado.

Broadcaster NHK said 59 people were injured in the Kyushu region, and a man on a small boat was missing off nearby Kagoshima prefecture.

Worried student Aoi Nishimoto, 18, said he had called his family in Miyazaki to see if they were alright.

“Our home is fine, but there was a tornado in Miyazaki and power went out in some places. It’s worrying,” he told AFP in Kyushu’s main city of Fukuoka.

“This year, I am away from my parents’ home for the first time. So it’s a

bit scary being all alone,” fellow student Rio Ohtsuru, 19, told AFP.

“Maybe I will look for a flashlight in case of a power outage,” she said.

Kyushu’s utility operator said 235,760 houses were without power elsewhere on the island.

In the city of Usa, retiree Fukashi Oishi looked forlornly at an old tree opposite his house that was already mature when he was a child but had snapped and fallen on the road.

“Oh, it’s so sad,” he told AFP.

The weather system was moving slowly, which often means more rain, with the weather office forecasting it would gradually rumble towards Japan’s main island Honshu and the cities of Osaka and Nagoya, although this could change. AFP

Top Biden aide, Chinese military brass hold rare talks in Beijing

BEIJING – A senior Chinese military official warned the United States to stop “collusion” with Taiwan while top White House aide Jake Sullivan stressed the importance of stability in the tense Strait in a rare one-on-one meeting Thursday, both sides said.

Sullivan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, the first US national security advisor to visit China since 2016, for three days of talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other high-ranking officials. The visit came as China became embroiled in security rows with US allies Japan and the Philippines. On Thursday morning, Sullivan met with senior Chinese army chief Zhang Youxia at the Beijing headquarters of the Central Military Commission.

“It’s rare that we have the opportunity to have this kind of exchange,”

Sullivan told Zhang in opening remarks.

The two officials agreed to hold a call between the two sides’ theatre commanders “in the near future”, a readout from the White House added.

Sullivan also raised the importance of “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea, where Beijing and Manila have clashed in recent months, and “stability” in the Taiwan Strait, Washington said.

Zhang, in turn, warned that the status of the self-ruled island was “the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations”.

“China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said, according to a readout by Beijing’s defense ministry.

“But ‘Taiwan independence’ and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible,” he said. AFP

SAVANNAH – US Vice President Kamala Harris will give her first interview Thursday (Friday Manila tome) since becoming the Democratic standard-bearer, after intense criticism from Republicans that she has been hiding from tough questions.

Harris and her running mate Tim Walz will sit down with CNN during a campaign trip to Georgia, in a major test of the buzz surrounding her campaign on the 10-week sprint to election day. Donald Trump’s spokesman has slammed her for not doing the interview alone and accused her of using energetic Minnesota Governor Walz as a “human shield.” Republican former president Trump, itching to take the limelight back from Harris after her rapid rise, will separately be campaigning

HONG KONG – Hong Kong pro-democracy news outlet Stand News and its two former chief editors were found guilty of sedition on Thursday, the first conviction of its kind since the city came under Chinese rule in 1997.

The verdict is the latest blow to news media in the former British colony, which has seen its standing plummet over the past two decades from 18th place to 135th in press freedom rankings compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

Stand News, a Chinese-language website, gained a massive following during Hong Kong’s huge and sometimes violent prodemocracy protests in 2019, before shutting down in 2021 following a police raid.

On Thursday, district court judge Kwok Wai-kin found former chief editors Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam guilty of “conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications”.

The parent company of Stand News, Best Pencil Limited, was also found guilty of the charge.

“The line (Stand News) took was to support and promote Hong Kong local autonomy,” according to a written judgement by Kwok.

“It even became a tool to smear and vilify the Central Authorities (Beijing) and the (Hong Kong) SAR Government.” AFP

FIRST INTERVIEW. Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, visit Sandfly Bar-B-Q restaurant in

Savannah, Georgia, Thursday as they travel across Georgia for a 2-day campaign bus tour. Republican former president Trump, meanwhile, itching to take the limelight back from Harris after her rapid rise, will separately be campaigning in

states of Michigan and Wisconsin today, Manila time. AFP

Nueva Ecija, Binan boost playoff drives

NUEVA Ecija, Binan and Paranaque tripped separate rivals on Wednesday and boosted their playoff drives in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards leaned on their tight defense in the second half to subdue the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, 66-58, in the second game while Binan Tatak Gel needed a closing scoring binge to subdue Davao Occidental, 75-66, in the nightcap.

The opening game saw the Paranaque Patriots flaunt their sharpest form yet in a 110-83 thrashing of the Negros Muscovados.

Nueva Ecija, the 2022 champion, held Batangas, the 2018 inaugural titlist, to 15 points in the third quarter and just 12 in the fourth while coming through with a 35-point total to recover from an 82-99 beating by Binan on August 20 and climb to 19-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

GCASH , the country’s top finance super app, unveils the inspiring journey of Adeline “Adz” Dumapong in its latest GCash Stories release.

The short film spotlights challenges faced by aspiring para-athletes from financial constraints to lack of support.

”Adz is a true inspiration,” shares Neil Trinidad, GCash’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Her story is a powerful reminder of the potential in every individual, regardless of their abilities. We hope this film sparks a conversation about the need for inclusion and progress for all, especially the greater support needed for the community of persons with disabilities.”

The film opens with Adz in 2000, receiving thrilling news: she’s qualified to compete internationally. Her joy is tempered by the challenge of raising funds to make it happen. Adz gets into action, tirelessly making cold calls. Thanks to the support of agencies and generous individuals, she triumphs on the world stage, bringing home the Philippines’ first Paralympic

A PERFECT analogy on what transpired is like this: a man suddenly left his girlfriend for another girl. And instead of the boyfriend telling his former significant other that he was moving on, it was his new girlfriend who confirmed to his ex that they are now together, or something to that effect. The ex just said okay upon receiving the news.

For context, we woke up yesterday morning with the shocking news of Tom Saintfiet leaving the Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT). The Malian Football Federation (MAF) and the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) made the initial announcements that the Belgian will be moving to Mali to lead the Eagles in their bid in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mozambique and Eswatini next week.

Saintfiet’s sudden departure, with immediate effect, was later confirmed by a press release from the Philippine Football Federation.

“From my first meeting with Tom,

Defending champions Djokovic, Gauff advance at hot US Open

NEW YORK—Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as Laslo Djere retired in the third set, but said he’ll have to do better to win a fifth title on the hard courts of New York.

Djokovic was up 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 when Djere pulled the plug on a gritty encounter that saw both men summon the physio to Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It’s not what we want to see,” Djokovic said. “He’s such a good player in these conditions and the second set should have been his, he was 4-2 up.

“I don’t know if (my) winning the second set probably put more burden on him.”

Djokovic notched his 90th US Open match victory, becoming the first man to win 90 at all four Grand Slams.

But it was a battle until the minute Djere called it quits.

Djokovic grabbed the first break of the match to take the first set 6-4 after a tense hour then sought treatment for trouble on his right side.

Djere, the only player to take a set

Paralympic medalist inspires hope in GCash film

bronze medal. Fast forward to Adz today, remaining deeply committed to giving back despite the challenges in securing sponsorships for grassroots para-athletes. Adz finds a solution and turns to GCash to raise the muchneeded financial support for non-national team para-athletes. With GCash, she hopes to help others follow in her footsteps, to dream big and aim high.

A Champion for Para Athletes Born in Kiangan, Ifugao, Adz Dumapong contracted polio at age three leaving her unable to walk. While staying at Bahay Mapagmahal, she discovered para-powerlifting through the support of the Rehab Department of the Philippine Orthopedic Center. Adz would then make history as the Philip-

pines’ first Paralympic medalist, winning bronze in Sydney. She has since earned 19 international medals, proving that disability is no barrier to greatness . Beyond the medals, Adz is a fierce advocate for para-athletes. She actively joins various efforts that call for equal opportunities and inclusion for persons with disabilities and fair recognition for para-athletes.

About Tom

this is something we had discussed – that if a bigger opportunity came to him, I wouldn’t stand in his way. Tom came into the Philippine job with every intention of helping with our project, but his heart has always been in Africa. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his new role,” Freddy Gonzalez, Director of Senior National Teams, said in the statement. Gonzalez added: “With the Merdeka Cup around the corner, and preparations for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup ramping up, we need to move quickly from this. We are already looking at candidates to take on the Head Coach role. I’m confident in finding a man that will be committed to our vision.”

Just the same, there are so many questions regarding Saintfiet’s sudden departure. But I will only ask a few in the meantime. First, how come that we only learned about Saintfiet’s decision to leave the national team after the MAF and CAF made the announcements? How come the PFF only released a statement after the news broke out first in Africa? Was Saintfiet’s move really surprising that the PFF was beaten to the draw by the MAF and CAF?

Is Mali’s offer really that big?

Or is it about something else beyond monetary considerations?

One thing is sure though: Nauna pa ang announcement ng lilipatan kesa sa inalisan. Which again, raises several concerns on its own. What now, PFF?!

