Manila Standard - 2024 October 21 - Monday

By Rio N. Araja

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is reopening its investigation into the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Quad Comm formally invites Duterte to hearing on EJKs

On Sunday, PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said he ordered the reopening of the cold case after whistleblower Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza told the House Quad Committee that he helped carry out the killing at the behest of ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma.

Koko leads Senate's parallel probe; vows impartiality

By Rolando Ng III and Vince Lopez

TMendoza narrated before congressmen how Garma allegedly facilitated the PCSO official’s roadside assassination on July 30, 2020 by providing the necessary information about his schedule, details about his vehicle and the funding necessary to carry it out.

The whistleblower also implicated incumbent National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the planning of the murder.

Barayuga was a retired police general and lawyer who supposedly threatened to expose corruption within the PCSO shortly before he was shot dead in Mandaluyong City.

HE House of Representatives' consolidated panel investigating extra judicial killings (EJKs) perpetrated during the previous administration's term has finally sent former President Rodrigo Duterte a formal invitation to attend one of its hearings.

Garma, herself an ex-police Lt. Colonel, allegedly gained the top spot at the PCSO because of her in-

In a letter dated October 18, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert "Ace" Barbers, the House Quad Committee's (Quad Comm) overall chair, sought Duterte's presence at a hearing scheduled on the morning of Oct. 22.

"In this regard, the Joint Committee respectfully invites you to attend the said inquiry to provide valuable insights and shed light on the issues under discussion particularly on extra juridical killings," Barbers wrote on behalf of the merged panels.

Quad Comm members have long sent feelers and implied invitations to the former president, saying he is "welcome to attend" or that he has "a standing invitation," but this is first time on record that Duterte's attendance to the proceedings has been formally requested. Meanwhile, the former president

Darwin Amojelar

Yang's lawyer mocks probers amid heated inquiry

adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

said in a Viber message, referring to the website that published the said story. “Bilyonaryo is inconsistent,” he added. “Bautista and his long-time protege in Philippine Airlines, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Bobby Lim, are at the center of the storm after it was

THE legal counsel of Chinese businessman Tony Yang sought to disparage lawmakers’ conclusions about his client’s supposedly sketchy past and his alleged ties with Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs) and even organized crime.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun questioned the House Quad Committee’s impartiality and its ability to pin Chinese national Yang down for ay wrongdoing in a real criminal court.

By Rio Araja

“I am very interested in how they [Quad Comm members] can prove this criminal network in court. In Congress, lawmakers act as both prosecutor and judge,” he said. Yang, who already admitted having a fake Philippine birth certificate, is the brother of Michael Yang, a presidential economic

Fortun, a lawyer who often finds himself at the center high-profile cases, apparently sought to mock congressmen, calling their probe “unacceptable.”

However, House members argued they did not come by their suspicions about Yang recklessly.

On Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga and Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon presented a matrix showing Yang’s first appearance and his subsequent activities at the Quad Comm hearing.

“We saw a pattern, and we tracked it to the top of these corporations... we stripped it of its layers , to get to the top and through it all, we have discovered and identified at least two main actors or players in the issue

Navy spokes debunks China claim of military exercises in Scarborough shoal

of illegal drugs and illegal activities associated with POGOs,” Suarez said in a mixture of Filipino and English.

The solons explained how the matrix details Yang’s connections to other individuals involved in illicit activities, including the operations of illegal POGOs.

Among the companies implicated are Brickhartz Technology Inc. and Xionwei Technology Co. Ltd., which are being linked to alleged kidnapping.

The two firms supposedly have connections with the Baofu Compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which, in turn, can be directly traced to disgraced ex-mayor Alice Guo.

During Friday’s Quad Comm hearing, lawmakers cited Tony Yang in contempt for “lying” to about his businesses and business partners.

THE Philippine government on Sunday publicly called for the United Nations (UN) to give it a seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the country’s strong record and dedication to upholding the rule of law.

Department of Foreign

cent Trinidad told reporters that Manila troops did not monitor any such activity, adding that Beijing’s statement was meant only for its internal audience.

By Vito Barcelo

ALL private armed groups in

“Our troops did not observe any exercise, we have to understand that sometimes, China is doing this for their internal audience, right? For them not to look weak and embarrassed,” Trinidad said. Two Chinese warships were monitored at a

of some lawmakers at the House of Representatives for repeatedly skipping the budget deliberations there, Escudero said he does not want to preempt the decision of the senators when it comes to the Senate’s own plenary hearings. "I repeat, I don’t want to preempt anything and I don't want to say that there is such a condition before the budget plenary deliberation even starts," Escudero, quoted by GMA News, said. In September, Duterte said she would attend the plenary deliberations on the OVP budget at the Senate. She also said that she is no longer expecting that the OVP's proposed

States within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the regional waters over the weekend. Philippine Navy

A WEB OF CRIME? House leaders Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez presented this matrix during the last QUAD Comm hearing which shows the operations of a criminal syndicate allegedly led by fugitive Michael Yang,

of

that

trade and extrajudicial killings.

NEW INDONESIAN LEADER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulates Indonesian President Prabowo

Subianto as First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos awaits her turn after yesterday's inauguration of Indonesia's new leader and his Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, at the Nusantara Building in Jakarta, Indonesia.The event, held during a plenary session of the People’s Consultative Assembly, marked the beginning of the new leadership’s 2024–2029 term. Insert Story on Page 3.

CHRISTMAS ENCHANTMENT. SM Lanang’s dazzling 55-foot Christmas tree lights up to signal the start of the merriest season with the theme SM Lanang mall in Davao City offers families and friends the perfect holiday escape where they can create and capture magical

Marcos reminds youth freedom was hard-won

By Rex Espiritu

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday reminded the generations of today that the freedom Filipinos enjoy was hard-won by its ancestors.

and freedom. Secretary Teodoro praised the current administration's efforts to honor the sacrifices of war veterans by building resilience against foreign invaders as well as natural disasters and calamities.

“I would like to convey my utmost support for all initiatives aimed at ensuring that the lessons and legacy of the Leyte Gulf Landing are preserved, shared, and lived on by current and future generations,” Teodoro added.

secure and peaceful region. The Leyte Landing was a turning point in World War II here in the Asian region,” Romualdez added.

“Their fight is our fight. Let us carry forward the lessons of those who gave their own so that we can prosper in a society where hope and opportunity flourish for all,” he added.

DND Secretary Gibo Teodoro, on the other hand, reaffirmed the department's commitment to protect national security, territorial integrity,

"To our youth who have not experienced war but have inherited the lessons of history, may this day serve as a reminder: the freedom we enjoy today was not simply given; it was fought for, born from the blood, sweat, and tears of our ancestors, our fellow countrymen, our veterans, and every Filipino.",” Marcos said in a speech read by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during the commemoration of the historic landing and return of US General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines in October 1944.

“In honoring the sacrifices of veterans here, we continue the legacy of building national defense and resilience—not only against those who would want to occupy our territory or abuse our territorial integrity and sovereignty but also against natural disasters and calamities,” he said.

He emphasized that this effort involves collaboration between the legislature and the executive branch, as well as cooperation with like-minded nations.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said that the presence of foreign diplomats at the event “ is a testament to how far we have come in promoting and protecting our respective national interests—not through destructive contests of arms and violence but through peaceful diplomatic efforts that are more sustainable.”

“We commend the solidarity of the nations of Australia, Japan, and the US in our shared aspirations for a

Quad...

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expressed willingness to attend congressional investigations into EJKs even as he vehemently denied ordering policemen to summarily execute suspected drug personalities during his incumbency.

In a recent television interview, Duterte said he "would be happy to appear in both the Upper and Lower houses of Congress."

He also denied extending financial rewards to law enforcers for killing drug suspects, insisting no policeman would accept such a risky proposition.

As this developed, Senate President Francis Escudero announced that the Blue Ribbon Committee would handle the Upper Chamber's upcoming parallel probe into the thousands of deaths linked to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

The committee was selected to handle the matter as it has motu pro-

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dismantled not only in certain areas but all over the Philippines," Garcia, in a Super Radyo dzBB interview, said.

Reports said violence against politicians reached its height under the Duterte administration, averaging around 90.2 killings

prio [on one's own initiative] jurisdiction while the chamber is on vacation, Escudero said over dZBB Sunday morning Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go, who earlier proposed to lead the Senate's investigation into the killings, have reportedly agreed on Escudero’s suggestion that the Blue Ribbon panel take the lead.

The Senate President earlier pointed out the two Duterte-allied senators have to take a back seat on the probe to avoid bias and conflict of interest issues.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has been tasked to lead the hearings.

Pimentel, the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee chairman, said he will be impartial and not mix politics into the investigation.

“I’m really objective and I’m fair, and then I will follow the evidence. I will not mix politics with this, so we will just follow evidence,” he told GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” in a mixture of English and Filipino.

annually from 2016–2022 compared to 43.75 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 54.34 under President Benigno Aquino III, according to a 2023 study by a Philippine Navy analyst.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) officials still estimate that as many as 155 private armed groups operate across the Philippines. This is lower than the 558 monitored active in 1993, the study said.

“It's enough to scam and make excuses. The public is waiting for a clear answer about your unexplained use of confidential funds. Even the military resisted because you made them appear that they benefited from then YLS fund,” he said Sunday. “No amount of on-screen meltdowns can bury the issue of the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under either the Office of the Vice President or DepEd. The Filipino people demand answers,” Khonghun added. For his part, La Union Rep. Paolo

FBI...

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the US Embassy said in a statement.

“The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad,” the statement further read.

Eastman, a native of Vermont, was snatched by four gunmen posing as policemen, and reportedly shot in the leg when he tried to resist.

Wounded, the 26-year-old YouTube content creator was carried to a waiting motorboat and spirited away to a yet unknown location.

Meanwhile, local authorities said they are keeping a close watch on certain persons of interest believed to be behind Eastman's abduction.

“We are validating leads to ensure we are tracking the right group to build an airtight case against them,” Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula

For Garcia, the voters’ free will remains a priority, stressing that people should not be coerced to vote for a particular candidate.

"How can the voters reflect their true sentiments if they are voting out of fear or because they were forced? That shouldn’t be the case. Voting should be voluntary in the will and thoughts of our countrymen," Garcia said.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list

Ortega V said the Vice President’s tirade against Mr. Marcos should not be allowed to draw attention away from the real issue at hand -- her suspected misuse of public funds. “This is just the latest in a series of alleged misuse of public funds. Unfortunately, the Vice President has never addressed these issues directly and instead resorts to making outlandish statements. All soundbytes, but no substance,” he said in a mixture of Filipino and English. Meanwhile, ACT Teachers party-

The commemoration also unveiled the US Small Boat Association Plaque to civilian Australian Marines and included the rededication of the Australian Memorial.

Among those present at the event were Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, US Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre, Leyte 2nd District Rep. Lolita Karen Javier, local officials led by Leyte Gov. Jericho "Icot" Petilla, Vice Gov. Sandy Javier, and Philippine Veterans Bank executives headed by Renato Claravall.

PAGASA warns LPA off Catanduanes could turn stormy

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday a low-pressure area (LPA) off Virac, Catanduanes is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

Once it enters the country, it will be called “Kristine,” it said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said that predictive analyses from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicate that over a million individuals could be affected by the impending tropical cyclone.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) reported that 5,688 barangays are at risk of landslides and flooding in regions projected to be impacted by ‘Kristine,’ which is anticipated to make landfall on the eastern coast of Cagayan by Thursday and may traverse northern Luzon.

The system is forecasted to reach typhoon intensity before landfall.

(PRO-9) director, said in a statement on Sunday.

It was stated that the PRO-9 activated a Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) to focus on the investigation and swift resolution of the kidnapping that took place around 11 p.m. on Oct. 17. They have also tapped the intelligence arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in identifying the abductors and locating the victim's whereabouts, the police official added.

The kidnappers have yet to make ransom demands or even contact Eastman's wife or relatives, he disclosed.

“The safety of the victim remains the top priority and all available resources are being mobilized to resolve the situation swiftly and effectively,” Masauding wrote.

Eastman has only been living in Barangay Poblacion for the last five months after marrying a local resident.

groups is set from February 11 to March 10, 2025. Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for the House of Representatives and parliamentary, provincial, city, and municipal elections will be from March 28 to May 10.

Election day is scheduled on May 12, but overseas voters may cast their votes as early as April 13, while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30.

list Rep. France Castro called for a comprehensive investigation into the reported anomalies within the Department of Education during Duterte's term as education secretary. In a statement, she said "the allegations of cash gifts and misuse of funds at DepEd are deeply troubling and demand a thorough investigation. It is crucial to uphold integrity and transparency in our education system, which is fundamental to the development of our youth." Over the weekend, Senate President Francis Escudero called Duterte's rants

In response, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) instructed its regional offices to initiate preparedness measures, as the rainbands associated with the potential tropical cyclone may bring moderate to heavy rainfall to the Bicol region, Samar provinces, and other areas starting Tuesday.

