Manila Standard - 2024 November 6 - Wednesday

‘MARCE’ TO BRING HEAVY TO INTENSE RAINFALL—PAGASA

By Rio Araja

TYPHOON “Marce” slightly intensified over the Philippine Sea, and its eye was estimated at 480 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela. It was moving northwestward 25 km/h packing maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 160 km/h. Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1

OVP exec flies to US amid probe

6 others skip House hearing; spokesman parts ways with VP Sara

By Maricel Cruz, Rachelle Tonelada and Vito Barcelo

THE chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte flew to the United States while six other OVP officials were a no-show despite being called to testify before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability yesterday.

The House panel is investigating the alleged mishandling of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education during Duterte’s term as DepEd chief.

Committee chairman Manila Rep. Joel Chua said said Duterte’s chief of staff, Usec. Zuleika Lopez, departed for the United States Monday night on a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles, California.

The Bureau of Immigration, however, said it was yet to receive the House

Dela Rosa rejects Senate cooperation with ICC

By Ralph Harvey Rirao

By Maricel V. Cruz

the courage to practice the virtue of having a word of honor,” House Assistant

By Charles Dantes

THE suspended Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson, Winston Casio, admitted to slapping an individual during the raid on a suspected POGO facility in Bataan, where authorities found evidence of scamming and human trafficking. In a radio interview, Casio said that he slapped the worker after the individual allegedly disrespected an officer.

He explained that he gave the worker two options: face a com

plaint for unjust vexation or accept two slaps. The worker reportedly chose the latter, resulting in what Casio described as “a few light slaps.”

SENATOR Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday questioned his colleagues’ willingness to submit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) a certified transcript of a recent Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing. He was referring to the panel’s hear-

ing on the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, in which he was very closely involved.

Dela Rosa was reacting to Senate President Francis Escudero saying there was no reason for the Upper Chamber to refuse a justifiable request to certify transcripts of its hearings on the previous administration’s drug war.

“It’s no problem with him, but for me, it seems there’s a problem,” he said in Filipino.

Dela Rosa emphasized that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippine government.

“Giving in to their request is tantamount to recognizing the jurisdiction

AS AMERICANS vote on Election Day, officials are calling for patience as they tally ballots in what could be a historically close presidential race -and warning that it could take days to find out who has won.

more representatives in the US Congress, get a larger share of the 538 Electoral College votes on offer. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump will be vying to get to the all-important 270 votes that pushes them past the halfway mark and guar-

Price pressures uptick partly due to storms—gov’t

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE country’s headline inflation rose to 2.3 percent in October, up from 1.9 percent in September due to higher food prices triggered by typhoons, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.On Tuesday, the agency noted the uptrend in overall inflation last month was primarily influenced by the faster annual increment in heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages, which stood at 2.9 percent from 1.4 percent in September.

Also contributing to the uptrend were transport costs, with a slower year-on-year decrease of 2.1 percent in October from a 2.4 percent annual drop the previous month, the PSA said. However, the October 2024 inflation of 2.3 percent was still within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast range of 2 percent to 2.8 percent.

“The latest inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation will continue to trend closer to the low end of the target range over the succeeding quarters. This reflects easing supply pressures for key food items, particularly rice,” BSP said. In the first 10 months, the inflation rate stood at 3.3 percent, well within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.

“The latest inflation figures confirm

SLAPPING INCIDENT. Video grab shows Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commis-

sion spokesperson Winston Casio slapping an individual who allegedly disrespected one of his men during a raid on a suspected POGO hub in Bataan. Teleradyo video grab

CONFI FUNDS PROBE. Former Spokesperson and Undersecretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) Atty. Michael Wesley Poa, inset left, answers questions from House Members during the Good Government and Public Accountability hearing yesterday at the People’s Center in the House of Representatives. Also present in the hearing was DepEd chief accountant Rhuna Catalan. Atty. Zuelika Lopez however had left the country for the United States, while five other officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) refused

Atty. Michael PoaRhunna Catalan Atty. Zuleika LopezLemuel Ortonio

NEDA okays upgraded flood control projects

By Charles Dantes

THE National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board yesterday approved extensions and cost adjustments for two major anti-flood projects, in line with the government’s flood-mitigation efforts.

The projects, the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project and the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, were revised to address delays and expanded needs in the wake of recent weather challenges.

In discussing the Cavite project, President Ferdinand Marcos, who also

serves as NEDA chair, noted that additional elements like housing were not part of the initial plan.

“I think maybe the detailed engineering had to compensate for weather changes. And then the housing, housing was not part of the original estimate,” the President said.

He also acknowledged that costs

would rise, mainly on the local side, but confirmed that they remain within financial guidelines.

With this approval, the cost of the Cavite project will increase by 122.79%, from PHP9.89 billion to PHP22.03 billion.

The board also approved a 65-month extension for the project, pushing the original completion date from April 2024 to September 2029.

Changes to the scope include the widening of diversion channels and the addition of drainage channels, aimed at reducing flood risks for the San Juan River Basin and nearby areas in Cavite.

As of September 30, the Cavite pro -

ject reported a 44.21% completion rate with a fund utilization of PHP3.50 billion, despite delays due to project complexity and adverse weather impacts.

The Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, Phase IV, which targets flood mitigation in Metro Manila, saw an approved budget increase of 74.32% — from PHP33.09 billion to PHP57.69 billion — along with a 63-month extension, extending completion from December 2025 to March 2031.

This phase will improve channel designs along the Middle Marikina River, modify drainage facilities, and add structural work to handle higher water levels, especially critical for flood-

prone areas in Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Taytay, and Cainta.

President Marcos raised concerns about whether the design takes into account evolving climate risks, referencing recent typhoons that pushed water levels close to spillover.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan assured the President that the project’s current design has so far prevented spillovers during recent storms.

In addition to the flood control projects, the NEDA Board approved the Philippine International Exhibition Center Project and the acquisition of 40 fast patrol boats, supported by official development assistance.

over us. The government is very consistent in declaring the ICC has no jurisdiction over us,” the former national police chief stressed.

Despite his protestations, Dela Rosa insisted he is not worried about the ICC’s investigation on him, saying he simply wants all branches of the Philippine government to be on the same page about its position on the international tribunal.

“I have no worry, what I’m saying is we should all be synchronized. When Malacañang says that we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, then as a country, as a nation, we should not recognize [the ICC],” he said.

During last week’s Blue Ribbon hearing, Duterte made several admissions that many believe carry legal repercussions, including his testimony about organizing a “death squad” in Davao City when he was still its mayor.

Duterte also took “full responsibility” for the drug war waged by his government, and challenged anyone to file cases against him.

It can be recalled that former President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute after the ICC began investigating his anti-drug campaign over alleged human rights abuses.

committee’s request to include the seven OVP officials in its lookout bulletin.

Aside from Lopez, the six other OVP officials who were absent were Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio, Administrative and Financial Services

Director Rosalynne Sanchez, Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey, former DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda and former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda.

OVP spokesperson Michael Poa attended the hearing, but surprised lawmakers with his disclosure that he is no longer affiliated with the office.

“My consultancy contract was already pre-terminated,” Poa told the panel.

In his earlier testimony, Poa confirmed that Duterte and then-DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda held sole authority over DepEd’s confidential fund, and that he “occassionally” received envelopes with cash from Duterte.

On Tuesday, DepEd chief accountant Rhunna Catalan became the fourth Education official to confirm the monthly cash allowance.

She said she received envelopes containing P25,000 for a period of nine months during Duterte’s stint at DepEd. Catalan also admitted being “requested” by Sunshine Fajarda to sign the liq-

uidation vouchers for the P112.5 million in CIFs, which were withdrawn as cash advances by Fajarda’s husband, Edward.

The funds in question were withdrawn through three separate checks, each valued at P37.5 million, issued to then-SDO Fajarda. The cash advances were made in the first three quarters of 2023 when Duterte was leading the DepEd, Catalan said.

The Fajarda couple transferred to the OVP after Duterte’s resignation from the Education department in July.

Of the P612.5 million under investigation by the House committee, P500 million went to the OVP while P112.5 million went to DepEd.

The OVP received P625 million in confidential funds for late 2022 and all of 2023, with COA reviewing P500 million and noting significant irregularities.

In December 2022 alone, the OVP spent P125 million in just 11 days— from December 21 to 31—averaging P11.364 million daily. COA disallowed P73.3 million, citing irregularities, and ordered repayment from Duterte and two other OVP officials.

In his interpellation, committee vice chair Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante asked whether Catalan was requested or pressured to sign the liquidation reports.

“I was requested, Sir, in a nice way,” Catalan said.

Abante, however, pointed out the potential influence behind the repeated release of cash allowance to Catalan.

“Those nine envelopes you received are a form of pressure on your part or

from the same person that asked you to sign. Am I right?” he said, to which Catalan replied: “Maybe, Your Honor.”

Sunshine Fajarda was also named in the previous testimony by former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado, who disclosed that she received regular cash payments allegedly intended to influence her as the agency’s procurement unit head.

During the September 25 hearing, Mercado testified she received envelopes containing P50,000 each month from February to September 2023, totaling P450,000, allegedly delivered by Sunshine Fajarda on behalf of the Vice President.

On October 17, former DepEd Bids and Awards Committee chair Resty Osias disclosed that he, too, received envelopes containing between P12,000 and P15,000 each.

Meanwhile, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luisto said the House committee may have found a prima facie case of malversation against Duterte over an unaccounted P10.4 million in confidential funds spent when she was still Education secretary.

Luistro said DepEd was able to liquidate only P4.2 million out of the P15.5 million allocated to the agency.

“It is the humble submission of this representation that there is a prima facie case of malversation and, in addition, an apparent case of breach of public trust. For us to be able to know whether there is malversation, four elements must be present,” she said.

gan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora).

that we are on track to keep inflation within target. The government is fully committed to ensuring price stability and protecting Filipino households from undue shocks,” said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

“Recent weather disturbances, including Typhoon Kristine, have posed significant challenges to our food supply and logistics. The government is working relentlessly to keep food available and prices steady, particularly for essential commodities. With targeted support and streamlined food supply chains, we aim to ensure that food is affordable and accessible for Filipino families, especially those most vulnerable to price shocks when disasters hit us,” Balisacan added.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration forecasts that La Niña will persist until the first quarter of 2025, with two to eight tropical cyclones expected to affect the country until April 2025.

“Our whole-of-government efforts, including intensive monitoring and mitigation of price increases on food and nonfood items, are expected to keep inflation within our target range for the next two years, at least,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in a statement.

“The slight uptick in our October inflation rate was mainly caused by temporary factors, such as weather disturbances like Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon. We are on top of ensuring that the affected communities get the help that they need to recover faster from the recent disasters. In fact, the President has mobilized all agencies to quickly deliver relief, rehab, and assistance,” he added.

was raised over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod), Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalun-

According to PAGASA, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected from today until tomorrow afternoon in Batanes, Cagayan, and Apayao.

From Thursday to Friday, Cagayan is forecast to experience intense to torrential rainfall while Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Batanes will have heavy to intense rainfall. Moderate to intense rainfall will affect Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, PAGASA said.

“Marce” is forecast to move generally west northwestward until today before decelerating and turning westward over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon.

Based on the forecast track, “Marce” will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon or evening.

Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Tuesday. The Mindanao solon is banking on Duterte’s recent appearance before a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee. Adiong emphasized the importance of Duterte’s presence at Thursday’s hearing, noting that it would provide House members the opportunity to gain definitive answers that only the former president can provide. He added that Duterte’s attendance would also resonate with his supporters.

“It would demonstrate that he’s not afraid of accountability, just as he showed in the Senate probe, where he took responsibility and advocated for the victims of extrajudicial killings during his administration, shielding his police officers from potential criminal or administrative charges,” Adiong explained. Previously, Duterte’s counsel, Martin Delgra, assured the Quad Comm of Duterte’s intention to attend. Delgra, who was chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board under Duterte, confirmed this commitment in a letter to lead panel chairman Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, stating that his client would appear after the All Saints’ Day holiday.

“Rest assured of my client’s willingness to appear before the House on some other available date, preferably after Nov. 1,” the lawyer promised after Duterte declined to attend the October 22 hearing.

However, House Assistant Majority Leader Paolo Ortega of La Union said despite assurances that he would attend, Duterte’s lawyers are likely to recommend that their client skip the upcoming Quad Comm hearing altogether He said that the former President’s candid testimonies could potentially expose not only his own legal vulnerabilities but also those of his close allies, Senators Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go, who played significant roles in the controversial anti-drug campaign

“If both Sen. Dela Rosa and Sen. Go were involved, then responsibility does not lie solely with Duterte but with those who stood by him in this campaign,” Ortega pointed out.

“I lost my temper. I was wrong, and I’m willing to face the consequences,” Casio told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got a much bigger mandate,” he said, stressing that resigning would mean “allowing scammers to win.”

Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed Casio’s suspension and ordered him to submit

shorter wait.

antees them the keys to the Oval Office.

But with this year’s race going down to the wire, experts point to a growing risk of delays and complications like legal challenges over the vote count.

Around 81 million people have voted ahead of Tuesday, over half of the total ballots cast in 2020.

The first polls close at 6:00 pm Eastern Time (2300 GMT) but when the race is tight, it could take days before a victor is projected.