A source told The Designated Kit Man that he knew something about Saintfiet’s departure as early as several days ago, which is probably true. Common sense dictates that Saintfiet moving back to Africa should not be surprising as far as his erstwhile employer is concerned, at least. Common sense and experience have shown that before you accept a job, you need to apply for it first. When applying, it takes several days, at least when lesser mortals like us aspire to get employed, to get the job. I believe this is also the case with Saintfiet as shared by a source. The source claims that Saintfiet applied for the job.

The next question is: Hindi ba nakaramdam ang PFF? Or are they just too naive to know the real score when it comes to Saintfiet? We have an expression on this: natutulog sa pansitan.

Which begs us the next concern, how will Saintfiet’s surprising exit impact our men’s national team in its preparation for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup this November? But let’s not go that far ahead, at least for now, because the more press-

off Djokovic at last year’s US Open, gained the first break of the second set and with a 4-2 lead had two more break points that he couldn’t convert.

But Djokovic won the next six games, Djere receiving treatment on his abdomen before Djokovic closed out the second.

“Overall it was a big fight -- over two hours for two sets,” Djokovic said.

“I served awful. So playing without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run. I had to rely on my baseline game.”

The Serbian superstar, com ing off an emotional Paris Olympics triumph, next faces Australian Alexei Popyrin, who he beat at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.

Fnatic Onic tries to stay unbeaten in ML tourney

By Peter Atencio

FNATIC Onic Philippines seeks to stay unbeaten in Week 3 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Season 14 this weekend at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.

FNOP is now in the solo lead after three games, as Aurora ended Smart Omega’s winning streak with a stunning 2-1 victory in their best-of-three, elimination-round encounters on Week 2.

They will face a dangerous Aurora team, which will have an opportunity to regain the top spot in their coming showdown on Friday.

Over the weekend, Fnatic escaped with a 2-1 triumph against Team Liquid. Omega and Aurora now share second spot at 3-1.

In Game 1, Fnatic took the lead off an 18th-minute lord dance, with King “K1NGKONG” Perez (Ling) taking the

ing concern is the Philippines will start its campaign in the Merdeka Cup on September 4 against host Malaysia. In another announcement, the PFF has appointed Norman Fegidero as interim coach for the Merdeka Cup. He will be supported by the Filipinas’ coaching staff.

While the PFF has so much on its plate right now, let’s talk more about something positive. The Philippine Azkals are back, technically in a different light, as they will compete in the forthcoming Asia 7’s Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 9-12, 2024.

The 7 a side team will be bannered by former Azkals team captains and local football icons Stephan Schrock and Misagh Bahadoran. Hamed Hajimehdi will be the coach while Patrick Ace Bright is the team manager.

Former Azkas and now Commissioner of Asia 7’s Championships Anton Del Rosario believes the Philippines can assemble and send a strong team to Kuala Lumpur because aside from Schrock and Bahadoran, there are many good and quality players that can join the two in the squad.

“I know that we are going to be able to compete and I believe that we will be one of the top countries in the tournament,” he said. He is also positive that a good showing in Malaysia will help spur more awareness and support for 7 a side football in the country.

objective, Borris “Brusko” Parro (Minotaur) pulling off a decisive 4-man Minoan Fury, leading to a 4-1 advantage. Duane “Kelra” Pillas (Ruby) unleashed a 19th-minute base turret siege, and a maniac killing streak that gave him the Game 1 MVP title with his 8-1-10 Kill-Death Assist score. In Game 2, Brusko (Tigreal) turned the tables in their favor with a crucial two-man Implosion setup on the 13th minute mark. A decisive 4-0 wipeout for Team Liquid PH, followed, allowing Fnatic secure the win.

Meanwhile, the decisive moment for Aurora came in Game 3, following a 1-1 deadlock after Game 2 of their BO3 affair.

In the 11th minute, and with a total of six kills to his credit, Jan “Domeng” Delmundo, using the character Moskov, eliminated Nowee “Ryota” Macasa, to take the lord objective.

For Schrock and Bahadoran, the chance to play once again for the flag and country is too great to pass on. Both also believe that it is only fitting that the Azkals moniker is also back. Schrock and Bahadoran also want that every football fan will still remember the Azkals’ legacy and also the players who sacrificed a lot for the team.

“The Azkals mean a lot to me. It is not just a name. It’s a way of life that I always strive to live for. It is a great opportunity to play once more for the country. It never gets old,” Schrock said.

When asked if he can still compete, Bahadoran gave a short answer.

“You will never know until you give me the ball,” he said.

The team will have an open tryouts on September 8, 4 p.m. at the McKinley Hills Stadium. All interested players are encouraged to show up.

Here is hoping that the team will do well in Malaysia, with the way things are going lately in local football, a victory in the Asia 7’s will go a long way in ending our losing streak in international competitions. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

Pamboy Raymundo of Binan

Adeline ‘Adz’ Dumapong, 19-time para powerlifting medalist

Coco Gauff

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Verstappen’s dominance in doubt heading into Monza GP

MILAN—Max Verstappen heads to the Italian Grand Prix with his unbeatable aura fading and a fourth straight world championship looking far less certain than before Formula One’s summer break.

Dutchman Verstappen hasn’t won since claiming the honours at the Spanish GP back in June, a five-race drought which has put the brakes on his title charge and Red Bull’s dominance of F1.

Failing to win at his home GP for the first time in four years last weekend was further sign of the 26-year-old’s slipping grip on the driver’s crown. And the manner in which he finished behind Lando Norris highlighted the problems with his car which led to an expletive-filled during qualifying.

U-23 mentor Fegidero to handle

PH football team on interim basis

By Peter Atencio

NORMAN Fegidero will handle the Philippine national men’s football team as its interim head coach.

The 54-year-old Fegidero, the coach of the national under-23 football team, will fill in for Tom Saintfiet, who quit after six months.

Preparing the national squad for the 2024 Merdeka Cup next week will now be the priority of Fegidero, a former midfielder, who represented the Philippine national team from 1989 to 2001 before becoming the squad’s coach in 2008.

The national team is currently under-

VOLLEYBALL fans will have to wait a bit longer as the Premier Volleyball League has announced the postponement of the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals, originally scheduled for Thursday (Aug. 29) at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The delay is due to a power outage in the area.

The highly anticipated knockout Final Four matches, featuring unbeaten Akari facing off against No. 4 PLDT, and second-seed Cignal battling No. 3 Creamline, have been rescheduled to Saturday (Aug. 31) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Additionally, the 2024 Reinforced Conference Final will now be held on Monday (Sept. 2) at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

This postponement is necessary due to the ongoing power outage in the area, which has been caused by the continuous downpour over the past few days. The severe weather has led to significant damage to several Meralco power posts supplying electricity to the Philsports Arena, making the facility inoperable for the scheduled event.

All tickets purchased for the original date will be automatically refunded, with the refund amount credited back to the original payment method, whether it be a bank account, card, or e-wallet.

In a statement, the PVL sincerely apologized for any inconvenience caused by this change and expressed appreciation for the understanding and patience of all those affected.

The league remains committed to ensuring a secure and enjoyable environment for its events and is working diligently to ensure a smooth transition to the new venue and date.

going a training camp, to be handled by Fegidero with support from the Philippine national women’s team coaching staff of Mark Torcaso, Andrew Durante, Sinisha Cohadzic and Garrath McPherson, all committing to support the men’s side during its campaign.

“Given the circumstances, we needed to act quickly. Norman was the assistant coach in the last four games and was the obvious choice to take

charge in the interim,” said PFF Director of Senior National Football Teams Freddy Gonzalez.

“This temporary fix will give us a much-needed time to pin down a permanent head coach,” added Gonzalez.

“Tom came into the Philippine job with every intention of helping with our project, but his heart has always been in Africa. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his new role,” said Gonzalez of Saintfiet, who will return to Africa to lead Mali’s football team.

“With the Merdeka Cup around the corner, and preparations for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup ramping up, we need to move on quickly from this,” added Gonzalez.

Verstappen finished nearly 23 seconds behind Norris as McLaren showed that they had the best set-up on the grid and forced a previously unstoppable driver to accept a humbling defeat after being overtaken on lap 18.

“There was nothing that I could do, so once he passed, I just focused on doing my race, tried to bring it to the end in second,” said Verstappen after the race.

“The last few races already haven’t really been fantastic. So that, I think in a sense, was already a bit alarming. But we know that we don’t need to panic.”

McLaren’s improved car has every chance at Monza too, where Verstappen has bullied the opposition and in particular home team Ferrari the past two years.

However Verstappen still has a 70-point lead in the driver’s championship and his closest challenger Norris called the idea of pipping him to the world title “stupid” as the reigning champion has finished on the podium in 10 of this season’s 15 races, winning seven. AFP

Bachmann to 6 Filipino Paralympians: Laban, para sa bayan

THE “KUZmania” fever went high as NBA star of the Washington Wizards Kyle Kuzma made his first visit to the Philippines during the weekend for his “KuzManila” tour.

