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COMELEC: FINAL LIST OF POLL CANDIDATES OUT BY END-DECEMBER

NEWS / A4

PhilHealth expedites settling debts to hospitals by debit-credit scheme as it had released P165.8 billion in claims from January 2020 to date. This as hospitals in the National CapiTHE Philippine Health Insurance Cor- tal Region, Quezon province, northern poration (PhilHealth) said it would ex- Luzon and General Santos City said they pedite hospital payments through the would follow the lead of seven hospitals Debit-Credit Payment Method (DCPM) Next page

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

VOL. XXXV • NO. 303 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte drops Senate bid

Bong Go formally pulls out of prexy race, Palace hints of having no bet By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his certificate of candidacy for senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros Tuesday, hours after his longtime aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go withdrew his COC for president. Duterte’s move also came hours after his daughter, vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte-Carpio, named him as the first of seven senatorial bets that she said she would support in the 2022 national elections. Others on the list were People’s Reform Party bets Harry Roque and Gilbert Teodoro; former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista; Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda; Nacionalista Party bet Mark Villar and Pwersa ng Masa president Jinggoy Estrada. Duterte and Go’s names will no longer appear in the official list of candidates, the Comelec said. “The President has filed his withdrawal from the senatorial elections,” James Jimenez, spokesman for the Comelec, said on Twitter. Duterte said his administration would be neutral in the May 2022 national elections. In a prerecorded Talk to the People late Monday evening, he made this assurance while giving a recap of his

OUT OF THE RACE. President Rodrigo Duterte withdraws his certificate of candidacy for senator hours after his long-time aide, Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, made official his decision to drop out of the race for the presidency in the 2022 polls.

Mass vax drive on except for 11 regions on path of storm Odette By Vito Barcelo, Ronald O. Reyes THE second round of the National Vaccination Days in 11 regions will be postponed to next week as a severe tropical storm enters the Philippine area of responsibility. “The National Task Force opted to postpone the Bayanihan, Bakunahan as approved by our President, in the Bicol Region, Mimaropa region, and the whole of Visayas and Mindanao,” presidential adviser for COVID response Vince Dizon said. The three-day mass vaccination drive in these affected areas will be held in-

stead on Dec. 19 to 22 while the rest of the regions – Ilocos, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila – will proceed as scheduled today (Wednesday) until Dec. 17 (Friday). Tropical cyclone warning signals are likely to be raised over the Visayas and large portions of Mindanao and several provinces in Southern Luzon as Rai, which will be identified as “Odette” once it enters the PAR, has intensified into a severe tropical storm. In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Next page

DOH tags all regions at minimal risk, notes ‘steep decline’ in cases By Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo

ALL regions in the Philippines are now classified to be under minimal risk for COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

The country first achieved minimal risk case classification on Dec. 6, with the majority of the regions classified as low risk for COVID-19. “Our epidemic curve shows a very steep decline and now a pla pla-

teau,” Health Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said during a briefing. De Guzman said all the regions recorded a two-week decline in cases and an average daily attack rate of less than

1 per 100,000 individuals. “This decline in cases is reflected in our utilization rates, may it be total bed utilization or ICU utilization,” she told reporters.

Bank assures clients of refunds By Julito G. Rada, Maricel V. Cruz have requested our clients to go to their branch of account and submit documenand Macon Ramos-Araneta

tation to get the refund. The bank will BDO Unibank Inc. said Tuesday it was shoulder the losses perpetuated by this processing the reimbursement of nearly cybercrime incident.” BDO said it was working closely 700 clients affected by the recent online with the appropriate authorities and the fraudulent transactions. In its statement, BDO said: “We Next page

2,836,868 235

10,526

50,351

2,775,991

780

(As of 4 PM, December 14)

Duque, Locsin still lock horns on syringe deal By Willie Casas HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday his department had documents showing that its committee was communicating with the supplier that offered 50 million syringes, contrary to accusations that the DOH “dropped the ball” on the deal. Duque’s statement was made in reaction to Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. who said the DOH should have responded to the offer Next page

BSP: P1k bill with 3 heroes to stay in use By Julito G. Rada, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

GODDESS. Tracy Perez, the country’s bet to Miss World 2021, channels the mythical beauty of Mayari – goddess of the moon and daughter of Bathala according to local folklore, as she unveiled her national costume for the pageant Tuesday.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno assured there would be no demonetization of any peso denomination during his term Next page

TOP PRINT PARTNER. Manila Standard Publisher Rolando Estabillo (right) is joined by Standard OIC for Operations Anita Grefal (center) and Advertising Solutions Head Baldwin Felipe in receiving three awards from Pag-IBIG Fund. Peter Paul Duran

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

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News

AS US URGES CHINA TO HALT ‘AGGRESSIVE ACTS’

PH raises ‘serious concern’ over SCS By Rey E. Requejo

HE Philippines has raised the “heightened tension” in the South China Sea, which it described as a “serious concern” during the recently concluded G7-ASEAN meet in Liverpool, United Kingdom, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he extended his gratitude to the G-7 members – UK, United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, and Italy – for their support in the reaffirmation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s massive nine-dash-line claim over the entire SCS. “UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award are the twin anchors of Philip-

pine positions and activities in the South China Sea,” Locsin said. “We will not raise anchor and drift or sail away from them. We value your support,” he added. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged China to cease “aggressive actions” in the Asia-Pacific, speaking during a visit to the region, as Washington seeks to bolster alliances against Beijing. President Joe Biden’s administration is trying to reset relations and reassert

PhilHealth... From A1

Duterte... From A1

in Iloilo and are also planning to cut ties with state health insurer PhilHealth over unpaid claims. Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, Private Hospital Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) national president, said the private hospitals that cut ties with PhilHealth would still serve the firm’s members -- but the patients or their families would be the ones who would directly transact with the state insurer. At present, PhilHealth has released two waves of payments amounting to P11.04 billion under the DCPM. It will release more funds for the third wave through its Circular 2021-0023 which took effect immediately upon publication on December 8, 2021. Under the third wave, hospitals nationwide are qualified to apply as long as they are managing Covid cases and are offering the PhilHealth testing packages, have fully liquidated their IRM, and have no legal cases with PhilHealth. Philhealth reported that it continued to pay hospital reimbursements. Due to the challenges brought about by the pandemic in its operations, Philhealth has implemented the DCPM for the fast release of funds to qualified hospitals nationwide. These hospitals, Philhealth said, have signified intention to avail of the new payment mechanism while it processes their claims. Philhealth said hospitals in Iloilo City had been qualified to avail themselves of the said mechanism ever since they started experiencing a surge in Covid cases early this year. It called on the seven hospitals to avail themselves of the DCPM so as to expedite payments, thereby ensuring and protecting the welfare of the members in the said region. Meanwhile, Malacanang urged hospitals who might not renew the accreditation with PhilHealth because of unpaid claims to avail themselves of the debit-credit payment method (DCPM). Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said Philhealth’s new payment mechanism will fast-track the payment of hospital claims. Under the DCPM, only 60 percent would initially be paid to hospitals while the 40 percent would be paid upon the completion of processing requirements. Nograles issued the offer after seven hospitals in Iloilo decided to cut ties with the state insurer due to the accumulation of unpaid dues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The call of PhilHealth to all hospitals is to avail (themselves) of this DCPM payment method, especially since they are now going through and preparing for the third wave,” according to Nograles.

participation in the Summit for Democracy organized by the United States (US) from Dec. 9 to 10. Duterte did not elaborate what he meant by “neutral,” but vowed to ensure that the upcoming polls would be peaceful. In his speech during the Summit for Democracy on Friday, Duterte said even as work continues in the remaining months of his term, his administration will ensure “honest, peaceful, credible, and free elections.” “The President believes that withdrawing from the Senate race will allow him to better focus on managing our pandemic response and sustain the progress we have made in the country and safely reopening the economy,” acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said. “He likewise views this as an opportunity to concentrate on efforts to ensure transparent, impartial, orderly and peaceful elections in May,” Nograles added. Duterte, 76, is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term as president. His run for the Senate had been seen as an attempt to remain in politics while facing an international probe into his deadly drug war. Go on Tuesday officially dropped from the presidential race in the upcom-

Bank... From A1

“Guided by relevant laws and regulations, penalties and/or sanctions may be imposed depending on results of the examination and I have instructed that recommendations should be submitted within 30 days,” Diokno said. Diokno said BDO, the largest lender in the country controlled by the Sy family, confirmed in its statement that the incident emanated from a 10-year-old service that was due for phase out early next year. “What we also know is that some affected customers reported they did not click any links nor were they asked to supply sensitive information, so we are in close coordination with BDO and we’ll update the public on this matter,” Diokno said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to prevent further occurrence. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said he wanted to know as soon as possible the results of investigations on the reported hacking incidents of several BDO’s online banking accounts. Diokno said in a briefing Monday night a task force was formed composed of cyber and anti-money laundering specialists and legal officers to determine the root cause and possible control lapses involving the incident.

Mass vax... From A1 Services Administration (PAGASA) said TCWS #1 could be raised over the eastern portions of the Visayas and Mindanao as early as Tuesday afternoon or evening. It was last seen 1,165 km east of Mindanao as of 10 a.m. Tuesday. It has maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 k ph. The storm was moving west northwestward at 30 kph. Local government units in areas within the path of Rai may order preemptive evacuations in preparation for the strong typhoon that may hit the country Tuesday night. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said over 10,000 barangays in the Visayas and Mindanao and some areas in Southern Luzon are likely to be affected once “Odette” makes landfall. “We have identified areas at risk and we reminded LGUs that they can conduct preemptive evacuations if they see imminent risks, even before the storm hits, in their respective areas,” NDRRMC spokesman Mark Cashean Timbal said in a briefing Tuesday.

DOH... From A1 The Philippines recorded a twoweek growth rate of negative 59 percent with an ADAR of 1.41. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region recorded a two-week growth rate of negative 61 percent and an ADAR of 0.67. “All provinces, HUCs, and ICCs of areas remain under Alert Level 2 with minimal to low-risk case classification,” De Guzman said. However, the DOH said it is monitoring Region XII and Region V, which recorded a positive growth rate in the recent week of 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively. The DOH is also monitoring LapuLapu City and General Santos City after these recorded a positive one-week growth rate and a positive two-week growth rate. Both areas remain at low-risk classification with an ADAR of less than 1 per 100,000. Active cases nationwide might decline to 1,766 by Jan. 31 if the current practice of minimum public health standards (MPHS) is retained, while it may increase up to 9,388 if the public becomes lax, said De Guzman, citing projections made on Dec. 11 with 11,373 active infections. In Metro Manila, active cases might decline to 148 by Jan. 31 if current mobility and MPHS are maintained, while it may reach up to 325 if mobility is increased and MPHS are not followed, De Guzman added. She said it was important for everyone not to let their guard down. The Philippines logged 235 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,836,868. The Philippines also logged 0.9 percent COVID-19 positivity rate, the lowest in the country since testing data became available. The declining number of new cases observed since October has been attributed to the widening vaccination coverage in the country.

its influence in Asia after the turbulence and unpredictability of the Donald Trump era. Blinken’s comments came in Indonesia, the first leg of a Southeast Asian tour, the latest visit to the region by a senior US official in recent months. In a speech outlining the US approach to what it terms the Indo-Pacific, Blinken said Washington would work with allies and partners to “defend the rules-based order” and that countries should have the right to “choose their own path.” “That’s why there is so much concern – from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands – about Beijing’s aggressive actions,” he said. “Claiming open seas as their own. Distorting open markets through subsidies to its state-run companies. De-

nying the exports or revoking deals for countries whose policies it does not agree with.” “Countries across the region want this behavior to change – we do too,” he added. Blinken added that Washington was “determined to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” and said Beijing’s actions there threaten the movement of more than 3 trillion dollars’ worth of commerce every year. But he also stressed that “it’s not about a contest between a US-centric region or a China-centric region – the Indo-Pacific is its own region,” and said Washington wanted to avoid conflict there. China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, with competing claims from four Southeast Asian states as well as Taiwan. With AFP

ing 2022 polls after he withdrew his COC at the Comelec head office. “As a matter of principle, I’m no longer part of the 2022 presidential race,” Go said. The senator said he had made his decision to get out of the presidential race, but just waited for the right time to file his withdrawal. “Honestly, I just rode a taxi here alone. I just want enough time to make my supporters understand that my heart and mind are resisting the idea of running for president,” he said in an interview. Earlier, Go’s supporters had repeatedly threatened to put a barricade at Comelec’s main office in Manila to convince the senator that he should continue his presidential bid in next year’s elections. Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president, said Duterte and Go “have chosen peace as their path.” “Let’s give it to them and wish them well,” he said. Lacson’s running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, said the withdrawal was “a wise move.” He said it takes a wise man to sacrifice something that he loves and give way to others who can serve the country better. Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao said he respects Go’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race. Pacquiao said Go’s withdrawal would surely solidify the support of Mindanao for his candidacy.

Pacquiao said that although there are times that he would criticize President Duterte, he is supportive of his administration’s programs to develop Mindanao and is committed to continuing them. Presidential candidate and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday said he hopes Go “finds peace” after withdrawing from the presidential race. Moreno said Go’s decision to quit was not an easy one and he hopes that everything will be all right for the senator in the coming days. Go, a close aide of President Duterte, was supposed to run under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, a political party allied with PDP-Laban. Go had initially sought the vice presidency, but joined the presidential race to avoid a clash with Sara Duterte-Carpio. Working men and women welcomed the news of Duterte’s withdrawal. “He did the right thing,” said Noel Sandoval, a janitor at the Bureau of Immigration. Speaking in Filipino, he said, “He’s already been President and now he wants to be a senator. That’s too much. That’s an abuse of power.” Eduardo Rosario, a Grab driver, added: “It’s good he has some shame left. He wouldn’t win as senator, anyway.” Aling Teresa, a sidewalk vendor said it was time to give others a chance. “He’s old and his daughter Sara is there running for vice president,” she said in Filipino. “And it’s okay that Bong Go withdrew. He won’t win anyway.”

Residents and LGUs in Northern Luzon are also warned about the adverse weather effects caused by the shear line that might be enhanced by Odette.. Due to the storm’s possible strong impact, inter-island sea travel in the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga has been suspended to ensure that no one would be caught at sea by the storm and to prevent stranding at the ports. Timbal said the travel suspensions in these areas would remain until the storm warning has been lifted. PAGASA weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda said rough seas will prevail and winds can cause waves over four meters high in open seas, particularly Bohol Sea bordering Eastern Visayas-Caraga area where Odette may make a landfall. Peñaranda said such winds will also prompt hoisting of TCWS#3 in various central Philippine areas. “If that happens, vessels won’t be allowed to sail there,” he said. Peñaranda said “Rai” will likely intensify into Typhoon Odette which may have maximum winds of around 155 kph before its landfall on Thursday. “It’s also possible for ‘Odette’ to cross central Philippines as a typhoon with intense and even torrential rainfall,” he added. Peñaranda said the rainfall can trigger flooding and landslides in central Philip-

pine areas susceptible to these hazards. In its daily forecast on Tuesday, PAGASA said the trough of “Rai” may already bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region. Flooding or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rainfall, it said. The weather bureau said northeast monsoon or “amihan” and localized thunderstorms will bring rain showers to other parts of the country. President Rodrigo Duterte has directed LGUs and government agencies to take the necessary preparations with the looming typhoon that could affect Mindanao and the Visayas. “It’s already there. The typhoon path can be read in the newspaper and TV. All you have to do is to watch TV and see the trajectory of the typhoon,” he said. Duterte urged residents who would be affected by the typhoon to temporarily leave the area, especially if PAGASA says the typhoon will directly hit them. Authorities in Eastern Visayas have activated all disaster incident management task groups in every LGU and suspended land travel coming to and from Luzon and Mindanao effective Dec. 14, as preemptive measures because of Odette.