Additionally, OCD regional offices have been directed to remind the public that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and PAGASA should be their primary sources of official weather updates to combat misinformation.

“We urge vulnerable communities to heed our call and make the necessary preparations for Kristine, our 11th tropical cyclone this year. Your cooperation is essential to our ongoing efforts to ensure your safety and well-being,” said OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno. Currently, all monitored dams are under non-flood watch status. However, Ambuklao, Binga, Magat, and San Roque are being closely monitored, according to the state weather bureau.

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P2 billion budget for 2025 to remain the same, adding that her office will just work around any budget given to them.

"With the P700 million, we will see what will be left and then we will work around that budget of the Office of the Vice President,” Escudero further said.

against the Marcoses "unbecoming of the second highest official of the land." Escudero said Duterte’s acerbic comments against the First Family during a press conference broadcast live on multiple platforms on Friday did her no favors, instead, only portrayed her in a bad light. Duterte claimed she told Senator Imee Marcos, the President's sister, in a group chat that she will dig up the grave of

HONORING THE DEPARTED. In preparation for All Souls' Day on November 2, 2022, relatives clean the tombs of their departed loved ones in the San Mateo, Rizal cemetery. Eduardo Rabaya Castro

NEWS IN BRIEF

US team backs DND on cybersecurity

THE US Cyber National Mission Force said it will support the Department of National Defense (DND) cyber-capability programs.

DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio B. Madriaga recently met with US Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) Commander Major General Lorna Mahlock to discuss the significant challenges that both countries face in cyberspace.

They also discuss the exploration of possible avenues to support the Philippine Defense Department’s cyber-capability-building efforts.

The CNMF is a dedicated cyber unit under U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), responsible for planning, directing, and synchronizing cyberspace operations to protect against and counter threats to national security.

According to DND, since its inception, the CNMF has played a critical role in defending the United States from cyber adversaries. Rex Espiritu

Cavite celebrates ‘Tinapang Salinas’ fest

ROSARIO, CAVITE--The annual celebration of the Tinapang Salinas Festival--held on October 19 in the town proper-- drew thousands of local and foreign tourists.

The colorful costume designs of students from elementary to secondary schools who showed off their dancing skills at the annual Street Dance Competition caught the attention of the crowd.

Fourteen groups participated in the competition which was won by Bagbag National High School and MCDEES Elementary School. Dennis Abrina

Timor-Leste seeks PH aid on disaster risk

TIMOR-LESTE is seeking the Philippines’ assistance to enhance its disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) capabilities, its state representative said.

“We asked the assistance of the UN as well as we discussed with the Philippine authority to see how they could help Timor-Leste to establish some of the systems like the early warning systems, the four [thematic] pillars, detecting, monitoring,” Marciano Octavio Garcia Da Silva, Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Philippines stated during a visit to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

The delegation included notable officials such as the Honorable President Jesuino dos Reis de Matos Carvalho of the Timor-Leste Civil Protection Authority, Disaster Risk Management Advisor to the President Grace Endina, National Director of Resource Management Virgilio dos Santos Soares, Commander Fernando da Costa, Director of External Relations and Communication Cesario da Silva Marques, and Director of Strategic Planning and Advisory Paulo Soares Exposto. Rex Espiritu

CYBERCAPABILITY

PACT. A team from the US Cyber National Mission Force meet with representatives of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) to enhance the DND’s cybercapability programs.

Marcos congratulates Prabowo

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations to Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto for his significant lead over his rivals in the presidential elections in Indonesia.

“My warmest congratulations to Defense Minister @prabowo on his commanding lead in the latest electoral count to be Indonesia’s next President,”

President Marcos said on his official X [formerly Twitter] account.

President Marcos said the Philippine government is looking forward to

deepening the bilateral ties between the Philippines and Indonesia, calling the latter the country’s close neighbor and partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The chief executive also noted that the Philippines and Indonesia are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations

this year, having been officially established on November 24, 1949.

The 73-year-old Prabowo is a former military special forces commander. He is leading against his rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo based on the independent pollsters conducting the count in the presidential elections in Indonesia.

World leaders have also congratulated Prabowo after he took a big lead in the presidential polls.

OFW party-list Representative Marissa Magsino on Sunday meanwhile urged Subianto to look into the case of Overseas Filipino Worker Mary

PNP vows ‘no sacred cows’ in reinvestigation of Barayuga murder

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public Sunday that the investigation into the murder of former police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga will leave no stone unturned, and with no “sacred cows” in the process.

In an interview on GMA 7’s “Super Radyo DZBB,” acting PNP Public Information Office chief Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo vowed a thorough and impartial probe into the high-profile case.

“We will spare no effort in filing charges and investigating,’ she said.

“There will be no ‘sacred cow’ here in the PNP’s investigation… We owe it to the family of the victims, to the people. As an

institution, the PNP should come up with a credible investigation this time.”

Barayuga, a retired general, was fatally shot by motorcycle-riding assailants while inside his service vehicle in Mandaluyong City in 2020. His murder is among the “high-priority” cases being addressed, according to Fajardo.

“There [are] new information and revelations and statements coming

from the persons who were allegedly involved in these high-profile cases,” the PNP spokesperson said.

The PNP is facing scrutiny over the involvement of some officers in questionable activities, particularly related to anti-drug operations. Fajardo acknowledged the challenges within the institution but emphasized the need for professionalism in handling the probe.

Jane Veloso, who was convicted and sentenced to death for drug trafficking in 2010.

“To the new leader of Indonesia, I hope you can listen, I hope you learn what is on the other side, the reason, the real incident, the facts about Mary Jane so that she will not carry the burden of proving her innocence alone and carry the punishment alone, which I also hope can be worked out,” she said in a statement.

In January, Veloso’s family sent letters to then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appeal her clemency.

Teodoro urges preparations for ‘Kristine’

By Rex Espiritu

DEPARTMENT of Defense (DND)

Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. urged the public to take early precautions as a new weather disturbance is predicted to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a low-pressure area (LPA) off Virac, Catanduanes is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. Once it enters the country, it will be called “Kristine.”

“Let us engage in proactive planning and stay informed with relevant updates to ensure we are adequately prepared. We are collaborating closely with all concerned agencies to establish a comprehensive and cohesive action plan,” Teodoro said.

He noted that predictive analyses from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicate that over a million individuals could be affected by the impending tropical cyclone.

Gatchalian: ERC can raise power rates

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian flagged a decision made by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to forgo the fifth regulatory reset of Meralco’s distribution rate, covering the period 20222026, warning that the move could lead to higher electricity bills for consumers.

Gatchalian expressed concern that without the rate reset, Meralco’s charges may not reflect the current economic conditions, potentially resulting in increased costs for households and businesses.

“As consumers, we are expressing our opposition to the ERC’s decision to forego the fifth regulatory reset of Meralco’s distribution rate. The rate must go through the resetting process,” Gatchalian told ERC officials at a recent Senate hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department

of Energy and its attached agencies, including the ERC.

A rate reset is a periodic process conducted by the ERC to review and adjust distribution rates charged by utilities like Meralco. It ensures rates reflect the actual costs of delivering electricity, considering factors such as inflation, operational expenses, and the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC). Meralco’s current WACC is 14.97%, and it has not been updated since 2015.

“That is not fair for consumers. Hindi puwedeng magmi-maintain ng 14 percent ang Meralco for the next four years. Historically ang reset ay puro extension. Wala naman on time na reset, hindi ba? Siguro noong 2001 lang pero after that, puro delayed na,” he pointed out.

TINAPANG SALINAS FESTIVAL. Student performers don colorful costumes during a performance at the annual Tinapang Salinas Festival in Rosario, Cavite. Dennis Abrina

SPEAKER MEETS WAR VETERANS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez greets 14 surviving war veterans from Leyte and Samar, highlighting the 80th anniversary celebration of the iconic Leyte Gulf landing by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Palo, Leyte. Ver Noveno

Marawi rises from siege’s ruins

By Nash B. Maulana

MARAWI City—Seven years after the Marawi Siege, the poverty level in Lanao del Sur has improved based on current Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) figures, thereby excluding the province from the list of the “Top 10 Poorest Provinces” in Mindanao.

Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong broke the good news over a radio program Friday as residents planted trees in commemora-

tion of the Marawi City liberation from the seven-month siege in 2017.

The 2023 PSA list of poorest provinces released recently was based on its

IN BRIEF

PNP logs 18,756 cases of violence vs. minors

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a total of 18,756 cases of violence against children in its 2023 report.

Maj. Meriel Editha Reyes, assistant chief of the PNP Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division and Children Protection Center, said most of the cases were child abuse with 7,933 reported incidents.

Rape incidents came second with 7,262 cases and other obscenities at 2,049 cases.

Reyes clarified however, that the number of cases is lower than the 19,101 incidents reported in 2022 and 19,656 in 2021.

She added though that they were not satisfied with the data they have gathered. Vince Lopez

PH, US marines stage Kamandag ’24 exercise

COMBINED forces from the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) have conducted a familiarization and practical flight demonstration on Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) operations at Tarumpitao Point, Brgy Punta Baja in Rizal town, Palawan.

According to Capt. Marissa Meriel of the 3 rd Marine Brigade, the exercise primarily focused on drone operations and maritime domain awareness meant to enhance the skills of our Philippine marines in operating SUAS to support our missions.

"The U.S. plays a crucial role as the Philippines’ key defense partner." Meriel said.

This drill is part of the eighth iteration of Kaagapay ng Mandirigma sa Dagat (KAMANDAG 08-24), an annual collaboration between the PMC and the USMC. KAMANDAG 08-24 strengthens military ties between the two countries, fostering collaboration in addressing common security concerns while also engaging other nations in shared regional objectives. Rex Espiritu

Bataan bags top PESO award in DOLE contest

THE Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Bataan has been awarded the National Best PESO in the 1st Class Province category by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

PESO Bataan is headed by Maria Eva Basalo.

The award was presented during the 24th National PESO Congress held recently in Zamboanga City.

The national search for Best PESO is an annual initiative aimed at recognizing outstanding performance among PESO and Job Placement Offices.

PESO Bataan also been adjudged National Best PESO 2022 during the 23rd National PESO Congress in Palo, Leyte in October last year. Butch Gunio

TOYS FOR THE BIG BOYS. Filipino and Ameircan marines get a hands-on training in flying drones or Small Unmanned Aircraft System during a tactical exercise in Tarumpitao Point, Brgy Punta Baja in Rizal town, Palawan. The training is part of the eighth edition of the annual Kaagapay ng Mandirigma sa Dagat (KAMANDAG 08-24) between the Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps.

2021 Survey on Threshold Poverty Incidence, showing poverty figures with Zamboanga del Norte at 47.6 percent; Basilan, 46.2 percent; Maguindanao del Sur, 43.3 percent; Tawi-Tawi, 41.8 percent; Lanao del Norte, 41.5 percent ; Maguindanao del Norte, 40.3 percent; Zamboanga del Sur, 40.1 percent; Davao Oriental, 38.9 percent; Sultan Kudarat, 34.3 percent, and Agusan del Sur, 32.2 percent. “I am pleased to inform my fellow Bangsa-Meranaw that Lanao del Sur is no longer listed among the poorest

provinces in Mindanao since 2021, according to the latest poverty incidence data released recently for the 2023 figures,” Adiong said.

He described the significant improvement as a “testament to our collective efforts and resilience for the betterment of our province.”

“As your Vice Governor, I will continue to work diligently to further enhance our province's development and ensure a better future for all. Together, we will strive for greater progress and prosperity,” Adiong said.

PH, US navies end Samasama 2024 exercise

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine Navy, through the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), and its counterparts from allied nations have formally concluded Exercise SAMASAMA 2024 in Subic Bay, Zambales.

According to NFNL public affairs chief Ens. Cyrus Anthony Ramos, Exercise SAMASAMA 2024 gathered naval forces from multiple allied countries such as the United States Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the French Navy, and the Royal Australian Navy, Ramos said the exercise also fostered collaboration and strengthening of partnerships in maritime security. Over the course of the exercise, participants engaged in a series of joint training activities, including simulated maritime operations, humanitarian assistance, and tactical drills designed to improve interoperability among the participating countries.

Exercise SAMASAMA 2024 also addressed evolving maritime security challenges by incorporating scenarios that reflect the latest maritime warfare and operational demands. "This Exercise highlights the Philippine Navy's steadfast commitment to collaborating closely with allied counterparts, strengthening mutual dedication to maintaining peace and security in the maritime domain." Ramos said.

The Philippine Navy, the US Navy, and other participating nations have strengthened regional cooperation and fostered enduring collaborative relationships to promote maritime security and stability, he added.

Angeles seeks DENR help to save 150-ha.

By Butch Gunio

ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to clear all illegal structures in the 150-hectare Sapangbato Watershed Protection area in the city.

In a letter to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Lazatin sought the agency’s “assistance and intervention in taking the necessary enforcement actions, including the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, investigation of violations, and clearing of all illegal structures within the Watershed Protection Area of Angeles City.”

