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DOUBLE WHAMMY TO HIT CONSUMERS AS PRICES OF GOODS, OIL SOAR By Julito G. Rada, Alena Mae S. Flores, and Maricel V. Cruz

Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday, driven mainly by higher oil prices that are exacerbated by the continuing war between Russia and THE inflation rate this February likely Ukraine. accelerated to 3.2 percent from 3 perIn a statement to reporters, Diokno cent a month ago, Bangko Sentral ng said the BSP’s “point inflation projec-

tion for February is 3.2 percent; projection band is 2.8 to 3.6 percent.” Meanwhile, consumers can expect a double whammy today with pump prices going up by as much as P0.90 per liter and cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P7.70 per kilo or

P84.70 per 11-kilo tank used primarily by households. Department of Energy Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza said that while projections from Platts say that oil prices will hit $120 per barrel, it is unlikely that domestic pump prices will hit P100

per liter. Erguiza said the average price of gasoline is at P66 per liter to date, while diesel is at P59 to P60 per liter. “If it hits $120 per barrel, maybe diesel will reach P73 and gasoline at P77. It

LIST OF COUNTRIES SENDING ARMS, AID TO UKRAINE:

COUNTRIES SENDING HUMANITARIAN AID

- European Union - United States - Canada - Germany - Sweden - France

- Britain - Belgium - Netherlands - Czech Republic - Portugal - Greece - Romania

- Italy - US - Britain - France - Netherlands

- Spain - Israel - Turkey - Greece

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 19 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH backs UN rebuke of Russia

Filipino mission signs condemnation despite Palace neutrality BBM, Sara still leading OCTA’s T political survey By Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

HE Philippines on Monday voted to adopt the United Nations General Assembly resolution expressing its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. again dominated the latest OCTA Research ‘Tugon ng Masa’ survey, where the standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas obtained a preference rating of 55-percent. OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the survey was conducted from February 12 to 17, after the offi-

But just hours earlier, the Palace said the Philippines will remain “neutral” and will not join other nations in condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of its eastern neighbor and fellow former Soviet republic. Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said an official statement would come from Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., while President Duterte will speak about the country’s stand on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario had called on the government and Filipinos to express their support for Ukraine, and to call on Russia to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine and the rule of law. Ambassador Del Rosario, who is chairman of policy think tank Stratbase

3,661,997

PEACE, PLEASE.

Laborers and members of Akbayan Party-list call on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and denounce all “bully nations” in a candle-lighting rally on Tomas Morato, Quezon City on Monday. Jimmy A. Domingo

951

52,179

56,451

3,553,367

1,717

Moscow, Kiev delegations start talks, Ukraine demands ceasefire RUSSIA and Ukraine met Monday for their first talks since the outbreak of war last week, with Kyiv demanding an “immediate ceasefire” as the number of refugees fleeing the country hit more

than 500,000. Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted Monday to hold an urgent debate about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, further isolating

Moscow, which had resisted Kiev’s attempt to shine a light on abuses committed in the war. Russia’s attack on Ukraine dominated the start of the UN body’s main

annual session in the Swiss city of Geneva, with countries rallying around Kyiv’s demand to put Russia’s actions in the spotlight. Next page

(As of 4 PM, February 28)

Alert Level 1 to generate P9b biz activity

TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Vehicles move slowly on the southbound lane of the Skyway on Monday, a day before the implementation of Alert Level 1 in the National Capital Region. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is also looking to reimplement the number coding scheme once looser quarantine restrictions are put in place in the Metro Manila. Danny Pata

By Vito Barcelo, Rey E. Requejo, Othel V. Campos, and Darwin G. Amojelar THE Palace said more than P9 billion worth of economic activity will be added per week as Metro Manila and 38 other areas in the country shift to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 starting today. From March 1 to March 15, the National Capital Region and the other areas were downgraded to Alert Level 1 as COVID-19 infections continue to decline. “We expect an additional P9.4 billion worth in economic activity per week and 170,000 fewer unemployed individuals in the next three months if we will continue to be under Alert Level 1,” Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing. All government and private workplaces can now operate at full capacity after the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of

ALLOWED UNDER ALERT LEVEL 1 • All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed at full on-site or venue/seating capacity, consistent with minimum public health standards • Intrazonal and interzonal travel without regard to age and comorbidities • Face-to-face classes for basic education, subject to prior approval of the Office of the President • Wearing of face masks still required outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea • Children ages 17 and below will not be required to present proof of vaccination.

Hard lockdown on HK to contain Omicron up HONG Kong may impose a China-style hard lockdown that confines people to their homes, authorities signaled Monday, with the city’s zero-COVID strategy in tatters and bodies piling up in hospitals. Two years of strict zero-COVID policies kept the coronavirus largely bay but a breakthrough of the highly transmissible Omicron variant exposed how little authorities had done to prepare for a mass outbreak. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam previously ruled out a citywide lockdown and instead has ordered all 7.4 million residents to be tested in March. But in a U-turn, health secretary Sophia Chan confirmed on Monday that it was still an option. Asked by a presenter at Commercial Radio whether a lockdown was still ruled out she replied: “No. We are Next page

ASHES FOR ASH WEDNESDAY.

A priest and clergy lead the burning of palm leaves at Jesus The Divine Healer Parish in BF Homes, Parañaque City on Monday, in preparation for Ash Wednesday on March 2. Thanks to looser COVID-19 restrictions, the traditional practice of putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful will be brought back, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said. Norman Cruz

Monthly vax drive eyed to hit 100m goal By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government on Monday raised its COVID-19 vaccination target from 70 million to 100 million people, representing 80 percent of the country’s eligible population. The Department of Health (DOH) said it is considering a monthly nationwide vaccination drive to ramp up inoculation as Metro Manila and Next page

News

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

6k schools OK for in-person classes M

ORE than 6,000 basic education schools across the country are eligible to hold limited in-person classes, a day before parts of the country ease into the least restrictive COVID-19 alert level.

The schools are still completing the requirements set by the Department of Education (DepEd) before they are given the green light for physical classes, said Roger Masapol, the agency’s planning service director. “We have more than 6,000 schools eligible to open for face-to-face [classes]. We are just seeking [local government unit] concurrence and parents’ permit,” Masapol told ABS-CBN News. “We are assessing readiness of all schools. Once a school is ready, they can open, subject to their capacity,”

he added. This developed as Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for limited in-person classes in more schools in the National Capital Region, which will be placed under Alert Level 1 starting Tuesday alongside 38 other areas (see story on A1 – Editors). Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee, said more schools should resume face-to-face classes, reiterating economic managers’ warning that online and module-based learning could negatively impact students’ fu-

Alert... From A1

PH... From A1

Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved amendments to the guidelines on Alert Level 1, Malacanang said. Nograles, however, said that some protocols, such as wearing face masks at all times, must still be observed under Alert Level 1. “Wearing of face masks is still required outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea, except when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained,” Nograles said. The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) welcomed the transition of Metro Manila and other regions to Alert Level 1, which marks the start of the “new normal.” “Allowing people to return to their offices and workplaces will benefit more than just the economy. It will also address mental health issues caused by prolonged isolation and a lack of regular face-to-face interactions. Alert Level 1 also indicates that we are prepared to live with the virus by treating it as endemic,” the MAP said. “We note that the guidelines allow businesses to choose the best work arrangement for them, whether working from home, on-site, or a hybrid of the two. We must recognize the undeniable benefits of a hybrid setup in terms of cost savings, reduced need for home-office travel, and improved quality of life for people, such as working mothers. We believe that the hybrid work model is one of the pandemic’s positive lessons,” the group said. “We hope that schools will follow suit and return to full face-to-face learning as our children’s education has suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic,” it said. Nograles said employers may continue to provide flexible and alternative work arrangements as deemed appropriate based on function or individual risk. Meanwhile, people 18 years old and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments. Children ages 17 and below will not be required to present proof of vaccination. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government will also adhere to 100 percent on-site workforce. Off-site work will be under such work arrangements subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President. On the other hand, public transportation in areas under Alert Level 1 will be at full seating capacity.

ADR Institute, disagreed with the position of the Philippine government to stay neutral in the Ukraine-Russia crisis. “The world is moving. Leaders are speaking out. Nations are uniting in their collective call to stop the war. But as peace-loving individuals, where are we in this struggle to do what is right?” Del Rosario said. Duterte is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who last week ordered the invasion of its European neighbor, claiming its actions are justified because it is defending Moscowbacked separatists in eastern Ukraine. Duterte, who has made two official trips to Russia since becoming president in 2016, has referred to Putin as his “idol.” “The President is the chief architect of our foreign policy, so we either hear it from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs or the President himself,” Nograles said. But in its statement at the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine, the Philippine mission voted “Yes to the UNGA resolution and expresses explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine.” In voting for the adoption of the UN resolution, the Philippines cited the principle of sovereignty and the “sovereign equality of States, (which) is enshrined in the United Nations Charter.” The Philippines said that no one can trust news reports of casualties on either side but 14,000 have been killed since 2014, when separatists in two eastern Ukraine republics revolted against Kiev. “In the current fog of lies, we have yet to determine the true casualties on both

Hard... From A1 still discussing it.” “From a public health perspective, to bring out the best effect of compulsory universal testing, we need to reduce people’s movements to some extent,” she added. Chan’s comments came a day after Li Dachuan, a senior mainland official involved in a joint task force with Hong Kong authorities, described a lockdown as “the most ideal and best approach to achieve the best effect of universal tests”. The revelation adds fresh uncertainty and anxiety for residents and busi-

Double... From A1 will not reach P100 per liter,” he said. Also, Arnel Ty of the LPG Marketers Association said the cooking gas increase of P7.70 per kilo will be fully implemented Tuesday. Ty said that if the Ukraine crisis reaches a month and the European Union and the United States will send support to the ex-Soviet state “then the world market of oil will not go down.” Based on estimates from DOE, currently LPG prices range from P794 to P1,054 per 11-kilo tank, depending on the location, brand, and market forces. In related developments, the call to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products is snowballing at the House of Representatives, as Deputy Speakers Rufus Rodriguez and Bernadette Herrera expressed full support for calling a special session of Congress to tackle the issue. Fuel prices increased without letup in the past 10 weeks, with the net increase in gasoline of about P18 per liter and diesel at P12 pesos. “I support the proposal of my col-

nesses in a city gripped by the kind of chaos that was more familiar at the start of the pandemic. Hong Kong has now recorded 193,000 cases and 636 deaths in the current wave since December 31. That compares to just 12,000 infections and 205 deaths for the whole of the rest of the pandemic. Hospitals have been stretched to breaking point for weeks and on Sunday officials revealed bodies are piling up at hospitals because mortuaries are full. “At this moment, we face a problem of transportation of dead bodies from hospital to public mortuary,” Hospital Authority chief manager Lau Ka-hin told reporters.

Moscow,... From A1 Ukraine’s ambassador in Geneva Yevheniia Filipenko warned that Russia’s invasion, which has killed dozens of civilians and forced hundreds of thousands to flee, “was an attack not only on Ukraine.” “It was an attack on every UN member state, on the United Nations and on the principles that this organisation was created to defend” she told the council. As the delegations arrived for talks on the border between Belarus and Ukraine on day five of Moscow’s invasion, the Ukrainian presidency demanded the ceasefire “and the withdrawal of troops” -- which Moscow is almost certain to reject. “I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Severe financial sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow showed their impact on financial markets on Monday morning, with the Russian ruble collapsing to a record low and the Russian central bank more than doubling interest rates to 20 percent. The sanctions targeting the Russian financial sector are intended to change the calculus of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, but on the ground the roughly 100,000 Russian troops thought to be inside Ukraine continued an invasion from the north, east and south. Western defense officials and the Kyiv government say battling Ukrainian troops have kept the country’s major cities out of Russian hands despite incursions in the capital Kyiv and the second largest city, Kharkiv, over the weekend. “The Russian occupiers have reduced the pace of the offensive,” the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said Monday, again claiming that Moscow had suffered “heavy losses”. The small southern city of Berdyansk has been occupied by Russian soldiers, however, Ukrainian officials said. In the capital Monday, after a relatively calm evening, people rushed out to buy food after the lifting of a strict blanket curfew imposed Saturday, with local forces given shoot-on-sight orders over the weekend.

ture earnings and the economy. “The safe return of face-to-face classes is an important step in the education sector’s recovery from the pandemic’s effects,” said Gatchalian, who is eyeing another Senate term in this year’s elections. As of Monday, 1,876 public and private schools across the country are conducting limited in-person classes, according to Masapol. Of the figure, 284 were part of the pilot phase from November to December 2021, while 1,592 started earlier this year under the expansion phase. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) earlier urged the government to prepare to reopen schools “at least by next school year.” “We have to be ready for the even-

tual physical reopening of schools... Children and their learning have suffered a lot for almost two years,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a statement last week. In Malacañang, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday officials are still finalizing guidelines for inperson classes in areas under Alert Level 1. “Right now, we are still tweaking and finalizing the additional guidelines for face-to-face classes,” Nograles said. Asked if all schools in an Alert 1 area could hold in-person classes, Nograles said, this will be “an ongoing discussion” between the DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

sides,” Manila’s delegation said in the statement posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs website. Manila called for the protection of civilians and public infrastructures but asserted the need for a ceasefire for both countries. “We especially condemn the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy for inviting and inflicting terrible cruelties and indiscriminate killings far in excess of that of any other kind of conflict. We saw this in the Balkans and in Africa,” the Philippines said. “We call for massive assistance commensurate with the growing humanitarian crisis and echo the UN Secretary General’s appeal for respect of humanitarian principles to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in Ukraine. Safe access to humanitarian assistance must be assured by the most effective means,” it added. The Philippines also urged Moscow and Kiev to observe compliance of the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes. “It will at least halt the ongoing tragedy for a while,” the country’s UN mission stressed. Earlier, the Department of National Defense (DND) said the Philippines remains neutral over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. “For us, we’ll closely watch what’s happening there and be prepared. We will be neutral,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said. He earlier sparked controversy when he said the Philippines doesn’t care about what will happen in a faraway country such as Ukraine—but later dialed back his statement. The DFA, meanwhile, has focused on repatriation of Filipinos in Ukraine. Del Rosario, its former head under

the Benigno Aquino III administration, said this is now the time for the Philippines and Filipinos to register their opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Now is the time to be counted. Now is the time for our voice to be heard. This is not a matter just for governments or leaders. Surely, individuals have a voice, and we can and should speak out,” he said. “This is one way of letting Ukrainians feel they are not alone, and at the same time letting Russia know what and how the rest of the world feels about the invasion,” Del Rosario added. Analysts Prof. Bobby Tuazon of CenPEG think tank, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, Anna Malindog-Uy and Herman Laurel of Phil BRICS Strategic Institute, and Prof. Leomil Aportadera said the Ukraine crisis emphasizes the importance of strengthening the country’s independent foreign policy, and not being drawn into superpower rivalries. At a forum Monday, they expressed support for the government’s neutral stance and said Russia had “valid national security concerns and demands.” They did not say, however, if they felt this justified Russia’s invasion of a sovereign state. Also on Monday, Senator Francis Tolentino urged the government’s economic and security clusters to beef up measures in anticipation of the impending socioeconomic impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as well as the National Security Council (NSC), Tolentino said, should devise a game plan to somehow avert or lessen the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which will likely trigger higher global inflation in the coming weeks.

leagues for a special session. We have to act now before the cost of crude and domestic fuel prices rise further,” Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro said. Last week, Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Rep. Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan, and Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna proposed that Congress convene so it could pass bills to suspend oil taxes. “We can meet virtually for a few days to act on those proposals,” Rodriguez said, echoing his fellow lawmakers’ appeal for leaders of Congress to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to hold a special session. Only the President has the power to convene the legislature during its recess, Rodriguez said, but Congress is on its three-month election campaign break. “If it is really necessary and President Duterte calls for it, we are more than willing to take part in the special session with the end goal of providing much-needed relief to our people amid an unstoppable rise in crude prices,” Herrera said. When asked what were the factors considered for the February inflation projection, Diokno cited “higher fuel prices, higher prices of selected meat

products, slightly higher rice prices,” as well as “stable peso, decline in Meralco power rates, and lower prices of fish and vegetables.” Diokno said BSP would continue to monitor emerging price developments and possible second-round effects to achieve its primary mandate of price stability that is conducive to balanced and sustainable growth of the economy. Last week, Diokno said the BSP was sticking to its previous inflation forecast of 2 to 4 percent for 2022 and 2023 despite the Ukraine crisis, saying it was not wise now to speculate on what is going to happen. “I know that many people are getting nervous because of the Russia-Ukraine incident and of course the rising oil prices but these are to me, these are, we don’t know yet, the situation is fluid,” Diokno said in an online briefing last Thursday. Diokno earlier projected inflation might remain within the target range of 2 to 4 percent as long as oil prices remained below $95 per barrel. During the Monetary Board’s first policy meeting this year in the middle of February, it raised the inflation forecast this year to 3.7 percent from 3.4 percent made during last December’s meeting.

cial launch of the campaign period for the May 2022 elections. Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Marcos’ running mate, remained on top of the vice presidential race based on the same survey. Duterte, chair of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, got 43 percent preference, scoring 40 percent in the National Capital Region, 24 percent in Balance Luzon, 43 percent in Visayas, and 82 percent in Mindanao. The daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte was followed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III (33 percent), Senator Francis Pangilinan (33 percent), Dr. Willie Ong (7 percent), House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza (1 percent), and Carlos Serapio (0.1 percent). A total of 1,200 individuals responded to the survey, with the question, “If the election were held today, who would you likely vote for as president?” The survey had a margin of error of 3 percent, David said. The OCTA poll showed that the former senator scored 46 percent in Metro Manila, 56 percent in Balance Luzon, 47 percent in Visayas, and 65 percent in Mindanao. Vice President Leni Robredo followed Marcos with 15 percent, with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno rating 11 percent, Senator Manny Pacquiao with 10 percent, and Senator Panfilo Lacson with 3 percent. In a statement, the Marcos’ camp expressed its deepest appreciation to OCTA Research for its “selfless endeavor of regularly bringing the true sentiments of the Filipino people to light.”