In 2020, US media declared Democratic candidate Joe Biden the winner on Saturday November 7, although polls closed the Tuesday before.

In 2016 and 2012, voters had a

After votes are cast, local election officials, who may be appointed or elected, process and count them. Tallying methods vary from one location to the next.

Many states have changed election laws to allow mail-in or overseas votes to be prepared for counting ahead of Election Day, although Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have not made similar changes. Both are battlegrounds that could swing towards either party. With mailin ballots not allowed to be processed until November 5, this could slow counting. Especially close vote counts can also trigger recounts. Rather than waiting for winners to be declared by local authorities, US news outlets call races based on what they see in the voting.

a written explanation of his actions within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz emphasized the need for a fair investigation, and said that Casio’s suspension will last until the probe is concluded.

But this process is not official and results still have to be certified at the state level, with every ballot accounted for.

The deadline for states to certify their results is December 11, and each state’s appointed electors then cast their votes for the candidate who won in their popular vote.

By December 25, electoral certificates of each state must be received by the President of the Senate, who is also the Vice President -- Harris.

On January 6, Congress counts and confirms the results, before the new president is inaugurated on January 20. Certification is a formality, but experts warn that there are growing risks of obstructions.

At least 22 county election officials voted in 2022 to delay certification in battleground states, Brookings experts noted in a commentary last month.

In his recent Senate appearance, Duterte acknowledged the existence of the so-called “Davao Death Squad,” a vigilante group allegedly responsible for numerous extrajudicial killings in Davao City during his tenure as mayor.

This was nearly a 30 percent increase from 2020.

At least 35 election officials have “refused to certify election results and may be in a position to do so again,” accordi ng to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Successful obstruction could impact state and federal certification deadlines, the campaign group warned. The certification process has come under scrutiny and been especially politicized since Trump refused to concede the 2020 election.

In that race, dozens of legal challenges by Trump and his allies were tossed out by the courts. There has been a deluge of lawsuits from both parties ahead of Election Day, which might also complicate the tabulation.

IN BRIEF

DND sends delegates to ASEAN meeting

THE Department of National Defense (DND) sent two representatives to the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts Working Group on Cyber Security (EWG-CS) in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the ADMM seeks to introduce ASEAN states to the EWG Work Plan for the 2024-2027 cycle, which includes the revival of the EWG Web Portal to be managed by the ADMM Cybersecurity and Information Center of Excellence (ACICE).

Deployed to the ASEAN conference in Thailand were Director Christine Cariño, head of the Office for Cyber and Information System Management (OCISM), and Col. Joey Fontiveros, chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Cyber Command.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Australian Department of Defense.

The ADMM-Plus EWG on CS is a platform for the defense establishments of ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to strengthen practical cooperation on cybersecurity towards peace, stability, and development in the region. Rex Espiritu

PCG still clueless on missing vessel

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is still unable to locate a cargo vessel that possibly sank off Paluan Occidental Mindoro at the height of super typhoon Kristine.

According to the PCG, they have used choppers and fixed wing-planes to search for the missing MV Sta. MonicaA1 along the coast of Taytay, Palawan and the entire province of Occidental Mindoro.

The PCG deployed its BrittenNorman Islander aircraft for a more expansive search and rescue operation around the area covering Taytay town in Palawan and the waters off the municipalities of San Jose and Paluan in Occidental Mindoro. Patrol boats were also dispatched to assist in the operation.

The PCG enjoined local fishermen to immediately report to them in case they spotted the missing vessel.

MV Sta. Monica left Taytay, Palawan with a crew of 10 including the skipper on Oct. 22, a few hours before Kristine intensified. Vince Lopez

Senators reject proposals to put off BARMM polls

By Ralph Rirao

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senate electoral reforms committee chairperson

Imee Marcos on Tuesday opposed suggestions to postpone the first ever elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“The BARMM electrons must push through,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters. Marcos said it is time for the BARMM residents to elect the leaders that they want.

“I am really against it (postponement) because the voices of the people need to be heard. Our Muslim brothers’ voices should be heard and we should allow them to vote for the candidates they truly desire,” Marcos said in an ambush interview.

“We are always being intimidated with chaos and bombings. I don’t like being threatened. I believe and I’m convinced that our Muslim brothers and sisters have already renounced violence. They don’t want to live that way any-

more,” the senator said in Filipino. Marcos surmised that those opposed to the BARMM polls were after the substantial amount of public funds estimated at P490 billion so far being poured into the autonomous region.

“’Yung sa block grant pa lamang... P70 billion a year tapos plus, plus, plus, kaya pinag-iinteresan ng marami at ‘yung iba siguro gusto na manatili na forever ang kadatungan na ‘yan (That’s only the block grant…P70 billion a year, then plus, plus, plus. That’s why many are interested,” Marcos noted.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also warned of a backlash if the BARMM polls would be postponed for the second time.

“We promised then during the extension that we would do it only once so as not to subdue the people’s will that can only be determined through an electoral process. Therefore, we need to know what their justification is for the extension and if it merits an extension,” said Zubiri, principal author and sponsor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“I also know that an extension is not popular with the locally elected leaders and could cause a backlash and therefore, we should study that proposal very carefully. I will await the proponents’ explanation in the coming weeks, but due to the tight legislative schedule left because to the budget and the elections, postponing it through a bill would be a very difficult task to do,” he added.

NCRPO chief dismisses extort raps as ‘baseless’

By Vince Lopez

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia has categorically dismissed allegations of extortion made against him and 14 of his men as “absurd and unfounded.”

The charges arose following a recent Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) raid at Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila, targeting online scammers and illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The operation which has been referred to as an action against the “mother of all scam hubs,” was executed by the PNP-ACG under cyber warrants, as previously clarified by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

“I will not tolerate any wrongdoing within our ranks, and I firmly urge the accusers to substantiate their claims in the proper forum. The NCRPO fully welcomes any investigation into this matter, as it will provide a great opportunity to prove the regularity and legality of our actions,” Hernia stressed.

He emphasized that the NCRPO is prepared to address such accusations in the proper venue, citing the openness of the command to any inquiry to uphold transparency.

“This is a chance for the truth to prevail, and I am confident that the investigation will reveal that all procedures followed were lawful and proper. The NCRPO remains steadfast in its mission to combat criminality and protect the public from fraudulent activities. We stand ready to clear our names and reinforce our dedication to integrity and service,” Hernia said.

Dengue,

By Ralph Harvey Rirao

By Rio N. Araja

TO identify the owner of a Cadillac car with a fake 7 protocol plate, the Land Transportation Office will coordinate with other government agencies that might have videos of the car with a clear image of its conductor sticker.

LTO executive director Greg Pua Jr., in a television interview, said they noticed a possible conduction sticker on the car’s windshield.

“In the video, we saw something orange on the windshield on the driver’s seat, but it was blurred,” Pua said.

“We›re coordinating with the other agencies. They may have the video (of that car) (so we could) enhance… They may have a clearer video so we could see the conduction sticker,” he added.

Pua urged the public to report to the authorities if they has any information about the vehicle owner.

He admitted that the LTO could not check the unregistered owners of the car bearing a 7 protocol plate which is exclusive for senators.

The vehicle in question was caught illegally using the EDSA busway.

Pua said the LTO did not issue questioned protocol plate issued to the involved SUV.

According to the LTO, only less than 30 people own the same car model of a vehicle using a fake 7 protocol plate.

“We have initial information that there are less than 30. But we›re still looking if we have missed out something,” he said.

He noted that those were just registered owners of the involved car model Cadillac Escalade.

ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman

Romando Artes and MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana, along with Malabon City Mayor

Jeannie Sandoval view various products made from recyclable materials during the opening of the MMDA Road to Zero Waste Summit 2024 at the Unilab Bayanihan Center in Pasig

summit aims to address Metro Manila’s

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

CBCP marks 200 pilgrimage sites for Jubilee 2025

By Vito Barcelo

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines designated more than 200 Catholic churches as special pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee 2025.

“These sacred sites will offer the faithful an opportunity for deeper reflection, conversion, and the experience of God’s infinite mercy,” Cardinal-elect and CBCP president Pablo Virgilio David said.

David said Jubilee pilgrimages offer the faithful the chance to receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father. Pope Francis has urged pilgrimages to Rome, local churches, and shrines in this holy year, emphasizing the blessings of pilgrimage and indicating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the starting point for such a journey.

Since many cannot travel to Rome for a pilgrimage, bishops worldwide designated local cathedrals and shrines as special places of prayer for pilgrims.

“These designated places will offer opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences, and other events intended to strengthen and revive faith,” said Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP secretary general.

Catch-up Saturdays, night classes eyed

By Ralph Rirao

IN BRIEF

Pimentel seeks reforms at CITEM operations

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged for reforms at the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) due to operational issues. These concerns include high costs for exhibitors and a long-term lease agreement that he described as disadvantageous to the government.

Pimentel highlighted CITEM’s 50year lease of a prime 4.9-hectare lot to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) for only P1,000 per year.

The long-term lease contract was authorized by former Trade Secretary Rizalino Navarro on January 23, 1996, set for a duration of 50 years and renewable for an additional 25 years at the option of the lessee.

CITEM, a government-owned and controlled corporation, is mandated to develop, nurture, and promote micro, small, and medium enterprises, brands, designers, and manufacturers.

“CITEM is the owner of a prime lot covering 4.9 hectares, from which it is not earning reasonable revenues that could be utilized for its operations,” Pimentel said. Joel E. Zurbano

Iloilo launches bid for ‘Forest Province’

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo is making strides in environmental protection through the enforcement of single-use plastic regulations and ambitious reforestation programs as it launched its bid to be recognized as a “Forest Province” by 2044. Aiming to limit plastic waste and elevate its forest cover, the province has seen 39 out of 43 towns implement Provincial Ordinance No. 2019-193, a measure regulating single-use plastics in local markets and communities.

The ordinance aligns with the province’s environmental agenda. The four remaining towns await local approval of the said policy.

“Reducing plastic usage plays a vital role in our environmental agenda,” said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO). Caloy Lozada

DPWH completes P96m

Iloilo river control project

THE Department of Public Works and Highways reported Tuesday the completion of a flood control structure worth P96.4 million that would benefit communities in Alimodian town in the province of Iloilo. DPWH Western Visayas Director Sanny Boy Oropel said the project in Barangay Bagumbayan is a 665-lineal meter revetment wall on a steel sheet foundation built to reduce the risk of flooding by diverting, storing, and releasing floodwaters in a controlled manner, especially during bad weather. By limiting the amount of water rushing downstream, he said, sedimentation and pollution in the river would be prevented, reducing the risk of river bank erosion.

Solon seeks probe into trafficked surrogate moms

By Maricel V. Cruz

OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino sought a congressional inquiry in response to alarming reports of Filipino women being illegally recruited and trafficked abroad to become surrogate mothers.

The lawmaker said House Resolution No. 2055 aims to identify and address gaps in labor recruitment, migration policies, and anti-human trafficking laws to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable women. It was earlier revealed that 20

OFWs were lured by a local agency with promises of employment in Thailand, only to be forced instead into an infant-trafficking scheme in Cambodia where surrogacy is illegal.

At least 13 of these women were found pregnant through artificial means and are now facing human trafficking-related charges, while the remaining seven are at risk of deportation for violating immigration laws.

“Surrogacy must not come at the cost of our women’s dignity and rights... These women were promised legitimate jobs, only to find them-

Estrada seeks to criminalize harassing labor union members

By Joel Zurbano

SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada introduced a bill to improve workers’ rights to organize and prohibit employers and government authorities from interfering or harassing union members.

The proposed “Strengthening the Freedom of Association of Workers’ Act” aims to address gaps in the Labor Code and reinforce the implementation of Article III, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, which guarantees the right to form unions, associations, or societies without restriction.

The bill would make it illegal for employers or government authorities to prevent workers from joining unions or to require them to give up membership in any, Estrada said. This includes forcing workers to at-

tend anti-union seminars, discouraging union support during elections, or hindering union operations. Under the measure, workers cannot be penalized or discriminated against in their jobs or denied access to government services based on union membership.

The bill also prohibits harassment or forcible interrogation of workers, organizers, workers’ organizations, or union officials based on mere membership or affiliation to labor organizations or unions. It also bars collecting or using personal data of workers, labor organizers, workers’ organizations, or union officials for harassment and profiling.

In case of a violation of Sections 5 and 6, the court may impose a fine of P100,000 or imprisonment of one year to two years.

selves victims of a heinous trafficking scheme. We must take immediate action to protect them and ensure such exploitation is curbed,” Magsino said.

This inquiry would also investigate the broader implications of such trafficking schemes, which represent a significant violation of human rights, particularly against the rights of women and children.

The Philippine Embassy in Cambodia is working to repatriate the women, noting that they are victims of child traffickers rather than offenders

EDUCATION

Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday said Saturday catch-up classes or night shifts may be implemented after several weeks of typhoon-driven class disruptions

In an interview on the sidelines of the 2024 Regional Conference on Educational Planning in Asia at the SEAMEO Regional Center in Quezon City, Angara underscored the urgency of make-up classes to prevent learning loss.

“We are telling everyone to get ready – that others will have Saturday classes, while others may need evening classes depending on the availability of teachers and facilities,” Angara said.