The 29-year-old, 6’9” forward of the Wizards received a warm reception from his Filipino fans in a series of activities including a promotional event sponsored by a local coffee shop chain, a press conference, and back-to-back media interviews.

Amidst his hectic schedule, including visiting the NBA store in SM Mall of Asia immediately after landing, Kuzma squeezed in a visit to Navitas Learning Haus, a hidden oasis located in Poblacion, Makati, which provides a space for all creatives, designers, artists, project visionaries, hobbyists, and interest-based clubs to promote immersive learning. Navitas was founded during the pandemic by a former preschool teacher Elo Coronel-Quiambao

with the goal of reframing learning beyond traditional boundaries.

Coronel-Quiambao gave Kuzma, a selfconfessed art enthusiast and a known fashion icon, a tour of the renovated 50-yearold house, particularly its renowned spaces such as the common room used for creative meetings and workshops, the kitchen used for small cooking classes, the story room used for storytelling sessions, and the quriocity located at the 2nd floor which is used for lectures, and exhibits, among others. Kuzma was also briefed about the various programs offered by Navitas such as Math is Not the Villain, Auntie’s Artnest, and Teacher Jack, which are related to mathematics, arts, and counseling, respectively. Kuzma also shared his stories, especially the value of play, community, gratitude, creativity, non-linear thinking, and childhood as some of the vital foundations for one’s core, and lauded

PARIS—On the eve of the actual competition of the 17th Paralympic Games, Wednesday, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachman was excited about the country’s six standard-bearers “to see you all carry our flag and prove that you will be an inspiration to everyone.”

“The whole country extends our well wishes for the productive campaign of Ernie Gawilan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom, Agustina Bantiloc, Jerrold Mangliwan, and Allain Ganapin,” said Bachmann, who arrived here just in time to witness the grand opening ceremony at the Place dela Concorde to the Champs-Élysées.

“Your mere appearance in the Paralympic Games completes everyone’s dream for an inclusive sporting community. Laban, para sa bayan! Mabuhay ang mga Bidang Bayaning Man-

lalaro,” exhorted Bachmann of the country’s “Sensational Six.” “This is going to be the biggest squad we can send in the Paralympic Games after 12 years. The Filipinos are more than excited to see your abilities shining on the international stage,” the PSC chief added. Clad in their colorful ethnic-inspired parade uniforms, all six para campaigners were among the crème dela crème of 4,350 athletes from 168 countries who took part in the festive evening rites held in an outdoor setting between two iconic attractions in the City of Lights.

To give the PH para athletes a competitive edge, the PSC bankrolled a training camp in Nimes, France as early as Aug. 11 for them to acclimatize to the conditions and adjust their body clocks properly to the Parisian weather that is getting cooler by the day.

the importance of

a

PARALYMPIC FLAME. Hong Kong-born martial arts actor Jackie Chan as he carries the Paralympic flame during the Paralympic torch relay ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic opening ceremony in Paris. AFP

Norman Fegidero

PSC Chairman Bachmann

KuzManila Tour. NBA star Kyle Kuzma (center, left photo) of the Washington Wizards joined Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and Stradcom Corporation CEO Anthony Quiambao in a basketball clinic for 80 QC young athletes at Belarmino Sports Complex sponsored by #Navitas. Right photo shows Kuzma in his visit to Navitas Learning Haus with its founder Elo Coronel-Quiambao.

having

learning home, such as Navitas. After visiting Navitas, Kuzma went straight to Belarmino Sports Complex, where he led a basketball clinic for 80 young athletes from Quezon City. The NBA star who averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and

shot 33 percent of three-pointers last NBA season, played with young athletes and displayed some savvy basketball moves. The participants also performed offensive and defensive drills with the help of local coaches.

activity ended with Kuzma signing some of the participants’ sports items.

ADB finalizing $500-m loan for PH climate action projects

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines will soon receive

a $500-million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support its climate action initiatives, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

ADB president Asakawa announced during a high-level meeting on Aug. 28, 2024 at the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City that the development lender is finalizing the approval of a $500-million financing support to the Philippines under the Climate Change Action Program (CCAP) Subprogram 2.

The program is part of the ADB’s $10-billion climate finance commitment for the Philippines from 2024 and 2029, which was announced by President Asakawa during the COP28 in Dubai in 2023.

The financing commitment aims to improve the climate resilience of local communities, ecosystems, and the national economy. It focuses on investments in public transport, clean energy, disaster risk management and social protection.

The CCAP2 builds on the accomplishments of the CCAP1 signed in June 2022, which made the Philippines a pioneer of the ADB’s first-ever policy-based loan dedicated to climate action.

Asakawa also pledged to continue leveraging regional facilities such as the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enhance the availability and accessibility of grant financing in the Philippines.

He said the ADB’s new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the Philippines for 2024 to 2029 would be reviewed for consideration by the ADB board next week.

PH sells $2.5b worth of triple-tranche bonds

THE Philippine government raised $2.5 billion through a triple-tranche global bond offering, its second dollar-denominated issuance this year.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto expressed satisfaction with the strong investor interest, noting that the Philippines achieved among the best pricing for all tranches compared to regional peers. “This is a significant win for every Filipino as we are raising funds at very affordable costs to support programs and projects that will boost economic growth, create quality jobs, increase incomes, and reduce poverty,” he said.

The Bureau of the Treasury issued 5.5-, 10.5-, and 25-year fixed-rate global bonds under the Republic’s Sustainable Finance Framework.

The government capitalized on moderating benchmark yields, driven by softer inflation data and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. National Treasurer Sharon Almanza said the tight pricing reflects continued investor confidence in the Philippines’ creditworthiness and economic performance.

“The exceptionally tight pricing across all offerings enables the government to conserve on interest payments, thereby allowing more fiscal space to flow into transformative investments. Thus, the favorable outcome of the transaction further strengthens the Philippine government’s position to fulfill its

commitments to fiscal consolidation and rapid economic growth,” she said.

The proceeds from the 5.5- and 10.5-year bonds will be used for general budget purposes, while the 25-year bond proceeds will support general budget financing, refinancing programs and expenditures aligned with the Sustainable Finance Framework. HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and UBS served as joint sustainability structuring banks. BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank, and UBS acted as joint bookrunners.

The offering attracted robust demand from a diverse pool of global investors, highlighting their confidence in the Republic’s credit profile and long-term outlook.

TAYO ang mga Bagong Bayani! How the TAYO 21 awardees are making waves and driving community impact as the heroes of today

“They aren’t gonna change this

We gotta do it ourselves

They think that it’s over But it’s just begun Only one thing can save us―Only the young (only the young)”

IN AN era where lasting change may often feel like a faraway dream, the anthem of Taylor Swift’s “Only the Young” rings with a powerful and urgent truth. The song captures a generational call to action that echoes through the lives of youth groups―youth groups that are rising to the occasion and proving that after all this time, they have been the harbingers of transformation all along.

In a remarkable testament to the power of youth-led initiatives, the TAYO Awards Foundation recognized and awarded the ten most accomplished youth organizations in the areas of Culture, Arts, and Heritage; Education and Technology; Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Climate Change Adaptation; Health, Wellbeing, and Human Development; as well as Livelihood and Entrepreneurship during its 21st National Awarding Ceremony held on August 19, Monday, at the Metropolitan Theater in Ermita, Manila. Under the theme “Makabayani,” a blend of the words makabayan (love for one’s country) and bayani (hero), this year’s awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions of young leaders and their positive contributions to nation building.

“Ang pagsagot sa hamon para maging isang Makabayani ay nangangailangan ng malalim at totoong paniniwala at pagmamahal sa Pilipino, the Filipino is worth uniting for,” said former senator Bam Aquino during his keynote message. TAYO 21 Awardees as Modern Day Heroes For more than two decades, the TAYO Awards Foundation has recognized and honored exceptional youth organizations that embody the spirit of service and patriotism. This year’s theme encapsulates the essence of modern heroism and showcases

are also actively transforming their communities with their passion projects and initiatives. The 21st Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Top 10 Awardees are as follows: • Salumayag Youth Collective for Forests

Second Chance Philippines • Achieve Minarog Youth Organization

MSU - Iligan Institute of Technology Youth Chain of Peace

• Sidha - San Jose City

• Therawee Health Innovation Inc.

• ADHIKA PH Inc.

• Project Barako

• Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders, Inc.

• Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc.

The Top 10 awardees and 10 finalists received a TAYO trophy by national artist, Toym Imao, as well as Php 50,000 and Php 20,000 seed grants, respectively, to help fund their ongoing projects or start new ones. Special Awards

Apart from the prizes received by the Top 10 accomplished youth orgs, the TAYO Foundation also gave special awards to select groups. These special awards were chosen by their partners and were given to organizations that will further their individual missions as institutions, corporate organizations, or public offices.