“professionally on the right” and not at the “junior level.” “He’s saying we should answer it professionally. We have documents showing so,” Duque said in an interview on Unang Balita. “We gave them an answer in a professional manner, in the emails, we have email threads. In fact, you should interview Secretary Vince Dizon, he was part of that thread,” he said. Duque added: “What Locsin wanted was for us to cater to the price of the supplier. But that’s not allowed. We’re not stupid to do that. We have a law for that.” This drew the ire of Locsin, who later Monday on Twitter rebuked the health secretary for denying that his department lost the opportunity to obtain cheaper syringes. “Don’t ever, Duque, ever question my motives,” said Locsin, who also revealed the issue on the social media platform. Duque said they were offered P411.5 million for 50 million syringes with each syringe priced around P2.38. However, he said taking the contract would lead to a violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “What he’s saying doesn’t make sense. First of all, we backed out because we cannot provide the budget. Why would we follow that? We will be charged with graft,” Duque said. Locsin previously said that the DOH’s offer of 4.7 US cents a syringe is “hallucinatory.” Duque expressed disappointment that Locsin did not reach out to him to clarify the situation since they belong to the same administration. “Because he tweeted about it and he did not talk to me. Our communications are open. We belong to the same administration. Talking to each other for clarification is easy,” he said.

the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries to look into “the removal of Philippine national heroes from the design of the new Philippines banknotes by replacing them with photos of flora and fauna, and, to express the sense of the House of Representatives strongly opposing of the said removal.” The BSP released a new design of the P1,000 banknote last weekend. In an event hosted by the governor Monday night for media covering the BSP beat, Diokno said the BSP would not be abandoning the country’s heroes. “No, we’re not. Heroes will remain heroes whether they are in the notes or not. The 1,000-piso paper banknote featuring [Chief Justice] Jose Abad

Santos, [Brig. Gen.] Vicente Lim, and [Girl Scouts founder] Josefa Llanes Escoda will remain in circulation alongside with the new 1,000-peso polymer banknotes,” Diokno said. “We will not demonetize the existing 1,000-piso paper banknote. Under my watch, there will be no demonetization of any denomination. The BSP will continue to print the existing 1,000-piso paper banknotes featuring the three heroes even as we circulate the 1,000-piso polymer banknotes,” he said. Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles also said the new design of the P1,000 banknotes would be released beginning in late April 2022.

BSP:... From A1 and that the existing 1000-piso paper banknotes featuring the heroes of World War 2 would continue to be printed despite the circulation of the 1000-piso polymer bills. This coincided with a resolution filed in the House of Representatives seeking a congressional inquiry into the central bank’s decision to remove the portraits of three World War II heroes from the P1,000 bill. House Resolution 2412 filed by Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat wants

Duque,... From A1

News IN BRIEF Solon slams govt plan to deploy cops in schools ASSISTANT Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro on Tuesday assailed the plan of the Philippine National Police to deploy its forces in the vicinity of colleges and universities to supposedly secure stakeholders as more schools resume face-to-face classes in January 2022. Castro said the schools and colleges are capable of reopening without the presence of police forces. “The Duterte administration is once again giving priority to military solutions to the pandemic over medical solutions by preparing to deploy police forces in the vicinity of colleges and universities to supposedly secure stakeholders as more schools resume face-to-face classes in January 2022,” Castro said. “What the schools need are more nurses and adequate facilities to provide isolation areas, hand washing facilities, and classrooms with adequate ventilation. Cops do not help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. They may even be carriers of the virus that would bring it inside schools.” Maricel V. Cruz

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Review pricing of basic goods’ By Othel V. Campos

NOTHER local food industry group, the Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines (CSAP), has joined ongoing calls to revi it the published prices of basic necessities under the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) scheme of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In a statement, CSAP executive director Francisco Buencamino believes that there is no more reason to hold the price increase for basic necessities. “The pandemic protocols have cost us so much money and inappropriately sustaining the current suggested retail prices (SRPs) could lead to further job losses in the industry,” he said. Buencamino noted that the canned sardines industry, which employs no less than 15,000 workers locally as of 2017

is also just trying to survive amidst the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Recently, the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. (PCFMI) has urged the DTI to revisit the SRPs of basic necessities to help recover from the losses due to the pandemic. CSAP reafﬁrmed the concerns raised by the Food Chamber, which is also reeling from the losses due to the slowdown of economic activity since

the start of the pandemic. The DTI provides an SRP list of basic necessities and prime commodities which include canned and other food products, bottled water, dairy, and common household supplies. However, the irregularity of its posting made many businesses sacriﬁce revenues more than they can afford. The CSAP submitted a position paper on the Prevailing Price and Suggested Retail Price to the DTI, underscoring that the Price Act does not require the agency’s prior approval for price increases but retailers still give notice to DTI before implementing any price increase Moreover, the paper stressed that manufacturers are compelled to adjust prices to the SRP even though there is no Prevailing Price or a Ceiling Price. Otherwise, their products would be pulled out from the shelves or be sub-

‘50K lose jobs due to terminal exchange plan’ CLOSE to 50,000 drivers, conductors, and support staff belonging to the Nagkaisang Samahan ng Mga Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc. (NSNPBPI) have lost their jobs due to the implementation of a terminal exchanges scheme. Gerry Danila, union president, lamented that the scheme discourages overland travel from the provinces to Metro Manila and vice versa. Passengers coming from Central and Northern Luzon must get off at the Philippine Sports Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, or Valenzuela City gateway terminal. Those from Mindanao, the Visayas and Southern Luzon have to get offat SM Sta. Rosa or Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx) in Paranaque City. Because of such, the NSNPBPI (formerly the Provincial BusOperators Association of the Philippines) has no other option but to reduce the number of its ﬂeet of buses plying the routes and to terminate or furlough employees, Danila said Even the commuting public has suffered, he added.

SURFING WINNERS. (From

right to left) Rommel Rojo of Baler, Niel Sanchez of Baler, Vea Estrellado of Sorsogon, and Jay-r Esquivel of La Union raising their hard-earned trophies. The City Government of Borongan together with the Surfriders Club of Eastern Samar opened its door to 203 surfers from six regions to host the first leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour’s 2022 circuit.

By Ronald O. Reyes

QC launches database for gender-related cases By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government has established the country’s ﬁrst-ever uniﬁed database of violence against women and children (VAWC) cases reported in barangays, city hall, and women and children’s desks in police stations to track and hasten the processing of genderbased violence cases. The city’s Gender and Development Council yesterday spearheaded the launch of the Gender and Development Integrated Management Information System or “QC VAW Centralized Databank System” to be used by the VAWC

desk ofﬁcers in the city’s 142 villages, police stations and GAD Council. The project launch also serves as the culmination activity of the city’s commemoration of the 18-day campaign to End Violence Against Women. The mayor earlier expressed concern over the rising cases of reported VAWC in the city, as reported by QC Police District Director Gen. Antonio Yarra in September 2021. According to Quezon City Police District chief, Antonio Yarra, there has been a 66.67 percent increase in VAWC cases and a 21.54 percent increase in rape cases for the ﬁrst eight months of

the year compared to the same period last year. Most of the recorded cases were of physical abuse and psychological abuse. It was also noted that the pandemic played a signiﬁcant role in the upward trend of VAWC cases, he said. The QCPD, QC Protection Center, and Gender and Development ofﬁce have been tasked to monitor and act swiftly on calls and reports pertaining to VAWC and other gender-based incidents. QCitizens, especially victims of gender-based abuse, must seek help through various government programs.

Response plan for LGUs unveiled By Joel E. Zurbano

TEST FLIGHT AT CLARK AIRPORT. The New Clark Airport in Pampanga successfully set a test flight on Tuesday. The trial domestic departure was by Cebu Pacific (5J 607) bound for Cebu. Danny Pata

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has launched a program for local government units, especially those in low-lying areas, to improve their capabilities in responding to incidents of ﬂooding and other emergencies. The program, dubbed “Flood Incident Response Safety Training (F.I.R.S.T.)” was conducted in the northern portion of Metro Manila and Luzon. A total of 404 responders from the 17 local government units of the National Capital Region, Southern Police District-Taguig City, and Metro Bataan Development Authority participated in the training held in Ternate, Cavite; San Rafael, Bulacan; and Mariveles, Bataan.

MMDA chair Benjamin Abalos Jr.said the training aims to capacitate the local government units in the metropolis as well as the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BRRMC) in responding to emergency incidents like flooding. “One of the natural hazards affecting Metro Manila is flooding. Henceforth, we have to intensify the capability of our first responders, who are at the forefront during extreme emergencies, and further improve our disaster response efforts,” Abalos said. The program, led by MMDA’s Metropolitan Public Safety Office (MPSO) headed by lawyer Victor Pablo Trinidad, trained the participants on water safety, rubber boat operations, rubber boat handling, and operation, among others.

Groups sign pact to preserve Las Piñas wetland park By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia A.Villar and the Together Ensemble Foundation agreed to work together to further maintain and preserve the Las PiñasParañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), which was listed in the Ramsar Convention as Wetland of International Importance. In a meet and greet between the LPPWP- Protected Area Management Board and French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Baccoz and the Together Ensemble Foundation led by its president Hubert d’Aboville and vice president Ramon Moreno, Villar said they are happy and honored that they visited and toured Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, a protected area, which is located in her hometown in Las Piñas City

and Parañaque City. Villar thanked the French ambassador and the Foundation for showing interest in putting up worthy projects at LPPWP that will augment their protection strategies in the area. Ambassador Baccoz, who described the Las Pinas Parañaque Wetland Park as a “magniﬁcent and fantastic” nature protection initiative related that “we need to build one or more concrete actions next year to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Together Ensemble Foundation, which will be part of the calendar of the major events of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France to be celebrated from July to December 2022.” “Fifteen days ago, we mentioned the

jected to rebates to fall back on the prevailing SRP levels. “Everyone has taken a blow from the pandemic but the DTI prolongs our pain by not considering the concerns of food manufacturers,” Buencamino added. Manufacturers of basic necessities have long waited for an adjustment in the prices of basic necessities, including canned meat, milk, and seasoning among others. With this, CSAP calls on the DTI to regularly consult both food manufacturers and retailers to assess whether the prices are still fair and just to all parties. “We’ve been waiting for far too long. Several businesses have closed and Filipinos have lost their jobs which is why we can only hope that the DTI will start to listen and help the food industry reasonably recover before it’s too late,” Buencamino said.

Borongan City successfully hosts annual surf contest

SK Federation holds GA in Caloocan City THE second general assembly (GA) of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) of Caloocan City was successfully held over the weekend. Before this, a training workshop on “Financial Transaction of the Sangguniang Kabataan” was also held at the Caloocan Sports Complex attended by SK chairmen, budget officers, and treasurers. The general assembly was witnessed by DILG-Caloocan City director Marco Cabueños. The face-to-face training workshop is part of a five-day online seminar organized by the Commission on Audit of Caloocan City. The seminar was attended by the leadership of COA-Caloocan led by Leah C. Bernardino who expressed gratitude for the cooperation shown by the entire SK Fed and SK officials in the city. Cabueños paid tribute to the leadership of SK Fed president Councilor Vince Hernandez. Cabueños said the event shows the readiness of the SK leadership to answer questions and give solutions to community issues. Jun David

symbolic planting of 75,000 trees on the site to commemorate the 75th anniversary, or perhaps building a monument symbolizing Franco-Filipino cooperation to mark the two anniversaries. This meeting will allow us to further expound on these good ideas or even come up with new proposals,” Baccoz said. She also noted that agricultural sector plays a major role in the development of France and the Philippines. “I am conﬁdent that we will able to build further on this through the ideas we will be keen to share as the basis for one or more events for the second half of next year,” the French ambassador also told Villar, who sits as chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

ANTI-TERRORISM DRILLS.

Members of Quezon City Police District hold simulation exercises on antiterrorism and crisis management drills at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. Manny Palmero

THE 2021 Surf in the City, an annual surfing competition hosted by Borongan City, successfully concluded after a two-year hiatus amid the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “We are happy to have successfully concluded the first nationwide surfing event during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would not be possible without the full support of the City Government of Borongan, and without the disciplined participation of all our surfers,” said Surf in the City chair Rupert Ambil during the event’s closing ceremony on Sunday. In this year’s competition, Baler-bet Niel Sanchez won the championship in the Shortboard Open Men’s Division, besting Jay-r Esquivel of La Union during the finals. Esquivel ranked second during the Men’s Open Shortboard Division but was hailed champion for the Men’s Open Longboard Division. Meanwhile, Vea Estrellado of Gubat, Sorsogon was hailed overall champion for both the Shortboard and Longboard Women’s Open during the final round. Rommel Rojo of Baler tops the Master’s Division while Danica Lebrilla of Borongan City won as Best Local Surfer in the competition. One of the main highlights of the 2021 Surf in the City fest was the appearance of Asian Games Gold Medalist and Olympian Margielyn Didal who was declared an “Adopted Citizen” of Borongan City “for her exemplary resilience and show of sportsmanship.” “We are declaring you as an adopted daughter of the city. You have all the rights and privileges of being a citizen of this beautiful city of Borongan,” said Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda during the special session with the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Borongan. The professional street skateboarder visited the Skate Jam competition to witness the activity and meet her Boronganon skater fans. She also advised the city on how to construct the soon-to-rise Skate Park Project to be built in 2022. Borongan City and the Surf City organizing team also invited Philippine Wakeboarding Head Coach Carlo Dela Torre to conduct a site inspection at the Suribao River in Camada, Borongan City for the city’s plan to construct a cable wake park in 2022 to further attract tourists.