Based on the DepEd’s latest situational report, some 20,860,818 learners and 883,822 teaching and non-teaching staff in 42,099 schools were affected following the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Julian,” Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine,” and Super Typhoon “Leon.”

In terms of school days lost due to other weather disturbances since August, Calabarzon logged the highest record with 26 days of class suspensions. Aside from Saturday or evening classes, Angara reiterated the pilot implementation of the dynamic learning program (DLP) – which involves utilizing “simple and targeted” activity sheets – this month to allow flexibility in learners’ activities.

DepEd earlier announced the pilot rollout of the DLP in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Angara likewise disclosed plans to map out crowded public schools, and the granting of vouchers to more learners from congested rooms.

JUBILEE CHURCHES. The Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in General Trias City in Cavite is one of 20 Catholic churches in the province designated as special pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee 2025. Dennis Abrina

FESTIVE PAROLS. A worker makes traditional Christmas lanterns along Fuguso Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Norman Cruz

OPINION

A case of judicial overreach?

ONLINE research tells us that judicial overreach refers to situations where courts exceed their authority, making rulings that are seen as overstepping the boundaries of their judicial powers, sometimes encroaching on the roles of the legislative or executive branches of government. This concept raises concerns about the balance of power and the appropriate limits of judicial interpretation.

There have been a number of cases in our judicial history that cast doubt on the integrity of some courts, particularly when judges exhibit blatant ignorance of the law or commit abuse of discretion by issuing arbitrary temporary restraining orders.

Let’s take a look at the case of Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), a garbage collection company in Central Luzon.

Although Metro Clark’s contract for waste collection services expired last month, the company brought legal action against two government agencies with authority over the landfill site in Capas town, namely the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the parent agency of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), which oversees the Kalangitan landfill.

The two government agencies cited the violation by Metro Clark of Republic Act 6957, the Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) Law. Metro Clark also erroneously invoked Republic Act 7652, the Investors’ Lease Act.

Metro Clark ignored crucial provisions of the BOT Law, notably that no TRO (temporary restraining order) or injunction may be issued in such cases.

What did Presiding Judge Ronald Leo Haban of Capas, Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 66 do?

The judge exposed his lack of legal insight by issuing a TRO and injunction against the government agencies implementing the BOT project.

The facts of the case indicate that the Capas RTC judge clearly exercised grave abuse of discretion by favoring Metro Clark with a TRO and subsequent preliminary injunction despite being duly notified of a pending similar case before the Angeles City RTC in Pampanga, which eventually dismissed Metro Clark’s complaint.

The Angeles City RTC identified flaws in the case, including the redundancy of Metro Clark’s filing, identical to the ongoing case in Judge Haban’s court. Additionally, it observed that Metro Clark failed to identify a cause of action.

The Tarlac case highlights flawed legal interpretations by Metro Clark, which should have been easily discernible by a vigilant court.

First of all, there should be no dispute regarding the written legal document governing Metro Clark’s occupation of the 100-hectare landfill. It is a contract with an expiration date—a fundamental element of agreements between lessor and lessee.

Metro Clark’s claim of an unwritten provision for a 50-year extension is deceptive, meriting potential charges of perjury if presented as testimony or false evidence in court.

Any court or judge should plainly recognize the absence of legal authority by Metro Clark to cling to the landfill site without a valid contract. The lessor is not legally obligated to renew the agreement if it chooses a different utilization for its property.

Moreover, any court should have acknowledged its lack of jurisdiction over contractual matters, thus avoiding setting a dangerous precedent stripping the legal authority responsible for property utilization.

This needs rectification to restore faith in the legal system.

Unfortunately, the Tarlac court ventured down a discredited path frequently taken by legal practitioners. This involves issuing TROs against multi-billion infrastructure projects, thereby appeasing private interests at the expense of public good.

Upon discovering a similar case filed by Metro Clark before the Angeles City RTC, the Capas RTC judge should have promptly dismissed the complaint based on forum shopping, as the complainant had initiated this case in another court.

Moreover, the Capas judge disregarded Republic Act 8975, which prohibits any court, except the Supreme Court, from issuing TROs or injunctions to impede the government’s progress on national projects, including terminating or rescinding contracts.

In addition to engaging in forum shopping, Metro Clark appeared to have made false and misleading allegations aimed at confusing the court into granting the requested injunctive reliefs.

According to court rules, the complainant lacks a clear and legal right, rendering the issuance of injunctive relief improper.

Metro Clark had ample time to prepare for its contract expiration. Instead, it appears to have resorted to mud-slinging and exaggerated scenarios to maintain its position. It stubbornly refused to acknowledge the authority of BCDA and CDC by citing weak legal arguments.

The Tarlac court’s agreement with Metro Clark’s legal interpretation, evidenced by a TRO, highlights the potential for legal manipulation favoring certain interests.

This case joins a growing list of judicial overreach needing rectification to restore faith in the legal system, and perhaps requiring higher judicial authority to discipline the judge in question.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Prohibit political dynasties

A statement of some framers of the 1987 Constitution

AS framers of the 1987 Constitution, we relied on the bedrock principle of restoring power to the people. The provision that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law” (Section 26, Article II Declaration of Principles and State Policies) exemplifies this spirit that animated the drafting of our basic Charter. By adding the clause “as may be defined by law,” Congress is mandated to promulgate the enabling legislation embodying an anti-political dynasty law. However, Congress, composed mainly of related families and extended clans, has evaded its mandated duty and thus ensured that the provision prohibiting political dynasties would remain a distant

dream.

Nearly four decades have passed, and we have witnessed the proliferation of entrenched political clans that have become local fiefdoms from Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon, Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Power and wealth are concentrated and consolidated in the hands of members of the same families, eroding accountability, enabling corrupt practices, perpetuating the cycle of patronage politics and the cult of personalities. Moreover, this monopoly of economic and political power has become a principal reason for poor governance and an undeniable sense of entitlement among those who pretend or claim to lead our people.

America votes

BY THE time this editorial comes out, Americans will have started to vote.

The past few months of the campaign have proven controversial and divisive, and either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump is still likely to emerge as winner in the key swing states – Arizona (11 electoral votes), Georgia (16), Michigan (15), Nevada (6), North Carolina (16), Pennsylvania (19) and Wisconsin (10) -- at this point.

Polar opposites in profile and temperament, the candidates have vowed to deliver their own versions of muchneeded reform and have engaged in different manners of getting voters to choose them.

Should she win, Kamala Harris would be the first female president of the US, the first Black woman and person of Asian parentage.

Should he win, Trump would likely deliver a performance akin to what he already showed from 2016 to 2020. He would also have shown defiance of the odds given his legal baggage.

In May, Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in connection with a payoff to Stormy Daniels, a porn star who claimed she had had a sexual encounter with him. Trump bought Daniels’ silence to avert a possible sex scandal toward the end of the 2016 campaign.

—“—

Filipinos are not strangers to the spectacle of the election experience.

Aside from this conviction, Trump has been indicted on charges of federal election interference, election interference in the state of Georgia, and taking highly sensitive national security documents when he left the White House in January 2021.

But Trump has been conditioning people’s minds that he could only lose if he is cheated and if the electoral process is rigged.

Following the results of the US elections could seem like entertain-

SARA Duterte’s rise seemed unstoppable. The daughter of a former president, she held the role of vice president beside Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. For a time, she embodied a new alliance of two powerful dynasties in the Philippines. But behind this “UniTeam” alliance, cracks have started to appear—cracks that could unravel the country’s political foundations.

The latest figures from the OCTA Research Group reveal a dramatic shift. Once the most trusted of the nation’s top officials, Duterte now grapples with approval and trust ratings that have dropped to 52% and 59%, respectively. Meanwhile, Marcos, though facing his own dip in popularity, has surged ahead, holding 66% satisfaction and 69% trust. Even more striking, Duterte’s ratings have slipped below those of Senate President Chiz Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, men once seen as lesser contenders.

What went wrong? How did Duterte lose 31 points in her approval rating over a year? Much of the damage seems tied to controversies over her use of confidential funds as Secretary of Education. The funds, ostensibly for “youth development,” were met with suspicion when Duterte offered vague explanations and evaded questions, even when the military claimed it hadn’t received any support from those funds. Duterte’s deflections and often scornful responses only fueled doubts, raising troubling questions about how she handled taxpayer money.

Then, revelations surfaced that her office spent 16 million pesos on luxury “safehouses” over an 11-day period. Lawmakers, particularly a young group known as the “Young Guns,” pointed out that Duterte’s lack of transparency could be her undoing, alienating even former allies. This erosion of trust runs deep, as young lawmakers, the future face of Filipino politics, call out Duterte’s evasion of accountability—a marked contrast to her father’s “man of the

As another electoral season approaches, we again see the proliferation of families bent on perpetuating themselves in power. As our experience and countless scientific studies have shown, the concentration of power in the hands of a few erodes the basic principle of checks and balances, leading to the deterioration of the practice of politics in our country. It is high time to level the play-

ment for some, but it carries serious implications for Filipinos, or those who have family members, in the US. People from other countries seeking a chance to live the American Dream will have good or bad prospects depending on who wins. Moreover, given the interrelatedness and volatility of global politics and economics, whoever calls the shots in the US would have a hand in shaping the world as we know it. Filipinos, too, are not strangers to the spectacle of the election experience. Politicians using misinformation and disinformation to boost their stock or to cast their opponents in a bad light? Common. Attacking the other party, calling them names, twisting their words? Familiar. Refusing to accept defeat and claiming they were cheated? Nothing new. Casting doubt on the entire democratic process just because they did not win? Tell us about it. As Americans toast – or lament –their elected leader, may we also remember that ensuring the integrity and unassailability of the democratic exercise are always superior to any circus-like clash of personalities and their antics.

In the shadow of scandal

people” image. Meanwhile, Escudero and Romualdez have deftly sidestepped scandal, steadily climbing the ladder of public favor. Escudero, now polling at 65% satisfaction and 67% trust, has positioned himself as a voice of moderation and pragmatism. His reputation for transparency strikes a chord with Filipinos who feel drained by political drama and scandal. Romualdez, praised for his work ethic and focus on results, has crafted a reputation as a no-nonsense leader. While Duterte’s combative tone has made her seem isolated, Romualdez has quietly built alliances, reinforcing his place as a figure committed to efficiency over showmanship.

—“—

The fall of Sara Duterte and the rise of new contenders.

The future promises further shifts. If Duterte fails to address the controversies, her ratings could sink lower, perhaps even to the mid-40s. In contrast, Escudero and Romualdez stand poised to benefit. Escudero may see his support rise with his moderate appeal, while Romualdez could gain further momentum through his focus on legislative achievements. Duterte, however, has options to turn this around. First, transparency is her strongest possible play. Rather than evading the issue, she could hold a press conference, explaining the use of her confidential funds and perhaps even allowing an independent audit. Such a move would show a rare commitment to accountability. Shifting her focus to policies addressing key issues like education reform or anti-corruption could also help restore public support. Additionally, reconnecting with local leaders and her base, especially in areas loyal to the Duterte name, might enable her to rebuild her political footing.

Escudero, too, can solidify his appeal by maintaining his principled, moderate stance. By avoiding partisan conflicts and pushing for transparency legislation on government spending, he could continue to set himself apart as a reform-minded figure. Increased public engagement—through town halls or Q&A sessions—would further enhance his image as a responsive leader.

Romualdez should capitalize on his strengths by focusing on legislative productivity, with an emphasis on impactful, widely-supported legislation that addresses economic growth and job creation. His cross-party alliances have proven beneficial, and remaining neutral in the brewing Duterte-Marcos rivalry will allow him to keep his image as a unifying force in Congress. Taking public stances on national issues like healthcare and education would also reinforce his image as a statesman with a future-focused vision.

Ultimately, Filipinos are at the center of this political tug-of-war. Demanding transparency from all public officials, whether through social media, community forums, or town halls, will remind those in power that the people are watching closely. Civic engagement has the power to hold leaders accountable, to force transparency, and to insist on governance that puts people over political self-interest.

As the political landscape shifts, the stakes have never been higher. Sara Duterte’s ability to confront the challenges facing her could determine whether she remains a strong contender in the race toward 2028. But Escudero and Romualdez, poised to lead a political shift, stand ready to step in where others falter. Yet, as these power plays unfold, one question towers over the rest: will those in power finally rise above politics and serve the people, or will they become mere symbols in a history marked by lost trust?

This is a moment that may define the future path of the Philippines.

ing field and “equalize the opportunity for public service” mandated by the 1987 Constitution. We need to enact legislation that will realize the aspiration of citizens who have struggled in the past and the present to restore power to the people in law and in reality. We support the Senate Bill 2730 (Anti-Political Dynasty Law) now submitted for consideration to our legislators.

Felicitas S. Aquino-Arroyo; Adolfo S. Azcuna; Teodoro Bacani Jr.; Florangel Rosario Braid; Hilario G. Davide Jr.; Edmundo G. Garcia; Christian S. Monsod; Ricardo J. Romulo; Rene V. Sarmiento; Bernardo M. Villegas.

Award-winning Cambodian reporter opts to quit journalism after arrest

PHNOM PENH—A high-profile Cambodian reporter who won an international award for uncovering alleged cyber scams told AFP Tuesday that he is quitting journalism, saying he has lost “courage” after being arrested by the authorities and freed on bail.

Police arrested Mech Dara on September 30 on charges of inciting social disorder, drawing condemnation from around the world.