The mayor said illegal structures had cropped up in the upland areas of the protected watershed area.

“The city government of Angeles is prepared to coordinate with your office and other relevant agencies to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard the watershed for future generations,” Lazatin told Loyzaga.

“Our recent field inspection identified several unauthorized structures built in areas with a slope greater than 18 percent. This violates key provisions of environmental regulations, specifically, Section 15 of Presidential Decree No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Phil-

watershed

ippines) and other laws aimed at the protection of watershed areas. The development of structures in such steeply sloped areas greatly increases the risks of landslides, soil erosion, and long-term degradation of vital natural resources,” Lazatin noted.

He said the protection and preservation of the watershed is crucial in ensuring the future of Angelenos and the whole of Pampanga. Angeles City was already experiencing flooding during the rainy season, and if the trees in the Sapangbato watershed disappeared, the city and its nearby environs such as Mabalacat and the low-lying areas of the San Fernando City could likely become catch basins.

Troops

AT LEAST seven suspected criminals were reported killed Friday afternoon in a clash with government forces in Maguindanao del Norte.

According to Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) acting spokesman Maj. Orlando Ayllon, the gunbattle between the suspected lawless elements and the troops erupted off Bongo Island in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte. WesstMinCon commander Lt. Gen. William Gonzales confirmed that the combined troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 and the 65th Force Reconnaissance Company encountered an undetermined number of the enemies aboard 12 motorized boats. The troops were conducting routine patrol in coordination with policemen when they spotted the suspects. Rex Espiritu

ROCKIN’ SANTA. SM City Grand Central assistant manager Alpha Hernandez, assisted by Caloocan City Rep. Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, unveils 2o-foot Santa Claus with guitar to the delight of mall goers and shoppers, officially signalling the start of the Holiday Season for the SM mall chain. Norman Cruz

Come as you are

THE kids, who are all adults, and I are advancing our Halloween party this year. We usually do it on October 31 but next week will be busy for some of us so we’re having the party this Saturday instead. It’s the fifth time we’re doing this as a family.

Boredom and isolation gave rise to the first instance, in October 2020. It was the first year of the pandemic, and while the stringent restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine had been lifted, vaccines were not yet available. Everyone still waited for daily updates from the Department of Health, and the numbers dictated when the restrictions would be tightened or loosened anew. People ventured out – longed to venture out – but many remained wary. Our rule was that the costumes had to be DIY. There would be a prize and I was to be the judge, even though I insisted I would dress up, as well.

I can’t quite make sense of the pictures anymore in that first year, just that the eldest and her partner used plain white sheets over their heads and put on sunglasses over them. The youngest, as an afterthought or in desperation, borrowed my Dali mask even though the show Money Heist was no longer in vogue then. I myself rummaged through my closet and found an old pair of white jeans, and a white lacy blouse that was tattered at the back. I grabbed some dried flowers and smeared white goop on my face and voila!I was a corpse bride. I tried to keep in character, quiet and forlorn, because such a bride was supposed to look profoundly sad. We ordered Pinoy spaghetti and barbecue. I forget now whom I judged winners but I remember thinking if I weren’t a judge I’d have stood a great chance. There were more of us in 2021, because we had decided weeks before to make the occasion a yearly family event. More significant others and BFFs joined and looks were planned in advance: that year, we had a princess and her two knights complete with swords and armors cut out of cardboard. The dogs Cloud and Kenny wore dragon suits. There was Forrest Gump and Jenny, a couple of yellow chicks who took up way too much space, and I came as a mime – a striped shirt, suspenders, a red cloth tied around my neck, white gloves, a hat, and bright red lipstick. It was much more difficult to keep in character because I had to keep from talking all night. I dropped all pretense when the pizza arrived. It was great with the salted caramel tequila the kids had just discovered. In 2022,there emerged two winners

early on – Bumblebee and Optimus Prime who really transformed from robot to car and back again even though the cardboard transitions were not so smooth. The costumes took days to make and we did not even make an attempt to compete, even though there were Nina in Black Swan, Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo, and Cosmo and Wanda from the Fairly Odd Parents. There was someone with a gem above a hat, some reference to an online game. I donned a red coat and a long black wig, imitating the menacing look of that official whose favorite activity was redtagging critics of the Duterte administration.

Halloween is just another excuse to eat and be together.

Last year, we were more into pop. I came as Selena Gomez’ Mabel from Only Murders in the Building, complete with the bloodstained turtleneck, the short skirt and the hoop earrings. One channeled a pregnant Rihanna in her Superbowl performance, with the dogs acting as her backup dancers. There were Mr. Fredricksen and Russell from Up, as well as the singer Pitbull, also known as Mr. Worldwide, his partner coming as Miss Worldwide, in a cardboard cutout of a globe in the front and back.

Today as of this writing I am still stumped as to who I should come as. I have several options, but since we normally keep it a secret from the others until the time we’re dressing up, I’ll keep my mouth shut. A great deal of the fun is coming up with something clever and unique and which will surprise the others. And planning the food, especially now that they have jobs and everybody can pitch in.

Some people frown on such gatherings claiming that these invoke dark elements or at best perpetuate pagan practices. We do not really think about any of that. It’s also fun documenting who we came as, year after year. Taking pictures is always fun. I wonder whether we’d keep up the tradition when the kids strike out on their own, or settle somewhere else for work or family.

For now it’s just about core memories in the making. We just really like coming up with excuses to eat and be together. Devoid of our gimmickry, this is who we really are. adellechua@gmail.com

The power of public-private education partnerships

AS A parent who has had children in both public and private schools, and as someone who attended a private Catholic institution myself, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges the Philippine education system faces. When my youngest child started in the public school system, I quickly realized the gravity of the overcrowding issue. Classrooms were packed, teachers were stretched thin, and resources were scarce. It was a far cry from the private school environment I had grown up in. While public schools do their best, the system is clearly overburdened, with more students enrolling every year.

A key finding of the study on the “Absorptive Capacity of Basic Education in the Philippines Public schools” commissioned by the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) revealed that, “Public schools remain overcrowded and are even more so at higher levels of basic education. Across the three levels over 5.1M of the 24M learners in public schools are aisle learners.” This is where the programs mandated under Republic Act No. 8545 known as the ‘Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act’ comes in as a great opportunity for students to attend private schools that have more space and resources available.

The Education Service Contracting (ESC) program under E-GASTPE is an example of how public-private collabora-

tion can reduce the load on public schools.

Over 3,600 private schools have participated, absorbing students who would otherwise crowd public classrooms. Smaller class sizes and better resources in private schools create a more conducive learning environment.

But what makes E-GASTPE truly

They are not just beneficial—they are essential and they need to be expanded.

remarkable is not just its ability to ease overcrowding but its impact on the quality of education. The program does more than simply redirect students from public to private schools. It ensures that those private schools are held to high standards, with ongoing teacher training programs and resources like the Junior and Senior High School Voucher Program.

According to PEAC’s 2023-2024 performance report on the GASTPE program, more than 2.2 million learners received financial aid through the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) in 3,652 participating schools and 1,332,779 through the Senior High School Voucher program, with 4,515 participating schools.

Tech transfer

of the evil kind

THE grim and disturbing news from the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission is that with the relentless government crackdown on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, it appears that Filipinos have learned valuable lessons from their foreign, chiefly Chinese, mentors on various money-making scams and are now slowly but surely taking over the lucrative racket.

The rationale behind this recent phenomenon is not hard to fathom: If the Chinese and other foreigners can easily make the unwary and unsuspecting part with their hard-earned money, why can’t Filipinos do the same?

Here’s what PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said on this latest development: “There are Filipinos who

have been taking over some scamming operations, we are already seeing some of these, albeit a few small groups… That was something we have feared all along—that the time will come that Filipinos would become so adept with these Pogo activities that they will learn to take over the scamming operations from the Chinese.”

This requires even closer monitoring by our law enforcement agencies.

The PAOCC recently raided another suspected scamming hub in Biñan City in Laguna province. But operatives found dismantled computers at the New Wave Technologies facility said to be owned by Pogo “big boss” Lin Xunhan. Inspection of the site revealed that all of the computers had missing hard drives, indicating records of all their illegal activities have been removed.

The inter-agency task force is wasting no time in its efforts to wipe out all Pogo activities in the country by the end of the year, in compliance with the ban announced by President Marcos

I FINISHED writing my piece for Monday as early as Friday, and was just waiting for Sunday to send it. But when the Vice President made her ‘cri de coeur’ that afternoon with her litany of revelations about her “non-friendship” with the President, I thought it best to archive my previously written article.

I admired how she has been more open to the press, and her first long presser showed her in her natural self, no pretensions, very authentic. In Friday’s two hour gabfest which was cut short by the moderator, she was more than that. She was candid to a fault.

She repeated an earlier statement that the president was not her friend, only his older sister was. And in trying to convince Inday Sara to run as vice-president to her “ading,” the senator-sister was quite candid. It was all about political arithmetic: Solid North plus solid South was key to victory, period. Principles, platforms, goals and all those ideal points of agreement were never on the table. Such is realpolitik.

Inday Sara was also quite candid in describing her frosty relations with the people around the president, which she promised to detail in a yet forthcoming press conference, when frosty would further “drag me (and them?) to hell.”

These and other incendiary remarks, the usual pundits described as “rants.” It would be difficult to describe her words as an expression of angst, or even anger, as clearly that has passed. She simply has had enough and for her, there is no turning back.

Her critics described her message to her friend Imee about digging the grave of FM Sr. and throwing his remains into the West Philippine Sea as a desecration

On the teacher’s side, 81,000 benefited from engagement and training initiatives. Additionally, the Teacher Salary Subsidy supported 55,635 educators.

From a parent’s perspective, the most significant benefit of this system is that it offers choice. Not every child thrives in the same environment, and E-GASTPE allows an option without being constrained by geography or the availability of public school resources. The flexibility provided by the Senior High School Voucher Program is particularly impactful. This initiative gives public schools students a chance to attend a private school that has specialized programs aligned with their career aspirations.

The 2023 Asian Development Bank study on the Senior High School Support Program highlighted the successful implementation of a voucher system as instrumental in addressing public school

during his State of the Nation Address in July.

“The biggest challenge for us now is that a large number of Pogo firms have gone underground. So, there are a good number of them and we’re having difficulty catching up,” Casio said. But while the number of internet gaming licensees (IGLs)—the rebranded name of Pogos—is now down to 38 and confirmed to have been winding down their operations, the task force continues to grapple with stopping the activities of “illegal” firms. The PAOCC estimates that about “50 to more than 100” illegal Pogo firms continue to operate in different locations in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. What is clear now is that the bigger Pogo hubs, with hundreds and thousands of employees, have disintegrated and have formed smaller groups and are occupying residential units, apartments, in order to escape the attention of authorities.

That Filipinos are poised to take over the illegal Pogos with the forced departure of foreigners is the challenge faced by the government now. This is what’s been described by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as “evil” technology transfer by the Chinese Pogo operators. This requires even closer monitoring by our law enforcement agencies.

Deconstructing the ‘rant’

of the dead, so very un-Filipino whose culture of reverence for the dead is strong. How did her friend feel? It may have been said in a moment of anger and exasperation, which if only the press encounter was scripted, her handlers should have excised. I have a different take: she did not realize that what are jokes or light banter to her are taken seriously by her critics and the media. Remember when she said three Dutertes would run for senator? I do not know her that well, but immediately, I knew she meant it as a joke, and I wrote so in this space. Others took her seriously, even the pollsters. Now her critics have something to bash her with aside from the COA reports that they are peeling bit by bit. “Desecrating the dead,” they chorus. Sadly for the Vice President too, Undas, the Dia de los Muertos, is just around the corner. Talk of bad timing. Her “joke” would be grist for the reunions around graveyards.

—“—

All this is in character for the embattled Vice President.

I did not quite understand her big fuss about the graduating student being refused by PBbM the gift of his watch.

The question in my mind was the brand of watch on the president’s wrist --- was it a Patek, a gold Audemars, a vintage Vacheron? I did not know, because I

overcrowding and improving education quality, demonstrating the effective complementarity between public and private schools. Recommendations include creating a formal framework to strengthen this partnership and promoting better understanding of public-private collaboration within the Department of Education and among stakeholders. Furthermore, the program has significantly benefited the poor, with a large proportion of recipients being part of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, covering 97 percent of private school voucher students from the bottom 40 percent income group. Beyond just the student subsidies, we must also recognize the vital role that teachers play in the quality of education.

The Teacher Salary Subsidy program, which supports over 55,000 teachers, ensures that educators in private schools are adequately compensated, reducing

was in Taiwan during much of FPRRD’s term, that former president Rodrigo Duterte, when so approached likewise in the PMA graduation, gladly parted with his wrist watch and gave it to the graduate. PBbM must have been unaware that Duterte started some kind of tradition in the academy and was unamused by the audacity of a mere student asking for his watch.