Monthly... From A1

“Right now, we’re confident we have enough vaccine supply. We’re so confident that we’re encouraging everyone who’s eligible to get their booster shots,” he said. The Philippines has so far deployed 171 million vaccine doses and has stockpiles in its warehouses, Vergeire said. The country has so far fully vaccinated 63 million people, while 68.7 million others have received an initial dose, and 10 million booster shots have been administered as of Sunday. The Philippines logged 951 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest daily case count recorded this year, bringing the total case count to 3,661,997.

The positivity rate was at 5 percent, based on 22,407 people tested for COVID-19 on Feb. 26. There were 50 new fatalities reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 56,451. The DOH also reported 1,717 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,553,367. There were 52,179 active cases, of which 528 were asymptomatic; 47,157 were mild; 2,779 were moderate; 1,417 were severe; and 298 were critical. Nationwide, 27 percent of ICU beds, 22 percent of isolation beds, 15 percent of ward beds, and 14 percent of ventilators, are in use.

38 other areas shift to Alert Level 1, the lowest in a five-step system. “We will reach our targets in the coming months with the help of local governments,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a televised briefing. The country has enough vaccine supply even if the Russian invasion of Ukraine would disrupt shipments. The government is securing COVID-19 jabs for children ages 5 to 11, Nograles said.

BBM,... From A1

News Duterte names Abu as new Coast Guard commandant PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte has appointed Vice Adm. Artemio Abu as the new Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Abu’s appointment took effect on Monday, the PCG said in a Facebook post. Abu, it said, is part of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1992 and most recently served as the Commander of the Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC) and the Task Force Commander of the PCG Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan—a unit that enforces laws and regulations on the safety of life and property at sea within Philippine waters. “He is a nobleman from Barangay Luta Sur, Malvar, Batangas, and a holder of a Master’s Degree in Marine Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada,” the PCG said. Previously, it said Abu was also assigned as Commander of the PCG District Southern Visayas, PCG District Southern Tagalog, and the Coast Guard Education, Training, and Doctrine Command (CGETDC). Abu also served as the commanding officer of various PCG vessels where he earned the “Command at Sea” badge. “All units that CG Vice Admiral Abu commanded, both ashore and afloat, received the distinction as ‘Best Unit of the Year’ at the national level,” the PCG said. During the Taal Eruption in 2020, it said Abu was designated Commander of the PCG Task Force Taal where the PCG was showcased as a “uniformed, maritime, and humanitarian service of the country.” In 2021, it said Abu was recognized by the PMA as a “Distinguished Cavalier Awardee” for 2021 in the field of Coast Guard operation. “The said award is the highest recognition given to PMA alumni for their outstanding achievements in the field of government service,” the PCG said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Maynilad customers to get rebates

aynilad Water customers in Muntinlupa will get bill rebates after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Ofﬁce (MWSSRO) found Maynilad “liable for prolonged water service interruptions (WSI).” MWSS-RO chief regulator Patrick Lester Ty in a statement said the MWSS-RO will impose a penalty on Maynilad for the interruptions. Ty said the interruptions happened from December 2021 to February 2022 reportedly due to the failure of Maynilad’s water plants, particularly its Putatan Water Treatment Plants. Brgy. Putatan is located in Muntinlupa. Currently, Maynilad has two water treatment plants in the said barangay. Ideally,

the Putatan facility draws water from Laguna Lake which will be used to supply thousands of customers in Muntinlupa and other areas. But Ty, in a statement, said based on the evidence, “Maynilad failed to meet its Service Obligation of ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted 24 hour supply of water at seven pounds per square inch (psi) minimum pressure to all connected customers in its service area. The executive said customers within

the PWTP Supply Zone “were found to have been deprived of water service for at least 15 days. The regulator said thousands were left with no water for up to 18 hours a day, and still some, for days. Customers also reportedly told the regulator that the water coming out of faucets is discolored and brownish. Ty said affected customers can avail of the rebate program in March. Customers are also encouraged to check for updates via the MWSS RO’s ofﬁcial Facebook page (@MWSS.RO) Twitter account (@ mwssro) and website (ro.mwss.gov.ph). A public hearing was also conducted by the Muntinlupa local government last February 8. In a statement, Maynilad said it will comply with the regulator’s decision. But

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has commended the Customs - Ninoy Aquino International Airport for its accomplishment and proactive measures in going after smuggling of anti social goods, especially illegal drugs, in 2021. The Port of NAIA under the leadership of District Collector Carmelita Talusan was recognized by the PDEA led by its NCR chief Christian Frivaldo for its achievement last year when it in-

Maynilad said that the PWTP’s production was affected by the quality of water in the Laguna Lake. “We wish to inform the public that our water service in the south has already been ramping up over the last few days following improvements in the turbidity level of Laguna Lake and our treatment process interventions; hence, most of the affected customers now have uninterrupted supply,” Maynilad said. Laguna Lake reportedly provides 8 percent of Maynilad’s raw water supply. The company serves customers in the west zone, which includes Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, and Valenzuela. It also services areas in Cavite including Bacoor, Cavite, and Imus.

Solon seeks probe on use of drones in PH By Maricel V. Cruz

DSWD ANNIVERSARY. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista together with guest of honor Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles view panel paintings done by DSWD during the department’s 71st anniversary celebration. Lino Santos

PDEA cites NAIA-Customs for successful campaign against drugs By Joel E. Zurbano

tercepted 57 shipments of illegal drugs worth P122.7 million. The contraband, including shipments of kush, ketamine, cocaine, ecstasy, shabu, and liquid marijuana were intercepted by Customs agents with the help from operatives of PDEA and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG). During the ﬁrst half of 2021, Talusan’s men were able to intercept P45 million worth of smuggled prohibited substance. “Over the years, the Port of NAIA continues to perform in partnership with IA-

DITG and PDEA in the borders. As of record, there were 31 drug-related busts in 2019, 43 drug busts in 2020, and 57 drug busts in 2021,” said Talusan. The bureau also attributed the latest accomplishments from the creation of an anti-narcotics coordinating center to further strengthen its campaign against smuggling of illegal drugs at the country’s premier airport. The coordination center was made in partnership with PDEA and People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Inc. (Paircargo). “This was also strategically placed for

importations from Paircargo accounts to the majority of importations coming through NAIA and accessible to the concerns of other six warehouses under Port of NAIA,” said Talusan. Port officials said they will continue their vigilance against different modes of concealment of illegal drugs thru enhanced and improved profiling techniques. Collector Talusan said their campaign is in full support of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s border control initiatives.

DAR to distribute lands in Agusan By Rio N. Araja

beneficiaries of the lands. The 106.1756 hectare-land, which was part of 210.2195-hectare property owned by JCADI, had an approved land use conversion application per DAR secretary’s order on June 23, 2010. On Aug. 11, 2017, UMAN petitioned that the 106.1756 hectares with approved conversion be acquired and awarded to their members/farmers. The DAR central office rendered an order sustaining the revocation of the approved conversion order in January 2021. In August of the same year, an appeal of both the cancellation of the conversion order was interposed by JCADI to the Office of the President. The DAR chief said they have already received news that the case has a resolution in favor of the farmers and they are just waiting for a more detailed order from the Office of the President.

NHMFC opens new office in Quezon City

THE Department of Agrarian Reform is set to distribute 106.1756-hectare contested agricultural land in Agusan del Norte. Secretary Bernie Cruz said the disputed 106.1756 hectare-landholdings of JC Agri-Development Inc. (JCADI) properties in Dona Rosario, Tubay Agusan del Norte, would be distributed soon and are just awaiting the detailed orders from the Ofﬁce of the President. “I assure you that our process of acquisition and distribution is on its way. We are here to discuss the survey and validation of landholdings as well as the funds needed,” said Cruz during his recent dialogue with the Unyon sa Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN) in the said town,” he said. He cited that they need to begin identifying qualiﬁed and deserving farmer-

THE National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) opened on Monday its new office at the ground level of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Building along Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, who also chairs the NHMFC Board of Directors, led the ribboncutting and blessing of the new office, which also coincided with DHSUD’s 3rd anniversary on February 14. NHMFC President Carlo Luis P. Rabat said that the celebration of DHSUD’s 3rd anniversary also marks a milestone for NHMFC as this is also the day that the corporation inaugurates and opens its first One-Stop Shop in Quezon City. “We want to bring our services closer

UNITEAM SUPPORT. Supporters of Sen. Bong Go declare on Monday their full support to the UniTeam of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for the May 2022 elections. Manny Palmero

ONE-STOP-SHOP. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario (6th from left) graces the opening and blessing of the new NHMFC One-Stop Shop in Quezon City located at the DHSUD Building, Kalayaan Avenue corner Mayaman Street, Diliman, Quezon City. The event coincides with the 3rd Anniversary of DHSUD on February 14, 2022. Also in photo (L-R) are NHMFC Vice Presidents Luisa Favila, Carolina Cortez, Romeo Roldan and Ma. Victoria Alpajaro, NHMFC Executive Vice President Livia Alicia Ramos, DHSUD Usec. Marylin Pintor, Father Kiev Dimatatac, and DHSUD Usec. Albert Dela Cruz, Sr.

to our stakeholders. With the opening of this NHMFC One-Stop Shop, our borrowers and clients in this area and nearby cities and provinces are assured of easier access, safer and more convenient transactions with NHMFC even under the new normal,” he added. Housing loan borrower’s transactions such as loan status, application for loan restructuring, and payment or settlement of monthly amortizations, will be accommodated in this branch. Appointments booked online thru NHMFC’s ofﬁcial Messenger account, email address or thru telephone calls will also be accepted here. For borrowers who wish to view the status of their accounts online, the “My NHMFC Online Access” (My NOA) kiosk is conveniently installed in the ofﬁce entrance.

SAN Jose Del Monte Rep. Florida Robes has filed a resolution voicing concern over the reported misuse and abuse of drone operations by some unscrupulous individuals against private individuals including members of her family. Robes, chair of the House committee on people’s participation, in filing Resolution 2473 cited the need for the House Committee on Transportation to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation to determine the current status of drone operations in the country amid reported misuse and abuse that violate people’s rights to privacy, safety, and security. She stated that Memorandum Circular 21 dated June 2014 by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regulates the use and operation of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) in the country. She added that while the said regulation does not require registration or a permit is not needed to fly a drone recreationally, some certain places and circumstances require license and registration to operate the same. “Under CAAP rules, licenses are needed if the drone is operated commercially or weighs more than seven (7) kilograms or if the drone will be flown in restricted conditions such as going inside restricted air space, conducting night flights, flying overpopulated areas, and going above maximum altitude. The Rules specifically state that drones are not allowed to go into private places and populated zones which include subdivisions and residential areas,” Robes said. But recently, Robes said her family has become a victim of illegal drone operations when a drone was flown over her parents’ house in Bustos, Bulacan that almost entered their house’s kitchen. “Such intrusion clearly violated CAAP Rules on drone operation because this not only pose risks to our safety but also to our privacy and security,” Robes said.

‘Booc not just a teacher, but NPA recruiter’ CHAD Booc is a New People’s Army (NPA) leader and recruiter who is responsible for luring children, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said. The NTF-ELCAC said this is according to Rurelyn Bay-ao, a former student of Booc in Salungpungan and Bakwit schools. Bay-ao said divulged that contrary to what left-leaning groups have claimed, Booc is not just a teacher but a leader in the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF). Bay-ao, who is also a member of an Indigenous People (IP) tribe in Talaingod, Davao, said she was taught by Booc in Saver’s School Network , a community-based learning scheme used by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to lure IP children and train them to become NPA warriors. She added that in 2020, she was with Booc, including the time when they were at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City as a member of the so-called Bakwit School where Booc taught and indoctrinated them through “PaDaPa” (Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan) on how to fight and overthrow the government. Booc was slain with four other NPA fighters after a 15-minute firefight with the 1001st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Thursday, February 24.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

News

Binay: Prepare for prolonged Ukraine crisis By Joel E. Zurbano SENATORIAL candidate Jejomar Binay on Monday proposed several measures to mitigate the impact of higher fuel prices and inflation in the event of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine. “A prolonged conflict in Ukraine would have adverse effects on our economy. Oil prices have been increasing, and if the conflict drags on, it would also lead to price increases of basic goods,” Binay said. “This would be felt hardest by those who have yet to recover from the effects of the pandemic. This will be an additional burden on many of our countrymen as the suffering caused by the pandemic has not yet been alleviated,” he added. Among the measures being proposed by Binay are fuel subsidies for public utility drivers and price ceilings on basic goods. “We must enforce the price ceiling on basic goods. Erring traders must be punished immediately,” he said. The former vice president also said cash and food subsidies should be made available for the poorest of the poor. “We must prepare additional help for those who need it most, cash or food subsidies, and make sure they will receive it,” he said. Binay said these measures would help sectors affected by the pandemic and the economic lockdowns who have yet to recover. “We must be ready, proactive, to lessen the sufferings of our poor countrymen,” he said. Binay is a former Makati City mayor who first served under the administration of the late former President Corazon Aquino. He is now running for senator in the May 9 elections under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). He also is a guest candidate of presidential bets Leni Robredo, Panfilo Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao

Sara’s 28-day cross-country ride firms up poll support By Maricel V. Cruz THE month-long Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR) has successfully solidified support from local officials from different political parties across the country for UniTeam vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her running mate, presidential hopeful Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats offered this assessment Monday as the 28-day south-north journey, which was Duterte-Carpios’s idea, culminated in Mindanao where it started. Past seven Monday morning, Duterte began her journey to Davao City from the Cotabato State University. House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, the Lakas-CMD president, joined UniTeam candidates during the MNPR. “This has been an enormously successful journey, for which I thank all my incumbent and former colleagues in the House, the local officials, our supporters, and the people from all walks of life who welcomed and received us. We extend to you our heartfelt gratitude,” said Romualdez, one of the two campaign managers of Duterte-Carpio. Duterte-Carpio is running for vice president under Lakas-CMD. Judging from the wide support and warm reception they received in every province, town and community they visited, Romualdez said there is no doubt that the BBM-Sara tandem “is headed for a landslide win on May 9.” In every stop they made in the course of their journey, the UniTeam tandem laid out their plans for the country if they get elected on May 9, and spread their message of hope, patriotism and unity, Romualdez said. Among other commitments, Duterte-Caprio promised to pursue President Rodrigo Duterte’s projects and programs, including the campaign against illegal drugs and crime, the push for massive Build, Build,

LISTENING TOUR. Workers at the Lucena Fish Port Complex (LFPC) in Barangay Dalahican warmly welcome Partido Reporma standard-bearer Ping Lacson and his running mate Senate President Tito Sotto III during their visit here Monday morning. The tandem held a consultative meeting with members of the Quezon Marinduque Fishing Boat Operators and Fishermen’s Association Inc. to find out how they can adjust their policy directions and make them more responsive to the needs and priorities of the local fisheries sector.