IN BRIEF Isko meets paternal relatives in Iloilo

MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday took his Listening Tour to Sitio Liit, Barangay Purok 1 in San Joaquin, Iloilo to attend the Domagoso-Sandoy Family reunion and finally meet his paternal relatives. San Joaquin is the birthplace of Mayor Isko’s father, Joaquin, who in his youth went to Hamtic, Antique and later on tried his luck in Manila in the 1960s and worked as a stevedore in the ports of Manila. In the slums of Tondo, Manila, Joaquin Domagoso would later meet and fall in love with Rosario “Chayong” Moreno, a native of Allen, Northern Samar, who bore him a son who was named Francisco Moreno Domagoso. Moreno said he is very happy that after spending all his life in Tondo thinking he is all alone as a Domagoso, he has now actually touched base with his humble roots. The Sandoys are the offspring of his father’s sister who remained in San Joaquin. “I am happy because for the first time, I have seen what kind of environment my father was born in. Now I am no longer a rare species. In Tondo I was alone. And at least it’s true, there are many of us, Sandoys, Domagoso. I am not a rare species,” Moreno said to a crowd of about 200 Ilonggos composed mostly of his relatives. “I feel very orphaned, but now it seems like the size of my family,” Moreno added. The Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said he is also happy that he was able to prove to the whole world that everything he said about his humble beginnings was true. Moreno said he is proud to be a Domagoso, because it was from his father that he learned the value of hard work, persistence and uprightness, qualities that have brought him success in his life, both as a fledgling actor and later on as councilor, vice mayor and now mayor of Manila. He recounted how his father always went to the pier to look for work even if he was not on duty, always hoping that he would be noticed and given work so he could provide for his family. Rey E. Requejo

Leni chats with fans of rival candidates VICE President Leni Robredo, who is running for President, acknowledged a netizen following her Facebook live broadcast despite that person backing presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. In a recent FB live session, Robredo interacted with netizens and reacted to their comments. A netizen claimed they were supporters of Marcos and Duterte, but said, “Mabuhay, we love you, God bless us all.” “Thank you so much and that you are following me on our Facebook live even if your candidate is different. And thank you for not being discourteous,” she said. Meanwhile, Robredo and the late Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Chito Gascon have been honored by the Equality Champ Awards this year for their contributions to the advancement of LGBTQI rights and welfare in the Philippines. The Equality Champ Awards is a biennial nationwide search for individuals and organizations championing the rights and welfare of LGBTQI Filipinos. Rio N. Araja

Easy-to-remember 50 for Probinsyano

IN THE electronic raffle conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, Ang Probinsyano Party List (APPL) was able to secure the No. 50 placement on the 2022 official ballot. “This is a good number,” APPL Rep. Alfred Delos Santos said. “Masaya po ang Ang Probinsyano Party List dahil pinagpala tayong makakuha ng numerong madaling tandaan. Noong nakaraang eleksyon, nasa Top 5 Party List po tayo, na nakuha ng pinakamaraming boto.” “Ngayong darating na eleksyon, umaasa po ang Ang Probinsyano Partylist na makapasok muli sa Top 5. The number 50 is a significant number and mentioned so many times in the Bible. Even in numerology, number 50 symbolizes master of change. So, #50 on the 2022 ballot is a positive sign for Ang Probinsyano Party List,” he added. Delos Santos, in his freshman experience in the 18th Congress, shared that Ang Probinsyano Party List stayed true to its core as the representative of “probinsyanos.” APPL delivered much-needed infrastructure projects in remote areas and distributed aid - be it financial, medical, educational or livelihood - to people affected by the calamities and the pandemic. APPL was also the first group in Congress that filed the resolution for the investigation of the Special Risk Allowance for Health Workers.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News MMDA, LGUs have power to control caravans, MM motorcades By Joel E. Zurbano

‘BELEN’ AT LUNETA. A maintenance worker cleans the surroundings of a life-size ‘Belen’ or Nativity Scene displayed at Rizal Park in Manila on Tuesday. Norman Cruz

BLAMES NUISANCE CASES FOR DELAY

Final list of poll bets out by end-Dec.—Comelec T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday it expects to release the final list of candidates for the 2022 polls before the month ends, citing unresolved nuisance cases as the reason for the new timeline.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier announced that the final list of candidates would be out by today, December 15. Meanwhile, the poll body also raffled off the order of party-list groups on the ballot in next year’s elections, with Kalipunan ng Maralita at Malayang Mamamayan (Kamalayan) securing the No. 1 spot. Also, Bayan Muna party-list lawmakers on Tuesday filed a measure seeking to determine the period of candidacy

for election purposes and prohibit premature campaigning. House Bill 10616, filed by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite, seeks “to equalize the playing field among candidates by removing the confusion brought about by the provision in the Automated Election System Law, which determines the individual becomes a candidate.” The lawmakers also underscored that the premature campaigning is “wicked, unfair, and must be prohibited.” This comes more than two months before February 8, 2022, or the start of the official campaign for the May 9 national and local elections. “The list of official candidates will not be released tomorrow as there are still a number of unresolved nuisance cases,” Jimenez said. “We expect that the process of finalizing the list of candidates will take at least two more weeks,” he added.

Rounding up the party-list groups which secured the first 10 spots are Kilos Mamamayan Ngayon Na (KM Ngayong Na); Philippine Society for Industrial Security (PSIS); Agricultural Sectoral Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP); Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) Home Owners and Marginalized Empowerment through Opportunities with Neighborhood Economic Reliability (Home Owner); Kabalikat Patungo sa Umuunlad na Sistematiko at Organisadong Pangkabuhayan Movement (KapusoPM); PDP Cares Foundation, Inc. (PDP Cares); Noble Advancement of Marvelous People of the Philippines (Marvelous Tayo); and Advocates and Keepers Organization of OFWs, Inc. (AKO OFW). Of the 10, only AGAP and Kabayan party-list are incumbent members of the House of Representatives, as 166 party-list groups participated in the raffle. Maricel V. Cruz

PANGASINAN VISIT. Senatorial

aspirant and former Vice President Jejomar Binay visits a calamansi farm and other micro, small and medium enterprises in the 4th District of Pangasinan. Binay is pushing for loans and other forms of government aid for MSMEs to help them recover from the economic effects of the pandemic. With the former vice president is Sen. Nancy Binay and Rep. Christopher de Venecia.

Sara meets supporters in Panay, pitches six Uniteam senatorial bets By Maricel V. Cruz UNITEAM vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on Tuesday met with supporters and local officials in Panay Island and urged then to embrace the call for unity that she and her running mate, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been espousing. To ensure the country’s economic recovery, Duterte said now is the time for

the people to unite as the entire world has been battling one of the most dangerous challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic. Duterte, chairperson of the LakasChristian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), thanked the parallel groups supporting the BBMSara Uniteam Alliance during the meetand-greet Tuesday at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City. The groups include Ituloy ang Pagbaba-

HELPING GARDENERS.

A certain Mang Cesar receives financial assistance from former Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano (left) who visited Silang, Cavite on Monday to distribute aid to 50 gardeners in the town who lost jobs owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. JR Josue

go Movement (IPM) Iloilo Chapter, Sara Duterte Supporters, Hugpong Ilonggo sa Pagbabago, Ilonggo for Sara Duterte, BBM Youth Iloilo Chapter, Panay Movers for BBM/Sara, R-6 Alliance, Dagan Day Sara DDS Youth Iloilo Chapter, Ilonggo Ako Duterte Ako at Millennials 4 Marcos & Sara; Curator and President of Museo Iloilo (BBM-SARA Supporter), Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance, Sara 2022, United Il-

onggo for BBM & Sara, Iloilo City Loop Alliance Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, Sara Duterte for Vice President Movement, BBM Iloilo City, and OTON for SARA. It was the first visit of Duterte to Iloilo, a part of Panay that includes Aklan, Antique, and Capiz provinces, after filing her certificate of candidacy (COC) last October as vice presidential aspirant of Lakas-CMD.

Over 15k join Ping’s Partido Reporma ranks A TOTAL of 15,879 Filipinos have now joined Partido Reporma and have committed support for the presidential bid of its chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is running to fulfill his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) agenda, among other platforms. A ranking official from the party disclosed on Tuesday they are moving within target in terms of their grassroots recruitment process to boost the candidacy of Lacson. Partido Reporma is now busy organizing supporters to rally behind the BRAVE advocacy of its standard-bearer. “I am delighted to report that our call center operations continue and remain focused on pushing our reform advocacies. We are glad to know thousands of

Filipinos understand what we are fighting for and are willing to support us on our mission,” Partido Reporma treasurer Arnel Ty said. Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto lll stressed as unconstitutional the planned deferment of the upcoming elections due to COVID-19. “Malabo (murky),” said Sotto, who is running for vice president in next year’s elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition where he is the President. He noted there is no provision in the Constitution that will allow a holdover for national officials except for 12 members of the Senate. The running mate of Lacson also noted there would be a vacuum in government if that happened. Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Tuesday appealed to politicians and organizers of motorcades and caravans to follow the guidelines formulated to minimize traffic gridlocks in the capital region. In the list of guidelines, the MMDA said it shall regulate, evaluate, and issue permits for motorcades and/or caravans on major thoroughfares, while concerned local government units are in charge of such activities on all other roads. Motorcades and caravans shall only be permitted during weekends and holidays between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. “The same standard and procedure will be applied to all applicants for rally permit regardless of political party,” said MMDA general manager Romando Artes. “The organizers should mobilize their own marshals and secure permits from LGUs. They should finish the motorcade at 10 am. Also, motorcade participants should stay in designated lanes to avoid inconvenience to the motoring public,” he added. Also, organizers of these events would need to apply for a Roadway Private Utilization Permit (RPUP) with the MMDA and/or the concerned LGUs. They should state in their applications the full details of their event, including the name of the event, organizations involved, date, time, route, estimated number of motor vehicles, program of activities, and other relevant details. The application for permit shall be evaluated and issued by the MMDA and/or the concerned Metro Manila LGUs, with the consideration of a traffic management plan and undertaking of a public information and awareness campaign for the purpose. The organizers of the motorcades and/or caravans shall comply with relevant laws such as Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code); rules and regulations of the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; and the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) pertaining to the COVID-19 minimum public health standards.

Pacquiao unveils economic team led by Zamora By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday unveiled his economic team, which would help him achieve his target of uplifting the lives of Filipinos. “If elected to the presidency, my economic team composed of respected and competent people will implement a sound and viable economic development program that will truly address the poverty issue by creating more employment opportunities,” assured the standard bearer of PROMDI. Pacquiao’s priority is to create a strong economic team as he noted the biggest challenge the next administration would face is the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering problem of the territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. His economic team would be led by his campaign manager Salvador “Buddy” Zamora, a successful businessman and an expert in banking, mining, agriculture, and telecommunications, among others. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from New York University (NYU). Another key member is Mimo Osmeña, the chairman of the Cebu-based Promdi political party. He is the son of former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña, better known as the “Father of Ceboom” used to describe the province’s economic boom in the 1990s. Osmeña holds degrees in BS Physics and MBA Marketing from San Francisco State University. He is also president of MRC Allied Industries, which is into property development, and is a trustee of Cebu International School.

Opinion Deviant democracy

Duterte has no moral authority to lecture world leaders on the Philippines being a bastion of democracy. Duterte is the last person, we think, to talk about democracy in the Philippines. From Day One on June 30, 2016, when he took his oath of office and vowed to defend the Constitution, he was already tearing the document to shreds. How? He promised during the campaign to end the drug menace in the country in three to six months. But the war on drugs was already in progress soon after his electoral victory as the police had already been sufficiently emboldened to launch anti-drug operations with uniformly deadly results,the “nanlaban” narrative serving to justify the “shoot-first, ask-questions-later” approach that underpins the whole campaign up to now, nearly six years later. Official statistics put the tally of the war on drugs at nearly 7,000, but human rights groups here and abroad insist that between 20,000 to 30,000 have actually died, many of them in alleged extra-judicial killings or EJKs. Duterte has no moral authority to lecture world leaders on the Philippines being a bastion of democracy during his watch with his crackdown on dissent and suppression of press freedom. He has sent to jail a sitting senator, Leila de Lima, on trumped-up charges of alleged involvement in illegal drugs. He was also instrumental in shutting down, through his allies in Congress, the media conglomerate ABS-CBN, on similarly false charges of non-payment of taxes, among others. His administration has also hounded Maria Ressa, the founder of Rappler, an independent online news service, with an avalanche of base-

ernhil@yahoo.com

Moving in the right direction with NCAP EvEryman By Jose “Jun” De Guzman WITH the recent easing of restrictions not only in the metro but slowly in the whole country, the traffic situation is starting to get back to its old, horrendous, and seemingly incorrigible state. Prior to the pandemic in 2019, it was estimated by an Asian Development Bank study that P3.5 billion is lost in local productivity and economy as a whole due to the average stand-still of two hours in traffic. According to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the second leading cause of traffic is reckless driving. This dire situation is very wasteful not only from an economic standpoint but also from a personal and social perspective, considering the hours consumed in traffic could be better spent for quality time with the family and loved ones, self-betterment, or simply to achieve a better work-life balance and emotional well-being. These intangibles are what is being taken away by traffic from you. To address this problem, Parañaque City led the way and launched the No Contact Apprehension Program or NCAP in 2018. Several high-powered cameras were placed in different and strategic locations and thoroughfares in the city, which captured the plate number of erring motorists in high-definition images. Those caught violating traffic rules and regulations will be sent a notice of violation with a photo of the actual violation to the driver’s registered mail. After which, the motorist would have the option to contest the notice of violation or simply just settle the fine. It would be rather difficult to contest the violation when after all, there can be no better evidence than being caught “in flagrante” through the photo sent with the notice of violation.

After three years of operation, NCAP and Parañaque Traffic Office showed an astounding 82-percent decrease in violations, from 111 violations per camera per day in 2018 to only 11 violations per camera per day in 2021. The top three violations are beating the red light, disobedience of traffic signs, and obstruction of pedestrian crossing.

It aims to attain road safety while making a positive change in motorists’ behavior. Shortly, Valenzuela followed suit with the institutionalization of the NCAP system in 2019. It recorded a 74-percent drop from 45 violations per camera per day in 2019 to only 16 violations per camera per day in 2021. In December 2020, the City of Manila installed the NCAP system as well, and in less than one month, 15,000 traffic violations ranging from disobedience to traffic control signals and signs to disregarding lane markings were caught on camera and were accordingly meted out the fines. This stellar initial showing marked remarkable results yielding a total decrease of 65 percent in traffic violations with only less than a year of implementation. The most recent addition to the progressive cities taking part in the NCAP traffic system is Quezon City, which installed the system just last month. The most populous city in the Philippines with 2.16 million inhabitants, Quezon City cannot afford to slacken on its traffic policies as many people stand to be harmed by reckless and careless drivers who take the major road arteries that pass through the city such as EDSA, C5, Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, and Aurora

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EDITORIAL

less libel and tax cases. Since Duterte assumed office in 2016 up to this month, no less than 22 journalists have also been killed. Human rights groups have also cited the prevailing culture of impunity in the country, with the growing number of killings of activists and members of the legal profession. At least 65 lawyers have been killed from 2016 up to September 2021, according to lawyers’ groups. Two, Duterte also told the global meeting: “Hard but necessary reforms needed to be made, deep wounds of divisions needed to be healed, and stark inequalities needed to be redressed. All difficult undertakings but we did what we could and should...My government worked to give the Filipino people the basic means to lead a life of dignity. This entails creating jobs, safeguarding peace and security, and instituting social safety nets. We have made significant headway especially in economic expansion but COVID-19 struck and reversed many of our hard-earned gains.” To be sure, not all is doom and gloom in the economic front. The much-vaunted infrastructure program called “Build-Build, Build” is working, but apparently at a glacial pace. Remember how many flagship projects were supposed to be started in 2017 and completed by the middle of next year? No less than 75, if we recall right, but the accomplishment rate at this point is closer to 20 percent, if we’re to believe recent assessments. Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with its focus on lockdowns and mobility restrictions often marked by draconian measures by the police against those not wearing face masks and face shields or improperly wearing them, or violating social distancing regulations, contributed to the economic slowdown that led to loss of many jobs and the closure of thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises across the country since March 2020. And three, Duterte crowed: “My administration will ensure an honest, peaceful, credible, and free elections in May. It will be my highest honor to turn over the reins of power to my successor knowing that in the exercise of my mandate I did my best to serve the Filipino nation.” We have serious doubts that the May 2022 elections will be “honest, peaceful, credible and free.” In the first place, Duterte himself appears hell-bent on keeping himself in power for life even if the Constitution prohibits him from seeking reelection. He even considered running for vice president apparently to keep himself beyond the reach of any investigation by the International Criminal Court of “crimes against humanity”. And then he filed a certificate of candidacy for senator because he claims he wants to teach the senators lessons on how to conduct proper investigations of corruption. As of Tuesday, however, he has withdrawn from the Senate race. All this leaves us wondering: Why did Biden invite Duterte at all to a “Democracy Summit” where, as expected, the Great Communicator told his audience the diametrical opposite of the truth? Did he contribute at all to “a more democratic, equitable, inclusive and sustainable world?” You be the judge.