That she wanted to wring the neck of her political partner for what she thought was his being mata-pobre, was a reaction that many would clearly interpret as grossly improper. She simply assumed her audience would know why she was so mad.

While her candor and strong reactions could be likened to her father whose uncontrolled and un-scripted statements made him more endearing, one wonders how people, especially the masa, would accept the manner by which she burned all bridges towards her scorned UniTeam partner and the baggage around him. The Palace must have been stunned by her frankness and thus could not make a proper reaction and opted to keep quiet. That of course is only “for now”, in much the same way that their sachems took out their long knives only recently against the January “rants” of FPRRD about “bangag.”

But trust the Palace and its congressional surrogates to dig their knives deeper till the hurt becomes unbearable, or its thousand thrusts obliterate her chances for 2028 if it should yet come to that.

Then again, it was in character for the embattled Vice President. She would say it as it is, to hell with how people interpret or mis-interpret her words.

the disparity between public and private teacher salaries. As someone who has seen both sides, I know how crucial it is for teachers to feel supported and valued, as their morale directly affects their teaching quality. Teachers who feel secure in their profession can focus on what truly matters: educating our children. Expanding access to quality education, both in public and private institutions, will not only alleviate the burdens on our public schools but also empower more children with the learning they need to succeed, regardless of their economic background.

The Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program, especially in its expanded form, E-GASTPE, has proven that public-private partnerships in education are not just beneficial—they are essential and they need to be expanded.

Putin wants high-profile summit to rival West

Ex-general Prabowo assumes Indonesia presidency

JAKARTA — Former general Prabowo Subianto was sworn in Sunday as president of Indonesia, seeking a more prominent position on the global stage for the world’s fourth most populous nation.

The 73-year-old fiery nationalist -- accused of rights abuses during his time in the military -- took the oath at parliament to officially succeed outgoing leader Joko Widodo.

“I swear that I will fulfil the duties of the president of the Republic of Indonesia as best as possible and as fair as possible,” he said.

Prabowo has committed himself to Indonesia’s non-aligned foreign policy, but has signalled that he will be bolder on the world stage.

He made China his first foreign visit after his election eight months ago, before

embarking on trips to a dozen other countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia and Australia, where he signed a key security deal. He will also inherit Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s largest nickel reserves, taking lead of a country of 280 million where about half are below the age of 30.

Prabowo won by a landslide in the first round of the February vote, helped by the support of his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 37-year-old son of Widodo, and bold campaign pledges including a $28 billion free meal plan for children.

The former defence minister, dressed in traditional attire, gave a bombastic speech to lawmakers who applauded him and chanted his name.

“We will lead the Indonesian government... by prioritising the interests of all Indonesian people including those who did not vote for us,” he said.

He spoke about presiding over a “peaceful democracy”, sticking to a “good neighbour” policy and said there was still too much corruption “at all levels”, before ending his speech with shouts of “freedom!”.

Prabowo was to then parade between parliament and the palace for a handover ceremony with Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, a former rival to whom he lost two election races in 2014 and 2019.

Several dozen diplomats attended his inauguration, including British foreign minister David Lammy and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. AFP

North Korea says sanctions monitoring team ‘unlawful’

Korea’s

SEOUL — North Korea’s top diplomat on Sunday criticised a new sanctions monitoring team led by the United States as “unlawful and illegitimate”, warning countries involved in the entity would face a “dear price”. The 11-member team was named earlier this month after Russia in March vetoed the renewal of a panel of UN experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea, imposed for its banned nuclear and weapons programmes.

political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP. AFP

Netanyahu says Hezbollah tried to assassinate him

NEW LEADER. Indonesia’s newly sworn-in President Prabowo Subianto waves to his supporters as he heads to the Presidential Palace during the inauguration ceremony in Jakarta on October 20. AFP

Blazers cut loose in 3rd to crush Bombers by 15

COLLEGE of St. Benilde whipped up a third-quarter storm as it whitewashed Jose Rizal University, 80-65, on Sunday to remain unshakeable at the top in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Drawing strength from their defense and bench depth, the Blazers started breaking away in the third canto when they outscored the Bombers, 26-7, and never looked back from there to score their 10th win in 12 outings and solidified their grip on No. 1. It was CSB’s fourth win in a row that continued to spruce its bid of claiming a spot in the Final Four, finishing in the top two for a twice-to-beat incentive and barging into the best-of-three fi-

Martes debuts as trail running PH coach in AsPac tourney

By Peter Atencio

RUNNING veteran Christabel Mar-

tes is making her debut as the national head coach of the Philippine trail running team.

The 45-year-old Martes, who left her mark in road racing and middle-distance running around the country and abroad, has come out of retirement, call the shots and run as well with the national squad seeing action for the first time in the inaugural 2024 Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championships.

Martes is handling a 15-member contingent, which will carry the nation’s colors in Ulju-Gun, Ulsan, South Korea from October 23 to 27.

“I had a great transition from regular running, then to obstacle sports, and then into trail running despite my age,” said Martes, who went into trail running three years ago and has won numerous medals as an outdoor trackster in marathons and road races.

Martes’ new journey five years after retiring in 2019 from the national athletics’ squad, said this on Thursday during a presentation at the Florabel restaurant at the Estancia Mall in Pasig.

nals where it hopes to end a 24year championship wait. Ian Torres erupted for a season-high 16 points off the bench, while bullstrong Allen Liwag provided the team the source of inside strength with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“Hinahayaan nila (coaching staff) ako maglaro,” said Liwag, who mentioned he was inspired by a big group of relatives from Alfonso, Cavite who kept cheering wildly for him each game.

JRU was actually in the game in the first half when it stuck with CSB like a leech and trailed by just a single-digit at the break.

And then CSB unleashed a hailstorm—a 24-4 run—to start the third period to bury JRU deep.

The Blazers made it a 7740 advantage—their biggest in the duel—to further put the Bombers to rest.

JRU dropped to 3-9. In the other game, Mapua went to Chris Hubilla in the first half and then rode on

The Cardinals

Jaraula eyes 2nd straight PGT crown

REYMON Jaraula’s pursuit of back-to-back Philippine Golf Tour championships underscores his hunger and determination to cement his status among the country’s elite golfers. After clinching a thrilling one-stroke victory at the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge, Jaraula is now laser-focused on securing another win at the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic.

The P2.5 million season-ending championship comes off the wraps tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 22) with the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, formerly known as the Marapara layout, offering a vastly different challenge compared to the narrower Binitin course. Its design provides ample opportunities for scoring, yet it’s far from straightforward. Each hole presents unique challenges, with its winding fairways and strategically placed hazards lying in wait to punish errant shots. The course is further complicated by its tempting yet perilous dog-leg holes, which can either offer a path to birdie or lead to disaster, depending on the golfer’s precision and decision-making. It’s a course where risks are rewarded, but missteps can quickly derail even the most solid title bid.

Meanwhile, Jaraula’s drive to go back-to-back stems from a deep-seated desire to overcome

Perpetual Junior Altas capture NGBL crown

By Dennis Abrina

IN a thrilling finale, the Perpetual Junior Altas defeated the National University Bullpups, 96-93, to claim the inaugural championship of the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) recently at the MGC Gym in Taguig City.

Jericho Cristino, the Finals’ MVP, led the Junior Altas to victory with 21 points and five clutch three-pointers.

The Las Piñas City-based team overcame a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to secure the win.

The game was closely contested, with several lead changes and tied scores. The Junior Altas ultimately clinched the victory with a crucial three-pointer by Icee Callangan in the final seconds.

Team Manager Anton Tamayo’s team celebrated in the middle of the court while their supporters cheered in the bleachers. In addition to the championship trophy

and a P300,000 cash

the Junior

Jan Roluna was named Season MVP, Jericho Cristino

named Finals MVP,

the hurdles that have previously stalled his ascent. Despite experiencing a grueling stretch run at Bacolod, where he had to fend off the relentless pursuit of multititled Angelo Que, Jaraula delivered when it mattered most. His stunning chip shot on the final hole, setting up a clutch four-foot putt for par, encapsulated his ability to perform under immense pressure. It was a shot that not only demonstrated his skill but also reinforced his mental toughness.

Jaraula is no stranger to adversity. Before his breakthrough at the Pueblo de Oro in 2019, he endured six long years of close calls and frustration. Even after tasting victory, his journey wasn’t without more challenges, as it took another four years to claim his second title at Valley last season. But each hardship has fueled his resolve, making him even more determined to dominate the tour.

Reflecting on his recent Bacolod triumph, Jaraula knows that replicating his success at the Negros Occidental Classic will demand more than just good form. It will require unwavering focus and resilience as he faces a formidable field in the event presented by Negros Electric and Power Corp., held in conjunction with the vibrant two-week MassKara Festival celebrations.

TJ Tabbuan was included in the Top 10 Players, and coach Joph Cleopas was named Coach of the Year.

Cleopas expressed his excitement about the team’s victory and their prospects for the NCAA Season 100. “We will bring this championship experience and also our finals game last season to NCAA Season 100,” Cleopas said. The Junior Altas dominated the NGBL regular season, finishing with an 8-0 record and sweeping through the semifinals to reach the championship game. The team’s success can be attributed to the strong performances of all the players, including LeBron Jhames Daep, Aries Borja, Kelsey Baldoria, JD Pagulayan, Lance Nitura, Aethon Salvo, Isiah Pelegria, Kurt Velasquez, Kirbey Borbon, Kurt Patalinghug, Kakai Zamoras, Hanz Candido, Felix Corpuz, Renzo Zanoria, Loiue Rosales, and Pertjude Binagatan.

Tigresses in perfect second round Super League start

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas outplayed Ateneo de Manila University, 25-11, 25-20, 25-17, for a perfect start in the second round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Games Friday (Rizal Memorial Coliseum) 2 p.m. –- UST vs FEU 5 p.m. --- CSB vs NU

Heady setter Cassie Carballo effectively activated the Tigresses’ hitters with good ball distribution to shoot down the Blue Eagles in their 85-minute Pool F encounter.

UST’s familiarity and chemistry spelled the difference in the match that saw 12 Tigresses contributing points.

“Sobrang laking factor for us ‘yung relationship namin outside the court. Nagsisimula ‘yun sa relationship namin outside the court and nadadala namin ‘yun sa loob. Kanina, naglaro lang kami ng buo,” said Carballo, who had 13 excellent sets and three points. Angge Poyos was on fire with 17 points, all

coming from attacks including the back-to-back hits to finish the game, as UST remained unbeaten after five outings in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water. Jonna Perdido added nine points for the Tigresses, Regina Jurado chipped in eight while Marga Altea was the thorn in the side of Ateneo with her imposing presence at the front of the net scoring three of her seven points from kill blocks. UST turned things around after trailing, 3-6, in the third frame, using a scorching 11–4 run to regain control, 14-10. The Blue Eagles trimmed their deficit to just two, 14-16, before the Tigresses uncorked a 9-3 run to finish the job with

FITNESS AND FUN. A total of 1,759 participants eagerly answer the starting gun at the EVO City Front Act Run in Kawit, Cavite on Sunday. The event o ered a vibrant mix of tness and fun, creating an energetic atmosphere as runners tackled 5-km, 10-km and 21-km distances. The race also served as an exciting preview for next month’s highly anticipated Rock ‘n’ Roll Manila Running Series, adding to the growing excitement among the running community.

Marc Cuenco’s sweet shooting late as it eked out a vengeful 58-55 win over first-round tormentor San Beda.

Reymon Jaraula (center) is shown with (from left) ICTSI’s Ronnel Javier, Negros Power’s April Causing, BGCC’s Manny Montelibano, and Gladys Abasquez, also of Negros Power.

The Perpetual Junior Altas are shown after beating in the finals, Nazareth School, 96-93, in the inaugural season of the NGBL on Saturday at the MGC Gym in Taguig City. (Dennis Abrina)

prize,

Altas also received individual awards.

was

Angeli Poyos of UST scores against Ateneo’s Takako Fujimoto. Roman Prospero

Christabel Martes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Melencio leads swim awardees

RICIELLE Maleeka Melencio showcased her dominance in the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) ‘Go Full Speedo’ Swim Series Leg 2 Championships at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila.

The 20-year-old swimming sensation of Ayala Harpoons Swim Club claimed five gold medals, earning her the title of Most Outstanding Swimmer in the premier class of the two-day event organized by PAI and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Speedo. Melencio’s victories included the girls’ 19-over 200-meter backstroke and 1,500-meter freestyle.

“I feel better than the last series regarding training leading to this competition. I’ more prepared now, my goal is to improve my performance and I’m doing better now and mentally ready,” said the Ateneo freshman taking up Management Information System referring to her two golds, 1 silver and two bronze performances in Series 1 last month.

Other notable performances came from SEA Age-Group campaigners

Aishel Evangelista, Nicola Queen Diamante, Makoto Nakamura, and Sophia Rose Garra. They also earned Most Outstanding Swimmer awards in their respective age classes.