The Coke Barkada Award is a special recognition given to the TAYO Finalist that helps improve the well-being of communities and environment through projects that are aligned with The Coca-Cola Company’s sustainability priorities. This was awarded to Salumayag Youth Collective. Meanwhile, the San Miguel’s Better World Award is given to the organization that believes in the healing power of collaboration within communities. Therawee Health Innovation, Inc. took home this award for their work in the health industry. The third special award―The Hello, Pagkain Award―is sponsored by TAYO Founder, Kiko Pangilinan. It is a special recognition given to

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) President Cecile Alcantara emphasizes the role of youth in national development. CCFPI has been a copresenter of TAYO Foundation since the 5th TAYO Awards.

Former Senator Bam Aquino, co-founder of the TAYO Awards,

This year’s TAYO Awards Top 10 Awardees

PH stocks end lower on profit taking; peso at 56.28 a dollar

PHILIPPINE stocks ended lower for the second straight trading day, highlighting the market’s inability to stay above the 7,000 level.

The peso closed nearly unchanged at 56.28 against the US dollar Thursday despite the stock market volatility.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 66.46 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 6,891.55, while the wider all-shares index slipped by 26.26 points, or 0.70 percent, to finish at 3,733.29. Veteran stockbroker Jonathan Ravelas said investors took profits as the market struggles to clear the 7,000 mark.

“Investors await key US and Philippine economic data. Geopolitical conflicts and US election uncertainty weigh on sentiment,” Ravelas said. Ravelas said that while the market’s near-term target remains in place at 7,000 level, a break below the 6,500 level could mean further correction towards 6,000 to 6,300 levels. Only the mining and oil and property ended in the green among the sub-indices, rising by 0.34 percent and 0.13 percent, respectively. Holding firms dropped 1.98 percent, followed by financial which fell 1.38 percent.

Despite the market’s decline, foreign investors remained net buyers, with net inflows amounting to P897.8 million. Value turnover reached P6.15 billion, higher than year-to-date average of P4.96 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE approves Petron’s P17-b shares offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said Thursday it approved the P17-billion preferred shares offering of oil refiner Petron Corp.

The PSE said in a notice posted in its website Petron plans to offer 13 million series 4 preferred shares, with an oversubscription option for another 4 million shares at P1,000 apiece under its 50-million shares shelf-registration program. It said the offering would run from Sept. 5 to Sept. 13. The shares will be

PT&T Corp. said Thursday it teamed up with Australian technology firm Netlinkz Limited to revolutionize network security and connectivity for businesses across the Philippines, including those in remote and underserved areas.

The joint venture will serve as the Philippines’ hub for Netlinkz’ cutting-edge products, featuring the advanced Virtual Secured Network Plus (VSN+).

It will leverage on the availability of broadband connectivity provided by smaller, portable and mobile satellite dishes offering broadband internet to previously inaccessible regions. Enterprises throughout the country, particularly in areas historically underserved by traditional fibre internet providers, will gain access to this high-speed, low-latency connectivity with enterprise grade network security through this partnership.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with PT&T to bring our advanced VSN+, satellite internet, and cybersecurity solutions to the Philippines,” said Netlinkz chief executive James Tsiolis.

“This joint venture combines our global expertise with PT&T’s local insights, delivering top-tier services that cater to the evolving needs of businesses in the region,” he said in a statement. The joint venture’s scope extends beyond satellite broadband services.

It will also introduce a comprehensive suite of IT solutions, further strengthening the digital capabilities of Filipino businesses. Darwin G. Amojelar

listed on the main board of the PSE on Sept. 23, 2024.

The company said it plans to use the proceeds to redeem series 3A preferred shares, refinance maturing obligations and fund general corporate purposes, including crude oil inventory purchase.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. will act as sole issue manager, while Bank of Commerce, BDO Capital, China Bank Capital Corp., Philippine Commercial Capital Inc., PNB Capital and Investment Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. are the joint lead underwriters and book runners. Petron also raised P14 billion in 2023 from the initial issuance of preferred shares.

Petron is the country’s biggest oil company with a 180,000-barrel-perday refinery in Bataan. It has a combined service station network of about 2,600 outlets in the Philippines and Malaysia.

Petron posted a flat growth in its net income in the first half of 2024 to P6 billion from P6.14 billion in the same period last year amid challenging economic conditions.

Petron is one of the four companies that are planning to raise fresh capital through the capital markets via preferred shares offering.

Other firms that previous announced plans to issue preferred shares are Arthaland Corp., Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. and San Miguel Corp.

iACADEMY secured the title of top performing school in the real estate appraisers licensure examination for the third straight time.

The school posted an outstanding overall result of 97.62 percent, setting the standard in real estate education in the Philippines.

The August 2024 licensure exam saw iACADEMY students dominating the top ranks, with Enrico

Francisco Manalansan III placing second with a score of 90.50 percent.

Davian Lee Chen and Janine Angelique Ong Juanitas both secured the 5th spot with 89 percent, while Lean Angelo Delos Reyes Cacatian and Tertiana Alexie Tupas Paguyo shared the 6th rank with 88.50 percent.

Other top performers include New Galapon Castillo (7th place, 88 per-

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PXP Energy Corp. submitted a bid for the exploration and development of petroleum exploration blocks in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Sources said PXP Energy teamed up with Triangle Energy, Sunda Energy and The Philodrill Corp. for predetermined areas (PDA) BP-2 and PDA-BP-3 which are both situated in the Sulu Sea Basin covering 780,000 hectares and 532,083 hectares, respectively.

PXP Energy is one of the nine companies comprising six international and three local exploration firms that submitted applications for petroleum service contracts under the 1st BARMM Conventional Energy Bid Round and the 2024 Philippine Bid Round of the Department of Energy.

cent), Bahama Mirachylle Abiera Josue and Ana Angelica Ricafrente Vergara (8th place, 87.5 percent), and Joy Maika Roan Leyco and Mary Ann Yambot Roque (9th place, 87 percent). Jonathan Gabriel Pablo Agustin rounded out the top 10 with a score of 86.5 percent.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TECPLATA, a container terminal op-

erated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) in La Plata adjacent to the port of Buenos Aires, completed the dredging of its marine channels to a depth of 10 meters.

“The development gives TecPlata an advantage over the terminals in the city of Buenos Aires, where the channels are limited to 10 meters,” said TecPlata chief executive Juan Pablo Trujillo in a statement.

“Our next objective is to deepen the access channel to a depth of 14 meters, similar to the design of the container terminal, to bring Argentina on par or better than other ports in the region. This will then provide TecPlata with a unique advantage over the rest of the ports in the Buenos Aires area,” he said.

TecPlata is already the most modern marine terminal in the Buenos Aires area.

It strategically sits on a 40-hectare property near the ocean, which, combined with modern port equipment and robust security systems, offers clear competitive advantages for international shipping companies and cargo operators in South America.

TecPlata has a design capacity of more than one million TEUs, capable of accommodating any significant increase in foreign trade in the years to come.

This will eventually reinforce TecPlata’s position as the preferred gateway, bolstering Argentina’s role in the global supply chain.

TecPlata S.A. was granted a 30year concession to build and operate an all-purpose port terminal in the greater Buenos Aires area in Argentina in October 2008 by the Consorcio de Gestion del Puerto La Plata.

percent and in the

with a pass rate of 93.75 percent.

Since 2023, iACADEMY has been producing topnotchers, further solidifying its reputation as a

iACADEMY said its consistent top performance in real estate licensure exams is no surprise, as the school was previously recognized as the top performing school in the real estate brokers licensure examination in

PXP Energy president Daniel Stephen Carlos said in July 2024 during the annual stockholders’ meeting that the company was evaluating some of the areas offered by the DOE for possible acquisition or farm-in arrangements.

“We also remain open to assessing additional opportunities to expand our presence in areas showing promising potential, including those already covered by existing service contracts,” Carlos said.

He said PXP Energy is also committed to advancing exploration efforts in service contract No. 72 in the Recto Bank, which is the site of the Sampaguita gas field and operated by subsidiary, Forum (GSEC 101) Limited.

“The force majeure that is currently imposed on the block due to geopolitical reasons has been hindering our plans to appraise the field. Our 2-well

program, which we will implement once the force majeure is lifted, aims to confirm whether we have a commercial-size gas discovery in Sampaguita,” Carlos said. He said the company plans to acquire a 3D seismic survey over the most promising leads in SC 75, which is also under force majeure. SC 75 shares the same geological history and petroleum system as the producing oil and gas fields within the Northwest Palawan Basin.

Carlos said the company continues to engage with the DOE to find the most effective path forward in establishing the commercial viability of hydrocarbon resources within the SC 75 and SC 72 blocks.

“While waiting for activities to resume over these two blocks, PXP has shifted its attention to its other service contracts in Cebu and Palawan,” he said.

BUSINESS

Cayetano optimistic on success of new Malampaya gas drillings

THE chairperson of the Senate committee on energy expressed confidence in the success of efforts set next year to drill new gas wells that would prolong the life of the Malampaya gas project off Palawan province.