EARLY this month, US President Joe Biden convened a two-day virtual “Summit for Democracy”with heads of states and “voices from the business and non-government sectors” to join the United States in “taking action to strengthen democracy.” In his invitation to participants, including President Rodrido Duterte, Biden said he looked forward to welcoming them and hearing their ideas on “how we can foster a more democratic, equitable, inclusive and sustainable world.” So what did Duterte tell the forum? One: “The Philippines was the first republic in Asia and the inspiration of all Asian struggles for independence. Today, we have a vibrant democracy and an open and diverse society (where) freedom of expression and of the press are fully enjoyed.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

At full throttle – hopefully

DUCATION Secretary Leonor Briones has filled parents’ cups with a mouthful of hope when she said last week there is no turning back in pushing faceto-face classes in January – provided the latest coronavirus variant Omicron is not on Philippine shores. “There is no pushing back. In the meantime, we proceed. We cannot stop,” Briones told a news conference Friday. Earlier on, the Department of Education raised hopes the limited face-toface classes would move to its “expansion phase” by January 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviewed on ANC, DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said after the pilot implementation this December, more grade levels and longer class hours would be considered. In the pilot face-to-classes, only Kindergarten to Grade 3 as well as Senior High School students are participating, but if Briones’ timeframe is followed, this means students from Kinder to Grade 12 would resume their face-toface classes. But the caveat remains: this would be so, for as long as the danger of coronavirus infection is milder than previously thought.

More grades and longer hours can be expected for face-toface classes next year. So far, a total 272 public schools and 18 private schools have been conducting face-to-face classes in the country under the pilot implementation, with Garma underlining the DepEd wants “to learn from this (which) will serve as the basis for our recommendation to the Office of the President if ever we’re going to expand this next year.” During a hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education & Culture on face-to-face classes, Garma said the DepEd accelerated the expansion of the face-to-face classes, adding DepEd would come up with a five-week report on pilot

face-to-face classes after its implementation by the end of December. A DepEd memorandum dated Dec 9, 2021 directs all public and private schools to get ready for the implementation of the expanded phase of face-toface classes. There are of course paramaters that must be followed in the evaluation, to be presented in January, which include compliance to health standards, learning outcome, structures in schools, dynamics on behavior, and awareness of community. We add that classroom availability must be among the top priorities to be considered when students from the different levels of K-12 will be returning, physically, to their respective classes, not the least the bulletin boards from the Department of Health and the local government units. If the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in basic education is completed by month’s end, there is optimism that students and their parents as well as their teachers will have reason to hope for the new normal during the pandemic. The echoes of Secretary Briones’ “There is no pushing back” will have a cupful of significance.

GMA Network sizzles Before ABS-CBN’s closure, its Channel 2 and GMA’s Channel 7 had 70 percent of the free tv market between them. With ABS-CBN apparently gone for good, GMA Network readily increased its market share to an unheard of 54 percent.

How did the network manage this phenomenal rise?

ON JAN. 5, 2021, GMA Network, Inc. began the new year with its share pricing closing at P5.95, down 5 centavos from its Dec. 29, 2020 closing price of P6. Within the first six months of 2021, the stock price of the Philippines’ largest broadcast network rose to a new high of P14.40 per share. The surge corrected a bit before scaling an unprecedented high of P16.66 per share on Oct. 4, 2021, closing at P16.06 that day. At P16 per share, the 3.361 shares outstanding of GMA Network were valued at a whopping P53.977 billion, an increase of P33.811 billion or 167.66 percent in just nine months. With 29.03 percent ownership, the GMA Network family holdings of the late Gilberto Duavit now led by GMA Network President Gilberto Duavit Jr. were suddenly worth P15.669 billion, up P9.8 billion. GMA Network Chair and CEO Felipe L. Gozon has holdings of 27.07 percent. In late September, those became valued at P14.61 billion, an increase of P9 billion. The third major owner, the family of Menardo Jimenez, has 27.81 percent. In late September, the equity was worth P15 billion, an increase of P9.4 billion. GMA Network’s stock closed at P13.78 per share yesterday (Dec. 14, 2021), valuing the company at P45.84 billion. Of that, Gozon has stocks worth P12.42 billion, the Duavit family P13.3 billion, and the Jimenez family, P12.7 billion. GMA Network has big plans at expansion and diversification into non-tv businesses. Those plans, however, will require careful and savvy execution. ABS-CBN used to generate a third of its revenues from non-tv businesses. What did GMA Network do that enabled its three major owners to accumulate wealth at the rate of P1 billion per month for nine months straight, January to September 2021? Four things: One, GMA Network, Inc. has become a near-monopoly, following the closure of its arch rival ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. in July 2020.

hugeTwo, GMA Network was already a huge ly profitable cash cow even before the ABSCBN’s closure which it had beaten handily in the ratings and market share game. Out of its 2020 profits, GMA Network declared a whopping P6.56 billion in cash dividends on March 26, 2021—its largest ever cash dividend, eclipsing the previous high of P3.54 billion declared in March 2017 out of the 2016 profits. In 2020, GMA Network reported its biggest profit in its 70-year history, a gargantuan P6.0 billion, more than double or 128 percent higher than 2019’s P2.639 billion, on the back of a 17-percent rise in revenues to P19.33 billion, of which P17.72 billion were tv advertising. Three, even before ABS-CBN’s closure, GMA Network had been the No. 1 television station in terms of public trust and ratings. GMA Network is the most trusted major tv network today, a tribute to the station’s evenhanded and balanced treatment of news, information, and entertainment—a valuable quality given the state of misinformation and disinformation in social media today. From January to May 2020, GMA had an audience share of 33.8 percent, higher than ABSCBN’s 30.2 percent. Four, GMA Network has been extremely well-managed, if initially conservatively, under the tandem of Chair and CEO Felipe Gozon and President Gilberto Duavit Jr. The two have turned a once-sluggish behemoth into a veritable money machine. Since 2011, when Gozon took over as CEO, and up to September 2021, the tandem has delivered P31 billion in cumulative profits on aggregate revenues of P162.26 billion—an unprecedented feat and far better than ABS-CBN’s profit performance when it was still around. Now, Gozon is looking at bigger and different

Boulevard among others. MMDA data in 2019 reported the city as having the greatest number of road crashes not only in the NCR but also nationwide with a total of 39,797 incidents. Indeed, it is nothing but prudent for the city government to take the necessary steps in the right direction to rectify this situation with the view of minimizing risks to person and property which ply their local roads. It is with great anticipation that we wait for the positive impact which NCAP will have in this city. The NCAP system is not something purely novel, as this has been in place all over the world for quite some time already. For instance, in London, surveillance cameras were first used to monitor traffic in 1974. Most states in the federal

United States also have traffic systems that employ CCTV cameras. In Asia, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has a well-established intelligent transport system, which according to them, “has been effective in allowing for better traffic flow by providing real-time information and eliminating congestion at toll gates.” In fact, most international systems are integrated into a more complex traffic system network, where the cameras feed the command center information of an accident or some traffic congestion in an area, and the command center can make the necessary adjustments in the traffic lights and signals to improve the traffic flow. In certain emergencies, it can also send an emergency response unit to the affected area.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

things. GMA Network is pumping cash into GMA Ventures, Inc, which Gozon says will help the company deliver “more revenues and net income for our stockholders.” GMA Ventures will focus on non-core businesses outside of TV. “If a good opportunity presents itself for the company to earn considerable revenues and net income, even if that will require the investment of a substantial amount, then [GMA Ventures Inc.] can invest in it. Provided not much risk is involved in the business to be invested on,” CEO Gozon told stockholders during a special meeting on Dec. 9, 2021. The tv business will undergo a P2-billion “expansion of our digital transmission network, upgrading of our post-production capabilities, and of our content layout facilities, and expansion of our regional TV network, etc., etc. We have not yet started the construction of our new building and studios. And it does not include our investments in content and other investments.” GMA’s stockholders approved an initial P100 million into GMA Ventures and authorized GMA Network’s executive committee to pump another P1 billion if needed. “We have organized GVI and if a good opportunity presents itself for the company to earn considerable revenues and net income even if that will require the investment of a substantial amount then GVI can invest in it provided not much risk is involved in the business to be invested on,” Gozon told stockholders. He added that there are prospective targets for acquisitions. “We have already made small investments in one or two so-called startup companies. But at this point we prefer not to identify them,” the CEO revealed. Gozon assured stockholders that future cash dividend payouts will not be affected given that GMA has no long-term debts and cash flow remains “very healthy.” For 2021, Gozon GMA will fall short of its revenue target but will exceed its income target. He hopes the COVID restrictions will be relaxed so the economy can recover. For 2022, two things are going. One, the recovery in late 2021 will continue into next year; and two, the presidential elections will probably add five percent to revenues. biznewsasia@gmail.com We know that this NCAP traffic system will create a positive impact on the traffic situation in the country as it aims to attain road safety while making a positive change in motorists’ behavior. The system likewise eliminates opportunities for corruption and extortion, and will only issue violation notices to motorists based on evidence. Finally, it brings our traffic management to global standards and opens the possibility of it evolving into a more advanced traffic system similar to those of other countries. As for the (erring) motorists, don’t fear this change, because it is definitely a step in the right direction. Jose “Jun” De Guzman is a motorist and a bank executive who lives in Parañaque City.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

World

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

7.3-magnitude quake strikes Indonesia, tsunami alert lifted A 7.3-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, causing panic but no deaths or major damage were reported. The epicenter was in the Flores Sea, north of East Nusa Tenggara province, where the quake sparked terror after hitting in the late morning (0320 GMT). “I was in the field. People ran in panic. I am still... scared,” said Nuraini, a resident of Adonara island in the East Flores regency. No significant damage or fatalities were immediately reported, but Indonesian authorities urged caution with more than a dozen smaller aftershocks detected. One person was injured in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, and a school building was damaged on Selayar island, national disaster agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said in a statement.

The impact of the quake was still being assessed, he added. The intensity of the shaking sparked panic in many areas, with videos from some towns and villages shared on social media showing people running outside, some holding small children. The images showed streets clogged with traffic as vehicles attempted to leave for safe locations. The USGS placed the epicenter at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11 miles), around 100 kilometers north of the Flores island town of Maumere, home to more than 80,000 people, where the quake disrupted coronavirus inoculations. “People were receiving vaccines when the quake hit. They ran in panic,” said Maumere resident Yulius Tara. “There were more than 200 people... and the (vaccination) event stopped because of the quake.” AFP

WHERE A HOUSE USED TO BE. A teddy bear sits among the remains of what were once houses after extreme weather

hit the area, in Bowling Green, Kentucky on December 13, 2021. Kentucky officials voiced relief Monday that dozens of workers at a candle factory appear to have survived tornados that killed at least 88 people and left a trail of devastation across six US states. AFP

UN validates record Arctic temperature COVID ROUNDUP 500k quarantined amid new outbreak CHINA’S economically important Zhejiang province wrestled on Tuesday with a COVID outbreak that has left half a million people quarantined and some districts under business shutdown. Zhejiang, a major industrial and export hub on the country’s east coast, reported 44 of China’s 51 domestically transmitted coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total since late last week to nearly 200. Although Chinese case counts are miniscule compared to other major economies, officials in Zhejiang have employed the country’s signature mass testing blitz and targeted lockdowns with concern high over fresh outbreaks as Beijing gears up to host the Winter Olympics in February. More than 540,000 people have been put in quarantine in Zhejiang, officials have said. The problems in the province come as Chinese media reported on Monday that the country’s first case of the fast-spreading Omicron variant had been identified in the northern port city of Tianjin. In recent days, districts in Ningbo – the province’s main port – and the nearby city of Shaoxing said they also were suspending some business operations. AFP

HE UN on Tuesday officially recognised the 38 degrees Celsius measured in Siberia last year as a new record high for the Arctic, sounding “alarm bells” over climate change.

The sweltering heat – equivalent to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit – was seen on June 20, 2020 in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk, marking the highest tem-

‘Alarm bells’ raised over climate change

perature ever recorded above the Arctic Circle, the World Meteorological Organization said. This is the first time the WMO has added record heat in the Arctic to its archive of extreme weather reports, and it comes amid an unprecedented wave of record temperature spikes globally, the UN agency said. “This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate,” its chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement.

Verkhoyansk lies about 115 kilometers (70 miles) north of the Arctic Circle and temperatures have been measured there since 1885. The temperature, which the agency pointed out was “more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic,” was measured at a meteorological station during an exceptionally prolonged Siberian heatwave. The average temperatures across Arctic Siberia reached up to 10C above normal for much of the summer last year, it said, adding that this had fueled fires and massive sea-ice loss.

US prepares ‘alternatives’ if nuclear talks with Iran fail

California brings back mask mandate AUTHORITIES in California said they were reinstating mask mandates in all indoor public spaces to try to curb the resurgence of COVID-19 in recent weeks. The mask mandate, which will come into force Wednesday, applies to all individuals, whether vaccinated or not. Los Angeles, San Francisco and other counties in California reintroduced the maskwearing rule locally several months ago. But other counties, such as Orange and San Diego, which are very heavily populated, had stuck with state-wide rules that masks only needed to be worn in certain public spaces such as airports, hospitals or schools but not in shops, restaurants or cinemas. California’s Health Secretary Mark Ghaly said the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases had prompted the new rule. There has been a 47 percent increase in cases since the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November. The number of new daily cases of coronavirus in California has risen from 9.6 per 100,000 to 14 per 100,000 during that time. Ghaly said that wearing a mask could help prevent a repeat of last winter’s high rates of infection and death. “This is a critical time where we have a tool that we know has worked and can work,” Ghaly said. “As we look at the evidence that masks do make a difference, even a 10 percent increase in indoor masking can reduce case transmission significantly.” The mask mandate will remain in place until January 15. AFP

British PM’s virus curbs face backlash BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday faces a backlash from his own MPs in parliament over new coronavirus restrictions, as he battles a slump in support and questions about his future. Members of Johnson’s Conservative party have hit out at new rules on face-mask wearing, testing, self-isolation and vaccine passes, warning they damage public freedoms. Tory MP Steve Baker, from the COVID Recovery Group, accused Johnson of creating a “miserable dystopia” by introducing “disproportionate” curbs based on incomplete evidence. The former junior Brexit minister said at the weekend that opposition to the series of votes to enshrine the rules in law was about “what kind of society we’re creating.” But Johnson maintains tougher measures are needed urgently to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by a “tidal wave” of Omicron infections in the weeks and months ahead. On Monday, he said at least one person had died after contracting the coronavirus variant. A spate of infections is also wreaking havoc on sports fixtures. The English Premier League reported a record 42 new cases among football players and staff on Monday, with an outbreak forcing Manchester United to postpone Tuesday’s match against Brentford.AFP

The heatwave also played a significant role in 2020 being designated one of the three warmest years on record globally. Last year also saw a new record high of 18.3C for the Antarctic continent, Taalas said. The WMO is still seeking to verify the 54.4C recorded in both 2020 and 2021 in the world’s hottest place, Death Valley in California. And its experts are also working on validating a new European temperature record of 48.8C reported on the Italian island of Sicily this past summer. AFP

CONSTANT VIGILANCE. People wait in line to get tests for COVID-19 at a virus testing center in Seoul on December 14, 2021. AFP

Russia: WHO yet to approve Sputnik over lack of data RUSSIA on Tuesday admitted that its homegrown Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine had not yet been approved by the World Health Organization because Russian authorities had not provided enough data. In August last year, Sputnik V became the world’s first approved coronavirus vaccine when Russian authorities gave it the green light for domestic use ahead of large-scale clinical trials. “We still haven’t provided certain information that needs to be provided for certification because we had a different understanding of what information it had to be and how it should be

provided,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “We have different standards.” But Peskov said Russia is “gradually, let’s say, adapting to these requirements.” While officials sparked concerns over the fast-track process, the jab was since declared safe and more than 90 percent effective in a report published by leading medical journal The Lancet. But neither the US nor EU medicines watchdogs have so far granted authorization for Sputnik V, which has been used in Russia and a host of other countries since late last year.