Soto puts Yankees back in World Series

WASHINGTON—Juan Soto smashed a three-run home run in the 10th inning on Saturday that lifted the New York Yankees over Cleveland 5-2 and into their first World Series since 2009.

The 25-year-old Dominican outfielder crushed a fastball from Cleveland pitcher Hunter Gaddis over the centerfield wall to score the deciding runs in a thriller that sent the Yankees into their record 41st World Series overall.

got it accomplished.”

The 27-time champion Yankees will face the National League winner, either the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets. The Dodgers lead their series 3-2 and will host game six Sunday.

New format adds twist to Southwoods’ Chairman’s tilt

MANILA Southwoods’ flagship tournament, the Chairman’s Charity Cup, is set to deliver an exciting new experience this year with a fresh format to shake things up.

From Nov. 14 to 16, the event will take place at the Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite, bringing together the best from the private and public sectors, as well as notable business groups.

In a bid to keep the competition dynamic, organizers are introducing a two-person, member-member team format that will follow the aggregate scoring system. Participants may choose to sign up with a partner or go solo, with the tournament committee stepping in to pair up individuals if needed.

With 600 players expected to attend, the tournament is shaping up to be one of the most prestigious golfing events of the year, attracting both seasoned players and newcomers alike. The first two days will feature sequential tee times, while the final day on Nov. 16 will shift to a shotgun start.

Continuing a longstanding tradition, players will compete in an 18hole round utilizing the Modified Stableford Points system with handicaps. A key feature to maintain the flow of the game is that players will be required to pick up their ball after a net bogey to avoid delays.

The Yankees captured the best-ofseven American League Championship Series 4-1 and reached Major League Baseball’s championship spectacle, which begins on Friday.

“We did a really good job since day one. We’ve been working hard. Now we’re the best team in the American League,” Soto said. “We’ve been grinding since day one and now we’ve

“It sounds amazing,” Soto said. “It’s the best feeling in the game whenever you win and take your team to the World Series. It’s the best feeling you can ever have. That’s what we play for.”

“We have all the talent we need to go all the way,” said Soto, who helped Washington win the 2019 World Series. “We’re feeling really good. We’re really sticking together.”

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, a 34-year-old outfielder who has never played in a World Series in his 15 MLB seasons, smacked a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth, his fourth homer of the series and the 16th playoff homer of his career. AFP

The newly-introduced format promises to heighten the level of competition, while maintaining the fun and camaraderie the event is known for.

For ₱8,000 per player (inclusive of VAT), participants will enjoy a range of perks, including a Pro Shop gift certificate worth ₱7,000, breakfast, fairway snacks, golf items, and a coveted awards lunch. Exciting hole-in-one prizes and a grand raffle draw also await the lucky winners.

The New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Cleveland Guardians, 5-2, in 10 innings to win Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Ricielle Maleeka Melencio

TOURISM AWARDS.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Oct. 18, 2024 at the World Trade Center to personally present some of the prestigious international awards and recognitions that the Philippines garnered, highlighting the country’s growing prominence as a premier global tourism destination.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

The Philippines posted a balance of payments (BOP) surplus of $3.5 billion in September 2024, a turnaround from the $414-million deficit in the same month last year.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed the surplus was driven by increased foreign currency deposits by the government and higher income from the BSP’s foreign investments.

This brought the nine-month BOP level to $5.1-billion surplus, higher than the $1.7-billion surplus recorded a year ago. Based on preliminary data, the

cumulative BOP surplus reflected mainly the narrowing trade in goods deficit alongside the continued net inflows from personal remittances, trade in services, and net foreign borrowings by the national government.

Net foreign direct and portfolio investments contributed to the BOP surplus.

The BOP position reflected an increase in the final gross international reserves (GIR) level to $112.7 billion as of end-September 2024 from $107.9 billion as of end-August.

POWER PROFILE

By Jimmy Montejo

The latest GIR level represented a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 8.1 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

It was also about 4.5 times the country’s short-term external debt based on residual maturity.

The BSP’s policy-setting Monetary Board earlier released its 20242025 BOP outlook showing a higher forecasted surplus this year to $2.3 billion, or 0.5 percent of the gross domestic product, from the earlier estimate of $1.6 billion or 0.3 percent of GDP.

The BSP expects the GIR to reach $106 billion in 2024 and $107 billion in 2025. It also anticipated the current account to post a deficit of $6.8 billion in 2024 and a deficit of $5.5 billion in 2025 on reduced growth forecasts for goods and services exports.

“WE didn’t just want to remain at the top; we desired to make a difference while being there. Ultimately, we discovered our new purpose was to create a ‘globe of good.’”

In a nutshell, this is the vision and mission of Ernest Cu, president and chief executive of Globe Telecom Inc.

Between 2009 when he took over the driver’s seat of Globe and 2024, Globe saw a remarkable growth from a far second to Numero Uno in the domestic telecommunications industry. Being a dyed-in-the-wool visionary, Cu led Globe’s transformation to digital technology innovator, expanding the firm’s scope of connectivity to cover more than 500 far-flung areas, empowering its flagship GCash program to 80-percent national following, while trailblazing multiple digital solutions.

Cu’s dream of seeing a digitalized Philippines stems from his belief that “digital connectivity can act as an equalizer in society, granting access to information, services and opportunities regardless of geographical location.”

As of mid-2023, Globe’s mobile subscriber peaked at 53.727 million, reputedly the highest among local telecom players and 1.2 million higher than the previous leader. “We have transformed into a full-fledged tech company, with a newly-identified purpose: to uplift the lives of Filipinos through digital technology,” Cu said.

Globe’s footprint can also be seen in the corporate incubator 917Ventures deemed as the country’s “most prominent corporate venture builder that has pioneered tech solutions companies like Konsulta MD, HealthNow, KodeGo and EdVenture, to name a few.” As the company’s non-telco incomes continuously ramp up, Cu mulls more investments to sustain corporate growth. “I want to build a better future by empowering Filipino entrepreneurs, content creators and artists,”

“Change is one thing. Simply making organizational changes would have been tough by itself. However, transformation and disruption of the industry is another thing entirely. We must develop entrepreneurial and technical talents, creating solutions to unique problems,” he said.

Beyond heading Globe, Cu also sits as independent director at LivePerson Inc., an advisor at Kubera Partners LLC, independent director at AsianLife & General Assurance Corp., AsianLife Financial Assurance Corp., ATRAM Trust Corp., Philippine Life Financial Assurance Corp., investment committee chairman at Kickstart Ventures Inc., member of the influential Makati Business Club and other executive positions in different corporate entities. He received his undergraduate degree from De La Salle University and a Master’s degree from Kellogg School of Management.

$3.5 billion $5.1 billion

$112.7 billion BOP surplus in September 2024 BOP surplus in nine months GIR as of September 2024

By Othel V. Campos

deter mass hiring by some companies, especially in sectors with high labor costs and seasonal demand.

ECOP said it is actively working with large malls to organize job fairs and signed memoranda of understanding to develop an online job platform to facilitate hiring processes. They aim to connect job seekers with employers more efficiently and reduce the cost of recruitment for businesses.

THE Philippine stock market is expected to trade sideways this week on concerns about weakening of the peso against the US dollar and overseas developments.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research head Japhet Tantiangco said the local market was having a hard time getting past the 7,400 to 7,500 range, as the weakening of the local currency together with offshore uncertainties weigh on sentiment. The market is being hindered from continuing its bull run, he said.

“With the local market still deemed to be attractive, we may see bargain-hunting next week,” Tantiangco said.

Tantiangco said while the dovish monetary policy outlook of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is still expected to give the market support, more catalysts might be needed for the market to get past the resistance level.

Investors are also expected to look forward to the corporate sector’s third-quarter financial reports.

“Upbeat corporate results are seen as one of the possible catalysts that could drive the market higher. Investors are also expected to monitor the movement of the local currency. An appreciation is expected to help in next week’s trading while a further depreciation is seen to weigh on the bourse,” he said.

The PSE index is expected to trade between 7,400 and 7,500 this week. Resistance is seen at 7,700, while market’s support is at 7,150.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 1.44 percent to close at 7,415.73 last week while the broader all shares index improved by 1.65 percent to 4,081.52.

Average daily turnover declined to P5.9 billion from previous week’s average of P6.33 billion. Foreign investors were net buyers by P1.08 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), the local government of Pulilan, Bulacan and AVECS Corp. sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the construction of Mom’s Ville Phase I, a housing project under the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. Signing the agreement at the SHFC head office in Makati City on Oct. 16, 2024 are SHFC president and chief executive Federico Laxa (four from left), Pulilan Mayor Maria Rosario Ochoa-Montejo and AVECS president Celestino Baldonado, marking the beginning of the construction of eight 5-story condominium buildings, each with 135 housing units.

MENTAL HEALTH.

In line with the global celebration of World Mental Health Day, Okada Manila promotes mental well-being within the workplace through a series of dedicated activities and initiatives for its team members. This year’s campaign, themed ‘It’s Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’ emphasizes the importance of fostering a supportive and healthy work environment where mental health is not only protected but prioritized.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer

Megaworld Corp. said it expects to generate P3.5 billion in sales from new residential condominium Saint-Marcel Residences in Pampanga province.

The development is located in the 35.6-hectare Capital Town in San Fernando City. The 17-story building will have 361 ‘smart home’ units in different sizes, including studio, onebedroom and three-bedroom options.

“There is still a strong demand for themed residential developments in Capital Town as

we continue building more components of the township. We envision Saint-Marcel Residences to be an appealing address for young, welltraveled Kapampangans who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of their community,” Eugene Lozano, Megaworld Pampanga senior vice president for sales and marketing said in a statement sent over the weekend.

Saint-Marcel Residences will be near a vibrant commercial area and a transport hub, just a short walk from a rainwater park. The building’s design features a modern French style with a white façade and large windows.

Residents will have access to a high-ceiling lobby and various amenities.

Other amenities include adult and kiddie pools, pool deck with lounge, trellised lounge and outdoor play area for children. There will

also be a function room that can host more than 100 people at a time, an outdoor spill-over function area, pre-function area, daycare and a bilevel game room.

Each unit will also come with smart home systems for added convenience controlling several unit features, including lighting fixtures and other smart appliances in the living, kitchen and dining areas as well as the bedroom. The condo will also have various sustainability features, such as low flow rate fixtures, occupancy sensors at hallways, energy-efficient equipment, rainwater harvesting facility and materials recovery facility.

The condominium is expected to be completed by 2030, adding to Megaworld’s existing portfolio of over 1,300 launched residential units in Capital Town.

Eight condo buildings to rise in Pulilan under 4PH program

SOCIAL Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), the local government of Pulilan, Bulacan and AVECS Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build Mom’s Ville Phase I, a housing project under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. SHFC president and chief executive Federico Laxa, Pulilan Mayor Maria Rosario OchoaMontejo and AVECS Corp. president Celestino Baldonado signed the MOU on Oct. 16, 2024 at the SHFC head office in Makati City, marking the beginning of the construction of eight five-story condominium buildings, each with 135 housing units. Located in Barangay Peñabatan, the housing project will benefit over 1,000 families identified by the local government unit. The beneficiaries include workers from both the informal and formal sectors, such as public school teachers and government employees. Laxa highlighted the partner-

ship as a significant milestone in SHFC’s efforts to provide affordable and decent housing to Filipino families. He expressed confidence in the project’s successful delivery, noting the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development support, led by Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

“The signing of this MOU marks the beginning of a new chapter for the families who will soon call Mom’s Ville their home,” Laxa said. “We are confident that we will successfully deliver these housing units to the beneficiaries of Pulilan.” Ochoa-Montejo expressed her gratitude, noting that her longheld dream was coming to fruition through the collaboration with SHFC.

She pledged her full commitment to working closely with the team to ensure the project’s success. “I assure you we will collaborate with you,” she said.

“Whatever your needs for this project, I will do my best to facilitate everything so that you will not encounter any difficulties.”

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DITO Telecommunity Corp. said it aims to double its home broadband subscribers by 2025, driven by the introduction of affordable unlimited prepaid broadband with “true 5G.” “Our target for this year is to end 150,000 subscribers, and then for next year, we really want to double it next year,” DITO chief revenue officer for consumer business Evelyn Jimenez told reporters.

DITO has more than 100,000 home broadband subscribers. “We have very high ambition especially with the launch of Redcap Wifi,” she said. Jimenez said DITO’s newest home WOWFi is changing the norm and disrupting the market, enriching the lives of Filipino households with better internet options that suit their needs.

DITO Home WOWFi is the world’s first 5G RedCap Wi-Fi for residential use.

“With DITO Home WOWFi, we want to jolt Filipinos out of their old ways of dealing with their internet at home; our goal is to give them a lifechanging home Wi-Fi that lets them live big,” she said. The company said 5G RedCap is a new 5G standard and critical evolution of 5G originally called NR-Light, an important part of lightweight 5G. The technology only operates on 5G Standalone (SA) networks. The “true 5G” offers high capacity, maximum quality and lower latency compared to 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) networks that rely on existing 4G infrastructures.