He was released on bail three weeks later after apologising to Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen and his son Prime Minister Hun Manet in a video shot while he was in prison.

rest and time he spent in prison. He also urged the court to drop the charges against him.

Hun Manet on Monday posted pictures of him meeting Dara, including one showing the pair embracing one another.

worked for the independent Voice of Democracy in Cambodia before the authorities shut it down in February 2023.

IN BRIEF

Thai baby hippo ‘predicts’ Trump win

BANGKOK—The polls put the US election on a knife-edge, but as Americans go to vote, Thailand’s superstar baby hippo Moo Deng has predicted former president Donald Trump will regain the White House.

The chubby chomper took the internet by storm with her adorable antics at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, quickly becoming a staple of social media memes and inspiring a raft of merchandise.

Now Moo Deng, whose name means “bouncy pork”, has predicted a comeback victory for the Republican over Democrat Kamala Harris.

Offered two dishes of carved fruit, each emblazoned with one of the candidates’ names, the fourmonth-old pigmy hippo chose Trump, in video posted online by the zoo.

Moo Deng has proved a particular hit in the United States, where comedian Bowen Yang portrayed her in a “Saturday Night Live” comedy sketch. She also beat both Trump and Harris in an unofficial presidential poll run by “The Tonight Show”, taking 93 percent of the vote. While the soothsaying skills of hippos are largely untested, other animals have achieved global fame predicting the outcome of world events, most notably the legendary Paul the Octopus. AFP

South Korea fines Meta for collecting user data

“I am still afraid,” he said, adding that authorities used excessive force during his arrest, then questioned him all night afterwards.

“I have lost my courage. It has attacked my spirit, and I have no more courage,” Dara said, referring to the ar-

“I have decided that I am retiring from journalism because of the arrest, the questioning and imprisonment,” Dara told AFP.

Dara said he informed Hun Manet of his decision to quit journalism during the meeting, which took place a day after his release.

Police detained Dara, 36, after stopping a car carrying him and his family from Sihanoukville, a coastal city where many suspected cyber scam operations take place. His reporting has appeared in various international news outlets and he

Germany arrests 8 from far-right group

GERMAN police on Tuesday arrested eight suspected members of a rightwing extremist group that had trained for what they expected would be the collapse of state order, prosecutors said.

Hundreds of police in pre-dawn raids swooped in on 20 locations linked to the militant group “Saxonian Separatists” in formerly communist eastern Germany and neighbouring Poland, with locations also searched in Austria. Federal prosecutors said the operation targeted “a militant group of 15 to 20 individuals whose ideology is characterised by racist, anti-Semitic and partially apocalyptic ideas”.

The prosecutors said the group’s members, mostly young men, strongly rejected Germany’s liberal democratic order and believed the government was nearing “collapse” on an unspecified “Day X”.

In expectation of that day, the militants had planned to take control over parts of their state of Saxony and potentially other east German regions. Their plan was “to establish governmental and societal structures inspired by National Socialism” that would have sought to target “unwanted groups of people... by means of ethnic cleansing”. They had conducted paramilitary

training in combat gear, with a focus on “urban warfare and firearms handling” as well as marching and patrolling.

Authorities partially named the suspects, all German nationals, as alleged ringleader Joern S. and members Kurt H., Karl K., Kevin M., Hans-Georg P., Kevin R., Joerg S. and Norman T. They were arrested in and around the cities of Leipzig and Dresden and in nearby areas, with Joerg S., 23, detained in Poland.

Raids also targeted the premises of individuals not considered suspects in Austria including the capital Vienna. AFP

Dara has since used his social media platforms to share news content, particularly around the proliferation of “scam farms”— criminal operations that defraud victims online for vast sums of money and fuel human trafficking across the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last year presented Dara with a Hero Award, which recognises efforts against human trafficking, for investigations into exploitation at the online scam compounds. AFP

Greenland banks on ‘last-chance tourism’ in race vs. climate change

MANIITSOQ, DENMARK—A

frozen landscape with breathtaking views, Greenland wants to attract more tourists, but its remote location and fragile environment—which make it a unique destination—also pose challenges.

“The effects of global heating are at their most pronounced in the Arctic,” Michael Hall, a University of Canterbury professor and tourism expert, told AFP.

Global warming is accelerating “the loss of Arctic sea ice in summer, (as well as) the melting of permafrost, ice shelves and glaciers”, he said, referring to elements that contribute to the island’s uniqueness.

Across Greenland, locals are witnessing first-hand the effects of global warming.

SEOUL—South Korea has fined Facebook-parent Meta more than $15 million for illegally collecting sensitive user information from nearly a million people without consent and sharing it with advertisers, the country’s data watchdog said Tuesday.

The firm, which also owns Instagram, ran afoul of laws prohibiting the use of information on political opinions, religious beliefs and people’s sex life unless the individual provides explicit consent, Seoul’s Personal Information Protection Commission added.

It added that the tech giant collected sensitive information from around 980,000 domestic users in South Korea through their Facebook profiles. This included details about their religious beliefs and whether they are in a same-sex relationship. The watchdog said it had confirmed that such information was provided to advertisers by Meta, with around 4,000 advertisers using it.

Meta “analysed user behaviour data, including pages liked and ads clicked on Facebook”, to create and implement targeted advertising related to “sensitive themes” such as transgender issues, homosexuality and North Korean defectors, officials said. AFP

Kenyan athletes’ deaths show mental health issues

BEIJING—Indonesian President Prabowo Subi-

anto will visit China this week, Beijing and Jakarta said Tuesday, on his first foreign tour as he seeks a more prominent position for Jakarta on the world stage.

The 73-year-old ex-general’s state visit will take place from Friday to Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.

Prabowo was sworn in on October 20, pledging to stick to Jakarta’s traditionally non-aligned foreign policy while making the world’s fourthmost populous nation more active abroad.

“Confirming that the visit (to China) will be held on 8-10 November,” Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Roy Soemirat told AFP.

Beijing and Jakarta are key economic allies, but the world’s largest archipelago nation is trying to stop foreign vessels from fishing in its waters, saying it costs the economy billions of dollars annually.

Last month, Indonesia drove a Chinese coast guard ship from contested waters in the South China Sea three times.

Chinese vessels have occasionally entered Indonesia-claimed areas of the North Natuna Sea at the southern edge of the South China Sea, drawing protests from Jakarta.

The incidents are an early test for newly inaugurated Prabowo, who has pledged to bolster the defense of Indonesian territory.

In 2020, Indonesia deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol the Natuna islands’ waters in a spat with Beijing after Chinese vessels entered the area. AFP

On the southwestern coast, in Maniitsoq, the sea ice has not been solid enough to walk on since 2018. Residents have also seen it shrink from year to year, in addition to less abundant snowfalls.

Tourists are nonetheless awestruck by the vistas.

“It’s terra incognita,” said Amy Yankovic, a 55-year-old American tourist.

The Texan native travelled for almost 24 hours to get to Greenland, taking three connecting flights.

Tourism accounts for around eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations, most of which is attributed to transportation.

There is “a kind of ‘last-chance tourism’, where visiting these endangered sites is about wanting to see them before they disappear”, said Emmanuel Salim, a geography lecturer at the University of Toulouse in France.

He said similar destinations such as Churchill in Canada -- known as the “polar bear capital of the world” -- “have tried to position themselves as places for ‘learning’ about the environment”.

But while such destinations can raise awareness about better environmental practices, their carbon footprints continue to rise, he lamented. Developing tourism in a fragile environment is a tricky balancing act. AFP

NAIROBI —The mental health struggles of Kenyan athletes and a lack of support have come under the spotlight in the East African running powerhouse following a spate of deaths in the past few weeks.

The country is home to some of the world’s top long-distance runners, but the athletics community has struggled with deadly domestic violence and entrenched doping.

Internationally, sports bodies have come to recognise the huge impact of mental health following gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka’s public discussion of their own struggles. While venerated globally, Kenyan athletes face intense pressure to succeed and financially provide for their immediate and extended families, further adding to their mental strain.

Since 2017, more than 80 Kenyan athletes have been sanctioned for doping, according to the World Athletics Integrity Unit, leaving them grappling with the financial, physical, and mental fallout of years-long bans.

On October 6, Kipyegon Bett, who was the 800 metres world bronze medallist in 2017, died in hospital in his home

and

RIVER BATH. Hindu devotees bathe along the banks of river Ganges and carry the holy water to their homes as offerings on the first day of Chhath Puja in Patna on November 5. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Alas bets yield in qualifiers of Asian senior volley tourney

ALAS PILIPINAS suffered a double blow right at the start of the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships with two teams suffering straight-sets losses Tuesday at the Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa.

Iran’s Salemiinjehboroun Bahman and Khakizadeh Abolhassan overpowered Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino of the Philippines, 21-8, 21-10 in the men’s qualification tournament.

Fifteen teams are battling it out for the four open spots in the 24-team main draw of the competition hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, also president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Indonesia’s Kaize Josephine Selvina Anasthasya and Melinda Novita Sari Devi took down Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola, 23-21, 21-15.

Four slots in the women’s main draw are at stake in the seven-team qualifying round.

In other men’s matches, Nguyen Thanh Sang and Nguyen Hoang Long defeated Hong Kong’s Chong Keiloi and Wong Yingcheung, 21-17, 21-16.

Kazakhstan’s Mokhammad Abdulmajid and Ryukhov Klim beat China’s Yuan Liu and Yuan Mao, 2321, 21-12.

Oman’s Al-Jalbubi Nouh and Alshereiqi Haitham edged out Vietnam’s Doan Gia Luan and Le Hoang Y, 18-21, 21-14, 15-13.

Song Jinyang and Zhang Tai downed Vietnam’s Cao Nhat Minh and Tran Sinh Phan, 21-11, 21-18.

The Philippines has two teams in the men’s main draw and two pairs in the women’s main draw.

Southeast Asian Games bronze medalists Ran Abdilla teams up again with James Buytrago, while Rancel Varga is joined by the Lerry John Francisco.

Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara seek podium places along with Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor.

Pirates crush Stags, keep semis bid alive

LYCEUM of the Philippines University solidified its Final Four bid with a decisive 93-85 victory over San Sebastian College in the NCAA Season 100 on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The Pirates dominated the paint, drawing numerous fouls and converting 27 of 38 free throws as they improved their season record to 7-8, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

“Baste (SSC-R) wala masyado shot-blocker kaya naging game plan namin is to attack the basket, we took advantage lang doon,” said LPU coach Gilbert Malabanan.

“But we also have to work out on our free throws,” he added, re -

ferring to their 11 misses from the charity area.

Skipper Renz Villegas and John Barba provided the offensive firepower and shot 25 and 20 points, respectively.

To stay in the race, LPU would need to sweep its last three assignments—solo leader College of St. Benilde, Jose Rizal U and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The Pirates made their move in the second quarter when they

erased a 17-16 deficit and transformed it to a 40-33 edge at the break.

Then, LPU unleashed a series of runs in the third quarter where they finally broke loose after erecting a 71-50 advantage entering the final canto.

The Stags dropped to 4-11.

Meanwhile, Tmac Ongotan and Basti Valencia teamed up in the fourth quarter as Arellano University turned back a valiant Jose Rizal U, 81-75, to remain in the Final Four conversation with a 6-9 record.

Ongotan poured in 10 of his 17 points, while Valencia scored eight of his game-high 25 in the final canto to power the Chiefs to the victory and a share of seventh

Growling Tigers wary of upset-conscious Bulldogs

By Peter Atencio

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas, with Adamson University and Far Eastern University hanging on its cottails, faces a National University side trying to salvage any hopes of reaching the Final Four via the backdoor in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s basketball tournament today (Wednesday) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Growling Tigers, who at 5-6 are clinging to a onegame lead over the Falcons and the Tamaraws in the race for the No. 4 spot, are wary of the Bulldogs, who posted one of the biggest upsets in the tournament, at 6:30 p.m.

FEU, which has won three of its four second round games, hopes to pull off a reversal of defending champion De La Salle at 3:30 p.m.

Coming off a wire-to-wire 67-47 victory over University of the Philippines last Sunday, NU moved in a tie with Ateneo at 3-8, two games behind UST in the chase for the last Final Four berth.

“Finally nakuha namin yung panalo namin sa second round. Finally, at least sa araw ng patay, nabuhay lahat ng mga player ko kahit papaano. They delivered kung ano ‘yung kailangan naming gawin, then they really enjoyed kung ano yung ginagawa namin talaga,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Jeff Napa.

Even third-running University of the East, which struggled in the second round after an impressive 5-2 start, is not yet out the woods. The Red Warriors (6-5) are just separated by two games between the Falcons and the Tamaraws, and even the Growling Tigers can dislodge the Recto-based dribblers at the No. 3 spot.

The league-leading Green Archers, with a 10-1 record, have already secured a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four and their return match against the Fighting Maroons on Sunday could potentially decide the No. 1 ranking. Sporting a 9-2 slate, UP is already assured of a playoff for the No. 2 spot. The 20-point loss to the Bulldogs foiled the Fighting Maroons’ bid to sew up the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four.

UST is playing for the first time since Oct. 27, ending a three-game losing streak with a 79-70 victory over FEU.