The WHO last month said it had restarted the certification process that could grant emergency authorisation for Sputnik V after delaying the process for several months but said it still needed “the full dossier on Sputnik.” At home, Russian authorities have faced a vaccine-skeptic population that has seen just 42 percent of Russians fully inoculated. A Twitter account associated with jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday blamed the delayed WHO certification process on the Russian authorities and said that it had contributed to vaccine-skepticism at home. AFP

THE United States is preparing “alternatives” in case efforts to revive a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions collapse, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, as expectations grow that talks will fail. “We continue in this hour, on this day, to pursue diplomacy because it remains at this moment the best option, but we are actively engaging with allies and partners on alternatives,” he said during a visit to Indonesia. Negotiations restarted on Thursday last week to try to revive the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers, which the United States withdrew from under Donald Trump in 2018. Iran claims it only wants to develop a civilian capability but Western powers say its stockpile of enriched uranium goes well beyond that, and could be used to develop a nuclear weapon. US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to return to the agreement and Iranian officials maintain they are serious about committing to the talks. But Tehran has been accused of backsliding on progress made earlier this year and playing for time. Blinken’s remarks came after Biden recently said the United States was preparing “additional measures” against Iran. In Tuesday’s comments, the top US diplomat also referred to a recent statement by European countries involved in the talks, which he said noted that “time is running out, that Iran is still not engaged in real negotiations”. “Unless there’s swift progress... the Iran nuclear agreement will become an empty shell,” Blinken said, referring to the statement. AFP

Hong Kong’s ‘patriots only’ elections on Dec. 19 usher in muted new era AGAINST a backdrop of colorful banners and fluttering flags, local Hong Kong politician Allan Wong is trying to get morning commuters excited about the city’s upcoming “patriots only” legislature polls. Wong, 41, is one of 153 people vetted for their political loyalty and allowed to stand in a new system that has drastically curtailed who can run for office. Polling data suggests turnout for the December 19 elections could hit record lows. But Wong is undeterred. On a housing estate in his constituency, he tries to engage residents with conversation and leaflets. Some stop to chat, most walk on. “I need to go to the street, introduce myself, get in touch with voters and the

public and do the best I can to explain what I want to do,” he told AFP. It’s not an easy sell. In the quiet neighborhood of Tai Wai, constituents tend to project ennui. A middle-aged couple told AFP they had no plans to vote this year but declined to say why because such discussion was “too sensitive.” A young man, who gave his surname as Pang, said in the last local polls he voted for a pro-democracy candidate who is now in self-imposed exile overseas. Pang called this year’s vote “pointless” because even those who want to distance themselves from the establishment must still play by Beijing’s rules. Hong Kong has never been a full democracy. AFP

SIT-IN PROTEST. Suspended parliament members from opposition parties take part in a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament House in New Delhi on December 14, 2021. AFP

Business

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; Metrobank, BDO up

TOCKS rose Tuesday after the Asian Development Bank upgraded its growth forecast for the Philippines this year and next on improving vaccination rate.

The PSEi, the 30-company benchmark index of the Philippine Stock Exchange, gained 44 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 7,241.99. The broader all-share index also rose 8 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 3,841.69, on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 97

to 85, while 55 issues were unchanged. Four of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. which rose 2.5 percent to P52.15 and BDO Unibank Inc. which gained 2 percent to P127. Bank of the Philippine Islands went up 1.4 percent to P94.80, while Globe Telecom Inc. added 0.5 percent to close at P3,418.00. Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly fell Tuesday as investors eyed the Omicron coronavirus variant and looming central bank moves to curb rising inflation. As policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic contend with soaring prices, the US Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its latest interest-rate decision on

Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank (the next day. After last week’s strong performance, stocks have stumbled this week as Britain became the latest country to boost its response to the Omicron strain and China reported its first case—which many fear could throw the global recovery into jeopardy. Tracking those fears, Tokyo closed down, as did Seoul and Sydney. Hong Kong and Shanghai fell, dragged down by continued woes in the Chinese housing market sparked by the spectacular fall from grace of property giant Evergrande. Developer Shimao became the latest firm to be pulled into the dragnet Tues-

day as its share price plunged to its lowest level in a decade. And Monday’s decision by Chinese start-up SenseTime to postpone a $767 million initial public offering in Hong Kong also spooked markets, highlighting the risks investors face from competing sanctions as relations between Washington and Beijing sour. Coronavirus fears have continued to plague investors, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warning that the Omicron variant could have a “substantial” economic impact as it trimmed its 2021 and 2022 growth forecasts for developing Asia. While the region was expected to sustain a “strong rebound” and keep in-

flation at manageable levels, the emergence of Omicron had brought “additional uncertainty”, the ADB said. Oil prices have also retreated on virus fears, after they gained around eight percent last week. Beyond property woes and virus fears, all eyes this week are on the Fed, which must carefully calibrate its response between raising rates and pulling the rug from under a tenuous recovery or sticking to the status quo and letting inflation rise even further. Analysts expect the central bank to opt for the former, as the United States battles with consumer prices soaring at some of the highest rates in decades. With AFP

Chinese developer Shimao share plunge contributes to property woes

ALL ELECTRIC. Toyota Motor Corp. president Akio Toyoda gestures at a briefing on EV (electric vehicle) battery strategies at the Manila company’s showroom in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2021. AFP

Gas field tremor terror haunts Dutch villages

Standard Manila TODAY Standard

HONG KONG, China—Chinese real estate firm Shimao Group’s share price plunged to its lowest level in a decade Tuesday, adding to concerns over the country’s heavily indebted property sector. Chinese property firms have struggled in the wake of Beijing’s drive last year to curb excessive debt in the real estate sector as well as rampant consumer speculation. Last week property giant Evergrande defaulted on bond debts worth more than $1.2 billion, while smaller firm Kaisa followed suit on bonds worth $400 million. Property developer Shimao is the latest firm dragged down by those woes, with its shares falling nearly 34 percent over the last five days. China’s 13th largest property developer by contracted sales, the company has around $10.1 billion in outstand-

TODAY

By Jan Hennop GARRELSWEER, Netherlands—Teacher Daan Schoolland was asleep with his partner when the earthquake struck the northern Dutch hamlet of Garrelsweer in the middle of the night. “It was like a wave, we could feel it coming towards us,” the burly father-of-three recalled. “When I woke up, the whole room was still shaking and my kids were crying in terror.” The 3.2-magnitude earthquake in November was the largest for more than two years in this flat, agricultural region bordering Europe’s biggest natural gas field. And it was the latest reminder that, although the Dutch are almost done with it, the Groningen field is not yet done with residents. The area had been plagued since 1986 by increasingly strong earthquakes caused by air pockets collapsing after the gas has been pumped out. Two years ago, Schoolland cheered with other locals as the government announced it would shut off the taps at the field by 2030. Schoolland felt even more relieved when the timeframe was then shortened to the end of 2022. The Dutch government set up two commissions, one to deal with compensation and another to help residents fortify their homes against future quakes. But his relief was short-lived. Shortly after last month’s earthquake, the government’s top mining official issued a disturbing warning that tremors would continue. “Even if we stopped right now extracting every molecule of gas, earthquakes will still continue to happen,” said Theodor Kockelkoren, the Dutch inspector-general of mines. “Our estimation is that it will actually still take a couple of decades” for the soft earth below Groningen to finally settle, he told AFP. ‘Insane’ That’s more bad news for residents like Schoolland, who is locked in a legal battle with one of the government’s commissions for compensation to fix damage to his home that he blames on the quakes. “Look, here you can see how this studio apartment is pulling away from the rest of the house,” Schoolland told AFP, pointing to a crack in his home, originally built as a school in 1952 and later converted into a house. “It’s really silly that a judge now needs to say, ‘pay these people for the damage the mining company has caused.’ It’s insane.” Schoolland is not alone. Locals were “happy” with the announcement that extraction would end, “but in its place came something that became legally and technically far too complex,” said Coert Fossen, deputy chairman of the Groningen Bodem Beweging (GBB), the civic group fighting for residents’ compensation.

A statue depicting a giant dinosaur painted with radioactive symbols and blue gas flames is displayed by Greenpeace activists outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, in protest against the inclusion of fossil gas and nuclear energy in the EU’s list of sustainable investments in Brussels, on December 7, 2021. AFP

(MS-DEC. 8, 2021)

ing local and offshore bonds. Shimao and its subsidiaries will need to refinance or repay $2.5 billion in bond maturities through 2022, according to Bloomberg data, with a 30 million yuan ($4.7 million) repayment due on Friday and a two billion yuan note due next month. In a statement to Bloomberg, Shimao on Monday blamed unspecified market rumors for the sell-off in its stocks and bonds. Weighed down by Shimao’s losses, Chinese property stocks are on track to fall to their lowest level since March 2017, according to an index by the financial news agency. JP Morgan Chase analysts Tuesday downgraded the firm to “underweight”, citing “heightened concerns on liquidity” and recommending a bearish stance. AFP

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

Globe Business innovates records systems of hospitals By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Business, the enterprise arm of Globe Telecom, said Tuesday it is innovating hospital records systems to unburden healthcare frontliners and provide better care for patients. Maridol Ylanan, Globe Business MSME group strategy and marketing head, said the healthcare crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic propelled the digital shifts of many hospitals in managing medical records amid the challenges of maintaining synchronized data and paper-based manual recording. Globe Business is at the forefront of digitization and a trusted partner of micro, small and medium enterprises in their digital journey. Globe Business’ Hospital Information System, developed by HYBrain, was made available to the public and supported the digitization of medical laboratories of private companies such as San Miguel Corp., Suyen Inc., Manila Diagnostic Center for OFW and Manila Healthtek Inc. Globe Business also takes pride in providing support to the digital journey of several hospitals including Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, Dadiangas Medical Center in South Cotabato, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, Tarlac Medical City and Premiere Medical Center-Nueva Ecija branch. This integrated hospital information system promotes seamless collaborations between departments and physicians while keeping patient records up to date. It also eases up the hospital’s accounting, finance and total hospital management tasks by digitizing clinical records, laboratory information management up to back-end processes. The Department of Health is requiring hospitals to have at least an electronic medical records system but most hospitals, especially level 1 institutions in the provinces, still resort to doing manual paperwork as part of their documentation process. This upgrade may become a hospital standard in maintaining a manual records system because manual encoding puts patient records at risk of loss or mismanagement and is very tedious and time-consuming for our healthcare professionals.

DP World of Dubai plans to develop PH ecozone, seaport By Othel V. Campos SEVERAL Dubai-based companies committed to expand to the Philippines, including a logistics company which plans to develop a seaport, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. PEZA director-general Charito Plaza, who joined Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on a trade and investment mission in Dubai, said these companies were planning to invest in the Philippines even before the pandemic. Among the highlights of the mission was a proposal from Dubai firm DP World, a global leader in supply chain solutions, to develop a 50 to 100-hectare economic zone with integrated seaport to introduce their latest logistics facilities and solutions. PEZA deputy director-general Tereso Panga said Plaza extended an invitation to DP World to bring its pioneering “virgin hyperloop” people/ cargo speed transport. Completely powered by the sun, it can cut down travel time from Manila to Mindanao to an hour. Panga said Emirates Airlines also expressed intention to explore airport development and facility management in the Philippines and increase the number of weekly flights between Manila and Dubai, initially to benefit the OFWs in the Middle East and to cater to the growing fleet of travelers. The Lootah Group of Companies plans to invest in LNG generation and biofuel production to contribute to the country’s pursuit of cleaner, quality and more affordable energy. “The Global Business Forum ASEAN in Dubai is strongly pushing for the participating economies’ transition to renewable energy and adoption of emerging alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, ammonia and battery storage,” Panga said.

Business DBCC, ADB lift 2021 GDP growth forecast on improved vaccination By Julito G. Rada

HE inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee on Tuesday upgraded the 2021 gross domestic product growth target to a range of 5 percent to 5.5 percent from the previous estimate of 4 percent to 5 percent, on improved COVID-19 vaccination rollout that lifted consumer and business confidence in the country. The DBCC is composed of the heads of the Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Budget and Management. “Despite the imposition of stringent quarantines to contain the spread of the threat of the Delta variant, the Philippine economy grew by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021. As we continuously relax restrictions and increase mobility, economic performance is expected to accelerate further in the last quarter of the year,” the economic managers said in a joint statement. “Hence, the growth assumption for 2021 was adjusted upwards to 5 to 5.5 percent while growth targets for the medium term were retained at 7 to 9 per-

cent for 2022 and 6 to 7 percent by 2023 and 2024,” the DBCC said. They said with the strong economic performance in 2021, they are optimistic that the GDP would return to prepandemic levels by 2022. For 2022 to 2024, the projections for inflation, foreign trade and foreign exchange rate were maintained, given the recent economic developments. Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it revised upward its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.1 percent from a previous estimate of 4.5 percent, on faster COVID-19 vaccination program and a sharp drop in new infections. It said in the supplement to the Asian

Development Outlook 2021 report the Philippine economy would also likely grow by 6.0 percent in 2022, up from the previous forecast of 5.5 percent. The DBCC also updated the assumption for the price of Dubai crude oil to a range of $60 to $80 per barrel for 2022 to 2024 on expected stronger demand for oil as the global economy gradually rebounds in the medium term. “Revenue projection for 2021 is expected to exceed the target and reach P3.027 trillion due to increased economic activity and improved services of our revenue agencies arising from their digitalization projects,” the DBCC said. The strong revenue collection performance is seen to continuously improve with revenues returning to pre-pandemic levels at P3.304 trillion in 2022, P3.624 trillion in 2023 and P4.049 trillion in 2024. Full-year disbursements for the year are seen to reach P4.633 trillion, or 9.6 percent higher from a year ago, on accelerated spending performance seen in infrastructure and other capital outlays, personnel services, transfers to local government units and equity and interest payments. For 2022, total disbursement program was maintained at P4.955 trillion.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, December 14, 2021 44.38 PTS. 7,241.99

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,329,684,627 83,577 7,599,557,652.91 85 97 55

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3320

Japan

Yen

0.008806

0.4432

Pound

1.322100

66.5439

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128190

6.4521

Switzerland

Franc

1.084011

54.5604

Canada

Dollar

0.781006

39.3096

Singapore

Dollar

0.731368

36.8112

Australia

Dollar

0.712900

35.8817

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

133.5137

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266574

13.4172

Brunei

Dollar

0.728704

36.6771

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029976

1.5088

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

13.7043

Euro

1.128600

56.8047

Korea

Won

0.000844

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.157035

7.9039

India

Rupee

0.013200

0.6644

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236686

11.9129

New Zealand

Dollar

0.675300

33.9892

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035965

1.8102 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Chinese firm wins NLEX Connector deal

NLEX Corp. said Tuesday it tapped China Road and Bridges Corp. for the construction of the second section of NLEX Connector between the España and Sta. Mesa interchanges in Manila. “The Metro Pacific Group actively contributes to accelerating infrastructure development in the Philippines. This new elevated expressway hopes to support the country’s economic recovery by helping reduce traffic congestion in the metro and offering those with private cars and commercial vehicles ease of travel,” MPTC president Rodrigo Franco said in a statement. “The project will enhance accessibility to international airports such as NAIA and Clark, help generate jobs and stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces in the north and south,” he said. Once opened, around 35,000 motorists are expected to traverse the new expressway which runs mostly above the PNR alignment. The entire NLEX Connector, spanning eight kilometers, uses portions of the PNR right-of-way. It extends the expressway southward from the NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through España Blvd., R. Magsaysay Blvd., and eventually connecting to the Skyway Stage 3 near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Darwin G. Amojelar

Cebu Pacific unit opens new hangar

AYALA’S DONATION. Ayala Corp. president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala (second from left) and his wife Kit lead the distribution of ‘noche buena’ packs at Sto. Rosario de Pasig Parish to 600 families on Tuesday with Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila.

