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'PH ECONOMY POISED FOR SUSTAINED RECOVERY'

UN, POPE CALL FOR IMMEDIATE 'STOP' IN WAR IN UKRAINE NEWS / A2

BUSINESS / B4

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 74 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comelec lists 118 hotspots

Areas labeled as 'grave concern,' monitored for serious armed threats

HE Commission on Elections has placed 104 municipalities and 14 cities under its “red category” for possible election-related violence.

The Commission on Elections is monitoring 104 municipalities and 14 cities placed under “red category” due to possible election-related violence. “We are monitoring these areas. If violence erupts that threatens peace during elections, we might be constrained to declare these areas under Comelec control,” Comelec chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan said. “We have a joint regional security sector headed by the regional election director and the highest regional Philippine National Police commander and regional Armed Forces of the Philippines commander. They help us and they recommend what areas to declare under Comelec control,” he added. The Comelec election hotspot list has four categories—green, yellow, orange, and red. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly, while yellow are areas of concern, which means that these have a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, the occurrence of politically motivated election-related incidents and had been previously declared under Comelec control. Orange, on the other hand, means areas of immediate concern where there Next page

DOLE eyes $200 cash aid to Pinoys stuck in Shanghai By Willie Casas THE government is considering providing $200 in financial assistance to each overseas Filipino worker affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Sunday. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the financial aid could be given once the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has identified the OFWs who are in the area. Next page

BRACE FOR 'GRIM' COVID SITUATION, BEIJING WARNS WORLD / B2

Throng of supporters packs UniTeam rally in Taguig City By Maricel Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja EVEN on a Sunday, thousands of residents gathered in Taguig City to show their all-out support to the UniTeam tandem of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio. Speaking before a huge crowd in

MAMMOTH CROWD.

Supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, flock to the tandem's grand rally at Arca South in Taguig City Sunday evening.

Arca South, Duterte-Carpio thanked their supporters who gathered at the rally venue as early as noon. “Many of you have arrived here since morning. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be with you today,” she said. “Our family has made a promise to our people, and part of that promise is for me to do all that I can so we can lead peaceful lives,” the Lakas-CMD chairperson added. Next page

Poll body exec tempers peer's warning to critics By Rio N. Araja COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia on Sunday walked back threats issued by his colleague, Rey Bulay, saying the poll body should exercise maximum tolerance against those questioning the conduct of the elections. In an interview on radio dzBB, Garcia said filing cases against the poll body's critics should be a last resort for the Comelec. Garcia's remarks were a marked departure from Bulay's warning that he would seek the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to round up and jail anyone who suggested that the Comelec is biased or that it would cause election fraud. “Anyone can file a case against us, and

Duterte: Water woes in AsPac need swift act PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called for a "bolder vision and urgent action" to solve water-related issues in the Asia-Pacific region, saying developing countries like the Philippines still face challenges to ensure people’s universal access to safe and affordable water. In a video message during the heads of states and government meeting at the 4th Asia-Pacific Next page

we can also file a case against those who are sabotaging the elections,” Garcia said in Filipino. “But to me, that will have to be exercised under extreme circumstances, where they are really questioning the integrity of our elections.” He also said that criticism against the Comelec is welcome, as long as it is not based on fake news. “For me, all comments and criticisms of the Commission on Elections are very welcome because those help us and lead us to what we should do. However, these comments should be truthful and not based on fake news,” he said. Garcia urged people to listen to mainstream media and not solely depend on social media for their information. Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday said Bulay should not Next page

Govt spy unit to bare names of smugglers of agri products By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday said the National Intelligence Coordination Agency (NICA) will submit the names of suspected smugglers of agricultural products. Sotto, who is running for vice president in the May 9 elections, said he was

informed by NICA they would release the names on April 28 after their meeting on April 27. During the last Senate Committee of the Whole hearing, Sotto tagged four individuals as the alleged brains in the smuggling. He named them as a certain Manuel Next page

WATER SECURITY.

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his video message during the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Kumamoto City, Japan. Duterte said access to water is considered a basic human right, and governments must act boldly and quickly to address water woes.

PEDAL FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET.

Climate activist Fred de Mesa and his two-year-old daughter Acacia, participate in a 12-kilometer bike ride on April 24, 2022, from Quezon City Memorial Circle to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Event organizer Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) said the protest ride 'calls on governments and corporations to step up climate change action to save the planet from climate catastrophe.' Jimmy A. Domingo

News

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN, Pope call for ‘stop’ in Russian invasion T

HE United Nations Ukraine crisis coordinator, Amin Awad, on Sunday called for an "immediate stop" to fighting in Mariupol to allow the evacuation of trapped civilians in the battered city. "The lives of tens of thousands, including women, children and older people, are at stake in Mariupol," Awad said in a statement. "We need a pause in fighting right now to save lives. The longer we wait the more lives will be at risk. They must be allowed to safely evacuate now, today. Tomorrow could be too late." Pope Francis on

Sunday also appealed again for a truce in war-torn Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter weekend, "to ease the suffering of exhausted people." The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine flew among the faithful gathered on St Peter's Square, where the leader of the Roman Catholic Church recalled that fighting erupted two months ago on February 24.

"Instead of halting, the war has become worse," Francis said. "It is sad that on these most holy and solemn days for Christians we hear more of the murderous noise of weapons than that of the bells announcing the resurrection" of Christ. "I renew the appeal for an Easter truce, the smallest tangible sign of a willingness for peace," he pleaded. "Stop the attacks to ease the suffering of exhausted people," the pope added. Awad's call came after an attempted evacuation from Mariupol by Ukraine had failed Saturday, with Kyiv saying it was "thwarted" by Russian forces.