Teachers’ group supports Robredo-Pangilinan tandem By Rio N. Araja

HE Alliance of Concerned Teachers is backing the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo in the May 9 elections.

ACT formally endorsed the candidacy of Robredo and that of her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, for their “exemplary track record” and concrete plans for the education sector. “ACT Philippines... chooses to support the candidacy of Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo for president and of Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan for vice president, and work with Team Leni-Kiko in pushing forward a common agenda that will address the grave crisis that currently beset the Philippine education system,” it said. The tandem, the group said, has the

“most exemplary track record among all the presidential and vice presidential candidates in responding to the needs of the education sector.” “While the pandemic ravaged the education sector, Team Lani-Kiko’s heart for education has shone. They also present the most substantive, concrete, and viable platform for education, as well as for tackling the current health and economic crisis and upholding peace, democracy, and human rights,” ACT said. “For the Filipino children and youth and for the future of the nation, ACT Philippines places its support on the candi-

dacy of Team Leni-Kiko and commits to helping in delivering the education sector vote for the victory of pro-education ca didates,” it added. Meanwhile, Robredo vowed her administration will build a “vibrant team” with the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector should she win in the presidential elections. “This team will not just untie all the knots, but also be able to plan policies that will boost the industry even more with the realization that the BPO industry will propel our economy to greater heights,” she said in an online discussion with IT-BPO leaders and employees. The event was organized by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the flagship organization of the IT-BPM industry, as part of a series of industry round table discussions with the presidential candidates.

Lacson vows stimulus aid for MSMEs By Macon Ramos-Araneta COMPREHENSIVE, targeted financial packages and incentives await micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the administration of Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson once he gains the Filipinos’ mandate as the country’s 17th President during the May 9 elections. Lacson stressed this in the CNN Presidential Debate forum on Sunday where he faced off with eight other candidates. Answering a question on the economy, the longtime public servant noted that MSMEs were the worst-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as they composed 99.5 percent of all enterprises in the country.

Small businesses also employ 63.2 percent of the country’s labor force, and a sizable chunk of them were laid off at the height of the lockdowns due to the coronavirus infections, Lacson said. These restrictions are only starting to ease as over 60 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the deadly respiratory disease, but the threeterm senator noted the country should also be prepared to transition from the COVID-19 pandemic to an endemic situation. This is where government support for MSMEs should come in as Lacson noted that aid packages for small businesses must be extended by state-owned financial institutions such as LandBank and

the Development Bank of the Philippines, in coordination with the country’s private banks. “I was talking to a big businessman and I asked him: ‘How are you addressing your suppliers who are MSMEs? He said: ‘We extended them loans,’” he said. “That should be the partnership between the government and the private sector, it should be really close, especially in a crisis like this. That should be done for the economy,” Lacson added. Meanwhile, Lacson said the will of the people through their votes and not pre-election surveys will determine who will lead the country over the next six years.

Isko: Support tandem with Doc Willie

By Rey E. Requejo

AKSYON Demokratiko standardbearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has appealed to voters to support a “Mayor Isko-Doc Willie” tandem to ensure that their life and livelihood priority program will be implemented during the first two years of their administration. “I get things done. I don’t have to give a timeframe. Since time immemorial, when I enter the government, I really try to excel in every field of undertaking. But my compatriots, as long as you give Doc Willie and me a chance, we will give our life and livelihood program in the first two years of our mandate so that we can help you overcome this pandemic. We will help you survive,” Domagoso said. This was the response made by Domagoso to a question during the CNN-sponsored “Presidential Debates: The Filipino Votes.” “Life is hard. The price of gasoline will go up, but we want you to feel that you have a reliable government, you can lean on. That is my dream for you. We can cross, we can survive this pandemic. Then there will be certainty and predictability in our policy in our management,” he said. He said the reason he decided to run for president is to be of service to the Filipino people, particularly in providing work to the millions who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “You know this pandemic, it teaches us a lot of lessons in life, even priorities in life. What is important to me, my countrymen, is how can you survive this pandemic? How can we provide employment to the four million workers who lost their jobs? The small businesses that closed, how can they recover? Please don’t close. How can the safety of employees be maintained?” he added.

Marcos to solve Bicol power woes

STEPPING UP. A barefoot

Vice President Leni Robredo walks with her team after attending the presidential debate Sunday hosted by CNN Philippines. An administrator of her Twitter account posted this photo with the caption: ‘True leadership is stepping up and showing up...even if it means standing in heels for 3 hours.’

RECOGNIZING that brownout has become a perennial problem in the whole Bicol region, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed to ensure that the Bicolanos will no longer endure such difficulty if he gets elected in the May 9 elections. Marcos, standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, said he feels the intolerable hardship that the Bicolanos are experiencing because of the endless brownout, which had been prevalent in the region for almost a decade. “It has a huge impact on the daily lives of our countrymen. They are no longer comfortable in their own homes and offices, many appliances have certainly been broken due to the endless brownouts in Bicolandia,” he said. The situation is aggravated every time a strong typhoon visits the region, like Typhoon Quinta, Ulysses, Super Typhoon Rol-

ly, and Odette in December. The scarcity of electric power has also affected the online classes of the students, Marcos said. Aside from “temporary solutions” that are being implemented, Marcos what is needed is a long-term solution to end the problem. The Ilocos Region, where Marcos served as governor, had experienced the same predicament but a wind farm constructed in the shoreline of Bangui has addressed the problem. Marcos said it is time to conduct studies on alternative renewable energy sources to ease the burden of the Filipinos, especially those who are in the provinces. “What we will use is natural sources of energy. We will no longer use coal. Will not use fossil fuel. We need to have a replacement and the renewables are [always] available,” he said. Rey E. Requejo

‘Make access to gov’t aid easier’ SENATORIAL aspirant and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday vowed to make access to government assistance programs a priority agenda this year amid a promising but fragile recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the things we are pushing for even now, and of course when we get to the Senate, is to make these processes easier for those who really need them,” Cayetano said. He said applying for the various assistance programs provided for in the 2022 national budget should be made easier for people so that they are empowered to take control of their families’ economic outcomes, as is the case with small business owners who need help in restarting or recapitalizing their businesses that were affected by the pandemic downturn.

“The good news is that there is almost P500 billion in the 2022 budget in terms of different aid programs, whether that’s for medicines, with the Department of Health – that’s P20 billion – with the DSWD, the DTI. But in the case of that P500 billion, the reality is that there are many out there who complain that if you don’t know someone in the bureaucracy, it’s difficult to apply for it, or it’s difficult to meet all the requirements,” Cayetano said. Cayetano also raised the need for more direct stimulus similar to the pandemic stimulus packages enacted by the United States as well as Singapore and other Asian neighbors. “These things are already in the budget. We will continue to fight for that, we’ll continue to push that amid the pandemic, just like in the US, in Singapore and other countries, we should give cash aid directly to our people,” he said. Maricel V. Cruz

PRESSING ADVOCACY. Small-scale artisanal fisherfolk hold placards bearing their calls for a ‘Blue Agenda in Philippine Fisheries’ during the national assembly of Katipunan ng mga Kilusan ng Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas in Quezon City on February 28, 2022. Presidential aspirant Ka Leody De Guzman attended the assembly.

Opinion Antique-ated behavior of the Congresswoman,” Cadiao said. The Governor was not present when VP Robredo arrived in Antique, but it was not because of what people have theorized. She explained that she had a meeting in Manila that could no longer be canceled. It just goes to show that we can’t believe everything we see online, so we really need to verify first before reacting. Santa Banana, that sort of impulsive conduct should be Antiqueated behavior by now. Most importantly, VP Leni herself appears to have no issue with what happened, so her supporters may be inadvertently stirring a non-boiling pot. What we can believe are the undeniable testaments of a province about how they have improved. As the country slowly opens once again to tourism. Antique, with all of its progress over the past three years, is looking to be another excellent local destination. Thanks to the work of local officials like Legarda. Antique is now on the rise and we hope other provinces will also have their shining moment in the years to come. *** Civil Society, activists and mainstream media made a big thing out of the 36th anniversary of EDSA 1 last Friday, Feb 25, of the socalled People Power Revolution. We should not forget the legacy of the People Power Revolution, nor forget the end of the Marcos dictatorship that day, they say. But this was what really happened on the breakaway of then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, then Col. Gringo Honasan and then Chief of the PCV/INP Fidel V. Ramos from then strongman President Ferdinand E. Marcos. When Marcos was getting terribly sick, JPE was aware of plans of then Chief of Staff Fabian Ver to put up a military junta to be headed by then First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. This was followed by Ver having his two sons get in control of the military, with a son taking charge of the armored brigade, and another son becoming chief of the Presidential Security Guards, or PSG. Together with then Col. Honasan, JPE began forming the RAM, Reform the Armed Forces Movement, training them in close urban combat in Cagayan province, in Pangasinan, and even in Zambales. Inevitably, Ver got wind of the plan of Enrile and Gringo, so much so that JPE and Gringo had no choice but to break away from Marcos. Thus on February 23, 1986, Enrile and Gringo had all. the foreign newsmen and local newsmen meet them to announce their breakaway from Marcos. Later that day, JPE convinced Ramos to join them. It was then on that day, JPE, Ramos and Gringo moved over to Camp Crame where they encamped until Feb.25. That breakaway was the momentous moment in history, when Ver tried and failed to convince Marcos to bomb the mutineers. For the record, the late President Cory Aquino was then in Cebu, after which she came back to Manila, conveniently hiding at the Pink Sisters Convent. The nearest she ever got to EDSA was at the crossing of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA. On February 25, when the Americans took Marcos and family to Clark Airbase and then on to Honolulu, JPE, Ramos and Gringo decided to hand over power to Cory Aquino. That was when the late Cardinal Sin and others started to gather over half a million people at EDSA, a gathering which was soon glamorized by anti-Marcos elements and the Western press to celebrate the end of the Marcos dictatorship. Truth to tell, that gathering was not a People Power Revolution. It was just a gathering of people from Manila of activists, students, priests and nuns. It was not.a revolution since a revolution connotes a change of government. It was just a change of regime from Marcos to Cory. And that was the story of that fateful day on Feb.25, 1986. In fact, historians have written about this event of the so-called people power. It was just a meeting of over half a million people. So, what was there to celebrate, since it was neither a people power of a population of the Philippines of 100 million. There was nothing to remember it by. It was just a fluke in history glamorized by the anti-Marcos elements and activists and the Western press to show that democracy was alive in the Philippines.

ANTIQUE has been in the social media spotlight lately because of allegations that senatorial candidate and Antique representative Loren Legarda was involved in making it harder for the campaign sorties of Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo to organize in the province. The narrative alleges that Legarda basically strong-armed Antique mayors to not accommodate the Vice President. Netizens, especially Robredo’s supporters, were quick to form an online village mob and hurl criticism at Legarda. While Legarda’s camp has not issued an official statement - most likely because these types of knee-jerk reactions are better left undignified - a few notable Antiquenos were also just as quick to defend Legarda whom, they say, “has never engaged herself in dirty politics” in her 23-year career in public service.

Many have been quick to defend Legarda. One such Antiqueno is Flord Nicson J. Calawag, who is President of the Antique Association of Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Owners. He claimed that the Antiquenos are “deeply hurt of (sic) the news circulating online about her, attacking her without validating facts.” He likewise stated that he was a “witness to the ‘golden age of Antique’ from the hundreds of millions worth of projects , livelihood programs, scholarships, and financial aid from deputy Speaker Legarda.” The statement seems to hold true because, through the initiatives of both the executive and legislative branches of the local government, Antiquenos seem to be getting considerably more opportunities. In less than three years, the province, through Legarda’s efforts, has been able to partner with various departments such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) where 61,000 were able to benefit from the DOLE TUPAD, an emergency program for displaced workers and unemployed. Around 4,464 meanwhile were assisted by DOLE’s Pangkabuhayan project. My gulay! In a span of three years and despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, Antique was able to climb out from the perception of being a poor province. Through TESDA, scholarships and training have benefited many Antiquenos since 2016. Farmers and fisherfolk also benefited from the various projects thanks to partnerships with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Dairy Authority, and Philippine Carabao Center. While Legarda has long been an effective champion for health, the pandemic has undoubtedly redoubled her advocacy. She allocated funds to upgrade and construct hospitals, health centers, and barangay health stations. Funding for DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and DOH medical Assistance for Indigent Patient (MAIO). Sea ambulances were also provided to assist in emergencies in the island and far area. Education in Antique is also improving through CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program (admittedly, I have a strong bias towards that particular name) and the construction of classrooms and buildings for public schools. Legarda has also embarked on improving the resources of teachers through IT packages. The pandemic has forced many to shift online hence, tablets for students and teachers were distributed. Going back to the issue at hand, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao also refuted the allegations on Legarda’s behalf. “No one had given any instructions for the Mayors to not attend the meeting [with Robredo]. I was also informed that no invitations [from Robredo] were received by the Mayors and the Office

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

“T

Calling out the elephant

O say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.”

This quotation from the historian Will Durant must have been foremost in the minds of our government officials who issued statements about Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last week. As Russian rockets and artillery pounded Ukrainian targets Friday half a world away, the Department of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to reaffirm its commitment to settling disputes through peaceful means. “The Philippines calls on the international community to reaffirm by more than words its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes,” the statement read. “We recall the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, which provides the legal framework for recourse to diplomacy, dialogue, and rule of law.” “In the present crisis, where the situation is not irreversible and there is no compelling reason for any of the protagonists

to resort to hostile actions, turning to the Manila Declaration is the pragmatic and decent way to go,” it added.

Staying neutral is perilous in this case. It urged all parties to exert every effort to stick to diplomatic and peaceful means to maintain international peace and security and avert a humanitarian crisis. We understand the need to be cautious in foreign policy and not to ruffle any feathers unnecessarily, but statements such as this— released as well by other countries with little skin in the game—suffer one major flaw. In calling on both sides to use diplomatic and peaceful means, they suggest that both parties were somehow responsible for going to war, which is clearly not the case with Russia’s decision to invade another sovereign state to overthrow its government and to replace it with a more pliable puppet regime. To tell the courageous Ukrainians, who are defending their homeland with Molotov

IN LAST weekend’s presidential and vicepresidential debates organized by CNN Philippines, a feisty professor proved disruptive while several presidential candidates stood out over their strong grasp of current events and issues. The events were held at the University of Santo Tomas, as they were in 2016. To no one’s surprise, the tandem of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte declined to participate. House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, running for VP, was a no-show as well. The following things were apparent during the debate: first, that the candidates who are serving in government had access to data and information not available to the others, enabling them to have a better grasp of issues and give good answers (except in the case of Manny Pacquiao). Second, some of the candidates are intel-

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cocktails against Russian tanks, that they should resort to diplomacy is the ultimate insult. In an unguarded moment, the Defense secretary said the Philippines doesn’t care about what happens in some faraway country. “We don’t care about Europe or with what they are doing there; we are not near Ukraine. The countries near its borders already expressed support for Ukraine. For us, we will remain neutral for now,” he said in Filipino. He later walked back his statements, saying he does care, after all—but the insistence on remaining neutral speaks to a lack of national character and backbone. The late South African human rights advocate Desmond Tutu spoke of the peril of staying neutral. “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,” he said. “If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Even if only by words, we should call out the elephant and condemn the Russian invasion.