Senator Pia Cayetano said during interpellation of Senate Bill No. 2793 or the proposed Philippine Natural Gas Industry Act her hopes are high that drilling for two new gas wells by Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. would yield positive results and extend the life of the Malampaya Deep Water

AirAsia PH reports growth in Boracay bound passengers

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AIRASIA Philippines said it recorded a significant increase in passenger numbers to Boracay since the prepandemic period.

The budget airline said it flew more than 1.1 million passengers to Boracay from January to August this year.

More than 1.3 million guests flew and visited the island in 2023, especially with the opening of AirAsia flights from Clark and Cebu.

More than 450,000 guests flew to the island on AirAsia in 2019 but the figure went down during the pandemic (2020) to 81,000 but recovered in 2021 with 202,000 and more than 610,000 in 2022.

The airline flies to Boracay (Caticlan) via Manila, Clark and Cebu. Daily flights originating from Clark International Airport to Boracay are the most affordable at P641.

“There is no season required for visiting Boracay. We have seen families and groups of friends visit the island even during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. To say that Boracay is just a summer destination is already passé. Even now Boracay has also become a favorite destination for workation or work from home-hub,” AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs head Steve Dailisan said.

“Vacation, staycation or workation, AirAsia Philippines will continue to support our guests’ travel needs by providing the most competitive airfare to Boracay,” he said.

Gas to Power Project. Prime Energy is the lead company in Consortium 38 which operates the Malampaya gas field along with other consortium members that include stateowned PNOC-EC. Prime Energy is the subsidiary of Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. owned by businessman Enrique

Razon Jr.

Senator Joel Villanueva asked Cayetano during interpellation on Wednesday about the development timelines of these exploration projects and whether it would help address the country’s demands for energy.

“Drilling will start next year, [and this] hopefully will have immediate results. So [by] then. we would be able to give more updates on how much can be extracted from those new sources,” Cayetano said.

She said drilling for the new wells already has a target source with confirmed new gas deposits.

“There’s already [a] confirmed source, so we already have that, and that will extend the life [of Malampaya],” she said. Cayetano said the immediate approval of Senate Bill 2793 would encourage more energy companies to do exploration work for natural gas and energy projects as the proposed law “seeks to create that environment which is open to investors, all kinds, everyone.”

Senate Bill 2793, if enacted into law, will ensure that indigenous natural gas will be prioritized over imported and conventional fuels for power generation.

Cargill, PCA, agri

stakeholders

AGRICULTURAL solutions company Cargill teamed up with Agri-Sagana Project in Cagayan and Isabela with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to plant 75,000 high-yield coconut seedlings under the CocoGrow project in Sarangani province.

Go proposes VAT refund system to woo more tourists

By Othel V. Campos

THE Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPEIA) called for enactment of a law establishing a VAT refund system in the Philippines.

The goal is to attract more tourists and position the country as a regional shopping destination.

Special Assistant to the President Frederick Go emphasized the need for e-visas and VAT refund system for tourists.

“If we want to be a shopping capital, these are essential,” he said at the National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) 2024. Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) president Roberto Claudio supported the initiative, calling it a “major breakthrough for retail.” He stressed the economic benefits of the VAT refund scheme and how it would incentivize tourists to stay longer, spend more, and explore more attractions.

The proposed VAT refund system would reimburse 60 percent to 90 percent of the VAT paid by tourists, similar to practices in other countries. It is seen as a crucial step in making the Philippines a shopping capital and driving economic growth.

The retailer group proposed that tourists be eligible for a VAT refund on goods purchased from accredited retailers in the Philippines, provided the total value of goods purchased within a single transaction is at least P3,000.

team up to plant 75,000 coconut seedlings

“Through this partnership, we aim to improve the livelihoods of Sarangani’s coconut farmers in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner, while also meeting the growing demand for sustainable coconut oil,” said Cargill copra and palm origination commercial director Jonathan Sumpaico.

The project aims to replace aging

and low-yield trees with faster-growing varieties for the benefit of 500 smallholder farmers.

The CocoGrow project is expected to have a positive and lasting impact on Sarangani’s coconut industry, improving farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the region’s economic growth.

Cargill is a company focused on

supporting farmers to thrive in the local and global marketplace. It creates connections with farmers of all scales to increase their productivity and profitability by promoting sustainable, innovative agricultural practices, providing inclusive market access and building resilient agricultural communities.

Othel V. Campos

100% electrification to inject P315b to economy

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ENERGY Secretary Raphael Lotilla said Thursday electric cooperatives (ECs) are crucial to meeting the government’s 100-percent electrification goal by 2028.

“You are the driving force behind bringing light to the farthest corners of our nation, ensuring that no Filipino is left in the dark. Our shared goal is ambitious, but necessary,” Lotilla said during the 55th founding anniversary of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

Lotilla said over two million households still lack access to electricity, and ECs have a critical role to play in expanding electrification reach, supporting member-consumers and assisting non-performing cooperatives.

“Your unwavering commitment is the backbone of our mission to connect every Filipino home to reliable electricity, making a tangible difference wherever it is needed most,” he said.

Lotilla said the Department of Energy met with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) recently to discuss total electrification program and its economic benefits.

ERC strengthens rules on customer choice programs

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) released the omnibus rules on consumer choice program in the retail electricity market to drive competition and empower consumers.

The consumer choice program consists of the retail competition and open access (RCOA) and retail aggregation under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and the various programs under Republic Act No. 9513 or the RE Act such as the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) and distributed energy resources (DER).

The ERC, after months of public consultations, issued the omnibus rules con-

solidating all guidelines for customer choice programs to unlock the power of consumers to select their preferred electricity suppliers.

“The ERC is committed to advancing the goals of the RCOA, which we consider the ‘holy grail’ of EPIRA. The implementation of RCOA has transformed the Philippine energy sector by empowering consumers with choices and driving investment and competition in the electricity market,” ERC chairperson and chief executive Monalisa Dimalanta said in a statement Thursday.

“With the issuance of the omnibus rules, we contribute to realizing energy

democracy and will focus the next few months on an intensified consumer education campaign for an effective exercise of their power to select the supplier that best meets their unique needs,” she said.

A Magna Carta for Retail Customers was established under the rules, outlining key rights of retail customers, such as their right to choose suppliers, access to transparent billing, and protection against premature contract terminations. The rules also expand the implementation of the retail aggregation program (RAP) as it now allows the aggregation of demand within the same franchise area. Alena Mae S. Flores

“Our estimates show that achieving full electrification can inject approximately P315 billion into our economy, representing about 1.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product,” he said.

“By extending access to electricity for up to 16 to 24 hours a day, household income could rise by 49.9 percent, while expenditure could increase by 52.2 percent,” Lotilla said.

Conglomerates vie for Meralco’s 400-MW mid-merit power supply

By Alena Mae S. Flores

FElectric Co.’s (Meralco) competitive selection process for its 400-megawatt (MW) mid-merit supply requirement.

Ltd. and Sual Power Inc. of San Miguel Corp.; and GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. of

BSP fully awards upsized TDF offer of P200 billion

By Domingo Juan and Ralph Harvey Rirao

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday awarded P200 billion worth of 6- and 13-day term deposit facility (TDF) tenors, with interest rate posting different directions.

It offered both tenors for P100 billion each, up from P80 billion during the auction on Aug. 22, 2024.

The shorter-dated TDF was fully awarded after tenders reached P133.79 billion. Its average rate declined to 6.3033 percent from last week’s 6.3123 percent.

Tenders for the 13-day TDF reached P97.98 billion, which the BSP fully accepted.

Average rate of the longer-dated facility rose to 6.3672 percent from 6.3477 percent last week.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said bids submitted for the TDF auction this week were within the expected range.

“Looking ahead, the BSP’s monetary operations will continue to be guided by its assessment of prevailing liquidity conditions and market developments,” he said.

Aboitiz Power Corp. that attended the pre-bid conference for the 400-MW CSP on Thursday. A mid-merit power plant can adjust its capacity based on demand at certain hours of the day, while a baseload power plant is capable of running 24

hours a day.

“Following the success of our recent CSP for 600 MW of baseload supply where Meralco received very competitive offers, we welcome the continued interest of the country’s major energy players to join this CSP round that will help us ensure availability of least-cost supply for our customers starting next year,” Meralco bids and awards committee chairman Lawrence Fernandez said.

“We look forward to the participation of these prospective bidders during the bid submission deadline and

bid opening scheduled on Oct. 1,” Fernandez said. Meralco senior vice president and head of regulatory management Jose Ronald Valles said the CSP aims to secure the least-cost supply for customers.

“We hope that there will be no further delays as we work towards immediate signing of the PSAs resulting from the 600 MW CSP. We trust that ERC evaluation and approval will also be swift so customers can enjoy these very low rates upon scheduled delivery date in August 2025,” Valles said.

BUSINESS Media International recognized Asialink Finance Corp. as one of the most ideal companies for employees to work for through the HR Asia Awards at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

The awards, organized by Business Media International, is a recognition program for both private and public organizations that have been identified by their employees as one of Asia’s employers of choice, highlighting the best workplaces in the region.