Chamber of Mines elects Mike Toledo as new chairman THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines elected former Press secretary and lawyer Michael Toledo as its next chair, replacing Nickel Asia Corp. chairman Gerard Brimo who had been at the helm of COMP since 2017. Brimo remains in the board of trustees and assumes the post of vice-chair alongside Gloria Tan-Climaco, chairwoman of Filminera Resources Corp. Toledo heads the government and public affairs group of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and is the chief operating officer of Silangan Mindanao Mining Co. He will steer COMP as the nation prepares to elect a new administration that the mining industry hopes will continue to promote business stability and investor confidence. Brimo helped COMP, an association of the biggest large-scale mining companies in the country, navigate through a challenging regulatory environment. He saw the government’s lifting of a nine-year moratorium on new mining permits and continues to advocate for the lifting of a ban on open pit mining. Under his stewardship, COMP became the first mining association in Asia to adopt

Newly-elected Chamber of Mines of the Philippines chairman Mike Toledo the Towards Sustainable Mining program developed by the Mining Association of Canada. TSM is rapidly becoming a global environment, social and governance standard for mining and was adopted by 10 na-

tional mining associations, including more recently the Minerals Council of Australia. Brimo, Tan-Climaco and Philex Mining Corp. president and chief executive Eulalio Austin will remain as ex-officio members of the TSM advisory panel to provide industry perspectives during deliberations in the 15-person multi-stakeholder policy-making body. Austin remains a COMP trustee, together with Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OceanaGold Phils. Inc president; Dante Bravo, Platinum Group Metals Corp. president; Antonio Co, Carrascal Nickel Corp. president; Isidro Consunji, Berong Nickel Corp. chairman and chief executive; Masahiro Kamiya, Sumitomo Metal Mining Phils. Holdings Corp. chairman and president; Joaquin Lagonera, Sagittarius Mines Inc. president; Yulo Perez, TVI Resource Dev’t Phils., Inc. president; Adrian Ramos, Atlas Consolidated Mining & Dev’t Corp. president; Horacio Ramos, Pacific Nickel Phils. Inc. president; Bryan Yap, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. president and chief executive; and Martin Antonio Zamora, president and chief executive of Nickel Asia Corp. and subsidiaries.

AVIATION Partnership Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, on Tuesday inaugurated an improved hangar for airline customers in time for the expected recovery of the aviation industry from the pandemic lockdown. “This is a milestone not only for Cebu Pacific but more so for our subsidiary, Aplus. This inauguration is very timely and in line with the airline’s preparations for the expected recovery of the aviation industry,” said Michael Ivan Shau, chief corporate affairs officer of Cebu Pacific. The strategic move gives Cebu Pacific optimization of cost when it comes to logistics and ferry cost, compared to sending their aircraft to Clark or to any regional MRO, as well as other checks requiring a hangar. “The Aplus hangar will allow for a reduced turnaround time for our existing and future airline customers. Working under a roof will surely boost personnel productivity and further enhance the quality of our services,” said Aplus general manager Rico Ugdoracion. Darwin G. Amojelar

Filinvest pays back P5.3b worth of bonds

FILINVEST Land Inc., the property arm of the Gotianun family, said Tuesday it paid back P5.3 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds. FLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it completed the payment of the seven-year fixed-rate bonds issued on Dec. 4, 2014. “The bonds were paid in full Dec. 6, 2021 through our paying agent, the Philippine Depository & Trust Corp.,” the property firm said. Meanwhile, FLI is also in the process of raising a fresh P10 billion in fixed rate bonds. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved FLI’s issuance of P8-billion retail bonds with an oversubscription option for another P2 billion. The offering consists of four-year bonds due 2025 with interest rate of 4.5030 percent and six-year bonds due 2027 with interest rate of 5.2579 percent per annum. Jenniffer B. Austria

Solons ask NEA to keep off GM selection process THE discretionary power to appoint a general manager of an electric cooperative exclusively belongs to the board of directors of the firm, and not to the National Electrification Administration board of administrators, according to lawmakers. Members of the House of Representatives made this clear to the NEA board of administrators, then chaired by Manny Juaneza as it served notice to the NEA to keep its hands off the selection of officials of privately-owned electric cooperatives. Juaneza now sits as administrator of NEA. The lawmakers adopted a resolution on Sept. 23 which noted that the NEA encroached into the private domain of Benguet Electric Cooperative by endorsing its own choice for general manager of the distribution utility. The measure urged the NEA to revoke its recommendation. The House committee on energy advised the affected parties to maintain the status quo in the leadership structure of Beneco “under pain of

contempt until all the issues in the selection of the general manager have been resolved.” “The NEA-BOA [board of administrators], in the exercise of the authority to process the applications for the position of general manager, took upon itself to interpret and apply certain provisions of its own issuance that will only cater to its own intention considering that even the memorandum it issued has provisions that are clear and precise with no room for misinterpretations,” the resolution read. The committee also noted that the NEA directors were unfamiliar with the selection process stipulated in Memorandum 2017-035, adding it was tantamount to failure in implementing the rules and regulations on the matter. The memorandum identified two options for selection of the general manager. One is to declare the position vacant and accept applications for the position, and two, recommending an applicant to the NEA.

2GO VACCINATION. In its continuing commitment to provide a safe working environment and help fight the coronavirus disease, 2GO Group Inc., the Philippine’s largest transportation and logistics provider, offers free COVID-19 vaccines to its employees and completes its vaccination drive. 2GO president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio says the company advocates for its employees to get vaccinated to protect their families, friends and coworkers from getting infected with the virus. The move is also to safeguard customers, passengers and the general public.

Sports

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 2021

Malixi grabs 3-stroke lead as amateur golfers shine Rianne Malixi: It’s a wonderful experience. Playing with the pros is a great challenge for me as an amateur.

Delarmino’s world muaythai gold 10 years in the making By Randy Caluag

NCE again, it has been proven that there’s no such thing as overnight success for athletes, who dream big.

The long hours of sacrifices in training and the agony of defeats along the path paid off for Philip Delarmino, who finally bagged a gold medal in the International Federation of Muaythai AssociationsWorld Muaythai Championships. “Twenty-five days bago mag 10 years sa muaythai national team. Ganyan katagal ang paghihintay ko at ng buong Team Bagsik para makuha ang pinakakaunaunahan na gold medal sa IFMA World Championship sa male senior elite (class A),” said Delarmino. The 31-year-old proud son of Iloilo City emerged the new king of the men’s elite 57-kg division following a dominant performance in the finals against Aleksandr Abramov of Russia of the recent tournament that gathered the world’s best muaythai athletes in

Comelec cannot grant voting privileges for SEAG bets THE Philippine Sports Commission has received the reply of the Commission on Elections on its request to allow the 2022 Southeast Asian Gamesbound athletes, coaches, and delegates to vote under the Local Absentee Voting provision for the 2022 National Elections. The COMELEC has politely turned down the proposal citing the Omnibus Election Code, Executive Order no. 157, Republic Acts 7166 and 10380 and COMELEC Resolution No. 10725, which states that only four personnel from four groups may avail of local absentee voting. Government officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police, Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who are assigned in places where they are not registered voters may be covered by this privilege. Members of the media who are covering or reporting the conduct of the elections may likewise be covered. The COMELEC letter informed that since the athletes, coaches and delegates are not part of the aforementioned groups who will be performing election duties they cannot act upon the PSC’s request. While this is sad news for all concerned, the PSC Board respects the COMELEC’s advice. Only national athletes who are also military personnel or fall under any of the other categories mentioned above may register for Local Absentee Voting.

Phuket, Thailand. In an interview with the Manila Standard, Delarmino said the gold medal is the most memorable accomplishment in his long stay with the national team. “Sobrang saya po, sa wakas nakuha na ‘yung gold. It’s a world championship and lahat po ng mga tumalo sakin dati, nabawian ko sila this time,” said Delarmino. His victory booked him a slot in the prestigious World Games set July 7 to 17 next year in Birmingham, USA. World Games is a global competition that mostly includes sports that are not part of the Olympics. It is also held every four years. “Excited na po ako maglaro doon,” said Delarmino who expects to again meet the world’s best in the muaythai, including Abramov.

The world gold came for Delarmino following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 2019 World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. He previously bagged the bronze in the 2018 World in Mexico. Despite the pandemic, Delarmino continued his training at home before joining a bubble training with fellow national team members in La Trinidad, Benguet. “Makapagbigay sana ito ng aral at inspiration sa lahat,” added Delarmino, who also paid tribute to his national coaches. “Coach (Billy Alumno), sa wakas nakuha na natin. Simula umpisa ikaw na lagi ang kasama ko at kasama sa lahat ng tagumpay ko, sa lahat ng sakripisyo at tiwala mo, maraming maraming salamat coach. Edzel Ngina, ang coach na laging pinaparamdam na kahit anong mangyari ay na kakampi ako at laging nasa likuran ko lamang. Maraming salamat din sa tiyaga sa pagpapads sa ‘kin. Coach Lan Clear, maraming salamat po sa lahat din ng tulong niyo ni Coach Armando Solar,

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

napakabuti niyo at lagi kong dadalhin lahat ng natutunan ko mula sa inyo. Coach Zaidi (Laruan), maraming salamat din pagsasanay natin, lalo na sa boxing ko,” he said. Delarmino actually won two golds as he teamed up with Islay Bomogao in the wai kru event. Bomogao also topped the senior female wai kru, aside from bagging the bronze in the women’s 45kg division.

Philip Delarmino

TAGAYTAY—Rianne Malixi recoiled as often as she tripped, besting two-leg winner Harmie Constantino with a kind of game honed and sharpened by her stints overseas as she produced a 73 to storm ahead by three over fellow amateur Laurea Duque and Sunshine Baraquiel at the start of the ICTSI Midlands Ladies Classic here yesterday. While Constantino and the rest of the pros stumbled and fell in hot, windy conditions, Malixi proved so composed and focused, bouncing back strong from each miscue while bucking her struggle with her short irons and putting to put up a 37-36 marred by a bogey on the closing par-5 hole of Midlands. But that hardly mattered in a day when four leg winners poised themselves for a spirited battle for top honors in separate twosomes in the season-ending event of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour halted by two suspensions due to surge in coronavirus cases in NCR Plus in March and July. But Constantino, who swept the Eagle Ridge-Aoki legs last March and last month, and first-time winners Baraquiel (Highlands), Chanelle Avaricio (Riviera-Couples) and Daniella Uy (Riviera-Langer) all wavered in difficult scoring conditions, enabling the 14-year-old Malixi to steal the show in the early going of the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI. Duque, the low amateur at Eagle Ridge-Aoki last March, also bogeyed the last hole for a 76 to slip to joint second with Baraquiel, who overcame a rough start to save a 39-37, while Daniella Uy turned in 77, and Constantino failed to rebound from a quadruple bogey on the tricky par-3 No. 3 and ended up with a 79 for a share of fifth with Marvi Monsalve and Apple Fudolin. Chanelle Avaricio also reeled from a triple bogey on No. 3 and a double bogey on the next, groping for a 42-38 marked by four birdies but marred by seven bogeys, including four straight from No. 11. Given her form and level of confidence, Malixi hardly expressed surprise over her round that stood out in a challenging day right in her first LPGT sortie. “It’s a wonderful experience. Playing with the pros is a great challenge for me as an amateur,” said Malixi, who actually kicked off her campaign with a birdie on the first hole. But bogeys on Nos. 3 and 5 stymied her charge although she rebounded with a birdie on No. 6, dropped another stroke on the next but snapped a three-par game with another birdie on No. 11 to draw level par. The 2020 national stroke play champion parred the next six but came up short on her shots on the long finishing hole and holed out with another bogey. “I kind of struggle with my short game and putting although I was able to manage myself in a very great way. So, I’m very happy,” added Malixi, who had earlier stints in the PXG Women’s Match Play, a pro event, the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and the Rolex Tournament of Champions, among others.

Quizon closes in on PH chess crown DANIEL Quizon fought fellow International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia to a 30-move standoff in the 10th and penultimate round to virtually crown himself champion of the 2021 Philippine National Chess Championship at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu on Tuesday. Needing a draw to clinch the crown, Quizon, 17, did just that by holding his ground against Garcia’s King’s Indian Attack. Quizon was battling IM Ronald Dableo in the last round at press time but will still clinch the crown regardless of the result as the former had already amassed eight points, or two points ahead of the latter, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo and IM

Ricky de Guzman. Laylo halved the point with IM Paulo Bersamina in 25 moves of a Petroff Defense while de Guzman fought Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna to a 66-move deadlock of a London System. The win should pocket Quizon the winner’s purse worth P80,000, a seat to next year’s Hanoi Southeast Asian Games and the 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand and the distinction as the best in the land. IM John Marvin Miciano posted the only triumph of the round at the expense of Dableo in 39 moves of a Reti Opening that catapulted the

former to a share of No. 5 with Garcia with 5.5 points each. In the other results, IM Joel Pimentel split the point with IM Michael Concio, Jr. in 30 moves of a Petroff and GM Joey Antonio settling for a 30move standoff with Allan Pason of a Caro-kann encounter. The event was being supported by Barkadahan Para sa Bansa partylist, Philippine Sports Commission, CCLEX, Metro Pacific Tollways (MPTC), Alin Cargo, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, POC president Bambol Tolentino, Chess Movement Inc., chair Dr. Ariel Potot, RiChess Masters and Atty. Roel Canobas.