Ukraine and the call for conversion EVEN as the world was starting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with lower daily case loads and easing of restrictions in most parts of the world, Russian president Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This prompted the United States and its Western allies to redeploy its troops in Europe and impose massive economic sanctions against Russia. With the sanctions failing to dissuade Putin from his military adventurism, the world, particularly U.S. and its NATO allies, is at a loss on what to do next. A direct military confrontation with Russia is off the table as of this moment. Russia, with its vast nuclear arsenal, has the capability to unleash a destructive war against the West that can only spell nuclear Armageddon. So far, the West’s only recourse is to arm the Ukrainians and to cripple the Russian economy with punitive sanctions. Only history can judge who is at fault here. Of course, the fault lies on whoever is talking. Is it Putin who attacked Ukraine without provocation, or is occupying Ukraine a matter of national security interest to nullify an existential threat being posed by the U.S. and its Western allies? Is it the fault of the Western countries, led by the U.S., which has taken actions to make Russia insecure? After Ukraine, what is Putin’s next move? Will China take advantage of the situation and now make the move to invade Taiwan and occupy other contested islands in the South China Sea? Despite the many imponderables, one thing is certain. The world is in grave danger of a general confrontation, a fullscale war between the West on one hand and Russia and China on the other. We are tethering on the precipice of destruction, more so because the antagonists are armed with nuclear weapons that can bring mutually assured destruction.

Never since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 has a nuclear confrontation between US and Russia been so close as now. Overseas Filipino Workers in Ukraine and others working in the neighboring countries will be adversely affected. On the home front, the flow of goods, including gas and wheat used for bread will be disrupted, and that among others will jack up inflation further. This can be devastating to the millions of impoverished Filipinos who are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. The Japanbased global investment firm Nomura predicted that a steep rise in oil and food prices triggered by the war in Ukraine could hit Asian economies hard, with the Philippines among the biggest losers. With COVID-19 subsiding for now and the economy, moribund as it is after years of sluggishness due to the pandemic, slowly gaining traction, it is so unfortunate that we are once again faced with another grave problem.

The world is in grave danger of a general confrontation. The Ukraine crisis has exposed again the vulnerability of our country to global events. Neoliberalism really has to be rejected by our leaders – it makes us more vulnerable. We must have a strong independent foreign policy. In this case, we do not necessarily side with the United States even as we strongly condemn the invasion and war as an instrument of a country’s foreign policy. In May, we need to elect a president who is mature, an adult, a hard worker, one who listens to experts, is a strategic thinker and one

The CNN debates: who came out on top? ligent and have good comprehension and critical thinking skills. Third, the political and issue-related leanings of the candidates emerged quite clearly, a preview of the direction their decisions may take once in power. On Saturday, sociology professor Walden Bello proved to be the gadfly of the vice-presidential debate. He called out Sara Duterte and Marcos Jr. for not showing up to the mat. He launched into Sen. Tito Sotto for “rewriting history” by trying to dissociate himself from his early support for President Rodrigo Duterte and failing to protect Sen. Leila De Lima. Neither did he spare Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for his role in passing the CREATE law that lowers corporate income tax and that could reduce government revenue. Sotto’s edge is his public service that has given him a wide and deep knowledge of issues of national concern. However, Bello managed to put Sotto on the defensive on several points. While Pangilinan nearly lost his cool over Bello’s fiery thrusts, he managed to keep it to-

The public was given a preview of the direction their decisions may take once they are in power. gether and present an image of a knowledgeable person who can get the job done. Dr. Willie Ong approached most questions from his point-of-view as a physician, and gave simple, easy-to-understand answers that, however, were lacking in breadth and depth. On Sunday, Dr. Jose Montemayor showed himself to be on the side of the capitalists, as Ka Leody de Guzman pointed out. While the former came off as elitist, the latter’s sincerity was palpable, and his knowledge of labor issues is formidable. Manny Pacquiao’s answers were rather

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

more of motherhood statements, religious references, and rants about corruption; unfortunately, he came off as a lightweight in this particular ring. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso approached most questions from the mindset of a manager and administrator, and could match most points raised with a plan of action. He admitted keeping his excess campaign funds from when he ran for mayor, because, he said, the law does not provide against it, and he paid the proper taxes. This honesty was appreciated by many netizens, who at the same time decried his pocketing the funds instead of using them for a more altruistic purpose. Sen. Ping Lacson remained calm and poised throughout, but to some it seemed his energy was flagging. He was frustrated at not having enough time to answer questions properly and give them the attention he could have provided (CNN only allowed each candidate 1.5 minutes). His long years of public service also gave him the background to speak about issues credibly and with confidence.

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

that is creative and decisive. We need leaders like Pope Francis who broke protocol and visited the Russian after that country invaded Ukraine. In his weekly audience, the Pope said his “heart is broken.” He is quoted as saying, “Those who make war forget humanity. It does not come from the people. They don’t consider the everyday lives of people but put partisan interests before everything and trust in the diabolic and perverse logic of weapons, which is the furthest thing from God’s mind.” Pope Francis also used his Twitter account @Pontifex to forcefully affirm his “no to war” in Ukrainian and in Russian: “Jesus teaches us to respond to the diabolical senselessness of violence with God’s weapons: with prayer and fasting. May the Queen of peace preserve the world from the folly of war”. The Pope also recalled a quote from his encyclical Fratelli tutti: “Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil”. This coming Ash Wednesday, March 2, is the start of the Lenten season. Pope Francis has asked that it be a dedicated day of prayer for peace in Ukraine. It is a great opportunity for us to ponder, reflect on what God’s plans are for all of us, most especially to the people of Ukraine and the millions more who will be directly and indirectly affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Above all, this is a moment of conversion. Let’s make use of that opportunity. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs The presidential debate became a setting for Vice-President Leni Robredo to shine because she had a good grasp of the issues and overall gave well-thought answers that kept to the topic. Netizens compared her to Gloc 9 the rapper, because she had to speak very fast, in the time she was given, to list all that her office has done to help Filipinos. However, even her own supporters were disappointed over her anti-divorce stand. Other viewers of the debates have their own opinions on how it went for each candidate. But most can agree that the candidates were not given enough time to give more definitive, nuanced answers. All of the candidates present, except Montemayor, said the debates are a good thing. Mayor Isko likened them to job interviews, with the people being the “HR department.” Hopefully, future debates will take the glitches of the previous ones into account and allow more opportunities for candidates to pitch their platforms to voters, who need to be able to make informed decisions come May 9 when they hire a new president and vice-president. *** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

World

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hundreds of thousands march to denounce Russian invasion BERLIN—Dressed in the blue and yellow of Ukraine’s flag and bearing posters like “No World War 3” and “Russians go home”, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets worldwide Sunday denouncing Russia’s invasion of its neighbour. From Berlin to Baghdad, from Washington to Saint Petersburg, demonstrators chanted “shame” against Russian President Vladimir Putin while others waved banners with slogans like “Putin murderer” or “stop the monster”. In the German capital, police estimated turnout to be at least 100,000, while Prague drew 70,000 and Amsterdam 15,000. Organisers of the Berlin protest put the numbers at five times the police estimate, with demonstrators massing at the Brandenburg Gate, a stone’s throw away from the imposing Russian embassy. Although the embassy—in which Russian diplomats both work and live—was cordoned off by police, some protesters gathered in front shouting “glory to Ukraine” and singing Ukrainian songs.

“It is important to me for Germany to show that it is standing for democracy in Europe,” said Hans Georg Kieler, 49, who was at the demonstration. He praised Germany’s decision to begin delivering armaments to Ukraine, but said “we could have helped Ukraine more”. Ukrainian Valeria Moiseeva was also at the march. “I hate Russia, I hate all Russians,” the pregnant 35-year-old said, adding that her mother was now sitting in a cellar in Kyiv in fear of bombs. In Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg, around 400 people gathered in defiance of strict protest laws, holding posters reading “No to war”, “Russians go home” and “Peace to Ukraine”. More than 2,000 people were detained in demonstrations across the country Sunday, following thousands of arrests this week, but protesters remained undeterred. “It is a shame that there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of us and not millions,” 35-year-old engineer Vladimir Vilokhonov told AFP in Saint Petersburg. AFP

‘RUSSIA OUT.’ A demonstrator marches during a rally in support of Ukraine in Santa Monica, California on February 27. Dressed in the blue and yellow of Ukraine’s flag, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets worldwide Sunday denouncing Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. A placard showing a picture of Russian president Vladimir Putin with a red hand print (inset top right corner) was one of the protest pieces during the rally. AFP

US, allies coordinate Ukraine response EU scrambles W to bring in ASHINGTON—US President Joe Biden will hold a secure call with allies and partners on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to discuss “developments” in Russia’s attack on Ukraine and “coordinate our united response,” the White House said. The administration did not elaborate on who would participate in the call, which will take place at 11:15 am (1615 GMT). Russia has become an international pariah as its forces do battle on the streets of Ukraine’s cities, and is facing a barrage of sanctions including a ban from Western airspace and key financial networks. Earlier Sunday, the G7 threatened fresh sanctions as top US diplomat Ant-

ony Blinken said the group of wealthy nations was “fully aligned” against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Also on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered that Russia’s nuclear “deterrence forces” be put on high alert, prompting an immediate international outcry, with the United States slamming the order as “totally unacceptable.” Biden’s call with allies will come as the UN General Assembly debates a

resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. Meanwhile, Belarus said Monday that it had prepared the venue that will host talks between delegations from Ukraine and Russia, as Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine went into its fifth day. Ukraine has agreed to send a delegation to meet Russian representatives in neighbouring Belarus, a key Kremlin ally that has allowed Russian troops passage to attack Ukraine. “The venue for talks between Russia and Ukraine in Belarus has been prepared, the arrival of delegations is expected,” the Belarusian foreign ministry said on social media, releasing a picture of a long table with Russian and Ukrainian flags.

North Korea hails ‘significant’ test in satellite dev’t SEOUL—North Korea said it had carried out a test of “great significance” for developing a reconnaissance satellite, state media reported Monday, a day after Seoul said it had detected a ballistic missile launch. Despite sweeping international sanctions, Pyongyang carried out a recordbreaking blitz of weapons tests in January before pausing launches during the Beijing Winter Olympics. On Sunday South Korea’s military said it had detected the launch of a ballistic missile, with Yonhap later reporting it could have been fired from a mobile launcher at a steep angle, possibly indicating a medium-range ballistic missile. But North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said government agencies had conducted a test “of great significance in developing the reconnaissance satellite” on Sunday. KCNA said the test helped “confirm the characteristics and working accuracy of high definition photographing system, data transmission system and attitude control devices”. That included “conducting vertical and Manila photographing of a specific area oblique Standard on earthTODAY with cameras to be loaded on the reconnaissance satellite,” KCNA added. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, carried two photographs that appeared to show the Korean peninsula seen from space. The development of a military reconnaissance satellite—along with the recently tested hypersonic weapons -- is one of the key defence projects listed by leader Kim Jong Un last year. AFP EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late VIRGILIO S. GARCIA has been extra-judicially settled among his heirs, as per Doc. No. 451; Page No. 92; Book No. IV; Series of 2022 before Notary Public ATTY. KAIMA VIA V. VELASQUEZ. (MS-MAR. 1/8/15, 2022)

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of Mrs. Rosario Gabriel Coronel was extrajudicially settled by her heirs per the Extra Judicial Settlement of the Intestate Estate of Mrs. Rosario Gabriel Coronel under Doc. No. 150, Page No. 32, Book No. 2, Series of 2016 before Notary Public Atty. Rafael T. Durian of Manila. (MS-FEB. 22/ Mar. 1 & 8 2022)

Separately, Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said: “The talks will start as soon as all the delegations arrive at the meeting point.” Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, sending shockwaves around the world. Kyiv was initially reluctant to send a delegation to Belarus, given the country’s role as facilitator in Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Ukraine has vowed not to give ground at the talks, which come as its forces fiercely resist the Russian offensive and a day after President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence chiefs to put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert. The fighting in Ukraine has claimed dozens of civilian lives including children. AFP

refugees

BRUSSELS—The European Union on Sunday moved to coordinate a welcome for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, talking notably about offering them temporary protection status. Around 400,000 Ukrainians have crossed into the EU since the start of the offensive on Thursday, according to an AFP tally. Half of them entered Poland, its government said. PAPAL A meeting of EU interior ministers MESSAGE. raised the possibility of giving UkraiPope Francis nians status under an as yet unused delivers his 2001 Temporary Protection DirecAngelus prayer tive that would allow them to live and from the window work in the European Union for up to of his study three years. overlooking St. “A very big majority” of ministers Peter’s Square at were in favour of rapidly activating the Vatican on that option, said French Interior MinFebruary 27. The ister Gerald Darmanin, whose counCatholic Church try holds the rotating EU presidency. leader expressed his “deep pain for Under cooperation agreements, the tragic events” Ukrainians with passports bearing resulting from biometric data are allowed to enter Russia’s invasion the EU without a visa and stay for up of Ukraine to three months. during a call But EU Home Affairs Commissionwith President er Ylva Johansson said the bloc needVolodymyr ed to be ready to host them beyond Zelensky, Kyiv’s that duration -- and that it needed to embassy to the prepare for potentially “millions” of Vatican said on arrivals from Ukraine. February 26. AFP “It would be the right time to use the Temporary Protection Directive,” she said. The directive was originally drawn up for refugees from the conflicts that wracked the former Yugoslavia, from the travel measures. with provisions for handling a masThe new travel restrictions will sive inflow of people and measures alarm tens of thousands of Afghans to distribute them across the EU’s 27 who have been promised asylum nations. abroad after working with US-led forBelgium was on the forefront CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK of the eign forces or other Western organisamember states calling for the protections during the Taliban’s 20-year intion directive to be applied. surgency. “At this historical moment we need More than 120,000 Afghans and to take the right decision. Taking the dual nationals were evacuated up to right decision means... the Temporary Protection Directive being put in August 31 when the last US-led troops place,” Belgian Immigration Minister withdrew, two weeks after the hardline Sammy Mahdi said. Islamists seized Kabul. For the tool to be used, though, a Thousands with similar links are qualified majority of EU states—15 still in Afghanistan, however, desperof the 27 countries representing a toate to leave and fearful they may be tal of at least 65 percent of the bloc’s targeted by the Taliban as “collaborapopulation—need to back it. AFP tors.” AFP

Taliban ban Afghans from leaving amid huge security sweep

KABUL—The Taliban have clamped down on Afghans leaving the country as, separately, their forces continue a massive security sweep, going houseto-house across the capital Monday in a “clearing operation”. The new travel ban was announced late Sunday by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who packaged the restrictions as being aimed at preventing hardship for Afghans abroad. Evacuations organised by nations or non-governmental organisations have been banned, while even families attempting to leave the country by their own means now need “an excuse”, or they will be stopped by immigration. “I have to say clearly that persons

who leave the country along with their families and have no excuse... we are preventing them,” Mujahid told a press conference late Sunday. Women will also not be able to fly abroad unless accompanied by a male relative—mirroring similar domestic restrictions introduced last year which bar solo travel between cities and towns. “If they (women) want to travel abroad, they should have a chaperone,” Mujahid said. “This is the order of Islamic sharia law.” The announcement came the same weekend a search for “kidnappers, thieves and looters” kicked off in Kabul and other Afghan cities—a socalled “clearing operation” separate

Rooftop rescues Down Under from record floods BRISBANE—Tens of thousands of Australians were ordered to flee their homes Monday, as torrential rain sent floodwaters to record levels, leaving residents stranded on the rooftops of their homes. Eight people have died, and the country’s weather bureau has warned further severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall will cause “life-threatening flash flooding” across a swathe of the central Pacific coastal region. In the country town of Lismore, resident Danika Hardiman woke Monday morning to find mudbrown floodwaters had reached the balcony of her second-floor apartment. She and her partner managed to climb up to the roof, where they were spotted by passing kayakers, who flagged down a makeshift rescue boat. “We were rescued by two guys in a boat, two locals,” Hardiman told AFP, describing the scenes in Lismore as “horrific”. “Imagine you’re in a boat sailing past people’s roofs,” she said.