Huawei Technologies said 5G RedCap is a new addition to the 5G family, offering the right balance of 5G capabilities.

“It is the kind of technology that provides all the benefits of 5G, such as low latency, high peak data rate, maximum capacity, without the need for high bandwidth,” it said. Globally, 5G RedCap is utilized for industrial use, but this time, here in the Philippines, DITO is bringing this technology straight to Filipino homes, allowing them to enjoy the full potential of 5G.

BUSINESS

Bid opening of BFAR’s P2.1-b vessel deal delayed for 3rd time

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) opening of bids for the purchase of P2.1 billion worth of vessels was postponed for the third time last week.

“Originally scheduled for Oct. 11, 2024, the opening of bid for the proj-

ect has been delayed three times,” said lawyer Faye Singson, former assistant prosecutor at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Singson said in a statement the first bidding was cancelled due to lack of quorum brought about by the sudden absence of the special bids and awards committee (SBAC) chairman Zaldy Perez and the members of the technical working group (TWG).

The second was due to unexpected loss of electric power in the BFAR building on Oct. Oct. 15, she said.

Singson said the third and the latest postponement was on Oct. 16. She said Perez attributed ‘once again’ the postponement of the third bidding to power disruptions.

The SBAC pushed the bid opening to Oct. 21.

Manufacturers informed Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. about the delayed opening of the bids.

DOTr woos Korean investors to fund PH transport projects

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is wooing Korean investors to fund various transport projects aimed at improving travel experiences for Filipinos.

“We need collaboration of various stakeholders, such as Korean investors. We are inviting Korean companies to discover the business viability and rich investment

opportunities contained in these transport projects,” DOT Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a statement.

“Our transport projects are

STRUCTURE AWARD. The 3.7-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge, inaugurated on Sept. 27, 2024, is the longest sea-crossing bridge in Mindanao, connecting Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod in Lanao del Norte. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received the prestigious grand prize at the Korean Institute of Bridge and Structural Engineering’s (KIBSE) 2024 Excellent Structure Awards for the bridge project.

GREEN LIGHT

Charlston Joseph Sagaran

AFTER hearing the stories of various business leaders across different industries, and as culmination of all the reflections I have written so far in this blog, I would like to reflect upon the course title that started all of these things and ask the question – so what are the real trends and issues in business and management?

To arrive at a meaningful conclusion, let us first look at the different themes presented by the business leaders who I was able to talk/listen to or engage with during the academic term: Dealing with the consequences of a hostage crisis, a shooting incident, and a global outbreak of an infectious disease (Kingson Sian, former CEO of Newport World Resorts);

Working your way up the corporate ladder despite having little to no background in some areas or functions of the business (Hazel Zaide Delos Santos, Country Manager of ING Hubs Philippines); The challenges associated with managing a family business, most especially sanctioning a family member or relative for grave misconduct (Maret Follosco Bautista, CEO of CL Follosco Group); Finding meaning and purpose in working for non-profit organizations or foundations as opposed to the lucrative benefits offered

bound to stir the status quo once completed,” he said.

Bautista cited big ticket transport projects supported by the Republic of Korea, through the Export-Import Bank of Korea, such as the New Cebu International Container Port, Maritime Safety Enhancement Project and relocation of the New Dumaguete International Airport.

He said these projects have a total cost of P33.26 billion, with

KEXIM extending a P27.91-billion loan to fund the projects.

Korea also extended its support for the LRT-2 extension up to Cogeo in Antipolo, Automated Fare Collection System, Pangasinan New Airport and a new airport backup system.

“These foreign assistance stirs a ripple effect that catalyzes socioeconomic growth in the communities situated along and around project sites, generating jobs and livelihood,” Bautista said.

DENR asked to authorize P103-b Las Piñas-Paranaque reclamation plan

LAS Piñas City Councilor and congressional candidate Mark Anthony Santos asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to authorize the P103.8-billion Las PiñasParanaque Coastal Bay Reclamation Project of the national government.

Santos said the clearance to proceed with the project remained unresolved by the members of DENR’s Protective Area Management Board, despite the SC decision three years ago.

“The status of the project remains at the detailed engineering stage,” he said.

Santos said that in an en banc decision on Oct. 21, 2021, the Supreme Court, voting 11-2, approved the reclamation project of around 530 hectares of the Manila Bay coastline in Las Piñas- Parañaque, ruling that the supposed threat to environment was not sufficiently established.

Alltech Contractors proposed the project to develop 321.26 hectares of land in Las Piñas and 174.88 hectares in Parañaque, both along the coastline of Manila Bay in 2009. The Philippine Reclamation Authority approved the project in 2010 subject to compliance to environmental rules.

Alltech submitted an amended environmental performance report management plan (EPRMP) in December that year and expanded the project to cover 203.43 hectares in Parañaque and 431.71 hectares in Las Piñas.

The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau issued the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the project In March 2011, after Alltech Contractors submitted scientific and expert studies that assessed the potential flooding and flushing impact that may arise from the coastal bay project.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) met with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to strengthen their partnership in agricultural development and food security during the World Food Day celebration on Oct. 15, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed the importance of the Philippines’ partnership with FAO, expressing gratitude for their previous discussions and the opportunity to present the Philippines’ investment proposal at the 2024 World Food Forum.

The Philippines’ strategic investment plan for four key commodity sectors—abaca, bamboo, mango and seaweed—elicited strong interest from potential partners and discussions to explore collaborative pathways.

The Philippine delegation to Rome included DA officials and representatives from the private sector.

Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial, who heads the Philippine Permanent Representation in Rome, underscored the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening ties with Italy and other European partners.

Tiu Laurel noted the importance of enhancing trade partnerships and technological cooperation to modernize agri-food systems.

He stressed the Philippines’ dedication to creating sustainable livelihoods for its farmers and fisherfolk.

He also conveyed the Philippines’ appreciation for the 19 national projects currently implemented by FAO in the Philippines amounting to $41 million, along with 16 additional global and regional projects.

Trends and issues in business and management

by for-profit businesses (Richard Anthony Tagle, President and Executive Director of E3 Alliance);

How people management can actually be the hardest part of being a leader (Chito Bustamante, CEO of VOXP Technologies & Innovations); Realizing that sustainability is a core value that has been deeply ingrained in us Filipinos since time immemorial (Cris Roxas, Founder and Creative Director of Brave Story); Knowing how to keep a promise can be a company’s source of sustainable competitive advantage (Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot), and

Creating your own personal branding and doing your homework by learning about the business in detail is essential to becoming a CEO (Dean Aragon, CEO of Shell Brands International).

If you notice, none of them ever spoke about technical business strategies that relate to lowcost leadership or product differentiation, nor did anything relate to how they outperformed their competitors and achieved superior profitability. They didn’t even focus on industry trends or driving forces that shape their respective firms’ competitive environment.

Gone are the days when profit was the main objective for establishing a company.

However, what is common amongst all of them are the values, principles, behaviors, and other ethical considerations that an individual or a business must live by to attain true prosperity. In other words, your passion for something will bring about success in your chosen endeavor, never profit. Profit should only be secondary in one’s hierarchy of goals because it will just follow or come in naturally when you excel in your passion.

Gone are the days when profit was the main objective for establishing a company.

Given the real trends and issues in business and management, as presented by our guest speakers, businesses should serve as a means to promote and improve the quality of life for the people under their care. While shareholders are given ample returns on their investment, employees must also benefit and enjoy wellpaying jobs with sufficient work-life balance,

customers with quality products and excellent service, suppliers with enough profit as opposed to purely bargains, the environment with sustainable practices, and the community with corporate social responsibility.

This is what we call shared prosperity when we consider the welfare of all stakeholders affected in every business decision or action that we make. Of course, it is not as easy as it sounds, but I assure you, it’s worth it. At the end of the day, businesses won’t be remembered by how much profit they were able to generate throughout their entire corporate lifetime. Rather, the legacy they would leave behind is those products and services that changed our lives for the better or made the world a better place to live in.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He wrote this reflection paper for his class on Trends and Issues in Business and Management: CEO Series. He can be reached at charlston_sagaran@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

TREE PLANTING. MPower, the local retail electricity supplier of Manila Electric Co., and 200 of its partners participate in the 9th CommuniTrees tree-planting activity in Siniloan, Laguna. About 1,500 seedlings were planted to help the reforestation efforts in the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr

DOE canceling 105 RE contracts over failure to meet deadlines

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend it plans to cancel at least 105 renewable energy (RE) contracts over their failure to meet deadlines.

“The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is committed to ensuring the efficient and timely execution of renewable energy projects by regularly assessing the progress of these projects and refining regulatory framework,” said DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara.

“If any contracts are deemed nonperforming, we will open them up to new developers who can effectively bring these projects into fruition. This strategy not only accelerates the devel-

NPC urged to cut subsidy for off-grid power consumers

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian asked state-run National Power Corporation (NPC) to reduce the universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME) subsidy to help bring down electricity rates for consumers connected to the main transmission grid.

“Look for ways to reduce UCME. I know that hybridization is one and connecting to the grid could be another,” Gatchalian told NPC officials during a recent Senate hearing.

NPC is mandated to energize farflung, off-grid areas and islands in the country. It plans to hybridize or utilize renewable energy to help bring down the cost of diesel in the missionary areas.

The UCME is used to subsidize the more expensive cost of providing electricity in these areas.

Gatchalian, vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, said the UCME subsidy steadily increased over the years, rising to P24.62 billion in 2024 from P7.34 billion in 2015.

NPC is pushing to accelerate the hybridization of its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) diesel power plants using renewable energy resources to help bring down power costs in the missionary areas.

NPC officials said the hybridization lowers the cost of energy by P2 to P3 per kilowatt-hour, and the completion of hybridization for 16 projects would generate up to P1.3 billion in savings from fuel costs by 2025.

NPC, however, accounts for only 30 percent of the energy supply in missionary areas, while 70 percent is provided by new power providers (NPPs). Alena Mae S. Flores

BPI

launches

opment timeline but also strengthens investor confidence in the country’s renewable energy goals,” Guevara said.

The DOE released the revised omnibus guidelines in June 2024, which governs the award and administration of renewable energy contracts and the registration of renewable energy developers.

The process helps identify and filter out non-serious developers, paving the way for legitimate developers committed to constructing RE projects efficiently.

The DOE said majority of these contracts were awarded in 2017 and 2019, and the common reasons for project delays included failure to secure possessory rights or system impact studies (SIS), indicating inability to connect to the grid.

It said of the total 105 projects, 88 were either delayed in their pre-development timeline or were not progressing at all.

Among the 88 projects, 53 are solar, 17 are hydropower, 10 are wind, five are geothermal and three are biomass, the agency said.

The DOE said that as part of its contract termination process for existing solar energy service contracts, developers have two years to complete the pre-development stage, which includes obtaining permits, conducting surveys, performing feasibility stud-

ies and securing possessory rights.

It said that if a developer failed to submit the declaration of completion (DOC) or demonstrate reasonable efforts within the timeframe, the DOE - Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) would issue a showcause order to request an explanation for the delay.

It said valid reasons for the delay such as force majeure might be allowed an extension, but if the reasons were insufficient or the developer did not respond, the REMB would recommend to the DOE Secretary the termination of the contract.

The developer would also be required to fulfill all financial obligations such as performance bond, payment of training commitment and development assistance, as provided under the service contract.

IN BRIEF

General Milling, First Gen renew renewable energy supply agreement

GENERAL Milling Corp. (GMC), one of the country’s largest integrated food companies, renewed its agreement with First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group for the supply of electricity from a carbon-free and renewable energy source.

Under the agreement, First Gen through subsidiary Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI) will continue to power GMC’s largest food manufacturing complex in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, with electricity from its geothermal power plant in Negros Oriental.

The agreement, signed on Oct. 9, 2024, extends the eight-year collaboration between GMC and First Gen that began in 2016 under the government’s retail competition and open access (RCOA) policy. RCOA allows businesses with substantial electricity demands to choose their own energy provider.

“We are betting big on renewable energy because it’s the future of sustainable manufacturing. This partnership with First Gen ensures that we are not only meeting today’s energy needs but doing so in a way that aligns with our long-term environmental goals,” said GMC president Anna Gurango-Vicencio.

Wealth Wellness Month to empower Filipinos

THE wealth management arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) launched BPI Wealth Wellness Month to enhance investment awareness and empower Filipinos in their financial journey.

“October is recognized as National Financial Planning Month in the United States, making it an ideal time for the Philippines to embrace a similar focus on financial literacy,” said Maria Theresa Marcial, president and chief executive of BPI Wealth.