Sarno misses podium, but smashes 2 PH records By Peter Atencio FI LI PI NO lif ters Vanessa Sar no may have m issed podiu m f i n ishes af ter she and K r istel Macrohon ended thei r campaigns with decent placings in the women’s 71-kg class categor y of the 2021 World Weightlif ti ng Mond ay at the Uzbek ist an Spor ts Complex. But the 18-year-old Sarno still impressed after she went on to smash two Philippine records that were set last year. Sarno, who is from Tagbilaran, Bohol, cleared 103 kgs on her attempt, surpassing the 101-kg mark she achieved in the 2020 Asian Championships. After lifting 128 kgs on her first try in the clean and jerk, Sarno settled for a total of 231, which was 2 kgs higher than what she

set last year. She went on to tie Swedish lifter Patricia Sternius and Olivia Reeves (USA) for third and five places overall. But Sternius settled for the bronze medal after clearing 127 kgs on her first attempt. USA’s Meredith Alwine claimed the overall title with 235 kgs, beating Great Britain’s Sarah Davies’ 234. Macrohon landed seventh place after coming up with a total of 228 kg, off 103 kg in snatch and 125 in the clean and jerk. An opportunity to earn a silver-medal finish opened up for Sarno, but she missed it when she failed to clear 131 kgs in her second and third attempts. Macrohon also had chances for bronze had she lifted 130 kgs in second and third tries in the clean and jerk.

Vanessa Sarno

Sports

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

San Juan trounces Marlins; Manila wins THE San Juan Knights notched their second lopsided win while the Manila Stars, Bacoor Strikers, and Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors also posted routs on Monday in the 2021 Chooks-toGo Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitationals powered by TM. Debuting Marikina Shoe City, on the other hand, withstood Laguna Krah Asia’s final rally to prevail, 7973, in the last of five games held before limited fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Welcoming collegiate standout Rhenz Abando, the Knights trounced the Sarangani Marlins, 91-72, in Group C to match the 2-0 card of the Bacolod All-Star ballers in Group A. Manila dumped EMKAI-Rizal, 89-59 while Bacoor subdued Caloocan, 72-50, to recover from their first game losses. Pasig opened its campaign with a 90-69 beating of Iloilo in Group A. Still recovering from an injury, the high-flying Abando contributed 10 points, all from the charity striple, five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals for the Knights, the MPBL Datu Cup champions. Jhonard Clarito and Jason Melano also shone for the Knights who dominated the boards against the Marlins, 62-37. Clarito accounted for 14 points and 10 rebounds while Melano tallied 14 points and nine rebounds. Showing its true form, Manila moved beyond reach at 88-54 as it buried the memory of a shocking 77-80 defeat to Mindoro on Sunday. Dan Sara presided over the Stars’ offense with 16 points, followed by John Ray Villanueva with 14, Brent Paraiso with 13, Mark Niel Cruz with 12 plus 13 rebounds, and Allan Mangahas with 11. Bacoor, with Jerome Garcia drilling in 26 points, highlighted by six triples, and Richard Albo contributing 13 points and 12 rebounds, zoomed ahead at 65-30 en route to a 1-1 slate in Group A. Sans his injured top gunner Yves Sazon, Marikina coach Elvis Tolentino gave his son, Kyle, a chance to prove his worth and the 20-year-old delivered big time against Laguna. Now 6-foot-3 and no longer reedy, Kyle led the Shoemasters with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal to the delight of his father and his teammates. Power-leaper Renato Ular also did his share with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 1 block for the Shoemasters. Pasig drew twin digits each from Ryan Costelo (15), Justin Arana (14), Cedrick Ablaza (13), and Fran Yu (11) to take the fight out Iloilo, which trailed by as far as 65-88. The 22-team Invitationals continue with another 5-game bill on Tuesday. Mindoro tangles with Bulacan in the 9:30 p.m. opener followed by the Caoocan-Negros tussle at noon. Other matches put Valenzuela against Muntinlupa at 2:30 p.m., Makati against Marikina at 5 p.m. and GenSan against Imus at 7:30 p.m.

10 Bulls get COVID; NBA postpones 2 Chicago tiffs Paris 2024 organizing committee head Tony Estanguet addresses a press conference in Paris to present the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024 which will take part on the River Seine, breaking the long-held Summer Games tradition of a stadium procession of athletes and officials. More than 160 boats filled with athletes and officials from more than 200 countries will sail almost 6km (4 miles) between the Pont d’Austerlitz and Pont d’Iena bridges in central Paris, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held at the Trocadero, an expanse of gardens and fountains which overlooks the Eiffel Tower.

Paris 2024 opening rites to be held on River Seine P ARIS—The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024, will take part on the River Seine, organizers announced on Monday, breaking the longheld Summer Games tradition of a stadium procession of athletes and ofﬁcials.

More than 160 boats filled with athletes and officials from more than 200 countries will sail almost 6km (4 miles) between the Pont d’Austerlitz and Pont d’Iena bridges in central Paris, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held at the Trocadero, an expanse of gardens and fountains which overlooks the Eiffel Tower. “Today is a stand-out moment,” said Tony Estanguet, a three-time Olympic canoe C1 gold medallist who heads up the Paris 2024 organizing committee. “There are a lot of emotions, a lot of enthusiasm. The opening ceremony is by far the biggest of markers.”

Paris 2024 organizers are expecting crowds of 600,000 people for what they call the largest-ever Olympic ceremony. Part of the public will be dispersed along the banks of the Seine in ticketed stands while the rest are able to take part for free. France President Emmanuel Macron rubberstamped the idea of having the ceremony on the Seine in July despite some concerns voiced over how to best ensure security for such a massive event that passes by many well-known parts of Paris’ iconic cityscape. Security officials had asked for a limit of 25,000 people while organizers and the Paris city hall had initially argued for two

million, according to a mayoral source. Prime Minister Jean Castex oversaw an interministerial committee meeting last month during which he asked Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to makes some “suggestions” over security for Olympic sites, notably the opening ceremony. Castex said he wanted proposals “by the end of the year for the opening ceremony and June 2022 at the latest for all sites and events”. “The interior ministry and the whole of government backed this ceremony,” Estanguet said, adding police would be aided by private security along the 12km of accessible riverbanks. - Unprecedented call to public In an interview with AFP, Estanguet spoke of his “absolute pride” in having worked on this idea. “For the first time in the history of the Games we’re going to organize a procession of athletes bang in the middle of the city, on the Seine,” he said. AFP

NEW YORK—Two upcoming Chicago Bulls fixtures became the first games of the NBA season to be postponed due to Covid-19 on Monday as the franchise battles a coronavirus outbreak. The NBA said in a statement Chicago’s game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday and Thursday’s clash with the Toronto Raptors, had both been called off due to Covid-19. The league said 10 Bulls players were currently unavailable after entering Covid-19 health and safety protocols, while “additional staff members” were also unavailable. With a minimum of eight players required for a game, the crisis has left the Bulls in danger of not being able to field a team for the two games. ESPN reported forward Alize Johnson had become the latest player to test positive for Covid-19 on Monday. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Coby White, Troy Brown Jr., Matt Thomas, Javonte Green, Ayo Dosunmu and Derrick Jones Jr. and Stanley Johnson have already entered the health and safety protocols. The NBA postponed 31 games due to Covid-19 last season, but Monday’s annoucement marks the first time games have been called off in the 2021-2022 campaign. The Bulls, who are among several NBA teams to have a fully vaccinated roster, are third in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-10 record this year. AFP

Gymnasts abused by team doctor reach $380-M settlement LOS ANGELES—Victims of jailed former US national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar are to receive $380 million after reaching a settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and their insurers, attorneys said on Monday. The settlement—one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sex abuse—ends a five-year legal battle that erupted following the abuse scandal that rocked the US Olympic movement.

Simone Biles

Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics (USAG) and Michigan State University (MSU). Hundreds of women—including Olympic gold medallists such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney—have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them over the course of his more than twodecade career. Monday’s settlement, which includes claims from Biles, Raisman and Maroney, was confirmed during a hearing in a federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis. The deal means some $880 million in settlements have now been reached following an earlier $500 million settlement from MSU in 2018. “We prevailed for one simple reason, the courage and tenacity of the survivors,” John Manly, who represents more than 180 women abused by Nassar, said in a statement confirming details of the agreement. “These brave women relived their abuse publicly, in countless media interviews, so that not one more child will be forced to suffer physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in pursuit of their dreams.” Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with allegations against Nassar in 2016, welcomed

Monday’s settlement. “This chapter is finally closed,” Denhollander wrote on Twitter. “Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next.” FBI targeted USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after a tidal wave of allegations against Nassar swamped the organization. The Wall Street Journal reported that Monday’s settlement was reached after the TIG Insurance Company agreed to pay a “substantial share” of the settlement. The deal includes a $34 million payment directly from the USOPC, as well as a $6 million loan from the USOPC to USA Gymnastics. As part of the agreement, a victim of abuse will be put on the board of directors of USA Gymnastics. In September, Olympic champion Biles and other victims of Nassar gave devastating testimony in the US Senate, excoriating US sports officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for failing to act against Nassar when complaints against the doctor first emerged. USA Gymnastics reported Nassar to the FBI in July 2015, but he continued to work at MSU and sexually abused at least 70 more women until a newspaper exposed him in September 2016. AFP

Play-to-earn gamers keep bayanihan spirit alive THE COVID-19 pandemic has revealed much about the Filipino identity, one of which is the manifestation of Bayanihan that has emerged in different parts of the country. Many Filipinos, especially the vulnerable groups, needed assistance packages that ranged from food, cash, and livelihood support during these trying times. Filipinoled gaming guild Yield Guild Games (YGG)’s inspiring environment has helped empower many of its members to step up and provide support when and where needed, starting in their own communities. YGG pays it forward Lending “scholars” non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to participate in play-toearn games without upfront risks, YGG has given low income and unemployed Filipinos a chance to stand on their own and become financially stable. To date, the guild has more than 4,000 Filipino members who are able to earn a sizable amount from playto-earn gaming. With a more stable

financial capacity, YGG managers, who onboard and handle a team of scholars into play-to-earn games, and scholars alike went beyond their computer screens and created their own ways to give back to their respective communities. They have targeted different groups that need the most support and have partnered with local government units (LGUs) to ensure sustainability of their efforts. “While our scholars are grateful for being able to start anew with YGG, they don’t forget to look back and check who else they can help. I can say that the impact of NFT gaming goes beyond livelihood, but redefines what survival means--not leaving anyone behind,” said Spraky. Aid to Seniors Some of the efforts that the scholars have been pursuing include monthly donations of vitamins, food, and hygiene products to senior citizens in Nueva Ecija. This is led by Rk Secretario, a member of Axie University (AxU) under YGG Manager Spraky.

“We often forget our lolos and lolas who are mostly dependent on their pension. Rk reminded us that they, too, are struggling as much as everyone else,” Spraky shared. Those who earned extra from playing NFT games voluntarily chip in not only for this initiative but also for other projects that can be led by anyone part of the guild. Community Outreach It is no secret that many have struggled putting food on the table with limited income sources today. One of the beneficiaries of YGG scholars and managers are the indigent families in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas who received food packages during YGG’s community pantry. Furthermore, scholars have also been engaging in clean-up activities, helping out the LGU in their environmental preservation program. Treat for Children YGG scholars also supported orphanages that have borne the brunt of the pandemic as well. YGG recently launched the YGG Managers Cup

YGG scholars donated to Bahay ni San Jose orphanage in Nueva Ecija using their play-to-earn gaming earnings

(YMC) where all proceeds will be donated to GentleHands Orphanage that needs financial support for the 140 orphans and 45 staff members who tested positive for COVID-19. Scholars donated their extra earnings for initiatives like these on their

own. “Our scholars were not instructed to share their blessings. They want to help since most of them know what it’s like to have nothing,” said Spraky. More of their efforts can be tracked with the #WeAreYGG on social media channels.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

No Rome unveils highly anticipated debut album LONDON-BASED Filipino musician No Rome has released his highly anticipated debut album It’s All Smiles, accompanied by the premiere of the music video for “Remember November.” The video was shot in Manila and directed by Paco Raterta, who also worked with Rome previous videos for “She Comes Around” and “I Want U.” Recorded in a small apartment in Manila after the pandemic prevented him from returning to London, the album was co-produced by Rome with BJ Burton (Kanye West, Bon Iver, Charli XCX) and George Daniel (The 1975). In every sense of the phrase, “It’s All Smiles” finds No Rome returning to his roots, both in terms of location and influences. As is immediately obvious from “When She Comes Around,” the

record is the most refined expression of Rome’s self-coined term ‘Shoegaze R&B.’ Vocal lines are indebted to the intense emotions expressed in R&B and run beautifully across highly textured production and instrumentation. Like Kevin Shields, the architect of My Bloody Valentine, No Rome paints with his production, taking straight-forward guitar playing and complicating it with the tools at his disposal. New single “I Want U” received its first play from Zane Lowe last week. As Rome explains, it began life in 2019 and helped form the foundations of the album “this is the first song me and BJ worked on – that’s when we knew we were gonna make this album together. I wanted to do the lyrics more like talking, storytelling almost, painting the picture of what was happening that mo-

ment thru lyrics.” Originally written in the back of a tour bus in Las Vegas but never progressed beyond a demo, Rome picked the single back up last summer in Manila, and this time it clicked. The final version features some of Rome’s finest lyricism to date and includes a host of found sounds in the beat—a nod to the DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing and other plunderphonics records that Rome obsessed over. The tracklist for It’s All Smiles includes: “Space Cowboy,” “How Are You Feeling?,” “I Want U,” “ITS *NOT* LOV33 (Winter In London),” “When She Comes Around,” “Secret Beach,” “Issues (After Dark),” “Remember November / Bitcruch *Yr* Life,” and “A Place Where Nobody Knows Everything.”

Kim Chiu’s ‘Bawal Lumabas’ comes full circle may not be good for me before, slowly I’m already gaining from it now.” Kim is one of the lead stars in Huwang Kang Lalabas, a horror trilogy (three metaphorical stories-folklore and urban legends) under the direction of Adolf Borinaga Alix, Jr. It is also Kim’s return to horror after headlining The Healing (2012), The Ghost Bride (2017), and U-Turn (2020). In her episode, Kim plays a returning domestic worker who brings home a unique memento from Japan. While in a mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Baguio, she experiences creepy sightings of an old man who tries to warn her about the facility she and other OFWs are staying in. A few days into their quarantine, they are informed that some of them are testing positive for COVID-19 and must be isolated. Little do they know that the people who are running the hotel have other agenda. “In ‘Hotel,’ Kim is an OFW who goes (From left) James Blanco, through quarantine due to the pandemic. Kim Chiu, and James Teng She has a very relatable character. EspeObra Cinema’s cially so among those who have experienced ‘Huwag Kang Lalabas’ marks Kim lockdown. Kim excels in horror. The twist Chiu’s return to horror. in her episode is something to watch for,” director Adolf said of Kim and the role she plays. ROM a little blunder where Kim Joining Kim in the “Hotel” epiChiu just wanted ABS-CBN sode are Jameson Blake, Tina Paner, Brenda Mage, Donna Carto have its franchise renewed, riaga, Rico Barrera, and Allan “Bawal Lumabas” has come full circle. Paule. Other headliners are Aiko Melendez, Joaquin Domagoso, From becoming a viral meme, it became James Blanco, Bembol Roco, Dave a trending song, merchandise for a cause, a Bornea, Ayesha Cervantes, and Soliseries, and now it has inspired a movie. Kim plays an OFW who man Cruz in “Bahay”; and Beauty goes through quarantine Gonzales, Elizabeth Oropesa, Yasser “Gusto ko lang naman marenew ang franchise ng net- due to the pandemic. Marta, Matet de Leon, Tanya Gomez, work, nabash na ko,” the 31-year-old actress and TV host and Marcus Madrigal in “Kumbento.” said in jest during the press preview of Obra Cinema’s Huwag “It’s worth the ticket because they’ll see three stories. And Kang Lalabas, a Metro Manila Film Festival 2021 entry. three different frightening stories. Each story can be for any “Now it has come full circle. I’m just happy that after ako member of the family. And they should be ready for the twist in mabash at tapaktapakan, I was able to turn things around. It every story,” added the director.