“The scary thing is this is just the beginning, there’s lots of rain to come.” With the town’s levees already breached, 43,000 residents were ordered to leave by this morning. Emergency services were overwhelmed by calls for aid, leading some locals -- including Lismore’s mayor Steve Krieg -- to turn to social media for help. “If anyone has a boat and can get to Engine Street, there’s a pregnant lady sitting on her roof. HELP Please,” he posted on Facebook Monday. Emergency rescue services said they had also deployed a helicopter to pluck other stranded residents from rooftops. More than 400 millimetres (16 inches) of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours around Lismore, with the town’s Wilson River still rising, according to the weather bureau. Water levels in Lismore have not yet reached their expected peak of 14 metres -- but they are already the worst floods the town has experi- BUS DOWN UNDER. A man paddles his kayak next to a submerged bus on a flooded street in the town of Milton in suburban Brisbane on February 28. AFP enced. AFP

Business

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks surge; Monde Nissin climbs PSEi February 28, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 CSB 2 MONDE 3 ATN

LAST PRICE CHANGE 8.49 1.65 16.52 1.72 0.71 0.07

% CHANGE 24.12% 11.62% 10.94%

4 5 6

SCC CNPF AXLM

27.7 26.75 2.79

2.7 1.75 0.18

10.80% 7.00% 6.90%

CAB

3.15

6.87%

8 9 10

MBC ROX FDC

9.97 1.1 7.7

0.6 0.06 0.41

6.40% 5.77% 5.62%

TOCKS rallied Monday on bargain hunting after Metro Manila and several parts of the country brace for a full reopening of the economy starting today amid lower COVID-19 cases.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 98.78 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,311.01 on a value turnover of P11.6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 108 to 79, with 49 issues unchanged. Noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. jumped 11.6 percent to P16.52, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. advanced 4.8 percent to P39. SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group rose 4.7 percent to P39.80, while parent SM Investments Corp. added 2.4

percent to P892. Oil prices and safe havens, meanwhile, surged Monday while the ruble and European equities sank after world powers imposed fresh sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, fanning fears about a possible global energy crisis that could further stoke inflation. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops across the border last week has sent shiv-

ers through trading floors as investors fret over a protracted war in the resource-rich region. Adding to the unease among investors was news that Putin had put his nuclear forces on a higher alert in reaction to the latest stiff measures. Equities rallied Friday and oil dipped as dealers assessed that the punishments imposed on Moscow were light enough to not hit its crucial oil exports—Russia is the world’s third-biggest producer— at a time when supplies are thin and demand is surging. But the picture was changed at the weekend, when the United States and European Union said they would exclude some Russian banks from the

Brent, Texas oil prices up on new sanctions versus Russia

TOP LOSERS 1 MJC 2 BCB 3 OPM

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.84 -0.48 4.5 -0.6 0.012 -0.001

% CHANGE -20.69% -11.76% -7.69%

4 5 6 7

PHA PBB RLT MG

0.7 9.3 0.255 0.142

-0.05 -0.6 -0.015 -0.008

-6.67% -6.06% -5.56% -5.33%

GLO

2568

-130

-4.82%

9 10

PRF3B MWC

1080 20

-50 -0.85

-4.42% -4.08%

MOST ACTIVE

1 SMPH 2 BDO

VOLUME 30,854,700 8,453,790

VALUE (PHP) 1,215,998,735 1,102,396,669

3 4

ALI BPI

16,803,900 4,682,250

648,035,205 463,115,106

GLO

177,830

460,650,270

6 7 8 9

MONDE SM ICT MBT

28,305,200 483,700 1,948,890 7,083,030

452,668,558 433,665,965 411,195,816 409,753,810

CNVRG

12,309,800

325,690,255

Britain promises more rigid rules on ‘dirty money’ LONDON, United Kingdom—Britain will Tuesday introduce new legislation to crack down on “dirty money” and corrupt elites as it ramps up its campaign to hit Russian finance over Ukraine. The move comes after the government took flak over its response to date to choke off the years-long flow of rich Russians’ hot cash into the United Kingdom, where it has infiltrated financial and property markets. Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine has brought a long-debated issue to a head, moving London to introduce a “Register of Overseas Entities” to crack down on money laundering by foreign criminals. The new register will require anonymous foreign owners of UK property to reveal their real identities and ultimate “beneficial owner,” meaning they can no longer hide behind shell companies as Britain sets “a new global standard for transparency.” Failure to comply could bring punishment of up to five years in prison. “There is no place for dirty money in the UK,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We are going faster and harder to tear back the facade that those supporting (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s campaign of destruction have been hiding behind for so long. “Those backing Putin have been put on notice: there will be nowhere to hide your ill-gotten gains,” added Johnson as Home Secretary Priti Patel hailed what she termed “unprecedented action in the face of barbaric Russian aggression.”    Insisting that “time is up for Putin’s cronies hiding dirty money in the UK,” Patel said the legislation would strike a blow against financial crime. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the register “will shine a light on who owns what in the UK so we can flush out the oligarchs, criminals and kleptocrats who think they can use UK property to hide their illicitly obtained wealth.” AFP

international bank payments system SWIFT and personally targeted Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. They also banned all transactions with Russia’s central bank, sending the ruble crashing, with Bloomberg saying it was indicated to be nearly 30 percent down in offshore trading Monday. News that the central bank had hiked interest rates to 20 percent—the highest since 2003—helped pared the unit’s losses only briefly. “Removing some Russian banks from SWIFT could result in a disruption of oil supplies as buyers and sellers try to figure out how to navigate the new rules,” Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston, noted. With AFP

Catalan regional president Pere Aragones (left) speaks with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (center) and Spain’s King Felipe VI (right) during a dinner at the National Art Museum of Catalonia to mark the inauguration of the Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, on February 27, 2022. AFP

Tech firms flock to Spain trade show in shadow of war BARCELONA, Spain—One of the technology industry’s biggest annual get-togethers is set to kick off in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Monday, under the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Mobile World Congress, where smartphone and telecoms companies show off their latest products and reveal their strategic visions, is expected to welcome more than 40,000 guests over its four-day run. Organizers hope to return to a fullscale event after two years of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has hampered preparations for this year’s edition, with organizers forced to remove the country’s dedicated pavilion. Industry body GSMA, which stages the annual event, said in a statement it was complying with all sanctions and policies regarding Russia.

It confirmed, however, that Russian firms may still be able to participate. The invasion has sparked wider jitters, with the industry assessing sanctions slapped on Russia by the United States and Europe and a likely shortage of key raw materials caused by the conflict. The MWC was cancelled at the last minute in 2020 as the pandemic spread from China to Europe, and last year’s edition was drastically scaled down. The pandemic continues to cast its shadow with big names like Sony, Asus and Lenovo pulling out or participating “virtually.” But organizers are bullish, with GSMA director general Mats Granryd saying 95 percent of speakers will be in Barcelona. Among the tech giants confirming their attendance are smartphone behemoth Samsung, as well as Nokia, Ericsson, Google, Huawei and Verizon.

Focuses of this year’s event include the rise of 5G, the opportunities offered by the Internet of Things (IoT), the metaverse and the impact of tech on the environment. Few new products are expected to be unveiled by the major players, many of whom have showcased their latest releases in the weeks leading up to the get-together. The show will, however, provide Chinese phone makers such as Oppo, Xiaomi and Vivo with a “coming out party,” according to Ben Wood of CCS Insight. “It’s the first time they will be able to flex their muscles at a big Western trade show,” he told AFP, pointing out that they have all become much bigger during the pandemic. They are filling a void left by Huawei, which has been hobbled by sanctions imposed by the US in 2019 over accusations its wireless systems could allow spying by Chinese state entities. AFP

HONG KONG, China—West Texas Intermediate crude surged more than six percent Monday and Brent jumped more than five percent as traders grow increasingly worried about an energy crisis after Western nations imposed fresh sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. WTI rose 6.27 percent to $97.33, while Brent crude was up 5.24 percent at $103.06. The United States and European Union said they would exclude some Russian banks from the international SWIFT payments system and personally targeted President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. They also banned all transactions with Russia’s central bank, sending the ruble crashing with Bloomberg saying it was nearly 30 percent down in offshore trading Monday. “Removing some Russian banks from SWIFT could result in a disruption of oil supplies as buyers and sellers try to figure out how to navigate the new rules,” Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston, Texas, noted. Traders will be closely watching a meeting this week of OPEC and other major producers led by Russia, where they will discuss plans for further output. The group has agreed previously to increase production gradually each month, but the Ukraine crisis could throw those plans into disarray. Russia’s ruble, meanwhile, plunged nearly 30 percent against the dollar Monday after world powers imposed fresh, harsher sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The ruble was indicated to be down 27 percent at 114.33 per dollar in offshore trading, according to Bloomberg News. The United States and European Union said they would exclude some Russian banks from the international bank payments system SWIFT and personally targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. They also banned all transactions with Russia’s central bank. AFP

How a pensioner made Spanish banks rethink counter services By Alfons Luna ANOVER DE TORMES, Spain—It was his bank’s limited counter service and indifference to his struggles with ATMs and apps that forced a Spanish pensioner to act, highlighting the panic the digital revolution is causing many older people. For Carlos San Juan, from the eastern port city of Valencia, the tipping point was an incident with an ATM in which the bank staff “flatly refused to come out and help” and would not let him in because he did not have an appointment. A retired urologist from Valencia, he went home and wrote a manifesto called “I’m elderly, not an idiot,” which was initially signed in December by around 100 friends and acquaintances. It struck a chord, quickly finding its way onto the Change.org online platform, where it picked up nearly 650,000 signatures of support and was put before the authorities. Such was the pressure that Spain’s three main banking associations last week signed a protocol in the presence of economy minister Nadia Calvino pledging to improve customer service for older people. Bank branches “will expand their counter service opening hours,” “older people will be prioritized” and “ATMs, banking apps and web pages will be adapted with a simplified interface and language,” said the Spanish Banking Association (AEB), one of the signatories.

Spanish retired doctor Carlos San Juan, who raised over 640 000 signatures for his petition ‘soy mayor no idiota’ [I’m a senior citizen, not an idiot], poses during an AFP interview, following the presentation and signing of a new agreement by banking associations against the financial exclusion of the elderly, in Madrid on February 21, 2022. AFP

‘Be patient with us’ San Juan hopes the measure will end “the plight of those who still have banking books, and that of older people with mobility issues having to queue in wheelchairs, with walkers or sticks, who have to “keep coming back” to see a bank employee face-to-face. “I have Parkinson’s disease,” says this friendly, eloquent 78-year-old who normally goes to the bank when there are fewer people because he needs more time. People of his age need to be shown patience, he says. “We might learn something today and then forget it two

days later.” Older people are “absolutely not against digitalization... That’s here to stay,” all they want is “a more humane transition” into the future. AEB president Jose María Roldan agrees. “San Juan has made us all realize we need to look after those who can’t go as fast and those who will always need help because of their personal circumstances,” he said during the signing ceremony. Since the financial crisis of 2008, the Spanish banking sector has halved

its number of branches to around 20,000, shedding nearly 40 percent of its employees—who today number 172,000, European Central Bank figures show. That is an average of eight employees per branch, compared with an average of 12.5 in neighboring France, which has 402,000 employees and 32,000 branches. ‘State of distrust’ Some are already trying imaginative solutions to address the problems. In Anover de Tormes, a tiny village of around 100 residents some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the north-western town of Salamanca, a library bus pulls out of the mist and parks up. In November, the “Bibliobus” was fitted with an ATM which David Mingo, head of culture for Salamanca province, describes as “an important first step towards resolving a big problem.” After serving six people, the bus moves on to Santiz, which has 300 residents, three bars and a school. In front of the “Bibliobus,” Agustina Juan, 79, admits with frustration that she does not know how to withdraw money with a card. In fact, in the three villages visited by AFP, only one person used the ATM to withdraw money. “I have no idea how to use it. You know why I have it? So I can pay by card when I go to the supermarket,” she shrugs. AFP

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Bank loans rose 8.5% in January for sixth straight month of growth By Julito G. Rada BANK loans of universal and commercial banks expanded for the sixth straight month at a quicker pace of 8.5 percent in January, following the revised 4.8-percent increase in December. “Bank lending improved further as easing COVID-19 restrictions and the continuous vaccine rollout supported market sentiment and demand. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, rose by 3.0 percent,” the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a statement Monday. Outstanding loans to residents, net of reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, went up by 8.7 percent in January from 4.8 percent in December, given the faster growth in loans for production activities. Outstanding loans for production activities climbed 9.6 percent in January, from 6.0 percent in December on the back of the expansion in credit activity for real estate activities (16.8 percent); financial and insurance activities (17.1 percent); information and communication (31.4 percent); and manufacturing (11.5 percent). Consumer loans to residents increased by 0.1 percent in January after a revised 5.9-percent decline in December, driven by the year-onyear rise in credit card loans. This marketed the first time household loans posted growth since December 2020. Outstanding loans to non-residents also rose 2.8 percent in January from 2.5 percent in the previous month. Preliminary data also showed that domestic liquidity or the money supply in the financial system grew by 9.8 percent year-on-year to about P15.3 trillion in January 2022, following a revised 7.3-percent expansion in December. On a month-onmonth seasonally-adjusted basis, liquidity or M3 rose by 2.8 percent.

Business SM Investments’ net income surged 65% to P38.5b in 2021 By Jenniffer B. Austria

ONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said Monday net income jumped 65 percent in 2021 to P38.5 billion from P23.4 billion in 2020 on a strong fourthquarter performance.

SM Investments said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues rose 9 percent last year to P428.1 billion from P394.2 billion in 2020. “We saw a rebound in consumer spending in the run-up to Christmas as restrictions across the country eased. This led to improved performance in our retail and mall units as our banks continued to deliver solid results,” SM Investments president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said. “It is our hope that the further easing of restrictions after the latest surge in COVID cases will lead to sustained recovery of the economy and our businesses as the country adjusts to living with the virus. We are committed to continue our expan-

sion plans,” DyBuncio said. Banking contributed 51 percent to net income, while property accounted for 25 percent. Retail contributed 17 percent, and the portfolio investments delivered the remaining 7 percent. “We believe our portfolio investments have strong assets, synergies with our core businesses and enormous longterm growth potential,” DyBuncio said. SM Investments increased its ownership in Goldilocks Bakeshop Inc. to 74 percent and 2GO Group Inc. to 53 percent in 2021. SM Retail, which consists of food and non-food stores, reported a net income of P9.6 billion, up by 133 percent from P4.1 billion a year earlier. Revenues inched up by 2 percent in 2021 to P303.9 billion from P296.8 billion in 2020 on sustained growth in sales particularly for the SM Stores and Specialty Stores. SM Retail opened two new department stores in Caloocan and Camarines Norte last year. The food group, which includes SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore, Alfamart and WalterMart also added 219 new stores in 2021. SM Retail added 294 new stores across the entire portfolio for a total of

3,215 outlets, consisting of 68 The SM Stores, 1,539 specialty retail stores, 62 SM Supermarkets, 52 SM Hypermarkets, 214 Savemore, 73 WalterMart and 1,207 Alfamart stores as of end-2021. Property unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. registered consolidated net income of P21.8 billion, up 21 percent as consolidated revenues were flat at P82.3 billion. Banking unit BDO Unibank Inc. recorded a net income of P42.8 billion in 2021, an increase of 51 percent from P28.2 billion in 2020. China Banking Corp. also ended 2021 stronger on the back of sustained core business growth and effective cost management. The bank posted a 25-percent increase in net income to P15.1 billion. The total assets of SM grew 10 percent to P1.3 trillion as of end-2021. SM maintains a healthy balance sheet, with a conservative gearing ratio of 38 percent net debt to 62 percent total equity. SM Investments, SM Prime and NEO, a part of SM’s portfolio investments, signed on as supporters of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in 2021, joining more than 2,300 supporters, in alignment with globally-recognized frameworks for climate change reporting.

MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, said Monday consolidated core net income grew 13 percent in 2021 to P24.6 billion from P21.7 billion in 2020 on the back of a 6-percent increase in sales. “In 2021, we achieved consolidated core net income of P24.6 billion, 13 percent higher than the P21.7 billion last year on account of increased volume to 46,073 gigawatt-hours and contribution from the different business units including power generation,” Meralco senior vice president and chief finance officer

SATELLITE SERVICES. Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investment managing head Ceferino Rodolfo (second from left), commercial counselor Kenneth Yap (left) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center team at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. meet with SpaceX government affairs manager Rebecca Hunter Sr. and manager for market access Brian Schepis Sr. (seated). The two parties discussed Starlink’s plan to put up a Philippine-registered company that will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp. The company plans to offer satellite internet services in the Philippines, particularly on providing broadband connectivity to remote areas where traditional internet (based on land cables) is limited or virtually absent.

Betty Siy-Yap said during the company’s virtual briefing. Meralco said the rise was driven by the return of energy sales volume to near pre-pandemic levels and contributions from the power generation business. Reported net income improved 44 percent to P23.5 billion from P16.3 billion in the absence of exceptional charges arising from the impairment recognized in 2020 on Meralco’s investment in PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. “Our excellent operational and financial performance in 2021 reflects Meralco’s continuing efforts to invest

Century Properties lists P3-b bonds, budgets yields for capex, refinancing CENTURY Properties Group Inc. listed its 5-year P3-billion bonds at Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. after a successful market take-up of the P2-billion base offer size and P1-billion oversubscription option. “This recently concluded capital markets deal has been encouraging as it reflects a more upbeat sentiment on overall domestic business and economic prospects. This has allowed us to catch the benchmark rates at comparatively low levels and price the issuance at the tight end of the indicative spread, translating into a coupon rate of 5.7524 percent per annum,” said CPG chief finance officer Ponciano Carreon Jr. The issuance is the first tranche of the group’s P6-billion SEC shelf-registered debt instruments. “We thank our institutional and retail investors and stakeholders for their continued confidence in Century Properties as we set our sights on growth on our 36th year in Philippine real estate,” said CPG president and chief executive Marco Antonio.

Monday, February 28, 2022 98.78 PTS. 7,311.01

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

2,109,418,101 115,251

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

11,609,722,831.34 108 79

UNCHANGED

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.2910

Japan

Yen

0.008684

0.4454

Pound

1.331500

68.2940

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128072

6.5689

Switzerland

Franc

1.079098

55.3480

Canada

Dollar

0.783269

40.1747

Singapore

Dollar

0.735835

37.7417

Australia

Dollar

0.716000

36.7244

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

136.0504

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266553

13.6718

Brunei

Dollar

0.733138

37.6034

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030798

1.5797

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9659

Euro

1.112900

57.0818

Korea

Won

0.000835

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.158303

8.1195

India

Rupee

0.013323

0.6833

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238180

12.2165

New Zealand

Dollar

0.667200

34.2214

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035747

1.8335 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Semirara registers record profit of P16.2b

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. posted a net income of P16.2 billion in 2021, the highest in its 41-year history and significantly up from P3.3 billion in 2020 on the back of higher coal prices. SMPC said in a statement the 393-percent leap in 2021 net income was mainly attributable to an 8-percent rise in coal production, 16-percent jump in coal shipments and 71-percent surge in average coal selling prices. “Our results reflect the hard work of our people. They rose to the challenges of the pandemic and delivered exceptional value to our stakeholders,” said SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun. Contribution from the coal segment jumped by 535 percent in 2021 to P11.4 billion from P1.8 billion in 2020, as both power subsidiaries delivered improved performances. SMPC subsidiary Sem-Calaca Power Corp. contributed P3.3 billion, a 154-percent increase from P1.3 billion in the previous year. Sem-Calaca owns the 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas. Alena Mae S. Flores

SMC, SunAsia bid to supply 850 MW

Meralco’s registers P24.6-b core profit, unveils P110-b investment program By Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE INDEX CLOSING

“This will help bring to fruition our expansion plans and make quality homes accessible to more Filipinos through our horizontal affordable housing business, a segment that has remained robust though the toughest of periods,” Antonio said. The company said P1 billion from the proceeds would fund capital expenditures of PHirst Park Homes Inc., a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp., while the balance will be allocated to debt refinancing and other general corporate purposes. “This highly successful bond offering marks another milestone for Century Properties as it embarks on its post-pandemic expansion. It is also the first sole-led corporate bond deal to list in 2022. China Bank Capital is proud to have delivered the best results for our client, and we are excited for the company’s next phase of growth,” said Ryan Martin Tapia, president of China Bank Capital, the sole issue manager, lead underwriter and bookrunner for the transaction.

in customer-centric innovations and in our digital transformation journey to deliver quality and reliable service to our more than seven million customers, in the midst of a continuing pandemic,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said. Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to P318.5 billion from P275.3 billion, mainly driven by electricity revenues, which grew by 15 percent to P309.2 billion from P267.9 billion. Consolidated distribution utility energy sales volumes rose 6 percent to 46,073 gWh in 2021 from 43,572 gWh in 2020 driven on sustained

residential consumption, ramp-up in commercial volumes amid more relaxed quarantine restrictions, and strong industrial rebound within the franchise areas. Meraco said it would spend close to P110 billion to implement its sustainability strategy through 2050. Meralco president Ray Espinosa said the amount is a “broad figure” based on long-term capital expenditure and was not yet approved by the board. “We still have to get approval every year. If everything will be approved, this is our forecast of how much the budget will be,” Espinosa said.

SMC Global Light and Power Corp. and SunAsia Energy Inc. challenged the offer of Terra Solar Philippines Inc. to supply 850 megawatts of mid-merit power to Manila Electric Co. Meralco’s third party bids and awards committee received expressions of interest from the two companies. Both challengers are building 2,500 MW of solar and 4,000 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage. “Those are the only two who have submitted, and we will find out later if anyone will be withdrawing,” Meralco first vice president and head of regulatory management office Jose Ronald Valles said. SMC Global Light is owned by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., while SunAsia Energy is a pioneer developer of clean, affordable and sustainable solar energy in the country, which last year signed a partnership agreement with Blueleaf Energy, a portfolio company of Macquarie’s Green Investment Group to develop 1,250 megawatts of solar projects in Luzon. Terra Solar is the joint venture of Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. of the Leviste Group and Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. Alena Mae S. Flores

JoyRide gets permit for car-hailing service

JOYRIDE said Monday it entered the carhailing service industry after getting an approval from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board as a new transport network company. “We are grateful that JoyRide Car is now one of the accredited 4-wheel transport network companies in the Philippines. We view this as a good development as commuters will now have another viable choice for safe, comfortable, and affordable car rides to their destination,” said JoyRide senior vice president for corporate affairs Noli Eala. The LTFRB issued the certificate of accreditation to JoyRide on Feb. 24, 2022 pursuant to Department Order No. 2015-11 and Memorandum Circular No. 2021-066. “We are very excited to have JoyRide Car as one of the newest services available in our super app. As always, we remain committed to providing value-for-money quality service to the public through the use of a powerful and scalable technology platform,” Eala said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Meralco’s awards.

The pandemic response communications of Manila Electric Co., the largest electricity distribution utility in the country, is recognized in the recently-concluded 57th Anvil Awards. #AyokoMagViral: A Meralco internal campaign against COVID-19 receives a Silver Anvil, which affirms the commitment of Meralco to do its part in helping curb the rise of infections. The campaign, which featured simple images with compelling and incisive text, reminded employees to observe pandemic health protocols in simple, creative and friendly manner taking into account pandemic fatigue.

Consumer advocacy alliance asks President Duterte to sign vape bill THE Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the ratified bill on Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act into law. Both the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives earlier ratified the harmonized version of the bill, which will regulate the use, manufacture, importation, sale, distribution, and promotion of vaping and heated tobacco products. It now awaits the President’s signature or veto. “The weight of the scientific evidence

shows that potentially thousands of Filipino lives can be saved by making this act the law of the land,” wrote CAPHRA, supported by its expert advisory group and member organizations throughout the Asia Pacific region. CAPHRA, in a letter, conveyed to the President that, once enacted, the legislation would provide 16 million Filipino smokers with the world’s most effective smoking cessation tool, saving the lives and enhancing the health of millions of Filipino smokers and their families,

friends and co-workers. “Hundreds of peer-reviewed international scientific studies have found innovative smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco and offer the best options to make smokers switch or quit. The act will ensure the regulation of these products, so that they meet government standards to protect consumers and will contribute revenue, via taxation,” said CAPHRA executive coordinator Nancy Loucas.

Sports

Malonzo named Cignal Play Best Player JUST when NorthPort’s boat was about to sink in the middle of a storm made even worse by a crippled crew, an unlikely hero in rookie ace Jamie Malonzo came to the rescue. The high-flying freshman rose from the deck and steered the Batang Pier out of the hole with a superb performance in their two big wins the past week that stretched the team’s winning streak following a flat 0-5 start. Malonzo’s efforts were more than enough for him to be named the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Feb. 23-27, when he registered an all-around numbers of 16.0 points on 14-of-29 clip, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, a steal, and a block. He beat out NorthPort teammate Arwind Santos and Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson in a close race for the weekly citation handed out by the group of reporters covering the PBA beat. The 6’7” wingman, picked no. 2 overall by the Batang Pier in the last draft, started his rousing week by tallying 19 points, five boards, three dimes, two steals and two blocks as NorthPort pulled off a huge 103-101 upset of league-leading Magnolia, handing the Hotshots their first and only defeat so far in the season-ending conference. Malonzo hit clutch baskets down the stretch while complementing import Jamel Artis and Santos for a NorthPort side that misses the services of injured Kevin Ferrer, Jonathan Grey, and Art Dela Cruz, as well as top gun Robert Bolick due to his Gilas Pilipinas duty. The product of De La Salle then sustained his showing when he came through with a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds in the Batang Pier’s 101-93 victory over Phoenix Super LPG. And he did everything even though he’s nursing a finger injury (right pinkie). “Jamie is injured. Namamaga yung pinkie niya (kaya ‘di siya makafreethrow). Lahat ng shots nya, drive or follow-up. Talagang binigay niya puso niya sa game. He did his best. Gusto niya manalo,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio in praising his prized rookie. The Batang Pier have won their last three games for a 3-5 record, while staying in contention for a playoff berth. Also considered for the honor were the Ginebra duo of Japeth Aguilar and Christian Stanhardinger along with the NLEX pair of Jericho Cruz and Kevin Alas.

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

PLAYER OF THE WEEK. NorthPort’s Jamie Malonzo, shown here against the Phoenix LPG Fuel Masters, was named the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Feb. 23 to 27, when he registered all-around numbers of 16.0 points on 14-of-29 clip, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, a steal, and a block.

PH to dispatch ‘fighting team’ of 656 athletes to SEA Games D

ESCRIBED as a “ﬁghting team” by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, 656 Filipino athletes will comprise the country’s delegation to 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam this May.

Tolentino said that majority of the 39 national sports associations which are fielding athletes to Vietnam have submitted tentative rosters for the May 12 to 25 games. “Comparing the numbers when we hosted the Games in 2019, we’ll have a delegation that’s slashed almost in half from three years ago,” Tolentino said. “And a quick look at the numbers show we’ll be hard-pressed to repeat as overall champions.” “But we’ll have a fighting team in Vietnam, setting aside the difficulties of

training and competing or training overseas because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Tolentino said. The Philippines is competing in 39 of the 40 sports programmed by Vietnam for its only second hosting of the Games since 2003. In these 39 sports, the country is participating in 44 disciplines, according to Tolentino. There were 1,115 Filipino athletes in 2019—an automatic privilege that host countries have—and they won 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals for a guaranteed overall title.

Of the 44 disciplines, the POC has yet to receive a tentative list for athletics, men’s 3x3 and 5x5 basketball, weightlifting and jiujitsu. The deadline for the submission of entries by names is on March 12 and Tolentino said the POC is hopeful to complete the list—including expected revisions from NSAs which already complied with the body’s February 24 internal deadline—by then. “Several NSAs were allowed to submit tentative lists because they’re still completing their final qualifications or trials,” he said. The estimated size of the delegation is pegged at 874. Also on the tentative list are 177 team officials (coaches, team managers and/or NSA heads or representatives) and 20 members of the medical (doctors, nurses and masseurs/therapists) and administrative staff.

Medina sweeps sprints at close of Milo-Patafa meet STILL proudly showing the marks of having her first child last year, sprinter Eloisa Luzon-Medina was in a class of her own in sweeping the women’s 100 and 200- runs at the close of the Milo-Patafa Performance and Time Trials Sunday afternoon at the Imus Sports Complex in Imus, Cavite. A former Palarong Pambansa standout, Medina topped the century dash in 12.66 seconds and still had plenty to spare an hour later in completing a sprint double in ruling the 200-meter dash in 25.66 seconds in the trackfest backed by Lily’s Peanut Butter and the Imus City government led by Mayor Manny Maliksi. Anfernee Lopena, as expected, ruled the men’s 100-meter run in 11.13 seconds but had to play second fiddle in the 200-meter race to PH teammate and 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Clinton Bautista, who broke away in the last 10 meters to win in 21.74 seconds to the latter’s 22.11 clocking. “Talagang pinaghirapan ko talaga ito at nag-sipag sa training kasi matagal kaming walang training dahil sa pandemic,” noted Medina after her strong

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

performance in the competition organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Associated and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission. The athlete, who married fellow national teammate and 400-meter hurdler Francis Medina in October 2020 then gave birth to baby Theo early last year, said that she nearly gave up on her career when she went back to training in Baguio last October grossly overweight and out of shape. “Gusto ko nang mag-give up at that time kasi napakalayo ko sa mga teammates ko. It was coach Julius Nierras, who worked me out at 400 meters for my first meet (at the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships) in Baguio last December so I am very grateful to him,” she said. “I really had to discipline myself and diet if I wanted something to something good for myself because I have set goals for my athletic career,” added Medina, a gold medalist in the mixed 4x100-meter relay in the 2019 SEA Games. She is now down to 52 kilograms, just two kilos over her competitive weight. Rather than being a distraction, the baby, who is now being cared for by her

Eloisa Luzon-Medina

parents in her hometown of Kibawe, Bukidnon, now serves as the athlete’s extra motivation to do better and qualify for the 31st Vietnam SEAGames in May. “I call these my treasure marks,” said Medina of the still-visible stretch marks on her belly. “Pinu-push ko po talaga to qualify sa 100 meters and win a medal

kaya gusto mag-train for the event,” said the athlete, whose winning time is one second off the bronze medal qualifying standard of 11.66 seconds set by Singaporean ace Veronica Shanti Pereira in the 30th SEA Games three years ago. “I was not really expecting to win the 200. My goal here was just to try to maintain my workouts. Pero masaya pa rin na ako ang nanalo,” said Bautista, who topped the men’s 110-meter hurdles in the PH SEA Games held at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac in 2019. He easily won his pet event at the start of the three-daymeet at the Baguio Athletic Bowl last Wednesday. “Medyo napagod at naubos ang lakas ko po dahil one hour langpo ang pagitan ng 100 and 200 races,” noted Lopena, who was also a member of the goldmedal winning mixed relay squad in Tarlac, of his runner-up finish in the latter race. Mariano Masano, a 2019 SEAG silver medalist in the men’s1,500-meter event, also won his forte in 4:02.52, while Macrose Dichoso topped the distaff side in 5:38.09.