“It’s a total team effort. Lahat nagcontribute mula coaching staff, mga players. Three-game losing streak kami kaya kailangan makabalik… Basta kami ang iniisip namin, ‘yong last three games, do-or-die games na ang mindset namin,” said Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio.

Dutch futsal legendary coach presents PH team

THE challenge of finding good players who can play the indoor game of futsal has been met. And the next objective, which is to compete with Southeast Asia’s best is coming. Dutch futsal coaching legend Vic Hermans said this as the composition of a 14-member national women’s futsal team got finally formed for the November ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Futsal Championships in Manila, expected to prepare the Filipina booters for their coming stint the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup the country will host in 2025.

“The next challenge is preparing the team. In the Philippines, we did not have futsal before. The last two years, we set up some thing and the challenge is done,” said Hermans, who talked about his ideas on the national squad with Philippine Football

Federation president John Gutierrez and team manager Henry Moran on Tuesday at the Amici Restauranrt in Greenhills, San Juan.

Tuloy Foundation standout Isabela Bandoja is one of the local standouts in the roster with Fil-Danish booter, Cathrine Graversen.

Gaversen, plays as a defender or a midfielder for Turkish Women’s Football Super League club Asya Spor and has represented the Philippines at the international level since 2019.

Also making the lineup are Mykaela Abeto, Kayla Santiago, Vrendalle Nuera, Princess Cristobas, Lanie Ortilla, Claire Lubetania, Agot Danton, Jada Bicciero, Althea Rebosura, Hazel Lustan, Louraine Evangelista, Alisha del Campo, and Angelica Teves. The national squad has been formed with the support of the Philippine Football Federation and the Henry Moran Foundation. The selected booters came from

Vic Hermans and other football officials are shown with the PH women’s football team. training pool of player that trained at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna. The Philippine team hopes to better its runner-up finish in the PFF Tri-Nations Cup last October, 2023.

spot with the University of Perpetual Help Altas.

More importantly, AU could still gatecrash into the semis assuming it could sweep its last three outings and if the stars aligned. The Bombers were defused at 4-11.

The scores: First Game LPU 93 – Villegas 25, Barba 20, Peñafiel 10, Montaño 9, Guadaña 8, Panelo 6, Cunanan 4, Versoza 4, Daileg 3, Aviles 2, Moralejo 2, Caduyac 0 San Sebastian 85 – Felebrico 18, Aguilar 14, Are 12, Escobido 12, Velasco 6, R. Gabat 5, L. Gabat 4, Pascual 4, Barroga 3, Suico 3, Lintol 2, Cruz 2, Maliwat 0, Ramilo 0, Ricio 0 Quarterscores: 16-17; 40-33; 71-50; 93-85

MANILA is gearing up for a spectacular celebration of fitness, music and community as the ASICS Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series returns to the city from Nov. 23-24 at the iconic Rizal Park. With close to 8,000 runners already registered across four race categories – 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km – the event promises to ignite the energy of the nation’s capital like never before. This third annual staging, presented by AIA, promises to blend endurance racing with an electric party atmosphere, offering runners and spectators an experience unlike any other. The vibrant route will take participants through Manila’s historic sites like Jones Bridge, Intramuros and the National Museum, offering scenic and cultural highlights at every mile. The races will kick off at different times, with the marathon starting at 10 p.m. on Nov. 23, followed by the half-marathon at midnight, the 10km race at 3 a.m. on Nov. 24, and the 5km race at 4 a.m. Adding to the festive feel, runners will enjoy live music and themed water stations along the route, as well as an energetic post-race concert that will keep the party going until midnight. Exclusive race medals and other keepsakes await the participants as a memento of their achievement, alongside the unforgettable atmosphere of a night race through Manila’s streets.

From Nov. 19-22, the AIA Health and Wellness Expo at Robinson’s Place Manila will offer runners and the public a preview of what’s to come, with exhibitions focused on health, fitness and community well-being. Supported by major partners like ION Advanced Electrolyte Drink, Lightwater, Santé, 2GO, and more, the event also benefits from the backing of city

Lyceum’s Renz Villegas loses his balance white shooting from inside against SSC defender Nikko Aguilar.

UST coach Pido Jarencio

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Bacoor climbs to solo 2nd in MPVA

BACOOR made it back-to-back wins at home after smothering WCC Marikina, 25-10, 25-14, 25-19, to bolster its twiceto-beat bid in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Monday night at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite. The Strikers hardly broke a sweat in dispatching the winless Lady Shoemasters to climb to 11-3 for now a solo second spot with two games to play in the MPVA founded by former Senator and also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.

Bacoor over the weekend scooped up a 25-14, 25-18, 25-22 win over alsoran Valenzuela Classy to complete the Final Four cast with the Quezon Tangerines (14-1), Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation (10-4) and Biñan Tatak Gel (10-5).

But this big win pushed Bacoor past Rizal and Biñan for the coveted second seed and the last semis bonus behind another balanced attack.

Cyrille Alemeniana showed the way once again with 13 points on 11 hits and two aces as the Strikers needed only 67 minutes to take care of the Lady Shoemasters. Winnie Bedania and Daizerlyn Joyce Uy chalked up 11 points apiece while Jemalyn Menor had eight points for Bacoor, which will clinch the second seed if it sweeps its last two games. Meanwhile, No.1 seed Quezon was steady with a 25-19, 25-14, 25-19 sweep of San Juan for a 14-1 record.

Mary Grace Borromeo scored 14 points while Rhea Mae Densing and Francis Mycah Go added nine points each for the expansion but already formidable squad in the nine-team MPVA backed by Extreme One-Stop Shop Appliances, ASICS, Mikasa and Gerflor with MPTV and Outcomm as broadcast partners. In the other game, Valenzuela bounced back with a 25-21, 8-25, 25-20, 25-14 win over ICC Negros following a straight-set loss to Bacoor on the road.

Abegail Nuval and Lilet Mabbayad connived with 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Souzan Raslan and Sheeka Gin Espinosa had nine points each as the Classy improved to 3-11 at No. 7.

Bien Elaine Juanillo was the lone bright spot with 11 points for Marikina that stayed winless at 0-14, Andrea Caparal had 15 for Negros (4-11) while Chamberlaine Cuñada scored 11 points for San Juan (6-8) in the homestretch of the MPVA organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang returns to SEAG

MOBILE Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is returning to the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2025 in Thailand.

Organizers said this marks the fourth time that there will be medals at stake in the men’s and women’s MLBB esports tournaments. The Philippines is one of the strong contenders, after beating eight other teams to win gold in the men’s tournament, through Team Sibol, while Indonesia outplayed five others to win gold in the women’s tournament.

Officials from Moonton Games, the company behind the game’s development, said MLBB currently holds the record as the most-watched esports event in SEA Games’ history. It was successfully staged at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, with the men’s category recording an audience of more than 1.4-million online and the women’s side attracting almost the same number of viewers on their livestreams.

The 33rd SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 20, 2025 in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi, and Songkhla.

Participants from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam are expected to field in teams.

“One of the core success factors for MLBB has been our deliberate strategy to make the competitive esports ecosystem accessible and inclusive to aspiring esports athletes,” said Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, in a statement. Peter Atencio

PH youth bets capture gold, bronze in World Jiu-jitsu Cup

By Randy Caluag

PHILIPPINE youth athletes

Eavan Marcus Chang and Aleina Bella Salamillas flaunted their homegrown skills on the international stage, bringing home gold and bronze medals in their respective categories at the 2024 Jiu-Jitsu World Cup in Heraklion, Greece.

Chang won all his five matches in the U14 male -40kg division to emerge as the champion. He started strong, defeating Thailand’s Achita Kawicha 8-2 in the first round. Chang then contin-

EVERYTHING is set for the staging of the 2024 Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa City Palawan less than three weeks from now.

Project director Paolo Tatad said only minor kinks are being worked out, otherwise all systems are a go for the Nov. 23 to 28 event that serves as the major grassroots’ program of the Philippine Sports Commission.

“We’ve done all the meetings that we can, but we’re still having meetings in preparation for the event this month,” said the PSC executive director in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“We’re now in the finish line of our preparations. We’re now holding a delegation registration meeting with LGUs (Local Government Units) coming from the Visayas and Mindanao until Nov. 7. Katatapos lang namin with Luzon and NCR (National

ued his winning streak with back-to-back submission victories over Greece’s Georgios Sakkas in the quarterfinal and Ukraine’s Mykhailo Honza in the semifinal.

In a decisive final, Chang claimed the gold medal by overcoming Kazakhstan’s Karim Idrissov. Kawicha and Israel’s Ethan Saar each took home bronze in the division.

Salamillas also made her mark, securing a bronze medal in the U14 female -44kg category.

She impressed the crowd with three submission victories and a dominant 16-0 win in her semifinal match.

Canadian Robyn Teruel claimed the gold medal, while Greece’s Efthymia Trentsidi took the silver. Salamillas shared the bronze with Alisa Ermakova, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Eavan Marcus Chang displays his gold medal. Lee P. Ochoa

Gin Kings, Tropang Giga out to break tied 2-2 series

By Peter Atencio

THE Barangay Ginebra San

Miguel Gin Kings will seek to assert themselves in Game 5 of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Stopping newly hailed Best Import awardee Rondae HollisJefferson could be one the key elements for the Gin Kings in their ongoing best-of-seven finals’ clash with the TNT Tropang Giga when action resumes at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re just really trying to play our game and not get too caught up with what they’re doing. But Rondae is special,” said Gin Kings’

coach Tim Cone. The series is now tied at 2-all after the Gin Kings took Game 4 with a 108-92 triumph.

In Game 4, Hollis-Jefferson, who has been averaging 28.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, along with league-bests 2.9 steals and 1.9 blocks, made efforts to disrupt Ginebra’s offensive flow with his all-around game.

“He (Hollis-Jefferson) creates so much on the floor, defensively and on the boards, and he also creates a lot of shots for his teammates. And the biggest key tonight, and the last two games is Stephen (Holt) and the defense that he’s been able to play,” added Cone.

The Ginebra mentor is hopeful

that Holt will continue to keep Hollis-Jefferson in check, with the help of his other teammates. The Tropang Giga also seek to make a difference in the fifth game, not just with Hollis-Jefferson stepping up, but also with his teammates like Calvin Oftana coming up with scoring opportunities as well.

Last year, the Tropang Giga won over the Gin Kings in Game 5 of 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup and went on to win the series, 4-2.

“I’m sure it’s exciting for fans, I’m sure it’s exciting for the players as well, but I think for the most part, for me, it’s just another day playing basketball,” said HollisJefferson on having a great game in Game 5.

Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa

Paolo Tatad (left) and Anna Ruiz

Tim Cone

Bacoor’s Jemalyn Manor scores against Marikina with a smash. Roman Prospero

By Alena Mae S. Flores

IEMOP, operator of the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, expects lower WESM average price with a stable supply and improved demand situation as the colder months approach. Power

MW with the same conditions and if there will be improvement in terms of supply, so price will stable at around P4,” Manalo said.

P9,070 per sq. m.

Projected monthly rent in December

Metro Manila office rents decline as more POGOs exit

By Othel V. Campos

125,000 sq. m. Over 19%

New stock coming in by December Projected office vacancy rate

ETRO Manila office and retail space rental rates continue to decline as more Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) exit and new buildings are completed.

JLL Philippines said in its latest office market update released Tuesday that the rental gap between

headline rates and discounted rental rates remains in the double digits, with rents trailing by about 10 percent due to supply pressure and elevated vacancy levels.

“Our latest data reflects a continued downward trend in office and retail rental rates due to persistent supply pressures and elevated vacancy levels,” said Janlo de los Reyes, head of research and strategic consulting at JLL.

“With new stock coming into the market and low pre-commitment levels, we expect rents to remain soft, providing tenants with favorable terms in the near term,” he said. With the office rental market on

a downward trend since the second quarter of 2023, de los Reyes projects this trend to continue, reaching around P9,070 per square meter per month by year-end. About 125,000 square meters of new office supply is expected to come online by the end of the year, further softening rental prices.

He said some landlords retain rates to attract tenants, while others lowered rates to address prolonged vacancies, particularly in Parañaque and Pasay, which were affected by the exit of POGOs and Internet gaming licensees (IGLs). While stable office take-up in

STEELASIA Manufacturing Corp., the largest steel producer in the Philippines, shipped 14,200 metric tons of highstrength steel bars valued at P511.24 million to Canada.

The company said it also plans to send an additional 30,000 metric tons worth about P1.2 billion early next year.

The latest shipment marks SteelAsia’s seventh export of rebars for Canadian infrastructure projects.

SteelAsia chairman and chief execu-

tive Benjamin Yao said entering a first world market underscores the company’s commitment to investing in the latest steelmaking technologies.

“If we must compete with the best, we must be at least as good as they are.

Our vision is to establish a full-fledged steel industry here that can serve as the foundation for new industries in construction, infrastructure, car manufacturing, shipbuilding, and appliance production,” Yao said.

The exported steel bars were produced at the company’s Davao mill, which will also supply the upcoming larger shipment.

The previous six shipments, totaling over 41,400 metric tons worth P1.58 billion, were sourced from SteelAsia’s Batangas mill.

Yao noted SteelAsia’s environmental initiatives, saying the company is among the greenest steel producers globally, with its operations relying

on renewable energy and recycled water.