“With the BPI Wealth Wellness Month, we seek to address this critical need by providing essential re-

ONLINE SELLING. TikTok Shop Philippines participates in GoNegosyo’s Online Selling Summit, reaffirming its dedication to empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. Organized by GoNegosyo, the event brought together government officials, industry leaders and MSMEs to explore innovative ways to accelerate the growth of small businesses through digital tools and strategies. Attending the event are (from left) content creator Bea Fabregas; Jordan Jacinto, head of growth at Paymongo; Rosemarie Rafael, chairperson of Airspeed Group of Companies; Ralph Marvin Garcia, business lead of Carousell; Cristopher Enriquez, chief executive of Raket PH; and Franco Aligaen, marketing lead of TikTok Shop Philippines.

sources and targeted programs that encourage Filipinos to reassess their situations and take decisive actions as the holiday season and the new year approach,” said Marcial.

BPI Wealth said that throughout the month, a series of curated programs will equip individuals with the essential tools and resources to take charge of their financial futures.

Under the theme L.I.F.E.: Leading Initiatives for the Financial Empowerment of Filipinos, several programs will cater to the distinct needs of diverse customer segments, offering targeted insights and strategies to

support clients—from building their wealth to safeguarding their legacies—while reinforcing BPI Wealth’s commitment to advancing financial education and inclusion across the Philippines.

These include FinQuest: Road to Financial Inclusion, a program tailored for graduating students that explores money management, earning potential, and the vital role of financial education.

A key highlight is the BPI Wealth Summit, the Philippines’ premier annual wealth management event, scheduled on Oct. 26.

“By integrating more clean energy into our operations, we are futureproofing our business while making a positive impact on the environment,” he said.

GMC’s Lapu-Lapu manufacturing complex is a critical part of its operations spanning flour and feed milling, livestock breeding and hatchery production. The plant also includes a wharf that supports the efficient movement of large cargo ships.

“We have seen the tangible benefits of renewable energy in our operations over the past eight years,” said Gurango-Vicencio. Alena Mae S. Flores

HEALTH advocacy group Safevape PH called on vape industry players and stakeholders to be more responsible by complying with the government’s registration requirements and paying their duties and taxes.

The group made the call as the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products’ (OSMV) approved the application for accreditation of Guandong Boopower Industry Co. Ltd. (GBPI) and its local agent One Tech Ventures OPC.

“We are thrilled to announce that we have obtained our PS License Certificate, ensuring our products meet the highest quality and safety standards. This certification represents our commitment to excellence and delivering only the best for our customers. Trust in our products, trust in our brand,” the company said.

Safevape PH said the fact that GBPI managed to obtain its license would belie claims by some suppliers that the process of accreditation was cumbersome, prompting many of them to operate illegally. The group was reacting to reports that vape manufacturers, distributors and importers were complaining of having a hard time complying with regulations especially in securing Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Mark and Import Commodity Clearance Sticker from the DTI. Under Republic Act No. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, manufacturers or importers should register their products and secure licenses to operate. They are also required to adhere to packaging standards and pay duties and taxes.

CRUISE CALL. The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the arrival of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Panorama, the 61st luxury liner cruise ship to make a port of call in the Philippines this year, as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to position the country as a cruise hub in Asia. The 1,055-foot-long vessel docked at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal, South Harbor, Manila, on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of the most anticipated country’s hosting of Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024, marking Carnival Cruise Line’s inaugural voyage to the Philippines.

PPA OFFICIAL. Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista swears into office Mark Jon Salares Palomar as the new assistant general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Oct. 18, 2024.

REAL ESTATE

SM Group transforms Clark into economic, cultural hub

THE SM Group has established a stronghold in Central Luzon’s Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, featuring key developments such as SM City Clark, SM Offices, National University, SMX Convention Center and Park Inn by Radisson Clark.

These properties serve not just as commercial spaces but as vital economic and cultural hubs, reflecting Clark’s rapid evolution into a gateway to the north.

Community growth

As urbanization accelerates in Metro Manila, Clark emerges as a viable alternative, bolstered by strategic infrastructure enhancements, a thriving tourism sector and effective public-private partnerships.

“This region has steadily grown and is becoming a hub for growth,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan. “That’s why in recent years, we have

supported that growth through our integrated properties to help spur economic activity for the benefit of communities where we operate.”

Since entering the Freeport in 2006, SM’s presence has significantly impacted local employment, contributing over 20 percent of the 138,000 jobs in Clark. SM Offices alone boasts over 22,000 jobs across its ten office towers, complemented by 5,000 tenants in SM City Clark.

Local development

The SM Group’s commitment to Clark is evident in its approach to community needs, enhancing access to quality education and promoting tourism and local heritage through integrated property development.

The impact of SM in terms of integrating economic activity and investments has been consistent. In 2023, SM City Clark emerged as one of the top five revenue generators, contributing 6 percent to CDC’s total revenues.

The complex’s strategic location near Clark International Airport, the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the upcoming North-South Commuter

Railway (NSCR) is expected to further enhance connectivity and access to northern regions.

Local talent

SM has created not just jobs but also opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Women’s accessories brand Malanne, founded by JoAnn Emperado-Macababat, began at SM City Clark with just ten earring designs and has since expanded to over 300 designs across multiple SM Supermalls.

Perfume brand Prescripto, established by Marnie Alcantara in 2006, evolved from a small stall to a thriving business with over 65 branches nationwide.

Expanding horizons

Looking to the future, SM’s integrated property in Clark is set to enhance connectivity with the construction of a multimodal transport terminal, which began in September 2023. This will significantly improve public access to and from Clark, especially with the forthcoming NSCR station linking to SM City Clark.

The terminal will connect various transport modes, including bus routes extending northward, and will be integrated with SM City Clark’s Sky Line, making it easily accessible within a five to 10-minute walk.

“By building a vibrant transport hub, SM aims to create a connection between Metro Manila and other cities in the northern region to promote local trade, tourism with Pampanga as a key destination,” said Tan.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. is also poised to expand its Clark portfolio, which includes the SMX Convention Center and Park Inn, with plans to introduce more hotels to the complex over the next five years. Through its commitment to integrated development and community support, the SM Group continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Clark as a thriving hub for business, culture and lifestyle.

Damosa Land celebrates 20 years of growth

DAMOSA Land, Inc. (DLI) recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of impactful contributions to Mindanao’s real estate sector. Since its inception, the company has focused on uplifting the quality of life and fostering socio-economic development in the region. Through innovative projects and strategic partnerships, Damosa Land has empowered local communities.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Ayala Land develops Arca South transport terminal

PROPERTY giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is enhancing its leadership in building connected and sustainable communities with the new Arca South Transport Terminal in Taguig.

This terminal is part of a larger master-planned estate and covers two hectares. It is set to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025. The transport terminal will improve accessibility and livability in Arca South, which is becoming a dynamic mixed-use development. It aims to bridge gaps in transportation infrastructure while the TCITX (Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange) project is underway.

The terminal will be located along Arca Boulevard and will improve connectivity for office workers and residents. It will make commuting more efficient and convenient. The terminal will be operated by Interlux

Corp., ALI’s partner, and will support various public transport modes, including buses, jeepneys, AUVs, and tricycles.

In addition to transportation services, the terminal will feature retail spaces, including food and beverage kiosks. This will provide added convenience for passengers and visitors. Amenities will include wellmaintained restrooms with provisions for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and a dedicated lactation room for breastfeeding mothers.

ALI will also relocate the popular AANI Weekend Market to the terminal site. This move allows the market to continue offering organic produce, fresh seafood, and freerange poultry while serving the growing Arca South community. The market will also feature plants and ready-to-eat meals, making it a vibrant hub for commuters and local

residents.

Key developments in the area include residential and office buildings, Landers Superstore, and the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital—

the first comprehensive cancer care facility in the country. The growth of the estate will continue in 2025 with the addition of Ayala Malls Arca South.

One of its flagship projects, the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE), has become a key partner for businesses in Mindanao. By providing industrial lots and facilities, AIE supports companies and drives economic growth in the area.

“Our anniversary means so much because this highlights everything that we have accomplished in the past 20 years and the many things we can do moving forward. While 20 years may already seem like a long time to many, for us, it marks just the beginning of our progress in Mindanao,” said Damosa Land president Ricardo Lagdameo.

AIE also houses the world’s largest tennis ball manufacturing facility operated by Head Sport, which is expected to create jobs and further boost the local economy. Recently, AIE secured an additional investment of $3 million from Tide Solar Inc. This investment, alongside the operations of Head Sports, opens new opportunities for local rubber producers.

D&L achieves LEED gold certification for head office

D&L Industries Inc. has received a LEED Gold certification for the Operations and Maintenance (LEED v4.1 O+M) of its head office, the LBL Building, in Quezon City. This follows the company’s earlier LEEDv4 Gold Certification for its Batangas plant Central Hub.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability. It is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. The LEED framework promotes healthy, efficient,

and cost-saving buildings that provide environmental, social, and governance benefits.

The LEED v4.1 O+M rating requires a 12-month performance monitoring and evaluation of key environmental factors. These include greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, water efficiency, ozone protection, location and transportation, waste management, environmental impact, and indoor environmental quality.

During the 12-month observation period, D&L’s head office consistently

met LEED standards. The evaluation showed that the building exceeds both global and local average scores for energy efficiency, waste management, and indoor air quality. Notably, it uses zero ozone depletion potential (zero-ODP) refrigerants for its air conditioning system. The operational improvements made during the monitoring period resulted in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 40 percent average savings in water efficiency compared to baseline levels.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

SHOWBIZ

Euwenn Mikael is ‘Forever Young’

By Nickie Wang

SOME Nights I Feel Like Walking has already begun to gain popularity online, with both reviewers and viewers discussing the independent movie.

The man behind it, Petersen Vargas , known for blockbuster films such as A Very Good Girl and Un/Happy For You , is set to premiere his latest feature at the prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Northern Europe’s leading film event. The festival has previously showcased Filipino films like Fan Girl and Kalel, 15 , which also received accolades.

In Some Nights I Feel Like Walking Vargas returns to his independent beginnings and highlights the great storytelling legacy of Filipino

cinema on a global scale. The film has been in development since 2018, beginning as part of a scriptwriting workshop led by National Artist Ricky Lee. Over the years, it has gained recognition through international film programs in France, Switzerland, and Japan. Vargas expressed his feelings about competing at the festival: “I’ve worked on Some Nights I Feel Like Walking for the past six years. What began as my reaction to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s dangerous streets is now an examination of collective grief.”

The film explores the Filipino relationship with death through the journey of a dead body, as a group of street hustlers navigates Manila’s dangerous streets to fulfill their friend’s last wish.

IFIRST interviewed Euwenn Mikaell when he starred in the multi-awarded film Firefly . At that time, he was only nine years old and he already exhibited the qualities of a person built to be in front of the cameras.

Euwenn communicates straightforwardly—his words are succinct yet with a punch. People often questioned whether he was truly that young because of his precocious nature.

During a recent press conference, I spoke with the now 11-year-old actor about how he feels when others comment on his maturity.

“It’s like a normal thing for me; I’m used to it,” he said in the vernacular, expressing himself as any typical child might. “They always say that to me, but I don’t think there’s any difference because I’m always surrounded by older people, especially when I’m doing a project.”

Euwenn’s ability to engage with adults makes him well-suited for his latest role in Forever Young, GMA’s new series premiering today.

The program centers on Rambo, a 25-year-old man whose growth hormone-related uncommon disease panhypopituitarism has left him imprisoned in the body of a 10-year-old.

Rambo is a loving brother and son who manages family relationships and

Petersen Vargas returns to indie roots with ‘Some Nights I Feel Like Walking’

Very Wang Nickie Wang

aspires to be a public servant, despite his physical constraints. The show delves into the intricacies he encounters, encompassing the difficulties of pursuing a career in politics while handling personal and familial disputes.

Talking about his experience taping for Forever Young, the child star noted the advantages of being the only child on set.

“Since I’m the only kid on set, they make it fun for me, so working on this series was easy for me,” he shared.

“My only problem was with the deep Tagalog words; some of them I heard for the first time.”

This supportive environment, combined with guidance from adult

growth as an actor. Best of all, he said he gained more friends.

“For me, it’s fun working with my co-stars, and I think they enjoyed my company, too,” he said. When asked whether it was okay for him to stay forever young, the child jokingly said that he wouldn’t do anything if he stayed young forever.

“If I’m forever young, I can’t do anything. I have a curfew, I can’t even go to the mall alone, so I want the right age like 20s,” he responded.

Forever Young, directed by Gil Tejada Jr. with associate director Rechie Del Carmen, features a strong cast including Alfred Vargas, Nadine Samonte, Rafael Rosell, and James Blanco, along with veteran actors Michael De Mesa and Eula Valdes Forever Young airs weekdays at 4:00 p.m. on GMA Afternoon Prime and is available to global audiences via GMA

Vargas reflects on the significance of the moment: “Competing at an A-list film festival like Tallinn Black Nights feels like an unshakeable dream. It’s an honor to share this ultimately Filipino story and experience.”

The narrative centers on themes of queer identity, survival, and found families, resonating deeply with the challenges of belonging faced by many Filipinos. The cast includes established indie actors such as Jomari Angeles and Tommy Alejandrino, along with newcomers Miguel Odron and Argel Saycon

“This film is also my first venture into international

mentors, has likely contributed to his Pinoy TV.