HR Asia recognized Asialink’s exceptional prowess in hiring and retaining talent, a testament to the company’s extensive network of 193 branches nationwide and its nearly

2,000 employees.

The award-giving body was also impressed by Asialink’s commitment to supporting internal and external programs and projects, which collectively create a workplace culture that values diversity, collaboration and continuous innovation.

“Receiving HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia award underscores our dedication to fostering a work environment that nurtures growth and innovation. At Asialink, we are committed to empowering our employees to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally, while contributing to a culture that celebrates diversity and collabo-

ration,” said Asialink chairman Ruben Lugtu II.

Aside from the prestigious Best Companies to Work for in Asia award, Asialink also received the HR Asia Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) awards. The recognition highlighted Asialink’s success in being an outstanding example in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their institution.

The company also earned the HR Asia Most Caring Company Awards, which recognized Asialink’s practices and policies that prioritize the wellbeing of their employees and promote great workplace culture and environment above all else.

By Ralph Harvey Rirao

By Darwin G. Amouelar

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Thursday it is building two new data centers in Metro Manila and Pampanga to serve the growing demand for bandwidth-heavy applications among broadband subscribers.

The company said it started the construction of the data centers with a combined 1,500 racks that are set to open by next year.

“This future-proofing investment is in anticipation of the massive demand in the coming years for more data-intensive applications in gaming, fintech, OTT, public services, and more,” said Converge chief executive and co-found-

er Dennis Anthony Uy in a statement. Converge chief network transformation officer Paulo Martin Santos said both data centers aimed to achieve Uptime Institute tier 3 certification.

“With a tier 3 data center, each and every capacity component and distribution path in a site can be removed on a planned basis for concurrent maintenance or replacement without impacting operations,” Santos said. Converge aims for a tier 3 certification for both design and facility (lifetime certificate). “More so, future proofing our DCs, we are

[GPUs],” Santos said.

and July.

“This award reflects how our mission resonates with business leaders globally and validates the significance of our work. At Packworks, we are committed to empowering sari-sari stores through our open platform, driving innovation in the e-commerce and retail sectors,” said Bing Tan, co-founder and chief executive of Packworks.

IN BRIEF

DOE

TRANSPORT

Bike lanes promote active transport

TDOTr Undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure Andy Ortega said the agency is asking for a P2.59-billion funding for additional bike lanes, upgrade and maintenance of other bike lanes and end-of-trip facilities.

“The total budget we requested for 2025 is P2.595 billion for us to

HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for a significant expansion of bike lane infrastructure nationwide to promote sustainable transportation and reduce traffic congestion.

achieve not only the additional bike lanes but also to upgrade the existing ones and then we will put in certain end of trip cycling facilities,” Ortega said.

For 2025, the transport agency is looking to establish at least 260 kilometers of dedicated lanes for cyclists.

AUGUST 30, 2024 extrastory2000@gmail.com Darwin G. Amojelar, Issue Editor

lifestyles among Filipinos. Apart from cycling, the transport agency is also constructing walkways to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Active transport is in line with the National Transport Policy (NTP) and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 (PDP). The program has a P5-billion funding for 2024.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the active transport would not only support the riding public but also reduce traffic, encourage healthy programs so the DOTr wants bike lanes all over the country.

A 2018 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency also estimated that traffic congestion cost the Philippines a staggering P3.5 billion daily.

The DOTr is keen on establishing 2,400 kilometers of bike lanes by 2028.

“So, definitely we will be asking the Congress to increase [the budget] for us to achieve the objective to have

around more than 2,000 total bike lanes nationwide,” Ortega said.

The active transport project will focus on major cities and adjacent municipalities in the country to encourage active and sustainable

Most MIAA employees to transition to new NAIA operator

A MAJORITY of Manila

International Airport Authority (MIAA) have accepted job offers from New NAIA Infrastructure Corp., the new concessionaire of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim said at least 77.5 percent of MIAA employees have agreed on the employment offered by the NNIC. He said that the airport police and

other essential MIAA employees will be retained as organic personnel.

“Since the concession agreement mandates that the concessionaire offers employment to MIAA employees, except for the airport police, which will be retained as an organic team and some essential MIAA employees to continue its function as regulator,” he said.

Lim said the turnover to NNIC of NAIA is “going smoothly.”

He said that the DOTr and MIAA are conducting monthly joint

MPT South launches Bayani ng Kalsada Book 2

METRO Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), has launched “Bayani Ka: Bayani ng Kalsada Book 2,” an activity book aimed at inspiring children to become road safety champions in their communities.

Packed with engaging stories, vibrant illustrations, and interactive content, the book is designed to teach young readers the importance of road safety in a way that is both entertaining and empowering. With road safety being a vital topic for young learners, the book is an excellent resource for schools to incorporate into their curriculum, helping students become more aware and responsible on the streets.

Arlette V. Capistrano, vice president for Communication and Stakeholder Management of MPT South led the symbolic turnover of “Bayani Ka”

activity books to the National Library of the Philippines.

She was joined by MPTC Chief Corporate Governance and Risk Officer and Head of Sustainability, Atty. Cynthia Casino; as well as Dr. Angelito Umali, Health and Nutrition Officer and representative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The books were received by MCesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, director of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), Eduardo B. Quiros, assistant director of the National Library of the Philippines, and representatives from different local libraries.

A total of 2,000 copies of Bayani Ka Book 2 will be donated by MPT South to different public libraries and partner institutions in Metro Manila and CALABARZON.

steering committee talks with New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. to ensure a smooth transition process with the latter expected to take over the operation and maintenance of the airport next month.

“Both the concessionaire and government have been holding a joint steering committee hearing roughly once a month to tackle transition issues,” Lim said.

The transport executive said the issues discussed with the private concessionaire include early works

at the NAIA, including the OFW lounge, layout of terminals, and other facilities.

“Tuloy-tuloy naman po ang activities of the transition,” Usec. Lim pointed out.

Lim likewise said the DOTr has presented to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. the MIAA employee structure as airport regulator, saying the agency is awaiting approval from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for plantilla positions.

From Left: MPTC chief corporate governance and risk officer and head of sustainability, lawyer Cynthia Casino; Arlette V. Capistrano, vice president for communication and stakeholder management of MPT South; Cesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, director of the National Library of the Philippines; Dr. Angelito Umali, health and nutrition officer and representative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and Eduardo B. Quiros, assistant director of the National Library of the Philippines.

“MPT South conceptualized this campaign, “Bayani Ka: Bayani ng Kalsada Book 2,” to empower children with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate the streets

safely. By distributing this book to schools, we hope to instill lifelong habits of safety and responsibility in our youngest citizens,” Capistrano said.

SMC tollway unit posted 18% increase in first-half net income

THE tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. said

Upon completion in 2026, the P50 billion project 66.74-kilometer toll road will connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon, aims to significantly reduce travel time between these two points, from 3 hours to just 45 minutes.

The toll road will be divided into six sections, including Sto Tomas, Batangas to Makban in Laguna (11.32 km); Makban to San Pablo City (12.75 km); San Pablo to Tiaong in Quezon (7.5 km); Tiaong to Candelaria (15 km); Candelaria to Tayabas (10.21 km); and Tayabas to Lucena (9.96 km).

SLEX currently spans 36.1 km from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It is one of the three major expressways that link Metro Manila to the key southern provinces of the Philippines, including Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon(Calabarzon).

Meanwhile, the DOTr is asking Congress for a P180.8-billion budget for 2025 to fund big-ticket infrastructure projects.

The agency’s mega infrastructure projects in the pipeline include the New Cebu International Container Port and Manila Bay-Pasig RiverLaguna Lake Ferry River System. Meanwhile, railways needing budget allocation include the Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), MRT7, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Unified Grand Central Station and MRT-3 Rehabilitation. In the pipeline are Mindanao Railway Project, MRT-4 and PNR South Long Haul. Under the road sector, the DOTr is pushing for the expansion of the active transport program and EDSA Busway. The agency also continues to push for the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

PPA to add port security personnel

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said it plans to increase the number of its port police personnel amid the expansion of ports across the country.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said port police force plays a crucial role in maintaining safety, order, and peace at PPA ports. They are essential in preventing, responding to, and managing any disasters, unwarranted incidents, or security threats that may arise.