With five mills and one of the largest rebar production capacities in Southeast Asia, SteelAsia is also expanding with new plants across the Philippines to reduce shipping costs and offer competitive prices to local customers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inaugurated SteelAsia’s newest mill in Compostela, Cebu in July, where he noted that “over 70 percent of all infrastructure, housing, power, industrial and other office developments in the country use SteelAsia rebar, highlighting the company’s indispensable role in our socio-economic transformation.”

Othel V. Campos

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said Wednesday its net income grew 31 percent in the first nine months of 2024 on higher operating revenues.

The port operator led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr. said net income amounted to $632.58 million from January to September, up from $484.54 million in the same period last year. The company said net income attributable to equity holders included non-recurring income from the settlement of legal claims

existing buildings helped lower vacancy rates to about 19 percent, new buildings entering the market show low pre-commitment levels. JLL expects vacancy rates to reach 19.2 percent to 19.7 percent by yearend and could exceed 20 percent over the medium term due to an influx of 1.1 million square meters of new office space over the next few years. Vacancy trends vary across the metro, with move-ins and move-outs creating uneven occupancy levels in different districts. However, select areas with fewer new supply additions and steady take-up are seeing slight tightening in vacancy rates.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AIR Canada plans to launch direct flights to the Philippines as it expands its Asia-Pacific network, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

Air Canada, on its website, is offering flights between Toronto and Manila and Vancouver and Manila beginning Nov. 18. It also plans to launch flights from Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Quebec to Manila.

Bautista and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman discussed the Philippines-Canada route expansion to bolster trade, tourism and economic ties between the countries, furthering the recovery of Philippines-Canadian air transport.

“We are ramping up linkages with other international destinations. Our aim is to launch and expand new routes of flight networks in various parts of the world,” Bautista said during his meeting with the Canadian envoy last week.

Bautista said the Philippines and Canada enjoy 75 years of strong and friendly bilateral relations—dating back 1949—adding that the additional flights to and from Canada would bring economic resilience to the Philippines.

“It will contribute not only to our economic growth but also to the growth of both of our societies,” Bautista told Ambassador Hartman.

CIAC CHIEF.

DigiPlus’ income rose over three times to P8.75b in nine months

By Jenniffer B. Austria

DIGITAL entertainment group DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus) saw its net income expand more than 300 percent in the first nine months of 2024 from a year ago, driven by the robust growth of the retail games segment, introduction of new product offerings and cost efficiencies.

Nine-month net income increased by 314 percent to P8.75 billion, as revenues soared 223 percent to P51.56 billion from P15.98 billion, the company said in a disclosure to the stock

FP Island microgrid spares Camaroan from power outages

By Alena Mae S. Flores

of Caramoan town in

RESIDENTS

Camarines Sur enjoyed uninterrupted power supply during Severe Tropical Storm Kristine’s onslaught due to its microgrid system.

Lopez-led FP Island Energy Corp. (FP Island) said Tuesday that while Haponan island on the north coast of Caramoan was one of the areas in Bicol first hit by Kristine, electricity remained available for its 600 residents despite the non-stop rain and wind gusts.

Haponan Island’s electricity comes from a microgrid—a small yet selfsufficient energy system that FP Island established in December 2021. It consists of a renewable energy component (solar energy with battery) and a conventional power source (a diesel generator set).

Microgrid systems are able to respond to the country’s electrification needs by providing services in remote areas of the country not connected to the main grid and not easily accessible by large power distribution utilities.

FP Island operates two other microgrids in the nearby islands of Lahuy and Quinalasag with about 2,400 residents combined.

These microgrids were preemptively shut down before Kristine made landfall, normal operations resumed in 11 of the 13 barangays 48 hours after the storm passed and the winds died down.

exchange Tuesday. “As DigiPlus increasingly reaches steady-state growth coming from exponential expansion since our digital pivot in 2022, we intend to cement

our market leadership through focused research and development efforts to strategically develop culturally relevant games that resonate with Filipino audiences,” DigiPlus chairman Eusebio Tanco said.

DigiPlus launched over the past years diversified offerings that cater to a broader spectrum of demographics, driving higher user engagement, attracting new customer segments, and contributing to substantial revenue growth.

The company is behind various digital entertainment platforms including BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone.

DigiPlus posted a net income of P3.52 billion in the third quarter, expanding 247 percent from a year ago. Revenues jumped 171 percent yearon-year to P19 billion, on higher user traffic combined with fresh contribution from new game offerings.

Meanwhile, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) surged 206 percent year-on-year to P3.83 billion in the third quarter.

DigiPlus launched in September Pinoy Drop Ball—the first livestreamed drop ball experience in the Philippines to sustain its growth momentum moving forward.

DA lifts import ban on poultry, wild birds from Michigan

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday it lifted the import ban on domestic and wild birds as well as poultry products from the state of Michigan in the United States.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced this after receiving a report from US veterinary authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health confirming that cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Michigan were resolved, and no new cases were reported since July 12, 2024.

The DA initially imposed a temporary import ban on domestic and wild birds, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen in June 2024 in response to the avian flu outbreak in Michigan.

The DA said such measure was important to protect both consumers and the local poultry industry.

Tiu Laurel said the new order takes effect immediately, but emphasized that all import transactions should comply with DA regulations on agricultural food imports.

The US remains a major source of imported meats for the Philippines, particularly beef and chicken.

Meralco constructs switching station for VITRO data center in Laguna

POWER retailer Manila Electric

Co.(Meralco) said Tuesday it developed a new switching station that would cater to the power requirements of VITRO Sta. Rosa, the country’s largest AI-ready hyperscale data center.

The data center in Laguna is owned by VITRO Inc., a subsidiary of ePLDT and the data center arm of the PLDT Group.

The recently-commissioned 115kV switching station, the first in the Meralco franchise area to serve a data center, will help ensure adequacy, redundancy and reliability that are criti-

cal to the operations of the data center with a 50-megawatt (MW) ultimate power demand.

“VITRO Sta. Rosa is not just another data center—it’s a facility designed to welcome hyperscalers and accelerate the country’s adoption of AI,” said Victor Genuino, ePLDT and VITRO Inc. president and chief executive during the ceremonial inauguration of the switching station.

“The digital infrastructure we are building directly supports the country’s modernization and progress, impacting industries like telco, finance,

healthcare, manufacturing, and government services to name a few. Our strong partnership with Meralco is strategic as we continue to build world-class facilities,” Genuino said.

Meralco committed to supporting the hyperscale industry’s growing demands and productivity requirements by providing redundant and reliable power infrastructure and tailor-fit energy solutions.

“The switching station design incorporates redundancy features, which guarantees our customer’s data center can maintain uninterrupted ser-

AYALALAND Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC), the logistics arm of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), said Tuesday it booked a net income of P618 million in the first nine months of 2024, up 75 percent from P354 million in the same period last year.

ALLHC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its nine-month consolidated revenues reached P4 billion, up by 83 percent from the previous year’s level.

“Our investments in leasing business segments have strengthened and diversified our industrial real estate portfolio. We look to deliver on our healthy pipeline of leasable properties which will increase our recurring revenue and enable us to establish a stronger foothold in the real estate lo-

gistics industry,” said ALLHC president and chief executive Robert Lao. The company said industrial lot sales reached P2.6 billion, driven by lots sold at Laguindingan Technopark, coupled with higher completion rates for developing industrial estates.

Leasing businesses added P1.2 billion to total revenues, on the back of strong performances of warehouse, cold storage and commercial leasing. Warehouse leasing grew its topline to P566 million from P510 million last year, given the increase in leasable area and higher occupancy. Cold storage revenues increased to P153 million from P129 million, following the addition of the Alogis

Artico Santo Tomas facility in the portfolio. Meanwhile, commercial leasing revenues amounted to P680 million on improved mall occupancies.

ALLHC expects to complete the first phase of the ALogis Mabalacat warehouse facility and the ALogis Artico Mabalacat cold storage before end-2024.

These will add 7,700 square meters of gross leasable area and 5,000 cold pallet positions to the group’s portfolio.

Construction is also in full swing for the second phase of ALogis Mabalacat, which will contribute an additional 18,000 square meters of warehouse inventory upon its completion. Jenniffer B. Austria

vices – critical in an industry where even a brief outage can have significant and far-reaching consequences. This demonstrates our dedication to ensuring that the infrastructure keeps pace with the demands of technologyand data-driven industries,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said. Meralco aims to become instrumental to the rapid growth of data center facilities as the government strategically positions the country in the hyperscale industry.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PCCI lauds SMIC, BDO as ‘country movers’ for national development

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recognized SM Investments Corp. and BDO Unibank Inc. as among this year’s “country movers,” highlighting their significant contributions to national development.

Presented during the 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E), the award acknowledges companies that undertake projects of national importance and play a vital role in job creation, poverty alleviation, and fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.

“This recognition inspires us to strive harder in serving our customers by providing them greater access to modern retail, integrated property developments and financial solutions. We remain committed to growing our businesses with purpose, helping enable an ecosystem of responsible and inclusive businesses and communities,” said SM Investment president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio.

SM was also awarded the “nation builders” award during last year’s conference, further solidifying its commitment to national progress.

A file photo of the Quinalasag island microgrid in Camarines Sur taken after its completion in 2021. FP Island Energy Corp. (FP Island), a sister company of First Gen Corp., operates the Quinalasag microgrid.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recognizes SM Investments Corp. and BDO Unibank Inc. as among this year’s ‘Country Movers’, highlighting their significant contributions to national development. Frederic DyBuncio, SMIC president and chief executive (third from left) receives the award from 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) chairman Raymund Jude Aguilar, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, PCCI president Enunina Mangio and 50th PBC&E Awards chairman George Barcelon.

PAG-IBIG Fund said it reached new heights, as its total net assets breached the P1-trillion mark in August 2024, reflecting a 14-percent growth from a year ago.

The growth was driven by higher net revenues, increased member savings and strategic management of its investment portfolios, top officials said.

“We have just celebrated the National Shelter Month, and we are proud to share that Pag-IBIG Fund has breached the P1-trillion mark in assets. This serves as a testament to our commitment of fulfilling our mandate,” said Secretary Jose

IN BRIEF

DIGITAL INFRA. Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy showcases the accomplishments of the department in digital infrastructure development in Central Luzon such as the presence of Free Wi-Fi sites, GovNet and the National Fiber Backbone, during the 79th general membership meeting and 9th election of board of directors of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. on Oct. 29, 2024 in San Fernando, Pampanga. Pru Life UK receives the country’s first Takaful (Islamic insurance) license from the Insurance Commission. Attending the ceremony are (from left) Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado, Pru

By Jenniffer B. Austria

JOLLIBEE Foods Corporation

(JFC) said Tuesday it is transferring its stake and management of the Tim Ho Wan business to wholly-owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd (JWPL).

Prior to the plan, JFC-led Titan Dining LP (Titan Fund) owns and manages Tim Ho Wan.

JFC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the deal would involve the transfer of ownership of 100 percent of Tim Ho Wan Holdings Pte. Ltd. (TPL), the holding company of the Tim Ho Wan business, from a subsidiary of Titan Fund, to JWPL. It said the completion of the transac-

tion is subject to closing conditions. JWPL owns a 92-percent participating interest in Titan Fund since January 2024, while the remaining 8 percent is owned by JFC.

Tim Ho Wan was founded in 2009 by Chef Mak Kwai Pui, alongside Chef Leung Fai Keung. The brand is known for bringing the best of Hong Kong to the world through its world-renowned dishes Barbecue Pork Buns and other specialties such as the Steamed Rice Roll stuffed with Barbecue Pork, Pan Fried Turnip Cake and Steamed Egg Cake. Tim Ho Wan, with around 80 glob

Pag-IBIG Fund’s assets top P1-t mark

Rizalino Acuzar of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), who serves as chairperson of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

“Not only can we assure that our members’ fund is prudently managed, it also means that we are ready and able to finance our Filipino workers’ dream of home ownership. This remains consistent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to provide quality and accessible social benefits to our countrymen,” said Acuzar.

Pag-IBIG Fund’s total net assets reached P1.02 trillion as of end-September 2024, – a P125.74 billion increase from September last year. The agency’s gross income amounted to P62.09 billion, while net revenues totaled P39.54 billion –up by 17 percent compared to P33.66 billion in

September 2023.

Member savings as of the third quarter of 2024 amounted to P98.72 billion, an increase of 48 percent from P66.73 billion collected within the

growth. Jenniffer B. Austria

DTI, DICT launch eReport system

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), launched Tuesday the eReport System under the eGovPH App, enabling Filipinos to file online consumer complaints related to e-commerce transactions directly through the government app. The eReport - eCommerce Consumer Complaint Module is a dedicated platform designed to streamline and centralize the reporting and resolution of consumer complaints arising from online transactions. By integrating the module within the eGovPH app, the initiative empowers citizens to easily report issues concerning ecommerce, thereby enhancing transparency and government responsiveness in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace. The system, in line with Republic Act No. 11967, or the “Internet Transactions Act of 2023,” addresses

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Wednesday it expects to double its international bandwidth capacity by 2025 with two new submarine cables.

“By 2025, we will have an additional 10 terabits international bandwidth capacity as two international cable systems where we have capacity go onstream,” said Converge ICT co-founder and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy.

“These are the Bifrost and SEAH2X [South East Asia-Hainan-Hong Kong Express] cable systems,” he said.