Smart gears up as official partner of UAAP Season 84 SMART Communications, Inc., the official partner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, is gearing up for the muchanticipated return of the country’s premier collegiate league as it announced that it would bring the games to legions of fans via the GigaPlay app. The return of UAAP games is set to rekindle healthy rivalries among eight universities namely, Ateneo De Manila University, Adamson University, De La Salle University, National University, Catch UAAP star Ricci Rivero in the coming UAAP season, which Smart will stream on its GigaPlay app for free, with subscribers incurring no data charges to watch the hardcourt action and drama for a limited period.

University of the East, University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, and University of Santo Tomas. Recognizing that most students are still supporting their schools remotely, Smart intends to play a crucial role by delivering real-time UAAP action to subscribers and sports fans. “We join the millions of UAAP fans who are eager to show their school pride as the league returns after a two-year, pandemic-enforced hiatus. While we can’t troop to the venues in full force just yet, we are glad to make watching the upcoming games easier than ever with the GigaPlay app. This is part of our commitment to give our customers what they want and continue to enable them to pursue their passions,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO.

It will be recalled that UAAP Season 82 was put on hold in March 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions. But as the new normal takes over, the UAAP follows through with Smart GigaPlay, allowing fans to finally experience sports action and cheer for their school again - right at their fingertips. Downloadable on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, GigaPlay is Smart’s streaming app especially developed to offer a suite of curated sports and entertainment content to subscribers. The UAAP coverage will further boost GigaPlay’s lineup of sports content, which includes streaming of the NBA, PBA, PVL, and FIBA. Aside from sports content, GigaPlay also features exclusive entertainment content including concerts, music awards, and other entertainment content.

Competition venues for Filipino athletes are spread out in four clusters although majority will be in the main hub of Hanoi, Tolentino said. The POC based the clusters on their proximity to Hanoi. Filipino athletes will be competing in diving, swimming, finswimming, archery, athletics, badminton, 3x3 and 5x5 basketball, billiards and snooker, bodybuilding, bowling, boxing, canoe-kayak, chess, cycling, dancesports, esports, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics (artistic, aerobic and rhythmic), beach handball, judo, jiujitsu, karate, kickboxing, kurash, muaythai, pencak silat, rowing, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon/duathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball, vovinam, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. The Philippines is not participating in Vietnam’s 40th sport of xiangqi (Chinese or elephant chess).

Medvedev replaces Djokovic as world no. 1 PARIS—Daniil Medvedev succeeded Novak Djokovic as world number one on Monday, becoming the first man since 2004 outside the game’s “Big Four” of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to occupy the top spot. US Open champion Medvedev is the third Russian man after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin, and 27th player overall, to rise to the top of the ATP rankings. The 26-year-old Medvedev, beaten by Nadal in the Acapulco semifinals last week, was guaranteed to move above Djokovic after the Serb’s quarter-final loss in Dubai. Djokovic, who has spent a record 361 weeks as the world number one, was competing in his first tournament of the season following his deportation from Australia in January. Alexander Zverev stayed in third despite being thrown out of the Acapulco event after smashing his racket on the umpire’s chair several times during a doubles match. Nadal rose one place to fourth after claiming his third title of the season and 91st of his career. The Spaniard is unbeaten since losing to Lloyd Harris in Washington last August. He ended his 2021 season after that because of a left foot injury. ATP rankings: 1. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 8615 pts (+1); 2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8465 (-1); 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7515; 4. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6515 (+1); 5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6445 (-1); 6. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 5000 (+1); 7. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 4928 (-1); 8. Casper Ruud (NOR) 3915; 9. Felix AugerAliassime (CAN) 3883; 10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3496 (+1) AFP

Sports

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

BEST team dominates swimming’s National Open

France calls for Russians to be thrown out of World Cup PARIS—Russia should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup after invading Ukraine, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet told Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday. On the fourth day of the invasion, Ukrainians and Russians said they were ready for talks to halt a conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. France were crowned world champions in 2018 after beating Croatia in the final in Moscow. “The world of sport, and especially football, cannot remain neutral. I certainly would not oppose the expulsion of Russia,” said Le Graet. Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all refused to play Russia in the World Cup play-offs. Poland are due to play Russia in Moscow on March 24 and should the hosts win they would host the winners of the match between the Czechs and the Swedes on March 29. Le Graet concurred with the trio’s stance. “In these dramatic circumstances, how can one envisage playing football against this country,” he said. FIFA have yet to take any action against Russia saying on Thursday they were “concerned” by the “tragic” situation with president Gianni Infantino saying the World governing body had the capacity to take action on the play-off matches at “any moment”. European governing body UEFA did take action on Friday, stripping Saint Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena of the Champions League final on May 28 and awarding the showpiece match to the Stade de France in Paris. UEFA are also believed to be debating whether to cancel their sponsorship deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom, whose majority shareholder is the Russian state. Gazprom renewed the contract in May 2021 to run to 2024.The deal to sponsor the Champions League is worth a reported 40 million euros ($45 million) a year. AFP

A tribute to West Ham United’s Ukrainian striker Andriy Yarmolenko Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, in the colours of the national flag, is shown following the invasion by Russia, ahead of during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium, in London. AFP

Sports sanctions can land significant blow on Putin P ARIS—Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup, the scandal-plagued 2014 Winter Olympics and Gazprom’s sponsorship of the Champions League were powerful tools for the country’s global image and gained Vladimir Putin prestige amongst the Russian population.

However, the Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine has resulted in destroying the warm global afterglow and experts believe it could cost him dearly internally. Saint Petersburg has already been stripped of hosting this year’s Champions League final with Gazprom’s reported 40-million-euro ($45 million) a year sponsorship deal with UEFA also in doubt. The Russian Formula One Grand Prix has been cancelled and there are calls for the country’s football team to be expelled from the 2022 World Cup play-offs. “Sport has always had a tremendous impact on society,” Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told AFP. “The South African sports boycott over apartheid probably had as much

or greater impact than economic sanctions, over forcing regime policy change.” For Hugh Robertson, Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), a blanket sports ban could affect Putin’s standing domestically. “Sport is disproportionately important to absolutist regimes,” he told AFP. “The potential inability to compete would hit Russia hard.” Payne, who in nearly two decades at the IOC was widely credited with transforming its brand and finances through sponsorship, said Putin risked his standing with his own people. “Putin may not care what the rest of the world thinks of him, but he has to care what the Russian people think of him,” said the Irishman. “Lose their support and it is game over

-– and the actions of the sports community has the potential to be a very important influencer towards the Russian people.” ‘A greater good’ Prominent Russian sports stars have not been shy in voicing their disquiet over Putin’s invasion. Andrey Rublev, who won the Dubai ATP title on Saturday, veteran Russian football international Fedor Smolov, United States-based ice hockey great Alex Ovechkin and cyclist Pavel Sivakov, who rides for the Ineos team have all expressed a desire for peace. “Russian athletes speaking out to their national fan base, will only serve to further prompt the local population to question the actions of their leadership, and undermine the local national support for the war,” said Payne. However, another former IOC marketing executive Terrence Burns, who since leaving the organisation has played a key role in five successful Olympic bid city campaigns, has doubts about their impact. “You are making the assumption that Russian people actually see, read, and hear ‘real news’,” he told AFP. AFP

Russian NHL star Ovechkin pleads: Please, no more war

Alex Ovechkin (FB)

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

Heir THERE was a vacuum when Michael Jordan retired, followed by a frenzy that would have been perfect for reality TV if reality TV was already a thing then, and I am sure they will name it The Next Michael Jordan, or something close or similar, but nonetheless labored and cheap. It was a weird time, when everyone is naming every superstar, every rising star, Jordan’s heir—the “Air Apparent.” The need for someone to occupy the vacated throne was imperative, and more importantly, it felt like they wanted a new Michael Jordan not for Chicago, but for the NBA. Nobody was looking for the next Jor-

WASHINGTON—National Hockey League star Alex Ovechkin, among the highest-profile Russian athletes in American sports, issued a plea for peace Friday in his first comments regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 36-year-old left wing and captain for the Washington Capitals spoke after a practice session in Philadelphia about the ongoing conflict and his hopes for a quick end to the fighting. “Please, no more war,” Ovechkin said. “It doesn’t matter who is in the war—Russia, Ukraine, different countries—I think we have to live in peace and

a great world.” Ovechkin—whose parents, wife and children are in Russia—led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup title in 2018 and has been the NHL’s season leading goal scorer a record nine times. Ovechkin has been a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the military onslaught across Ukrainian borders. “It’s a hard situation,” Ovechkin said. “I have family back in Russia and it is scary moments. But we can’t do anything. We just hope it going to be end soon and everything is going to be all right.” Asked if his support for Putin was as strong in the wake of the invasion, Ovechkin replied, “Well, he is my president. But how I said, I am not in politics. I am an athlete and I hope everything is going to be done soon.” Ovechkin has intently watched news

coverage of the fighting in Ukraine and the repercussions. “I have my family over there and of course I pay attention to what’s happening,” he said. “I don’t want to see nobody get hurt, nobody get killed. “I’m Russian. It’s something I can’t control. It’s not in my hands. I hope it’s going to end soon.” Asked if his family would remain in Russia, Ovechkin said, “It’s a hard question because it just happened a couple days ago. We’ll see what’s going to happen.” Ovechkin, a three-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, is in his 17th NHL campaign, all spent in Washington. He is chasing down one of the greatest records in North American sport, the NHL all-time goal scoring record of 894 owned by Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky. AFP

dan in Chicago and why would they? That is heresy. And the lack of players with superlative talents suiting up for Windy City made ending the search easy. Many came close—at least, that’s what they wanted to believe. But I think the Bulls never had someone else great enough, talented enough, promising enough, and mature enough to assume stewardship of the franchise Jordan left behind in a manner at par with how Jordan did it during his time. No one came close to being Jordan-esque. Not Derrick Rose, and no disrespect: talent-wise, Rose is more like peak Allen Iverson, relying on his quickness to compensate for his being short. And if anything, Rose resembles the younger pre-championship MJ—always attacking the rim, very fast, very athletic, and totally unafraid. But Rose—explosive as he was, feared as he was because of his fearlessness and aggression and athleticism like MJ in his early years with the Bulls—lacked the gravitas that MJ, even in his young age, carried with him. Rose, despite his talent, wanted to be an amiable teammate; MJ was a

demanding teammate from the time he knew he had leverage. He demanded focus, and a commitment from teammates that they display the same high level of competitiveness to the point that his teammates both feared and loathed him, but it got the job done. Rose, the nice guy that he is, was not able to overcome the obstacle created by what is generally a positive human trait. It wasn’t his fault. It was no one’s fault. It was just not meant to be. To his credit, Rose made a name for himself. He didn’t need the crown and the kingship to be loved and appreciated (a ring would’ve been nice though), during and even after his stint in Chicago. And just when the search for (and the interest in) the Air Apparent has completely died down, along came DeMar DeRozan. There was nothing about DeRozan’s path that suggests he was even trying to become the next Michael Jordan— he was good, standing on his own two feet and holding his own in Toronto and San Antonio, not trying to wear another man’s shoes.

When he came to Chicago, he was just happy to be recruited by a team who believes in what he can do in the role of main gunner, and relieved it didn’t take long for him to prove he is capable, considering the doom foretold by faithless soothsayers that called DeRozan a washed-up vet, the pre-season’s “worst signing” who will never be a great fit in Chicago. This year’s Chicago Bulls are young, talented, and loaded, although it remains to be seen if they can really become a championship unit like the victorious Bulls teams in the past. What is becoming more and more noticeable is how DeRozan is looking more and more like Michael Jordan without even trying (and I think that is the interesting part). The similarities are undeniable if you watch closely. Observe how DeRozan moves to shoot (ignore the head and shoulder shake + fadeaway move, this is a tool many players carry in their bag of tricks). Notice that deceptively slow, calm, deliberate dribbling towards a favorite mid-range spot around the keyhole. Notice how he never seems to

THE Philippine Behrouz Elite Swimming Team (BEST), led by national junior record holder Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh, pulled off a dominating performance in the butterfly event as the Paranaque-based squad scored the bestcombined 699 points on Sunday at the close of the 2022 Philippine Swimming Inc. National Open at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. Mojdeh, a Grade 10 student at the Brent International-Laguna and protégé of the late Olympian Susan Papa, scored a double against veteran national mainstay and UAAP champion Kirsten Chloe Daos as the 16-year-old tanker clocked 2:19.90 in their women’s 200-m butterfly duel. The 23-year Daos, a one-time UAAP top swimmer, settled for silver with a time of 2:22.49. During the opening of the threeday meet organized by PSI as part of the selection process on the composition of the National Team for the various international events, including the 31st Southeast Asian Games, Mojdeh, dubbed ‘Water Beast’ for her dominating performance in Palarong Pambansa and junior tournaments, won the 100-m fly with a time of 1:03.89 against Daos (1:04.10) and Camille Buico (1:04.20), another big name in the local swimming competition. Mojdeh claimed no.1 in the women’s individual ranking with 91 points as she also secured a podium finish in the women’s 200m individual medley, placing second with a time of 2:28.48, and a couple of runner-up finishes in the 50m butterfly (29.65) and 400m individual medley (5:16.29). Thanya Dela Cruz and Xiandi Chua were tied with 60 points. BEST tankers made a record of sorts as teammates Mervin Jules Mirandilla (2:11.18), Ivan Nicolas (2:12.82), and Hugh Antonio Parto (2:14.55) completed a sweep in the men’s 200-m butterfly event, even as Jordan Ken Lobos proved his domination in the breaststroke event with a gold-medal effort in the men’s 200-meters (2:21.77) against Kyle Bagusto of Marikina (2:30.91) and Joshua del Rio of Ateneo (2:33.62). The 19-year-old Lobos, a product of Calayan Educational Foundation Incorporated in Lucena City, earlier won the men’s 100-m breast with a time of 1:06.00 against Samuel Alcos of Ateneo Blue Knights (1:06.07) and third placer Rafael Isip of Ayala Harpoons (1:07.02). In the 50-m event on Friday, Lobos settled for silver. John Neil Paderes shared the limelight with a victory in the men’s 50back with a time of 27.53 seconds over Armand Chan (26.91) and Philip Santos (28.29). He also bagged a bronze medal in the 200-m back (2:13.81)

Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh

want to dribble fast or fancy, the same ball handling style of Jordan. Notice that jump shot of his, body ramrod straight in his vertical ascent. Notice how this style seems to lull their defenders into a false sense of complacency, convinced that the man is an easy cover, until it is too late and the defender is caught one step slower, one step farther away, hypnotized into forgetting an essential task in defending Jordan (then) and DeRozan (now): never jump a head fake. They fail again and again, and Jordan (then) and DeRozan (now) always make them pay. Consistent. Efficient. To be, without question, the major factor as to why Chicago is winning. To be the reason why defenders—despite scouting and game reviews—still end up frustrated. To be defeated only by a bad shooting night (which is seldom, so far)—tell me that is not Michael Jordan, only in cornrows and a number 11 jersey. He is King of the Fourth. The next mission: A King with a Ring Maybe then, we can finally say that the heir to the throne is here.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Indie drama wins top prize at SAG Awards

No, Heart Evangelista is not quitting showbiz

CODA, a heartfelt indie drama about a struggling deaf family, won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild awards Sunday, boosting its hopes as a potential dark horse for next month’s Oscars. Taking its title from an acronym for child of deaf adult, CODA follows high school teen Ruby as she juggles her musical ambitions with her family’s dependence on her to communicate with the “hearing” world. “We deaf actors have come a long way,” signed a visibly shocked Marlee Matlin, a deaf former Oscar winner who plays Ruby’s mother, as she and her co-stars accepted the statuette for best cast in a motion picture. “This validates the fact that we deaf actors can work just like anybody else,” added Matlin, before teaching the star-studded audience the sign for