Filmmaker

The cast of ‘Forever Young’ during a media conference for the show

Award-winning child actor Euwenn Mikaell stars as a 25-yearold man stuck in the body of a 10-year-old in ‘Forever Young’

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

‘Guilty Pleasure’ reels in on love, betrayal, justice

By Angelica Villanueva

“

LOVE , passion, betrayal, and justice.”

This is how actor JM De Guzman described his latest film, Guilty Pleasure, in which he stars alongside actress Lovi Poe and fellow actor Jameson Blake, during its premiere night on Oct. 15 at SM North EDSA - The Block.

During the screening, the audience experienced how a sexy film can blend well with legal drama. Watching

the film allowed them to explore these themes, drawing them into the story. As the film unfolds, viewers can relate to each character and see how the story progresses from one scene to another.

progresses to

Using JM’s words on what to expect from the film, let’s dive into the world of Guilty Pleasure Love. The film opens with a scene featuring sexy background music as a woman wearing sultry lingerie walks toward a blindfolded man on his knees. At first glance, it seems like a romantic moment. However, you soon realize that these two characters are Lovi and JM playing the roles of lawyers Alexis and Adam, respectively. Of course, being a sexy film, it includes many sensual scenes. But as the movie unfolds, it sparks conversations about the complexities of love and the boundaries that should be established between a couple.

of Attorney Alexis Miranda is something the audience will love to see, making them look forward to scenes where she excels in every case inside the courtroom.

Lovi perfectly delivers her lines as a professional lawyer,

a lover to both JM and Jameson’s respective characters, a daughter, and a woman who finally wants to speak and stand up for herself. Watching Lovi on the big screen, confidently reciting legal terms alongside her co-actors, is simply impeccable. There’s something about Lovi in this film—her sexiness, her beauty, her confidence—we can’t pinpoint it, but Lovi wouldn’t be called the “Supreme Actress” for nothing.

PLDT, Smart welcome IECEP visitors to Technolab

PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. hosted a visit from the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) NCR Northeast at their Technolab on Oct. 16. The event brought together officers and members from various sectors, including semiconductor, academia, broadcasting, and manufacturing. The attendees toured the advanced

Technology Laboratory at Smart Tower, where PLDT and Smart explore and test cutting-edge solutions, including 5G, fiber, cloud technologies, and innovations such as AI-driven network automation. These technologies aim to enhance connectivity, efficiency, and the overall customer experience. During the tour, PLDT and Smart executives, who are also

Rooms for comfort and convenience

“The Disney Adventure will offer a wide variety of staterooms, all designed with guest convenience and comfort in mind,” said Lisa Picket, Hotel Director of Disney Cruise Line. She added, “This means, regardless of how you want to travel, or who you want to travel with, you’re going to find that perfect choice that fits your needs.” Options range from classic Ocean View staterooms to premium Garden View and Reef View staterooms, all featuring Disney touches and familyfriendly amenities. For those seeking the ultimate indulgence, the Disney Adventure boasts two exclusive royal suites inspired by Frozen Dining delights Dining on the Disney Adventure is also an adventure in itself. “On board the Disney Adventure, dining will be much more than just a meal. It will be a chance for guests to interact with favorite Disney stories in exciting ways only Disney Cruise Line can cook up, with menus featuring an enticing

Betrayal. Guilty Pleasure illustrates how betrayal comes in various forms. JM’s character exemplifies betrayal through his unfaithfulness and dishonesty, which not only damages his relationships but also undermines trust. Meanwhile, Alexis’ decision to turn a blind eye to the truth to defend her client represents a different form of betrayal, as it compromises her integrity and the pursuit of justice. Justice. Throughout the film, viewers look for the connection between the opening scene and the entire story. They’ll understand why and how Lovi pursues justice in the film. For whom? Watch it.

Directed by Connie Macatuno Guilty Pleasure also stars Dustin Yu, Angelica Lao, and Sarah Edwards.

now

Revilla family celebrates new achievement

SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla are celebrating their daughter Loudette Bautista’s achievement as she has officially become a Doctor of Medicine after passing the 2024 Physician Licensure Examination.

The couple was overjoyed upon learning at midnight that Loudette was among the successful examinees. Sen. Bong immediately shared the news during a Facebook Live session.

Attendees had the chance to explore the Smart Tower’s advanced Technology Laboratory

IECEP members, shared insights on several emerging topics, including Network Disaggregation, Cloudification, Automation, Extended Reality, Private 5G, and Smart Home technologies. The participants gained valuable knowledge about new communications and connectivity solutions that are currently being tested and are not yet available in the market. This initiative highlights the PLDT Group’s commitment to inclusive learning and meaningful innovation, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) #4 on Quality Education and #9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Disney

The

Their friends and supporters joined in the celebration. Dr. Loudette completed her pre-med studies at Ateneo de Manila University and earned her medical degree from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC).

“She has proven to herself that her dream is reachable, not only for herself but also for her family and the public she wants to serve as a doctor,” Sen. Bong posted. “Congratulations to our Dra. Loudette for passing the 2024 Physician Licensure Board Exams! You’re a certified doctor now, my dear! You bring pride, joy, and honor to the whole family! Thank you for fulfilling Daddy’s dream to have a doctor in the family. Thank you, God!”

This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Revilla family, as Loudette is the first doctor in their lineage. Last year, her sister Attorney Inah Bautista-del Rosario also made headlines by passing the bar exams, further elevating the family’s status with a lawyer and now a doctor.

“Long live, Dra. Loudette Bautista! You are now licensed to heal, and many are happy and hopeful for your next triumphs! Surely, you’ll be a great help to numerous Filipinos,” the senator concluded.

the Disney Imagination Garden Stage, home to the epic superhero show Avengers Assemble and the interactive Baymax Super Exercise Expo.

The crown jewel is the Walt Disney Theater, where guests can enjoy Broadway-style productions

like Disney Seas the Adventure and the all-new musical spectacular Remember, developed exclusively for the Disney Adventure. The magic continues With its interactive themed areas, comfortable staterooms, delectable dining options, and engaging entertainment, the Disney Adventure will try to live up to the brand’s decades of legacy. It promises an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages and races. As Stephen Cloete, Cruise Director, put it, “We cannot wait to welcome guests aboard to seize the adventure!”

Director Connie Macatuno’s ‘Guilty Pleasure’ explores the themes of love, passion, betrayal, and justice

It is

showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

featuring

Passion. Lovi’s successful portrayal

The film also shows how lawyer,

Lovi Poe stars as empowered lawyer Alexis Miranda

From left: Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla, Loudette Bautista, and Senator ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

Happiness

‘for sail’ in 2025

Disney Adventure brings fun-filled voyages to Singapore

By Kate Adajar

LIFE is often seen as a journey with a final destination in mind. But what if the journey itself was the ultimate goal?

The Disney Adventure cruise ship, setting sail from Singapore in 2025, embraces this philosophy by offering a unique experience where the voyage is just as important as the pit stops.

With fun-filled days at sea and a focus on immersive experiences, the ship transforms into a world of its own and promises endless fun and adventure for every guest.

explained Sarah Fox , Vice President and Regional General Manager in Southeast Asia. “Sailing on three and four-night voyages with only magical days at sea, the Disney Adventure will be both the journey and the destination, filled with endless possibilities for fun.”

With a focus on immersive experiences, the Disney Adventure promises something for everyone. From youth clubs and kids’ pools to adult-exclusive spas and restaurants, guests of all ages will find their taste of magic on board. The Disney Adventure features seven uniquely themed areas, each designed to transport guests into the heart of their favorite Disney stories:

Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado

EVERY year, the officers and members of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines gather for their most important event of the year. The venue sparkles with the bestlooking hotel industry professionals, all dressed to the nines, making any Hollywood gala pale in comparison.

Celebrating a “Decade of Distinction,” the HSMA’s highly coveted Virtus Awards marked its 10th anniversary amidst a sea of hotel salespeople, eagerly anticipating who would receive the all-important trophies of distinction. The Virtus Award for Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate was given to Belmont Hotel Manila eCommerce executive Mika Paula Bustillo and The Ascott Ltd. assistant manager for Content & Graphics Christian Paulo Morales, while Midas Hotel and Casino senior sales manager for Rooms Ma. Fe Pulga received the award for Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager. The honor of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader was bestowed upon Erwin Fidel Doña III, director of Marketing and Communications at Novotel. Megaworld Hotels & Resorts won the Institutional Award for Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year for its “The Sampaguita” campaign, establishing the company’s unique brand of hospitality. The brains behind the campaign included team leader Charlene Go-Co, head of Marketing Innovation, and her team members

Cleofe Albiso managing director; Jun

At Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore last Wednesday, Oct. 16, we were invited to join a magical journey as Disney Cruise Line unveiled its newest ship. This grand reveal of the Disney Adventure promises an unforgettable experience for families and Disney fans alike, bringing the enchantment of Disney to the seas.

A new chapter

“I have to say I am so incredibly excited to be here with you today to show the next chapter of our Disney adventure story,” said Sharon Siskie Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Cruise Line. “And very soon you will be among the first to see what’s in store for this spectacular ship.”

The Disney Adventure, Disney’s first cruise ship to sail in Asia, launches its maiden voyage on Dec. 15, 2025, with bookings opening Dec. 10, 2024.

The journey is the destination

“What makes the Disney Adventure so special is that the ship itself is the destination,”

Simply the best in the

Chairperson Margie

The Disney Adventure offers a range of themed areas designed for immersive fun. Disney Imagination Garden features a multi-level performance space and a towering screen that brings beloved characters to life.

Toy Story Place is a water playland with pools and exciting features like Woody and Jessie’s Wild Slides. San Fransokyo Street, inspired by Big Hero 6, is a bustling area with gaming lounges and appearances by Baymax. Town Square celebrates Disney Royals, offering shops, cafes, and family entertainment.

Disney Discovery Reef showcases aquatic stories with themed dining, while Wayfinder Bay, inspired by Moana, includes a relaxing pool area with live shows. Marvel Landing adds thrill with the longest roller coaster at sea and other superhero-themed attractions. Turn to C3

accommodation industry

highlights the importance of the Virtus Awards in empowering and celebrating hard-working individuals within the industry

As a proudly homegrown Filipino brand, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts incorporated the country’s national flower into its brand of service, ensuring brand excellence across all of its 13 hotels and complementing Megaworld’s sustainability initiative, which involves reviving the sampaguita flower industry. This year’s Virtus awardees were chosen from a pool of 56 finalists, nominated by their respective HSMA member properties.

Justo, cluster general manager - NCR; Sonny Alvaro, cluster general manager - F&B; Claire Bernabe, director of Customer Experience & New Ventures; and Nico Ivan Velasquez, group director of Public Relations.

The awards ceremony was held at Dusit Thani Manila, and in celebration of its 10th anniversary, Awards chair Rose HilarioLibongco was recognized as an Honorary Virtus Awardee for her extensive and successful career in the hotel sales and marketing industry. Libongco previously led sales and marketing

out the value of recognizing the work of those within the industry of hotel sales and marketing

for three top international chain hotels: Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Westin Philippine Plaza Manila, and Hotel InterContinental Manila.

A mentor and inspiration to those in the industry, Libongco has been referred to as a brand unto herself, earning accolades for her creativity and innovation in staging activities, packaging desirable hotel products, crafting challenging but achievable sales targets, and coaching with a focus on personal motivation.

Before accepting her award, video messages from close friends were shown in her honor. In my message, I referred to her as an “icon in the industry” and the “shining star of the accommodation sector.” Not only has she elevated the standards of hotel sales and marketing, but she has also ensured these standards are worldclass. I know her brilliance will continue to inspire aspiring sales and marketing practitioners as they pursue success.

HSMA president Loleth So emphasized the

value of the Virtus Awards, stating, “Recognition is so important in hotel sales and marketing. The awards celebrate the people who work 24/7 in the industry.”

The evening’s keynote speaker, Alma Rita Jimenez, encouraged industry professionals to understand the “seismic shifts” happening in hospitality and tourism to remain relevant to their customers.

HSMA chair Margie Munsayac proudly declared that presenting the Virtus Awards for 10 uninterrupted years is a huge cause for celebration. “Virtus is a spirit that moves in all of us, empowering us to stand proud of all that we have achieved.”

The 10th Virtus Awards was presented by HSMA, the Department of Tourism, and the Tourism Promotions Board, with support from PAGCOR, Dusit Thani Manila, GRAB for Business, Masaya Trip, and Destileria Limtuaco. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

HSMA

Munsayac

HSMA President Loleth So pointed

Vitus Awards Chair Rose Libongco and Honorary Virtus Awardee was recognized for her successful career in the industry

The Disney Adventure cruise ship is set to sail in 2025

Various areas themed around Disney stories and characters offer an exciting and immersive experience to guests

The Disney Adventure cruise ship is the first cruise ship from Disney which will sail in Asia

The cruise ship will be sailing on three and four-night voyages