The Bifrost cable system is a new trans-Pacific cable system connecting

Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines to the West Coast of North America.

The SEA H2X is a state-of-the-art, high-capacity fiber-optic submarine cable system that will address the increasing telecommunications traffic capacity demands within the region.

The SEA-H2X has six landing points in Southeast Asia including Hong Kong SAR (Tseung Kwan O), China (Lingshui), Malaysia (Kuching), Philippines (La Union), Singapore (Tuas) and Thailand (Songkhla).

“Our international backbone is now one of the biggest in the country, running at less than 50 percent utilization,” Uy said.

“We designed it that way so in case

PRU Life UK said Tuesday it received the country’s first Takaful (Islamic insurance) license from the

Commission.

“Filling in the long-standing gap for Shari’ah-compliant insurance, this breakthrough is set to advance financial inclusion especially for the over seven million Muslim Filipinos and support the government’s efforts to promote and develop Islamic finance,” the life insurance firm said in a statement. Takaful, a Shariah-compliant form of insurance, means joint guarantee. It is founded on cooperative arrangement and aligns with the principles of mutuality and solidarity. In the Philippines, Takaful will not only close the gap for insurance that complies with Shariah rules and principles for Mus-

SMB’s net income surged to P23.4b in three quarters Jollibee transferring stake in Tim Ho Wan to subsidiary

same period last year. Thje double-digit growth was due to the increase in both the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings and Pag-IBIG MP2 Savings. Buoyed by the implementation of the Maximum Fund Salary (MFS) increase early this year, total collections for the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings amounted to P49.86 billion as of September 2024, while MP2 voluntary savers remitted P48.86 billion collectively, a year-on-year increase of 58 percent and 39 percent, respectively. The agency also reported a net unrealized gain of P320 million, a reversal from the P2.28-billion net unrealized loss in September 2023. The movement was attributed to improved market valuations of investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, further strengthening the agency’s financial position.

lim Filipinos, but will also broaden the options for the rest of the population as Takaful is available for all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

To set up its Takaful operations, Pru Life UK worked with its Prudential affiliates with established Takaful operations in Malaysia and Indonesia. Pru Life UK’s Takaful operation is supported by a robust Shariah governance that is supervised by its newly created Shari’ah Committee and imbibes the best practices from the insurer’s Takaful affiliates abroad.

“Our Takaful launch will be a defining milestone not just for Pru Life UK but for the entire Philippine insurance sector,” said Sanjay Chakrabarty, president and chief executive of Pru Life UK.

of fiber outage or submarine earthquakes customer experience will not be affected,” he said.

Converge has eight international links with a total capacity of 5.1 terabits and has points of presence in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and the US.

The company also laid out more than 700,000 kilometers of total fiber assets with eight million ports deployed and 20 landing stations nationwide.

“We’re reaching more than 16 million homes passed, covering 62.3 percent of total Filipino households. And we have over 2,000 satellites deployed for areas that cannot be reached by fiber,” Uy said.

SAN Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) reported a nine-month net income of P23.4 billion from its Philippine operations, representing a growth of 36.7 percent from a year ago.

The growth includes dividends of P7.4 billion from SMB’s international subsidiary.

The company said that as of end-September 2024, domestic revenues reached P98.8 billion, up 2.7 percent from the previous year’s on better third-quarter performance.

It said third-quarter beer sales volume increased 3.9 percent, or 1.9 million cases, recovering from a slower first half. The growth was driven by targeted sales and marketing efforts, along with volumeboosting programs.

“San Miguel Brewery’s strong performance reflects our dedication to keeping consumers engaged with our iconic brands and making sure there’s a San Miguel beer for every occasion and preference,” said SMB chairman Ramon Ang.

“We will build on this momentum to drive continued growth, support San Miguel’s mission to help boost the economy, and make a positive impact on the lives of more Filipinos,” said Ang.

SPOTLIGHT

Ateneo student crafts LEGO chemical tester

SBMA named ‘Most Sustainable Investment Hub’

THE SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority

(SBMA) was awarded the “Most Sustainable Investment Hub in the Philippines 2024 during the World Business Outlook Awards 2024 on November 2, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis Queens Park in Bangkok, Thailand.

Organized by the World Business Outlook magazine, the award-giving body fetes global brand companies that excel in Global Banking, Finance, Real Estate, Healthcare, Education, Technology, Mining, and other business sectors worldwide.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño received the prestigious award, along with Director Teodoro Del Rosario, Business and Investment Group for Leisure Manager Josephine Ivy Ferrer and General Business and Investment Officer-in-Charge Cleofe Espinelli from His Excellency Artur Dmochowski, Ambassador of Poland to the Kingdom of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

“The World Business Outlook Awards is a prestigious event that recognizes industry excellence, exceptional leadership, outstanding success strategies, and global presence,” organizers cited. They also cited that their expert jury panel was established to ensure that only the top performers from each sector will receive the top honours of the year.

“This is why we have a very discrete and rigorous methodology for each of our award categories. The Global Recognition that our winners receive are a testament of our dedication towards promoting our champions,” the award-giving media organization cited. Chairman Aliño expressed his gratitude to the World Business Outlook for recognizing the SBMA for its thrust in developing the Subic Bay Freeport Zone a sustainable investment hub in the world.

USING simple circuitry, polarizing film, and LEGO® toy bricks, an undergraduate physics student from the Ateneo de Manila University recently built an improvised polarimeter that can optically assess the purity of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other chiral substances.

The device has potential applications in classrooms as a learning tool, and may pave the way for more costeffective means to monitor the quality of some consumer products.

Sagada’s fiery Undas tradition for the departed

By Erika Sinaking

IN the misty mountains of the Cordillera region, about a five to six-hour drive north of Baguio, lies Sagada, where each year on the first of November, locals commemorate their departed loved ones through the solemn ritual of panag-apoy.

As the sun sets on All Saints’ Day, families gather at Calvary Hill Cemetery to kindle bonfires next to the tombstones. Fueled by pine wood kindling known as saleng rather of candles, these bonfires can withstand mountain winds and provide warmth and light against the cold Sagada breeze.

Panag-apoy, or kankana-ey, which translates “to light a fire,” holds a broad-

er meaning for the community by igniting fire and prayer to their ancestors.

While tourists are fascinated by the panag-apoy, it is primarily intended for individuals who have a loved one’s grave buried at the site who can fully participate in the ceremony. However, some local guides extend the opportunity for tourists to watch this event by invitation.

Crystha Shayne Funcion, 38, witnessed the practice of panag-apoy and storytells her experience as a travel vlogger through her platform.

“The most unforgettable part of visiting Sagada is the locals, and with their deeply held traditions, it’s ideal to immerse yourself in their culture and understand their unique practices,” told Shayne.

Filipina creative carves her path in New York’s competitive scene

By Sasha Uy

FILIPINA creative director Nigel Garcia has forged her own path in one of the world’s most competitive cities. With roots in the Philippines’ vibrant media industry, Nigel’s journey is marked by resilience, ambition, and an unshakable belief in pushing boundaries. Now a content and social media manager at New York-based jewelry brand Argento Vivo, she blends her Manila-born creativity with a strategic edge, showing that success can be deeply personal, rooted in culture, and redefined on a global stage. Nigel’s creative career started in Manila, where she worked with renowned brands such as MAC Cosmetics, Estee Lauder, and Clinique. Though her work in content creation and creative direc-

tion was thriving, she yearned for greater challenges. “I felt there was more for me to achieve,” she recalls. In 2022, with a dream and determination, Nigel left Manila for New York, enrolling at Parsons School of Design to deepen her skills in Fashion Marketing and Communications. New York’s fast-paced environment tested her adaptability. Yet, Nigel embraced the challenges, working with industry giants like Balmain and Proenza Schouler. Her expertise in content creation, especially user-generated content (UGC), quickly positioned her as a go-to creative talent. Today, as the Manager for Content and Social Media at New Yorkbased jewelry brand Argento Vivo, she leads creative campaigns and social media strategies, blending innovation with a strong strategic foundation.

According to Funcion, the ceremony begins with a mass at St. Mary Episcopalian Church, during which the priest blesses the pine wood used for the bonfires. From the cemetery hill, families continue the ritual at home by praying for blessing and protection from their ancestors.

“What makes this tradition sacred is that it’s blazing not just with fire but with meaning, connection, and respect,” she added.

Grounded in reverence and remembrance, panag-apoy not only honors those who have passed but also strengthens the ties between the living and the land, ensuring that the spirits of departed loved ones continue to illuminate their lives.

The Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s polarimeter setup, built mostly out of LEGO® toy bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components. SOURCE: Felicidario and delos Santos. Polarimeters are invaluable laboratory instruments that can help infer the purity of a chemical by measuring the angle of rotation of polarized light that passed through the test sample. However, laboratory-grade polarimeters are prohibitively expensive, with a high-end model costing over $11,500 and a commercial manual polarimeter priced at over $1,200. This makes their acquisition and use difficult if not impossible for small laboratories and classrooms in developing countries like the Philippines.

That may change thanks to the work of people like undergraduate physics student Ryan Joseph Felicidario and his thesis adviser, Dr. Ramon delos Santos, of the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory. Their work improved on an earlier LEGO®-based polarimeter built by Norwegian researchers Lise Kvittingen and Birte Johanne Sjursnes. The Filipino researchers modified the original design and refined the detection process to obtain reliable and accurate measurements that are crucial for ascorbic acid, whose specific rotation is relatively low. By using easily-purchased items like LEGO® bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components, Felicidario was able to bring the cost of the polarimeter down to just over $150.

Meet the young CEO revolutionizing e-jeepneys

IN The Philippines, Dominic Cabrera Francisco, a 20-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Francisco Motor Corporation, is leading a transformation in the jeepney industry. Since its founding in 1947, the Francisco Jeepney has been a symbol of resilience and creativity, born from surplus military jeeps after World War II. Jorge Francisco together with his brothers Anastacio and Fernando Francisco, with just 200 pesos, turned a painting shop into a thriving automotive manufacturer. Currently a student specializing in Sustainability at Enderun Colleges, Francisco began his journey by homeschooling at age 15 to better support his family’s business. His dedication to the jeepney industry is fueled by personal interactions with operators and commuters, particularly

during the government’s Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP).

“Modernization is essential,” he states, “but it must be done correctly to avoid leaving operators drowning in debt.”

He adds,

“Many individuals have become ambassadors for our nation, seizing opportunities thanks to their fathers who were jeepney drivers. These inspiring stories have sparked a movement. I am proud to contribute to nation-building by advocating for sustainable, high-quality public transportation that uplifts the lives of jeepney operators and drivers. This is not just my duty; it’s a responsibility I embrace.” Francisco advocates for responsible modernization, emphasizing affordability and accessibility as key components. He believes that by partnering with fi-

nancial institutions, his company can offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to jeepney operators. “We’re creating an ecosystem for electric vehicles that ultimately aims for a cleaner environment,” he explains.

Transitioning into the role of CEO has not been without its challenges. However, Francisco chose to focus on building a cohesive team that aligns with the company’s vision, fostering a collaborative work environment. His approach to leadership is rooted in continuous learning, inspired by the mentorship of his parents. “I treat every day as an opportunity to absorb knowledge,” he shares. This mindset drives him to leverage his platform for meaningful change, particularly in climate action and social equity within public transportation.

Built at a small fraction of the price of a commercial polarimeter, the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s setup features improved reliability and accuracy over the original design. SOURCE: Felicidario and delos Santos

Nigel Garcia

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

ABIGAIL ADRIATICO, Writer

Star-studded lineup to heat up Myx Music Awards stage

THE MYX Music Awards 2024 will feature a stellar lineup of performers, including BGYO, Demi, Denise Julia, Maki, Nameless Kids, Over October, and TJ Monterde, on Nov. 21.

Prominent personalities will present awards, including BINI members Jhoanna and Maloi, Chloe San Jose, Elijah Canlas, and Gloc-9 among others.

The event will be streamed live on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel at 6:30 p.m. for Super Kapamilya members. Fans can vote for their favorites in various award categories on myx.global until Nov. 10. As a ramp-up event, the top 12 finalists of the MYX VJ Search were revealed on Nov. 4, with public voting opening from November 11 to 16. The winner will be announced at the MYX Music Awards. To watch the MYX Music Awards 2024 livestream, tune in on November 21 at 6:30 p.m. exclusively for Super Kapamilya members. For more information, follow MYX Global on social media and visit myx.global.

By Angelica Villanueva

WEARING classuniform-inspired outfits, Vinci, Kim, Kyler, Reyster, Winston, Jeromy, and Marcus

members of the South Koreabased, all-Filipino boy group Hori7on—took the stage at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, Nov. 3, for their Daytour: Anchor High concert.

The seven-member group returned to Manila for their second concert in the city, marking their first anniversary since debuting in 2023. Bringing a unique blend of Filipino charm and K-pop energy, Hori7on opened the show with their rendition of The Boyfriends’ Sumayaw, Sumunod, greeted by cheers from Anchors, the group’s fanbase. They followed up with performances of Lovey, Dovey, and How You Feel Vinci, the group’s leader, then spoke on behalf of Hori7on about a new chapter, signaling the end of their youthful era.

“New performances, new sides of Hori7on. We’re so excited to show you, guys. It’s all here at Daytour: Anchor High. We hope that you’re still on your feet because we’re going to show you something very special tonight,” he said.