London-based Filipino musician No Rome

GMA execs among jury members in Int’l Emmys, NYF Awards

From left: GMA Network’s Marrisa Flores, Jessica Soho, Jose Mari Abacan, Nessa Valdellon, and Roxanne Barcelona

SEVERAL GMA Network executives were selected to be part of the 49th International Emmy Awards and the 2021 New York Festivals (NYF) TV and Film Awards juries. Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores was invited as one of the Final Round jurors at the 49th International Emmy Awards. She evaluated this year’s entries in the News & Current Affairs category. Flores has been instrumental in GMA becoming the Philippines’ most awarded and most credible broadcast news organization over the years. Joining Flores as Final Round jurors were First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari R. Abacan and Vice President of Worldwide Division Roxanne J. Barcelona. Since 2007, Abacan has been invited by the Emmys to share his expertise. This year, he judged entries from four countries in the Comedy category during the final round. Barcelona, who has been a judge for the International Emmys for 15 years, was a judge in the finals of the Drama Category in this year’s Emmys. In charge of the worldwide distribution of GMA’s drama and entertainment programs, Barcelona paved the way for the Network to be recognized as the primary source of Filipino content in over 26 countries and in four continents. The Emmys also recognized the expertise of GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, who was tapped to be part of the Emmys’ First Round Jurors. A two-time recipient of the highly prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, Soho hosts the network’s top-rating and

trending program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. Earlier this year, both Flores and Soho were named to the 2021 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards Grand Jury together with GMA’s First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon. Over the years, Flores has been regularly invited to join the Grand Jury. She has been a long-time member of NYF’s Advisory Board as well. As head of GMA’s Public Affairs, Valdellon led the organization that produced some of the country’s most ground-breaking and compelling public affairs programs and specials. She was at the helm of GMA News TV’s launch in 2011, which was rebranded to GTV this year. Aside from judging for NYF Awards for TV, Valdellon has been invited as well as to evaluate entries in Asian Academy Awards (AAA’s). The international award-giving body recognizes programs and personalities that excel in representing and promoting Asian content and creativity. Valdellon is now on her third year as juror for the AAA’s. Flores, Valdellon, and Soho joined awardwinning directors, producers, writers, actors, and other creative media professionals from across the globe during this year’s NYF Awards. Meanwhile, The World Between Us esteemed director Dominic Zapata and GMA Entertainment Group head writer John Roque were likewise part of the International Emmy Awards’ First Round and SemiFinals Jurors, respectively. The International Emmy Awards is an annual event organized by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences while the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards competition recognizes TV programs and films from all over 50 countries.

Peloton revives ‘Mr Big’ and shares after ‘Sex and the City’ twist Beauty Gonzales in the ‘Kumbento’ episode of ‘Huwag Kang Lalabas’

‘Huwag Kang Lalabas’is a horror trilogy directed by Adolf Borinaga Alix, Jr.

100 stars bring joy this Christmas season A NIGHT with Kapamilya stars that is filled with joy and Star Magic in the Star Magical Christmas: The Star Magic surprises awaits Filipinos in the much-awaited Andito Tayo Christmas Special 2021 that serves as a pre-show for the Para Sa Isa’t Isa: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2021 airABS-CBN Christmas Special. The event, which will ing this Saturday, Dec. 18, at 8:00 p.m. be a fundraising activity for the benefit of ABS-CBN Airing on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamilya Foundation’s Bantay Bata 163, features artists from Online Live, and iWantTFC, this year’s ABSStar Magic, Polaris, Star Hunt, and Rise Artists Studio CBN Christmas Special will pay tribute to the with celebrity housemates of Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity country’s everyday heroes from different secSeason 10. tors who have selflessly devoted themselves ChanWatch it on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Chan to serve their fellow Filipinos and nel at 4:00 p.m. this Saturday. It will be mirrored on the have sparked hope in the hearts of YouTube channels of Star Magic, Showtime Online many. Universe, ABS-CBN Star Hunt, Rise Artists Studio, For the second time, Kapamilya Star Music, and MYX Global. actor, dancer, and now director Just like the annual ABS-CBN Christmas ID, John Prats,, directs the ABSthe ABS-CBN Christmas Special is also part CBN Christmas Special of the Christmas tradition of families. Besides featuring representatives famithe star-studded performances, Filipino fami from various sectors, as lies also watch out for the inspiring stories well as over 100 stars from and the timely message that it imparts. In different programs of ABS2020, the Christmas Special served CBN. Also joining the tyas a fund-raising activity for ty celebration are journalists phoon victims. from ABS-CBN News, Andito Tayo Para Sa social media sensations, Isa’t Isa: The ABS-CBN and even some internaChristmas Special 2021 will tional artists. be available on Kapamilya Meanwhile, FilipiChannel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, iWantTFC, and nos will also receive TFC. a magical treat from Filipino boy group BGYO

FITNESS firm Peloton has gone on the counterattack after a plot twist in Sex and the City helped send its shares into a skid — bringing a key character on the show back to life in a parody ad, as it seeks to revive its own fortunes on Wall Street. In the first episode of the latest reboot of the popular series called “And Just Like That...,” the character John Preston — known as “Mr. Big” — dies of a heart attack shortly after a workout on a Peloton exercise bike. Shares of Peloton suffered following the surprisingly dark turn in the comic series, falling 5.4 percent in Friday’s session after the episode was broadcast Thursday night. Peloton initially retorted with comments from a cardiologist who pointed to “Mr. Big’s” hard-living lifestyle as a factor behind the unfortunate turn of events. The doctor also cited the character’s possible genet-

predisposition to heart disease, while touting the merits of the exercise bike. But on Sunday night, the exercise company came back with a more elaborate response, unveiling a new ad spot with actor Chris Noth, who filled the role of “Mr. Big,” longtime boyfriend of protagonist Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. The ad features Noth sitting with Peloton trainer Jess King, who also played the instructor on the series during the ill-fated fictional workout. In the spot, Noth asks his companion if they should take another ride, saying “life’s too short not to.” The couple giggles as a voiceover reads Peloton’s message: “And just like that, the world was reminded that regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs, and circulation, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cycling strengthens your heart, muscles, lowers resting pulse, and reduces blood fat levels. “He’s alive,” the ad concludes. AFP Chris North as Mr. Big and Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in the TV series ‘Sex and the City.’

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

Life ARTS AND CULTURE

The exterior of the Metropolitan Theater

Arcadio Arellano designed the ceiling of the Met’s auditorium.

The Grand Dame returns W

HENEVER I passed by the Manila City Hall area, I would notice the Metropolitan Theater – the colorful facade resembling the proscenium of a stage, or perhaps like a cathedral. The central window with stained glass, carrying the word “Metropolitan” in flora and fauna designs, is hard to miss. I’ve been told the beautiful window was commissioned from Kraut Art Glass, which has been in the business since 1912. I have always thought that “she” had been a beautiful lady who cradled everyone in her artistic embrace. People had gathered in her folds during the glory days of Manila in the 1920s, wanting to see and be seen. But through the years, she suffered from neglect. Her glory days were long forgotten as she slowly showed signs of her time. With only a few structures with Art Deco architectural design surviving in the country, it is commendable for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to stop the building

GLAZING LIFE BY GLAIZA LEE

from further falling into disrepair and breathed a new life to her. I remember in 2015 when I joined the clean-up drive for the Met. That set the motion for the restoration of the historic theater building. Six years later, the Grand Dame has re-opened its doors. The Met has just turned 90, having been inaugurated on Dec. 10, 1931. If you have time, please do visit the Met. Designed by National Artist for Architecture Juan Arellano, she is one of the finest Art Deco structures in the country.

Fine art meets high fashion ART and fashion have always been topics for spirited conversation. History shows us that more often than Director of Fundacion Sansó Ricky Francisco (left) not, the results are amazing when with Robbie Santos. high fashion and fine art intersect. my life as a fashion designer—sixty years Take the Mondrian shift dresses by Yves later,” Santos said. “I think there is a connecSaint Laurent and Elsa Schiaparelli’s Dali- tion between what he made and what I am inspired designs, for example. making for the collaboration.” Haute couture has been showcased in Although separated by half a century museums in the same way such institutions and belonging to different generations, revere paintings by a highly respected art- their experiences are similar: both artists ist. Fine art has, unsurprisingly, inspired the took a step away from their respective creation of not only museum-worthy cou- chosen mediums to see how one another’s ture but also of wearable yet stylish and im- medium could fuel one’s creative pursuits. peccably constructed designer pieces. Such Drawing from Sansó’s work wasn’t is the case with Manila-based couture label easy for Santos. He had to take two difSeptième Rebelle whose collaboration with ferent paths for his new collection. First, Fundacion Sansó is inspired by the work the process of digitally printing Sansó’s of no less than distinguished Spanish-born hand-painted original designs on fabric painter Juvenal Sansó. and making clothes from the printed fabUnbeknownst to many, master painter ric produced. Resulting from this process Sansó dabbled in fashion as a textile de- are the pieces with painterly patterns from signer while he was a student at the École the collection. The second, arguably more Nationale des Beaux Artes in Paris in the daunting task was using the inspiration he 1960s, as a means of supporting himself got from Sansó’s paintings to find fabrics when the Central Bank had set caps on the that embody the aesthetic presented in the financial support that could be sent by his artworks, and design and create clothes father from Manila. Sansó’s hand-painted from ready-made fabrics. textile designs depicted florals and foli“The collection that I am making in age, as well as geometric shapes and ab- collaboration with Fundacion Sansó has stract patterns. The House of Balenciaga to uplift,” says Santos. He wishes that the was his biggest client. designs, which stand out for their vibrant Robbie Santos, founder and creative prints, colors, shapes, and patterns, would force behind Septième Rebelle, is no positively shift the mood and enrich the stranger to Sansó’s work as a patron of the souls of spectators and eventual owners arts himself. But Sansó’s story of working of his avant-garde, made-to-order pieces. as a young textile designer in Paris may Sansó Textile Designs X Septième Rehave added another dimension to Santos’ belle is on display at Galerie Joaquin in One appreciation of the renowned painter, Bonifacio High Street Mall, BGC until Dec. prompting a vision beyond his that of an 20. The limited edition Septième Rebelle art connoisseur. embroidered bags with patterns inspired Santos draws a connection between his by the textile designs are also on display. experience as a burgeoning fashion designer Set design was meticulously thought of inspired by fine art, and Sansó’s experience and supervised by creative genius, Vince dabbling in fashUy. Curating ion many years the artworks ago. to complement “He was still the fashion exnew as an artist. hibit was propI feel a certain erly executed level of parallelby the director ism with Sansó of Fundacion in a way that Robbie Santos, founder and creative force behind Sansó, Ricky I’m also starting Septième Rebelle, with Marina Benipayo. Francisco.

There are walls with batik patterns, lamps made from shells, glass finials formed like bamboo shoots, pillars shaped like banana leaves, bas reliefs, and sculptures – it is a treasure trove! You’ll see sculptures of Adam and Eve by Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti, the Ritual Dance and The History of Music murals by none other than National Artist for Visual Arts Fernando Amorsolo,

carvings of local flora by sculptor Vidal Tampingco. The ceiling of the auditorium has carvings of mangoes and bananas, interplayed with leaves, designed by Arcadio Arellano. The proscenium is characterized by eight relief panels depicting the “Songs of Nature.” I have always felt a certain triumph whenever an old structure has been given a second lease on life. These old ar-

After six years of renovation, the Metropolitan Theater re-opened its grand doors.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts restored life to the walls of the Met.

Crimson Boracay presents a new generation of talents in ongoing exhibition WHILE renowned for the excellence of its amenities, cuisine, and services, Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay is steadily making a name for itself not just as a world-class resort in the heart of paradise, but a center for the

chitectures have stories to tell, and they reflect the years that have gone by. Renovating and restoring buildings, especially those that have significant historical narratives, should be an important enterprise. We should have them re-purposed than see them destroyed because letting them get ruined is like letting a piece of history die. Follow Glazing Life on Instagram @glazinglife_mslife.

arts as well. Under the auspices of its General Manager Patrick Manthe, a man who has a great love for the arts, Crimson Boracay is the first resort in the region to initiate an

(From left) GM Patrick Manthe, JB Lusegro, Amiel Salvador, DOT Region 6 Director Cristine Mansinares, Carl Lawrence Parohinog, Christine Lusegro, and Eric Egualada.

arts and culture program as a way of encouraging fresh talents to make the most of their imagination. Visual artist Eric Egualada is the program’s current artist-in-residence and he has been active in imparting his knowledge about creative pursuits in classes for both guests and aspiring painters within the region. That said, Crimson Boracay is proud to present the work of Egualada’s protégés in an exhibition titled Arts in Youth. Featuring the paintings of four local talents, the exhibition is currently being held at the mezzanine of Crimson’s Saffron Café and will be on display until today, December 15. The four artists featured in the exhibition are Iloilo’s Christine May Lusegro, JB Lusegro, Aklan’s Carl Lawrence Parohinog, and Boracay’s Amiel Lacambra Salvador. The arts program at Crimson Boracay hopes that this exhibition will heighten awareness regarding the resort’s inclusion of creative pursuits to its already extensive range of on-site activities. Visit www.crimsonhotel.com or follow @ CrimsonBoracay on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

CCP brings back ‘Simbang Gabi,’ launches ‘Lights and Sound’ show GIVEN the more relaxed COVID-19 alert level in Metro Manila, the Cultural Center of the Philippines brings back its long-established tradition of the Simbang Gabi with real-time, onsite celebrations. In partnership with the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and other hermanas (sponsors) around the complex, the Misa de Gallo will be held from Dec. 16 to 24, 5:00 a.m., at the CCP Main Ramp. The Misa de Aguinaldo (Christmas Eve Mass) will be held on Dec. 24, 8:00 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater, with a pre-mass

program. This will be broadcast on CNN Philippines. With encouraging feedback from last year’s virtual Simbang Gabi, the CCP also renewed its partnership with various parishes from the different regions of the country to celebrate anticipated Simbang Gabi masses. Meanwhile, CPP also launched its annual Christmas lighting event, dubbed Pasko 2021: The CCP Façade Lights and Sound Show, tonight at 7:00, at the Main Building Façade. The launch streams live on the CCP Face-

book Page. Designed by the Technical Team from the CCP Production Design and Technical Services Division, the annual holiday event features projected images of Christmas symbols and select, well-loved Christmas carols. CCP’s onsite shows will continue until Jan. 2. The center will implement 70 percent outdoor capacity for the Misa de Gallo (CCP Main Ramp), and 50 percent venue capacity for the Misa de Aguinaldo (CCP Main Theater). The facade of the Cultural Center of the Philippines