On August 19, 2024, the PPA successfully held a graduation ceremony for 31 new port police officers at the PPA Head Office in Manila. During the ceremony, Santiago also issued brand new service firearms to the new port police officers. Prior to the graduation, the 31 new port police officers underwent a series of training sessions. The Basic Port Police Training Course was conducted at the PPA Training Center in La Union, where the skills, abilities, and dedication of the applicants were tested as the first line of defense at the ports. The training included port operations, criminal law, marksmanship, firearms safety, water search and rescue, and endurance exercises. Another training session is scheduled for September 2024. Currently, there are 270 active port police officers ensuring the safety and security of major ports across the country. Due to ongoing port expansions, there is a continuing need for additional personnel. Applicants for port police positions must be Filipino citizens, college graduates, passers of the Civil Service Commission or Professional Regulatory Commission exams, not been previously dishonorably discharged from the military, police, or any government job for serious reasons, and must not have been convicted of a crime involving bad moral conduct. For more information on the requirements for applications, applicants may visit the PPA website and official social media accounts.

and

Editor Writer Writer

THE red carpet premiere of Mamay: A Journey to Greatness on Aug. 27 at SM Megamall Cinema 1 drew a significant crowd, including cast members, political colleagues, and supporters of Mayor Marcos Mamay

Mamay’s biopic premieres to warm reception

Mina playing Mamay’s wife, and Teejay Marquez as the young Mamay.

The event showcased not just a story, but the life and work of a man who has become a respected figure in the Philippines, known for his dedication to promoting peace and development among Christian and Muslim communities.

Mayor Mamay, who has been a public servant for years, has made it clear that the film is not a political statement, but rather a reflection of his advocacies.

“This is an inspiring film that mirrors my journey and the challenges I’ve faced,” he said in a press interview before the screening. “I believe our film industry has the power to unite people through the stories it tells, and that’s why I contribute my efforts to keep it vibrant and thriving.”

Directed by Neal “Buboy” Tan , the biographical film features action star Jeric Raval in the lead role, with Ara

The story traces Mamay’s life from childhood through his public service, highlighting his commitment to resolving family feuds and clan conflicts, and his advocacy for the rights and dignity of all people.

Raval expressed the challenge of accurately capturing Mamay’s character.

“I had to study his mannerisms and way of speaking to ensure an authentic portrayal,” Raval said in a previous interview.

Ara Mina also took care to understand her character, even wearing clothes provided by the mayor’s wife to enhance the authenticity of her performance.

The film’s theme song, “Hamon,” recorded by Gerald Santos and penned by Vehnee Saturno perfectly adds an emotional layer to the story,

which revolves around the themes of perseverance and success despite hardships.

As the National Vice President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the president of the LMP-Lanao del Norte Chapter, Mayor Mamay’s commitment to his constituents extends to his involvement in the film industry. His efforts to produce a movie that inspires and unites people reflect his broader mission of service, which is why he is considering submitting the film to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“I hope to reach a wider audience. The MMFF is highly anticipated and could share my life story with many more people,” he said. “Regardless of the outcome, I hope the film will inspire viewers to chase their dreams and contribute to their communities.”

Mamay is also eyeing future collaborations in the film industry, particularly in creating advocacy films focused on education.

“We are excited about working with other film outfits and considering a new advocacy film centered on education. We are particularly interested in featuring Alden Richards Kathryn Bernardo as the stars,” he added. For his parting words, Mamay reiterated that the film’s message is clear: poverty is not a hindrance to achieving one’s dreams.

JAN Francis Alinsonorin from Visayas was named the Karaoke World Championships (KWC) Philippines 2024 Champio during the contest’s grand finals held on Aug. 16 at the SM City North EDSA SkyDome.

The event marked the culmination of a nationwide search that began in July and featured regional champions from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.

The finals showcased a series of performances, including group and solo acts, highlighting the vocal talents of the top four finalists: Danilo Lipaopao Luzon, Erika Anne Buensuceso of Metro Manila, and Mary Joy Parasan of Mindanao, alongside Alinsonorin.

of

Judges for the competition included Attorney Don Carlo Ybañez Rox Santos of ABSCBN, Tommy Tanchangco of Sony Music, and Quan from KWC Asia Pacific, among others. Their role was crucial in assessing the performances and ensuring a fair competition.

As the champion, Jan Francis Alinsonorin received an all-expense-paid trip to Finland for the KWC Finals, a cash prize from Sante Barley Max, a one-year artist management contract, and other prizes from various sponsors. The runners-up also received awards

The evening featured performances of popular Filipino songs, including “Raise Your Flag” and “Bebot,” as well as solo renditions by the finalists. The event also saw special performances from Hazel Faith, Pauline Anne, and Maki.

Alinsonorin will represent the Philippines at the KWC Finals in Finland from Oct. 7 to 12.

“Through this competition, we aim to change the life of the champion and Apple Esplanaa, CEO and President of The KWC Philippines 2024 not only celebrated individual talent but also highlighted the unifying power of

and special gifts. their family,” said Manansal The New Channel. only but music.

By Abigail Adriatico

ACTRESS Kim Domingo has been turning heads with her memorable debut in the hit action-drama series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo as the femme fatale Madonna. With the warm support of viewers and fans for her new role, Domingo took the time to share how she landed the part.

In an interview with Luis Manzano for his YouTube series Luis Listens , the sultry actress explained that her journey to the role began at an event.

“I didn’t know that the people there were all from ABS-CBN,” she admitted. While mingling at the event, someone suggested she would be perfect for a character in Batang Quiapo and asked if she would

be interested in working on the show if the opportunity arose. Domingo eagerly agreed, expressing her desire to be part of the hit series. About a week later, Domingo received a call asking if she was still interested in the role. After accepting the offer, she underwent intense training involving guns, knives, and hand-to-hand combat.

Despite the demanding nature of the role, Domingo expressed her enthusiasm, noting that it allowed her to showcase a different side of herself beyond her usual sexy roles in shows and films.

As she continues to thrive in her acting career, Domingo revealed that one of her dream roles

Rosamund Pike

Actress Kim Domingo takes on the role of Madonna in ‘Batang Quiapo’

Mayor Marcos Mamay at the red carpet premiere

The stars of ‘Mamay: A Journey to Greatness’

SHOWBIZ

By Abigail Adriatico

RUSSIAN

ballet company

Mariinsky Ballet ’s worldclass dancers Renata Shakirova and Alexei Timofeyev will be performing in Ballet Manila ’s restaging of the two-act romantic ballet Giselle as the titular character and Albrecht, respectively.

Mariinsky Ballet stars

lead Ballet Manila’s ‘Giselle’

Ballet Manila artistic director and chief executive officer Lisa MacujaElizalde made the collaboration possible through her ties with the Russian ballet company, which was where she had also trained and became its first foreign soloist in the mid-80s Notably, Shakirova and Timofeyev are a couple in real life and they will be performing in a staging of Giselle together as the main leads for the first time, which is something that Macuja-Elizalde believed would add more to their performances.

Farmer’s daughter crowned Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN 2024

Pageant Concept Eton Concepcion

VEVHERLY Gador, a 35-year-old single mother working on a cruise ship in the Middle East, was named Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN 2024 during the coronation night held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on Sunday.

Gador, a farmer’s daughter from Alcantara, Cebu, holds a degree in Criminology and previously worked as a civil aviation security inspector at Manila International Airport. She was also a contestant on GMA-7’s Survivor Philippines in 2008. Gador will represent the Philippines in the Mrs. Universe 2024 pageant in South Korea this October.

Other major winners included Marie Claire Briones (Mrs. Universe PH North Pacific Asia), Joy Orta (Mrs. Universe PH Northeast Asia), Jimymah Coching (Mrs. Universe PH West Pacific Asia), and Malou Panlaqui (Mrs. Universe PH South Central Asia).

Additional titles awarded were Mrs. Universe PH United Nation (Giselle Raymus ), Mrs. Universe United Nation Continental (Graciel Santos Suarez),

Mrs. Worldwide Philippines (Cachet Oaman ), Mrs. Universe PH Asia Pacific Worldwide ( Christine Serato ), and Mrs. Universe PH Southeast Asia Worldwide (Catherine Muguerz). Jes-Lin Santos and Marilou Rosete were named Mrs. Universe PH Worldwide First and Second Runners-up, respectively.

NEW Zealand’s Riley Roebuck wins Miss Teen Tourism Universe 2024

The 5th Miss Teen Tourism 2024, successfully hosted by the province of Cavite, crowned its five winners during the Grand Coronation Night held at the Summit Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City on Saturday.

Riley Roebuck of New Zealand was crowned Miss Teen Tourism Universe 2024. Roebuck, Miss Teen Icon New Zealand 2024 and Miss Teen Supermodel New Zealand 2024, is an advocate for Irlen Syndrome Awareness, a condition she suffers from, also known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) or Visual Stress. It is a perceptual processing disorder that affects the brain’s ability to process visual information due to light sensitivity.

Louzana Isha Ebrahim of the United Arab Emirates (FIL COM UAE), Founder of @em.powerbranding, won Miss Teen Tourism World 2024, while Samantha Batarao of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (FIL COM KSA), a Filipina based in KSA, was named Miss Teen Tourism International 2024.

Arshdeep Kaur of India, a 12th-grade student at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, was named Miss Teen Tourism Earth 2024, and Natalia Checa of Spain, a model and Miss Globe Barcelona 2023, was named Miss Teen Tourism Globe 2024.