True to his words, the group introduced one of their newest tracks, Cold, written by Vinci and Marcus, describing it as a song exploring a relationship growing distant.

Each member treated fans to solo performances, starting with Kim, who sang YK by Kyler followed, serenading fans with I Think They Call This Love by Elliot James while handing out red roses. Winston then took the spotlight with his rendition of Justin Bieber’s Off My Face.

Maknae Marcus showcased his versatility with Rainism by Rain, while Vinci won over fans with his version of Harry Styles’ Falling. Reyster revealed his vocal skills beyond rapping with Die With A Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, while Jeromy displayed his dance talents with highenergy performances of Hiphop and BTS’ Butter, joined by fellow maknaes Marcus and Winston.

The members then reunited to introduce their second new song, 2Cool 2Care, written by Marcus, which marked a departure from their previous music style.

“Everyone, welcome to the new chapter of Hori7on. This is our newest song, 2Cool 2Care,” Marcus said.

Alongside the new songs, Hori7on performed fan favorites, including “DASH,” “Tiger,” “Mama,” “LUCKY,” “Salamat,” and “Birthday.” The group closed their Daytour: Anchor High concert with their debut single “SIX7EEN.”

QCinema Project Market 2024 to spotlight Southeast Asian film industry

THE QCinema International Film Festival (QCIFF) will host the second QCinema Project Market (QPM) from Nov. 14 to 16, alongside the Asian Next Wave Film Forum and Creative Industries Day. These events will bring together filmmakers, producers, and industry leaders for networking and collaboration.

QPM connects Southeast Asian filmmakers with potential funding partners and international collaborators. It includes project presentations and one-on-one meetings for feature films in development, aiming to elevate Southeast Asian voices by supporting local talent through co-production grants and post-production awards.

“The QCinema Project Market continues to bridge collaboration with Southeast Asia, offering co-productions that elevate our region’s stories globally. There is a growing interest among investors in the Philippines to support films with international potential,” said Liza Diño, Executive Director of the Quezon City Film Commission (QCFC) and Managing Director of QCinema Project Market.

QPM Awards

QPM awards span ten categories, offering financial backing and post-production services.

Three Filipino projects will each receive P2 million through the QPM-PH Co-Production

Members of the boy group wear outfits inspired by class uniforms

Photo by Aram Lascano

‘Daytour: Anchor High’ serves as the group’s second concert in Manila

The boys of Hori7on take a selfie with their beloved Filipino fans during their concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 3

Singer-songwriter TJ Monterde is known for his heartfelt ballads like ‘Palagi’

Singer-songwriter Maki is known for his hit songs like ‘Dilaw’ and ‘Saan?’

Boy group BGYO first debuted in 2021 with their single ‘The Light’

The QCinema International Film Festival’s QCinema Project Market aims to connect Southeast Asian filmmakers with funding partners and international collaborators

Hori7on’s ‘Daytour: Anchor High’ concert energizes the crowd with their hit songs Photo by Aram Lascano

GLAZING LIFE

Glaiza Lee

HETHER

Wpolitical, emotional, or ideological, human beings are constantly embattled.

Driven by our survival instinct and innate appetite to seek meaning in life, there is always a war we need to face.

It can be as less complicated as personal conflicts of overcoming fears, navigating grief, or determining right from wrong. Or they could be as profound and complex as historical wars and social struggles for justice and freedom.

Every day is a battlefield, a struggle for survival, for justice, for change. Each battle we faced shaped us, contributing to the rich tapestry of our shared experiences.

What better way to understand complex narratives of wars and inner conflicts than theater? From ancient Greek tragedies that reflect on the aftermath of the Trojan War to Shakespearean plays that examine political machinations, theater has offered audiences a lens through which to understand the complexities of warfare.

German playwright Bertolt Brecht uniquely understood the powerful connection between theater and political conflict. Known for his epic theater, which broke away from traditional conventions, Brecht used the stage to spotlight social and ideological issues.

In Mother Courage and Her Children (1941), Brecht chronicled the Thirty Years’ War, portraying war’s moral ambiguities, emotional toll, and the human resilience embodied by Mother Courage, a woman who profits from war but loses her three children in the process. Set amid the brutal conflicts from 1618 to 1648, the play reflects the complex mix of religious, political, and territorial struggles that marked the era. Inspired by Brecht, Dulaang UP presents Nanay Bangis, an adaptation by Filipino playwright Rody Vera, drawing connections between Brecht’s themes and the Philippine conflicts in Mindanao.

“I have always believed that antiwar plays are particularly relevant, especially given the current situations in Ukraine, Palestine, and even the

‘Nanay Bangis’ revisits the Mindanao conflict on stage

Philippines. There are conflicts in South Sudan that have not received enough attention. There is so much suffering, and as climate change worsens, conditions will only deteriorate further,” said theater director Herbie Go

And when your best friend and roommate is half-Palestinian, as in the case of director Go, the impact of war becomes deeply personal. He shared that his best friend could not go home because his hometown is one of the

occupied territories of Israel.

“It bothers me. Every day you read about the war refugees on the news. You feel for them, but at the same time, you feel numb. For a few minutes, you pity them. You sympathize with them, and then you move on with your life. Through this play, we want the audience to get angry, to do something,” said Go.

Part of Dulaang UP’s 47th theatre season, with the theme “Amihan at Habagat,” Nanay Bangis follows

the story of a mother who loses her children to the conflict between the MNLF and the Philippine army from 1971 to 1981.

Actress Ge Malacaman Villamil takes the titular role of Nanay Bangis, with actors Air Paz, Rona Rostata, and Fred Layno performing as her children. Vera shared that he wrote the adaptation for the MaYi production of Mother Courage in New York in 1999. The production was directed

Honoring heritage and art with a touch of Mangyan magic

MARITES Van Vianen, a Filipino artist and 2023 and 2024

Leonardo Da Vinci Awardee, is honoring her Mangyan heritage through her exhibition Katribu: Kapwa Pilipino at the ongoing NCCA exhibition in Intramuros, Manila.

Van Vianen has also received a Bronze award in 2022 and a Silver award in 2024 from the Academique Art Science et Lettres in Paris and is a member of the Société des Artistes Indépendants at the Grand Palais, Paris.

The exhibition features artworks that pay tribute to Indigenous peoples, including the renowned Kalinga tattoo artist WhangOd and the Mangyan Tribe of Mindoro.

In addition to her NCCA

exhibition, Van Vianen participated in the “La Mode en Moi – The Fashion in Me” art and fashion exhibition at the Business Art Fair in Paris from Oct. 18 to 20, alongside 24 Filipino artists from around the world.

October is recognized as Indigenous Month, and WhangOd, a living cultural treasure, embodies the spirit of “katribu” and “kapwa,” according to Van Vianen. As the oldest traditional Kalinga tattoo artist, she continues to pass down the ancient art of “batok” to younger generations.

“The theme of the exhibition, ‘Katribu, Kapwa Pilipino,’ emphasizes living in the spirit of shared identity and caring for fellow tribes in the Philippines,” Van Vianen said.

and featured

by Tazewell Thompson,

Ching Valdez in the lead role.

“The original setting of the play was the Thirty Year’s War, which happened in Central Europe from about 1618 to 1648. This war was viewed on the surface as a ‘religious war’ between Roman Catholics and the Protestants. But the play exposed the root causes of the war beyond religious motives and pointed out, more importantly territorial, dynastic, and even commercial interests; the same reasons why wars are waged until today,” shared Vera.

Back then, Ma-Yi artistic director Ralph Peña and Vera decided to relocate the setting of the play to Mindanao at the height of the war against the Moros during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos

“The initial challenge was how to relocate the play to the war in Mindanao from 1971 to 1981.

Research on the war in Mindanao waged by then President Ferdinand Marcos was needed, and I had to find roughly similar possibilities for this adaptation,” said Vera.

Go expressed the need to tell the stories of the Muslim Filipinos. “I’m sure most of the audience don’t know the struggles of the Muslims in Mindanao. It is challenging for our Muslim brothers to tell their stories,” said Go.

Through this production, DUP investigates how Filipinos are at the center of political and ecological precarity. Just like the amihan and habagat, this season’s productions show the push and pull in the critical zones of the Philippines today.

In a way, this play is one of the ways to help Muslim Filipinos to put their truths out there. And for Filipino audiences to learn more about our recent Philippine history.

Catch Nanay Bangis on Nov. 15, 22, 29 (7:30 p.m.), Nov. 16, 23, 30 (2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), Nov. 17, 24, December 01 (10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) at the IBG-KAL Theater, University of the Philippines Diliman.

Tickets are available at TicketMelon [ ticketmelon.com/dulaang-up/ nanaybangis]. For inquiries on show buying, audience sponsorship, and bulk tickets, contact Christen Perez at dulaangup.marketing.upd@up.edu. ph. Additional information will be posted on the Dulaang UP Facebook page.

The play follows the story of a mother who lost her children during the conflict between the MNLF and the Philippine army from 1971 to 1981

Filipino playwright Rody Vera’s ‘Nanay Bangis’ was inspired by German playwright Bertolt Brecht’s ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’

Award-winning Filipino artist Marites Van Vianen

‘Nanay Bangis’ explores the conflicts in Mindanao during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos

The play is part of Dulaang UP’s 47th season

The silver award Marites Van Vianen received from the Academique Art Science et Lettres in Paris Marites Van Vianen received the Leonardo Da Vinci award both in 2023 and 2024

Manila’s ‘70s soirée

Opulence Ball brings disco dazzle to Halloween night

THE Opulence Ball nearly skipped a year, but founder Mond Gutierrez had other plans, opting to forge ahead despite limited prep time.

“We brought it back due to popular demand,” said Mond who stepped onto the red carpet in a bold, disco-ball-inspired ensemble, complete with striking yellow hair. “And we’re doing the ‘70s this time.”

The ball returned this Halloween with “The Velvet Underground” as its theme. Held at the Manila Peninsula’s Rigodon Ballroom, the event saw prominent figures from entertainment, fashion, sports, and business gather to showcase their take on ‘70s glamour, creating a lively and visually striking scene.

Each year, Mond and his team introduce a fresh theme, elevating the evening beyond mere costume to a spectacle of self-expression and artistry. This year’s “Velvet Underground” theme brought discoinspired fashion, bold colors, and retro flair back into the limelight, offering attendees a creative playground rooted in an era famous for hedonistic fashion and vibrant expression.

According to Mond, the Opulence Ball aims to be more than just a costume party. “It’s an immersive experience,” he said, noting that this year’s theme allowed guests to express their individuality within a well-defined creative brief.

Mond shared that planning the event involved a detailed production, with numerous artists and creatives collaborating to bring the concept to life and further spotlight the Philippines’ growing entertainment and arts scene.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by a ballroom transformed into an opulent disco hall by Moss Manila, complete with decor that mirrored the vivid, eclectic spirit of the ‘70s.

Host Nicole Andersson, a key figure in the night’s proceedings, embodied the era with a standout costume that matched the evening’s vibe. For added engagement, a designated “Discovery Room” allowed attendees to explore offerings from event sponsors, including Kiko Milano, Belo, Don Julio, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Jewelmer, and Ploom.

The night’s ensemble of attendees included wellknown names such as Maymay Entrata, Maris Racal, Kylie Verzosa, Ruffa Gutierrez, Richard Gutierrez, Barbie Imperial, Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, and R’boney Gabriel. Each brought their interpretation of ‘70s glamour, crafted in collaboration with local designers and makeup artists.

As part of the evening’s festivities, awards were handed out to recognize standout looks, with

Sculptor Daniel dela Cruz

IN HIS latest exhibition, Back at the Tea Party , sculptor Daniel dela Cruz reimagines Alice in Wonderland , emphasizing Alice’s innocence and vulnerability in the midst of Wonderland’s quirky characters. In contrast to Lewis Carroll’s disorganized and fantastical depiction, Dela Cruz’s art offers a gentle and reflective interpretation of Alice’s journey, examining her youthful fortitude and curiosity as she navigates Wonderland’s obstacles. Using brass, copper, and other metals, Dela Cruz crafts intricate sculptures that balance fragility and resilience. The familiar characters Alice encounters, like the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, and Mad Hatter, represent forces that test her

innocence. The Cheshire Cat, with its elusive grin, embodies the uncertainties of growing up; the Queen of Hearts symbolizes the harsh, arbitrary authority threatening Alice’s purity; while the Mad Hatter reflects life’s unpredictable challenges. Together, these figures contrast with Alice’s enduring spirit, celebrating her resilience in a whimsical yet testing world. Back at the Tea Party is on view from Nov. 7 to 17 at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell, R3 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. For more details, contact Galerie Joaquin at +63 915 414 5502 or galeriejoaquinrockwell@gmail. com.

exhibition features characters from the classic tale

metals

Opulence Ball founder Raymond Gutierrez wearing a disco ball-inspired ensemble

Celebrity doctors Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo

Actress and singer Maymay Entrata

Actor Richard Gutierrez

Beauty queen Kylie Verzosa glows as a ‘70s Barbie

From left: Ashleigh Rye, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Raymond Gutierrez

FOREVER FABULOUS. Actresses (from top) Belle Mariano, Barbie, Imperial, Maris Racal, and Chie Filomeno (left) channel their inner Cher