“I love you.” The win at the SAG awards, voted for by Hollywood’s acting union, is an important precursor for the Academy Awards, whose largest voting bloc is also actors. CODA, released by Apple TV+ after a bidding war at last year’s Sundance independent film festival where it fetched a record $25 million, also won best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur. Kotsur, who plays Ruby’s father, thanked the filmmakers for “believing in us deaf actors and casting us authentically as actors who happen to be deaf.” The SAG awards—which took place online last year due to COVID-19—returned to an in-person event Sunday in Santa Monica, just outside Los Angeles. AFP

(From left) Eugenio Derbez, Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durant, Troy Kotsur, and Emilia Jones receive the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Thousands troop to live concert in Quezon City

Heart Evangelista in ‘I Left My Heart in Sorsogon’

CONTRARY to her previous statement that I Left My Heart in Sorsogon would be her last television soap, it seems that Heart Evangelista recently changed her mind. “Well, I realized that I still love my acting craft,” she said. “It’s the reason why I have a showbiz career in the first place. Yes, I would still like to do teleseryes but it would all depend if I have free time to work.” The realization came after she started watching her recently-concluded GMA-7 soap. “I know that the last time, I said it with finality but as I watched the program, I realized how I love acting and would surely miss it if ever. As of the moment, perhaps, it would be my last soap. It would take some time before I make another one,” she admitted. If she wouldn’t be able to do a series, the 37-year-old actress and fashion icon is open to doing TV specials. “It’s just the schedule. As of now, my hands are full. I have so much to balance. I have my husband and I can’t promise that I will have time.” As for a movie project, her last film was in the Dennis Trillo top-biller Felix Manalo in 2015. Heart admitted that she’d love to do a movie. “I’m very much interested to do a movie once again. It just really depends on who my leading man would be. I am okay with films considering that the shoot can only take up to 15 days,” she ended. *** Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Ai-Ai Alas recently flew back to the delas Philippines to do a new project Alas with GMA titled, Raising Mamay. It can be remembered that she went to the States last November to enjoy her Green Card which was granted to her in 2015. Part of her plan was to petition hubby Gerald Sibayan. She had the blessing of the Kapuso management and promised that if a very good project comes along, she’d come back. Ai-Ai attended the zoom story conference of her new drama series along with director Don Michael Perez and some of her co-stars like Joyce Ching, Ina Feleo, and Valerie Concepcion. If everything goes smoothly as planned, especially when it comes to the safety health protocols being implemented, the lock-in taping for Raising Mamay will begin this week. According to reports, Ai-Ai is excited to portray a new character. It will be entirely different from the roles she used to portray on screen. As a preparation, she is looking for children aged six to seven years old whom she can spend time with and study their characteristics. The ace comedienne’s dramatic skills will be tested once again in this project, which will also feature Sparkle love team Shayne Sava and Abdul Raman. “My role here in Raising Mamay is beautiful but hard as well. I need to deliver a good and unforgettable performance,” Ai-Ai concluded.

Several local artists performing at the free post-Valentine concert in Quezon City

Blaze N Kane performing in the last set of the concert

VER the past two years, the threat of COVID-19 hung heavy on people’s minds and many aspects of life that we once took for granted were sorely missed. With restrictions starting to ease up, Filipinos are looking forward to the new normal and the resumption of events that were put on hold during the past two years.

To celebrate love and life, Quezon City’s District 4 recently held a post-Valentine concert at the Amoranto Stadium. The free concert was the brainchild of Super Team 4 with each member bringing in different artists to perform to the appreciative crowd. Almost 15,000 attendees trooped to the venue for a night of music. Over 600 uniformed personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of guests and enforce social distancing protocols. The event started with a battle of the bands

competition featuring bands from District 4. A total of 10 bands performed as the stadium started to fill up with attendees. As the sun set, Fliptop legends Zaito and the Righteous One came to the stage amidst the cheers of the crowd to start the concert proper. This was followed by a steady stream of performances from artists and bands such as Overflow, Breezy Boys, Tuglaks, Curse One, & VYNLC, Abbadon, Ang Bandang Lapis, J Kris, and Phoebe. Filipino rap duo Blaze N Kane closed

J Kris (left) and Phoebe

Festival in India last April 2021. My House is one of the 21 honorees for the short film category while Jumawan is one of the four short film actor honorees. John Arcilla, A-List Awardee and one of the recipients of the Camera Obscura Award for On the Job: The Missing 8, graced the event as an online participant. Some of the other honorees who were also present virtually were: Hannah Ragudos, director of the Short Film Honoree Ana Bikhayr (Okay Lang Ako); Khent Cacho, director of the Short Film Honoree Ora Miss Mo; Patti Lapus, producer of the Feature Film Honoree Midnight in a Perfect World; and Cedrick Juan, Feature Film Actor Honoree for Gitarista. “FDCP’s objective for FAN is to celebrate our filmmakers’ successes. We have gone so far in bringing Philippine cinema to the world but we still have so much to do. We continue to create content and we continue to represent the Philippines through our stories,” Diño said. The annual celebration of Philippine cinema continues to be a symbol of hope for the future of Filipino filmmakers in setting the standards to be a globally competitive industry.

out the concert at the stroke of midnight. Quezon City 4th District Councilor Hero Bautista said that this concert had a special place in his heart. Despite being part of Super Team 4 and one of the VIPs of the concert, Bautista led the event as the concert director, overseeing the entire run of the production. “We are two years into the pandemic and we miss this kind of event. I missed directing this kind of event. I miss the energy, the fun. It can be tiring but seeing the people having fun makes it all worth it,” he said. Bautista added that the event would not have been possible had it not been for the support of his team and the help of his fellow councilors. “We had 1 week to plan out the event but everyone managed to deliver. The team from Heaven’s Best and Kuya Hero as well as the help of my fellow councilors and their teams were instrumental in pulling off this event,” he ended.

Call for entries: 2022 MBC short film fest The previous Grand Prix Winner of MBC’s Short Film Festival

(From left) Jek Jumawan, Liza Diño, and Adam Dumaguin

Filipino rap duo Blaze N Kane

Thousands of people flocked to the venue to experience a night of music and watch their favorite local artists

FDCP honors 77 artists and creatives in Film Abassadors’ Night 2022 THE Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has successfully gathered friends from the press, film workers and luminaries, and the agency’s stakeholders in a start-studded event that celebrated the wins of Filipino filmmakers overcoming the challenges of filming during a pandemic. A total of 77 honorees were feted at the Film Ambassadors’ Night, an in-person event held Sunday at the newly renovated Metropolitan Theater (MET) in Manila. The telecast date via the FDCP Channel will be announced at a later date. During a media event, held prior to the gathering, the FDCP welcomed more than 40 of its media partners at the agency’s first in-person press conference after two years of holding media events online. About the same number of friends from the press joined the occasion virtually via Zoom. FDCP Chairperson and CEO, Liza Diño together with Film Ambassadors Adam Dumaguin and Jek Jumawan, shared what’s in store for the honorees at this year’s exclusive Film Ambassadors’ Night that goes with the theme “Beyond Limits” in recognition of the efforts and creative artistry of Filipino filmmakers as shown by their continuous presence in the international scene despite the pandemic. Dumaguin, a 21-year-old filmmaker, won 3rd Place for his debut short film, My House at the AGBO Film - No Sleep ‘til Film Fest in California, USA last May 2021. Jumawan, a Senior High School teacher, won best actor “Sun of the East Award” for Pas-an (Carried Burdens) at the Tagore International Film

Filipino singer and rapper J Kris

MANILA Broadcasting Company has launched the second edition of its short film competition, which aims to attract entries for short features, documentaries, and animated works. Aimed at celebrating the extraordinary creative energy of Filipino filmmakers nationwide, the 2022 MBC Short Film Festival (MSFF) is now accepting entries from filmmakers

MBC also welcomes animated works

around the country, who can show in 20 minutes or less, a human interest story based on real-life characters/situations, highlighting acts of kindness and compassion. A top-rate panel of jurors from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the United States, and the Philippines will be on board to select fifteen films that will qualify for the final competition, which will run from July 15 to August 5. Each finalist will receive a cash incentive of P20,000, with the three category winners getting P100,000 each and vying for the Grand Prix, with a total take-home prize of P200,000 net of tax. A special award for Viewers’ Choice will be given P25,000. The 2022 MBC Short Film Festival is the centerpiece of the anniversary celebrations of MBC’s flagship station DZRH, which has been serving the public since it first went on the air in 1939. Having been the frontrunner in radio dramas and document-

The 2022 MBC Short Film Festival invites filmmakers from around the country who can show a story of compassion in 20 minutes or less

ing history as it unfolds via its news and public affairs division, MBC-DZRH now hopes to contribute a digital platform for Filipino filmmakers to share their works with the world at large. The deadline for submission of entries is on May 20. Detailed requirements are available on the official website: www.mbcfilmfest. com and will also be posted on the MBC Short Film Festival Facebook page. For further inquiries, email: mbcfilmfest@manilabroadcasting.com

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Life

Idyllic homes for young, ambitious professionals CONVENIENCE, comfort, and accessibility. These modern-day advantages of condominium living are getting a new spin when BRIA Condo General Trias breaks in the first quarter of 2022. Soon to rise in this progressive little city in Cavite, BRIA Homes’ new walk-up condominium will evoke cozy and intimate co-living and present itself as the idyllic domicile for young, ambitious professionals and millennials looking to strike out on their own. Future residents will be drawn to BRIA Condo General Trias’ functional, well-designed, and cleverly laid-out 24-square-meter units with provisions for a bedroom, dining, and kitchen area, living room, and toilet and bath. Fun and camaraderie await them as they forge a tight-knit community with access to su-

perior features not ordinarily offered by affordable condo developments. Nearly every necessity will be within reach—most times, right in the building—because BRIA Condo General Trias will boast state-of-the-art amenities such as a communal clubhouse with a swimming pool and gym for those engaged in a healthy and active lifetsyle. Furthermore, the development features lush, green walkable spaces and a playground for children to enjoy. For safety and security, BRIA Condo General Trias is equipped with a competent reception staff, 24-hour CCTV coverage, guarded entrances and exits, and top-notch property management. BRIA Condo General Trias will also tout proximity to essential services such as shops, restaurants, churches, banks,

As demand for comfortable and convenient condominium living constantly increases, BRIA Homes continues to build developments to cater to the needs of Filipinos.

and hospitals. Malls like Waltermart General Trias; Vistamall General Trias; Vistamall Dasmariñas; The District Imus; and SM City Dasmariñas will be in the vicinity, as will schools such as Lyceum of the Philippines University; De La Salle, Dasmariñas; The Palmridge School; and Fiat Lux Academe. Likewise, the condo property is near major roads and highways such as the Daang-hari Road, Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway

Combining

(CALAX), Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)—convenient for both motorists and commuters. With new infrastructure connecting towns and suburban cities of late, BRIA Homes Division Head Eduardo T. Aguilar is upbeat about young, aspiring Filipino homeowners showing growing interest in BRIA Homes’ condominium projects. “Great work opportunities and excel-

lent investment prospects are in store for them in a safe, secure, and healthy environment. So why not have the best of both worlds?” Aguilar says. To check out BRIA Condo General Trias and other BRIA properties, interested home seekers can immerse in BRIA Homes’ 360 virtual tours available in www.bria.com.ph and inquire online through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BriaHomesIncOfficial

A simple work table with a bottom space for organization

function and design

in furniture

By Patricia Taculao

A wooden cabinet with an open cubby in the middle and two closed cabinets on each side

URNITURE trends come and go, with each one leaving a relevant impact on the public. In recent years, Nordic style furniture captured the attention and affection of homeowners because of its simple yet sleek design and overall functionality. Nordic furniture originated from the Northern part of Europe, or what’s known as Scandinavia, composed of the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As the point of origin, Nordic-style furniture existed for years in the region and continued to do so. It was only recently that this aesthetic experienced a sudden rise in popularity. A possible factor that contributed to this recognition is admiration for minimalism. Both Nordic and minimalism styles feature clean lines, neutral tones, and an airy vibe that makes any space feel roomy and organized. Ultimately, they follow the idea that less is more. Nordic-style cabinets come in different shapes and sizes. They also feature other compartments such as drawers, open storage cubbies, closed cabinets, and more where homeowners can display their favorite room accents or keep their belongings. Meanwhile, Scandinavian tables don’t need intricate designs to help them stand out in any space. Whether it’s the dining area, living room, or office spaces, this muted piece of furniture commands attention through its sturdy material, unique structure, and natural colors. Chairs also share this same concept. No matter its function, it’s always made with durable materials accentuated with patterned fabrics, eccentric structures, and more. Nonetheless, they offer both comfort and style to any area. Despite the popularity of Nordic-

style furniture and the rising number of people who want to transform their homes into Scandinavian-inspired ones, others have trouble adapting to this new aesthetic. It’s within good reason, as the public spent decades exposed to home styles and decor that rely on bright colors, loud patterns, and intricate designs to make areas stand out. Switching to a Nordic-style home isn’t as complicated as one thinks. It all begins with the color, and subdued tones are the ideal hues to imbibe the Nordic aesthetic. Some good examples are pastels and neutrals. These colors will serve as the backdrop of any space and highlight the furniture adorning it. However, Scandinavian homes are warm and inviting, not stark or cold like most minimalist designs. Add patterned or vibrant fabrics to a room to make them more welcoming. Another thing to consider when re-

decorating a home with Nordic furniture is to choose pieces with clean lines. It’s significant to remember that such pieces feature simple silhouettes and natural materials. Once that’s been determined, the next step is to find its proper placement. For large pieces like comfortable seats, a dining table, or a bed, put them at the center of the room so that it immediately draws the attention of whoever enters the area. Lastly, embrace negative space. Since Scandinavian homes follow a simplistic lifestyle, it’s no surprise if there are bare walls or empty spaces now and then. Their goal is to highlight the function of the room, and one way to do that is to remove unnecessary clutter that might say otherwise. With more people switching to Nordic-style furniture, they’re also beginning to realize the beauty of simplicity and letting a space fulfill its purpose.

Go beyond sweet dreams by refreshing your bedroom MOST of us design our bedrooms with a good night’s sleep and relaxation in mind. That’s why Our Home has stocked up on soothing essentials – soft sheets, cozy comforters, pretty throw pillows, and cuddly blankets. Going beyond sweet dreams, “your bedroom is one of the more private areas in your house, so it should be designed with your taste in mind,” says Kelsey Mulvey in an Elle décor article. “But with a little bit of creativity and strategic thinking, your bedroom can be soothing and speak to your personal aesthetic.” Give your bedroom a refresh with furniture and accessories at Our Home, where you can get great designs at great

prices. There are stylish bed frames, comforting mattresses, and luxurious but affordable bed linen. At your bedside, there are accent chairs for reading and relaxing, night tables and lamps, drawers and dressers to keep your room organized. Refresh your bedroom with Our Home’s Bedroom Furniture and Accessories collection. Visit Our Home stores nationwide at select SM Supermalls. Customers who prefer to shop online can expect the same great shopping experience through www. ourhome.ph. Shop for styles the way you want right in the comfort of your home with Call & Deliver 09178315260.

Gunther II Bedframe features a padded headboard, built-in drawers, and bedside pullout nightstands. Meanwhile, the Sarah Accent Chair made from Malaysian oak with a bentwood backrest design is perfect for your nighttime reading.

Scandinavian inspired hi-back Adriana Accent Chair

Highlight a room’s function by putting large pieces of furniture as the focal point

Scandinavian homes feature simple and natural pieces of furniture

Use subdued tones and embrace negative space to create a Nordic vibe

Our Home’s Gifford Bedframe pullout side table is perfect for this Eunice Glass Table Lamp and your other bedside essentials