The panel of judges included beauty queens and philanthropists Dr. Riza Oben Dormiendo , Dr. Faye Tangonan, Patricia Javier, and Daisy Reyes

“I think that Renata’s true romantic style of dancing and the fact that she is dancing with her real-life prince Alexei is going to transform Ballet Manila’s Giselle to a Giselle of another level,” she said.

The couple’s upcoming performance for Giselle will also be their first time performing on the Philippine stage. Shakirova expressed her excitement as she hopes to connect with the Filipino audience through her performance as Giselle as Timofeyev looked forward to performing for a new audience.

“What’s important to be able to connect with the audience, wherever they are, but especially with a Filipino audience, is to highlight the small nuances that are included in the performance, like the turn of the head or the eye-to-eye contact with your partner, so that the emotions in the story can be conveyed and that the audience can enjoy the show,” she said.

“We are feeling the good kind of vibes with the Filipino audience, and we want them to live the story of Giselle with us on stage. It’s going to be our first time, and we hope to share that special experience with all of them,” said Timofeyev.

For the restaging of Giselle Shakirova and Timofeyev will be accompanied by an ensemble made up of Ballet Manila’s young and veteran

dancers. Macuja-Elizalde shared that this was a notable challenge for them as training a young batch of dancers for ballet such as Giselle together with those who have a lot of experience in performing the ballet required a lot of effort as it demanded precise and synchronized movements from all of them.

Being one of the most widely known ballets in the world, Giselle follows the story of the titular girl who falls for a man named Albrecht, whom she does not know is already engaged to someone else. Upon learning this, Giselle dies of a broken heart and becomes part of the Wilis, a group of ghosts of unmarried women who died after being betrayed by their lovers. She ends up protecting a mourning Albrecht from the queen of the Wilis, Myrtha, after he visits her grave

The restaging of Giselle serves as the third offering of Ballet Manila’s 26th performance season which is called Ballet Masterpieces Shakirova and Timofeyev will be taking on the roles for the performances on Aug. 31 at 8:00 p.m. and Sept. 1 at 5:00 p.m. while Ballet Manila principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo will be the ones performing on Aug. 31 at 1:00 p.m.

The performances will be staged at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. Tickets are available at www. ticketworld.com.ph.

Blumhouse thriller ‘Speak No Evil’ set for PH release

THE latest Blumhouse thriller, Speak No Evil , is set to open in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 11. The film, directed by James Watkins , is inspired by the 2022 Danish film Gaesterne

The story follows an American family living in England, who are invited by a British family to their countryside home for a vacation. What begins as an idyllic getaway soon turns into a harrowing experience as the dark side of human nature begins to unravel. The film explores themes of societal pressure, identity crises, and the dangers of seeking an escape from modern life’s constraints.

Producer Jason Blum , who decided to adapt the film after being deeply disturbed by the original, described the experience as one that “recoiled with each new revelation” and “couldn’t shake.” Watkins, drawn to the material for its thematic depth, aimed to create a film that questions societal norms and the price of complacency.

Speak No Evil stars an ensemble cast portraying the Dalton family and their British hosts, exploring the psychological tension that arises when comfort meets danger. The film is distributed by Universal Pictures International.

‘Giselle’ is one of the most widely known ballets in the world

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (center) with the Mariinsky Ballet dancers Alexei Timofeyev (left) and Renata Shakirova (right)

From left: Alexei Timofeyev, Ballet Manila artistic director and CEO Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and Renata Shakirova during the media conference

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

C4 LIFE

MY LOVE affair with Korean dramas began long before they became a global sensation. It was the early 2000s, and the idea of bingewatching a series on a streaming platform was unheard of.

As a student, I intentionally allotted a portion of my allowance to buy DVDs of the latest K-dramas. My obsession was so intense that I would even purchase them online, knowing that they offered a unique blend of storytelling, culture, and emotions that Western shows rarely captured.

However, as life moved on—graduating from university, entering the workforce, and juggling adulting responsibilities—my once-passionate relationship with K-dramas took a backseat. I often found myself thinking that the time spent watching these shows could be better utilized in acquiring new skills (like taking online courses or engaging in real hobbies) or pursuing more “productive” activities. Then came the Hallyu or Korean wave—a phenomenon that swept across the world, turning K-drama into a global craze.

As the series began flooding streaming platforms and gaining unprecedented popularity, the pandemic hit, and suddenly, everyone around me was talking about Crash Landing on You on Netflix.

What once felt like a guilty pleasure became a shared cultural experience, uniting millions under the banner of Korean drama. In fact, I am typing this while eagerly waiting for the next

Why it’s A-OK to watch K-drama

episode of the latest Korean drama series Love Next Door

Despite the growing popularity, I occasionally found myself questioning whether spending 16 to 20-plus hours engrossed in a series was truly worth it. But recently, I’ve come to realize that watching K-drama is far more than just a passive indulgence. It’s a cultural experience, a therapeutic escape, and, in many ways, a form of mental self-care. It’s like traveling to a different world from the comfort of your couch or bed —a world filled with useful life lessons, rich traditions, and deeply relatable characters.

What are the benefits of watching K-drama?

Here are five ones I observed that can contribute to our mental health: Emotional catharsis and healing

K-dramas have a unique way of tapping into our emotions. They often explore complex themes such as mental health, grief, and selfacceptance, providing a safe space for viewers to confront their own feelings. Take It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, for instance. The series beautifully

addresses the stigma around mental illness, showcasing the importance of empathy, healing, and self-love.

Through its characters’ journeys, viewers are encouraged to embrace their imperfections and seek help when needed. This emotional catharsis can be incredibly healing, allowing us to process our own experiences in a meaningful way.

Cultural education and appreciation

Watching K-dramas is like embarking on a cultural journey without leaving your home. These shows offer a window into Korean customs, traditions, and societal values, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of a different culture.

Reply 1988 is a perfect example of this. Set in the late 1980s, the series captures the essence of life in a Korean neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of family, friendship, and community. The nostalgic portrayal of simpler times resonates with viewers worldwide, reminding us of the universal values that connect us all.

Promoting positive relationships

K-dramas often depict healthy, supportive relationships that can inspire viewers to cultivate similar bonds in their own lives.

Hometown Cha-ChaCha is a heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and community in a small seaside village. The show’s emphasis on kindness,

understanding, and mutual respect serves as a gentle reminder that building strong, positive relationships is essential for our well-being.

Watching characters navigate their relationships can provide insights into how we can improve our interactions with others, fostering a sense of connection and belonging.

Encouraging resilience and perseverance

The protagonists in K-dramas often face significant challenges and adversities, yet they persist with resilience and determination. Goblin tells the story of a goblin cursed with immortality who seeks redemption and meaning in his life. The show explores themes of fate, love, and sacrifice, encouraging viewers to find strength in difficult times and believe in the possibility of a better tomorrow. The resilience displayed by the characters can serve as a source of inspiration for viewers, reminding us that even in the face of hardship, there is hope.

Mindful escapism

Sometimes, the best way to take care of our mental health is to simply escape the stresses of daily life, and K-dramas offer the perfect avenue for this. The intricate plots, stunning cinematography, and engaging characters provide a form of mindful escapism that allows us to momentarily disconnect from our worries and immerse ourselves in a different world. Shows like Queen of Tears transport viewers into a world of fantasy and romance, where the boundaries of reality are blurred, and anything is possible. This temporary escape can be incredibly rejuvenating, helping us return to our lives with a fresh perspective.

K-dramas go beyond entertainment. They provide emotional release, cultural insights, relationship models, resilience, escape, and boosting mental health.

Korean-American licensed therapist and mental health expert Jeannie Y. Chang’s book How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health offers a read that is truly entertaining and highly educational.

Three ways work-from-home, hybrid work arrangements can boost productivity

THE work-from-home (WFH) and hybrid work models have gained popularity among companies and employees since the pandemic, with many organizations reporting success in implementing these setups.

According to recent data from JobStreet by SEEK, a leading online job portal, over a thousand job ads for remote or hybrid work have been posted in the past three months.

While some employers express concerns about potential issues like increased isolation and decreased productivity, JobStreet by SEEK argues that these work arrangements can enhance productivity. The company identifies three key benefits: Flexible work schedules

Flexible work schedules are a significant advantage of WFH arrangements. In a hybrid setup, employees typically alternate between remote work and on-site reporting. This flexibility allows workers to balance their professional and personal lives, leading to higher job satisfaction and increased productivity.

JobStreet by SEEK’s “Future of Recruitment” report highlighted that work-life balance is a crucial factor for employees when considering job offers. Additionally, the 2024 Job Happiness Survey found that employees in

enhancing overall productivity. “Many companies are based in major cities like Manila, Cebu, or Davao, limiting opportunities for talent from rural areas,” said Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of JobStreet by SEEK Philippines. “Remote work allows companies to recruit skilled workers who

and

Watching K-dramas on Netflix bears many benefits to one’s mental health

K-dramas offers various learnings for viewers

Random Talk Kate Adajar

‘Reply 1988’ revolves around the story of families in a Korean neighborhood and how their lives are interconnected with each other