The UN statement said there were an estimated 100,000 civilians trapped in the city, which has been heavily destroyed after being besieged by Russian forces for weeks. Awad said Orthodox Easter, which is celebrated in both Russia and Ukraine, provided an opportunity to halt hostilities. "At a time of a rare calendar alignment of the religious holidays of Orthodox Easter, Passover and Ramadan, it is the time to focus on our common humanity, setting divisions aside," Awad said. This month UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had urged a pause in

fighting for Orthodox Easter. Hopes for an Easter ceasefire were dashed this weekend as fighting raged in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukraine said Sunday that Russia was "continuously attacking" the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where Ukrainian servicemen defending the city are holed up. The nationalist Azov regiment, at the forefront of the battles with Russian forces, has said civilians are also trapped in the plant. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces not to assault the plant this week, but to keep it under siege instead. AFP

DOLE... From A1

LIVING ON A PRAYER.

A female Ukrainian soldier crosses herself during an Orthodox Easter service in St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv on April 24, 2022, two months after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. AFP

Comelec... From A1

is a serious armed threat; while Red means areas of grave concern, which exhibit combined factors under the Yellow category with serious armed threats that may warrant the motu proprio (on its own) declaration of Comelec control. On Thursday, the PNP said it has recorded 28 election-related incidents

Poll.. From A1

be onion-skinned because Filipinos are only expressing their concerns over the May 9 elections. “We are public servants. We should not scare the public. The plea for a fair and honest election is a plea in every election. There is nothing wrong with that,” Drilon said. “The citizenry is calling on Comelec to exercise its constitutional duty, and that is expected from them,” Drilon added.

Duterte:... From A1

Water Summit in Kumamoto City over the weekend, Duterte said countries in Asia-Pacific and its partners must forge "a strong alliance" to address water woes in the region. “Now is the time for bolder vision and urgent action. We need to decide wisely for ourselves and for future generations,” he said. “This requires an urgent sense of community action in the region, an integrated and coherent policy and the resolve to create opportunities for investment and collaboration for technological solutions,” Duterte added. He suggested several measures to address water challenges, including creating a robust regime for sustainable water management; using the best available science in water resource generation and climate resilient infrastructure; and securing sustainable forest protection and watershed management. Regional experts for technology development and transfer, Duterte said, must also collaborate, and countries must promote transboundary benefits for the common people’s development towards 2050 and beyond. He said solutions to water-related issues must come from government and non-government stakeholders alike. Duterte said access to water and its related services is rightly considered a basic human right, since it is a resource so vital for humans and ecosystems for survival and sustenance. For his part, Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje said central to the Philippines' position in climate change

from Jan. 9 up to April 17, of which 21 were later shown to have nothing really to do with the elections. The municipalities of Tubatan and Malabang in Lanao del Sur have so far been placed under Comelec control due to the reported threats weeks ago leading to the polls. Meanwhile, PNP personnel who are related to or have connections with candidates have been reassigned to other areas to prevent them from being tagged as involved in partisan politics, PNP chief

Police General Dionardo Carlos said Sunday. “During the start of the election period, we have reassigned those who have relatives or are familiar with the local elected officials. That’s why we had a rotation of police chiefs so that the familiarity they had in those areas will not be used against them,” Carlos said in a dzBB interview. “Those we discovered who did not declare [they had relatives running] were relieved [from their posts]. We also have

police that needed to be removed from their areas so people would not have any doubts. We must be balanced, we must be neutral,” he added. The PNP will deploy its administrative staff as well as 16,000 cops under training during and prior to the May 9 polls to serve as additional personnel on the ground. “We want our police to be able to vote where they are registered and they will also be on duty in that particular area. We will have a maximized deployment for the elections,” Carlos said.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro also hit the Comelec for issuing threats against its critics. Castro was reacting to Bulay's threats as well as a statement by Commissioner Socorro Inting attacking a call for honest, peaceful and orderly elections because it was “unnecessary” and sowed a lack of trust in the poll body. “There is no place for the onionskinned and trigger-happy in public office,” Castro said in Filipino. “This is more important the higher the public official is in government and the greater their duties are, like protecting the sanctity

of the elections.” “Citizens either by themselves or through their organizations are completely within their rights to appeal or call for the holding of orderly, peaceful and credible elections,” Castro said. “That's just the Filipinos' way of telling the poll body, ‘Hey, Comelec, do your job,’ because after all, the holding of orderly, peaceful and credible elections IS the Comelec's job under the Constitution,” she added. Neither do such calls tend to "sow distrust on the integrity of the Comelec" nor "subtly condition the minds" of the

public, she said. “No Commissioner should be onionskinned and get angry over such appeals from the public, much less threaten to sic the military on citizens who are just exercising their rights,” she added. “We therefore believe that the statement issued yesterday by members of the Commission is a prior restraint on free speech and expression— which includes political speech— and constricts the already-shrinking democratic space in the country. Such statements the Comelec en banc must retract immediately,” she said.

mitigation and adaptation is climate justice. “To the least responsible, to those with the least resources, to those most exposed, we need to do more,” Borje said. Asia and Pacific nations should forge stronger partnerships to address the impacts of changing climate by making available and accessible climate financing to developing countries that bear the brunt of global warming, Borje said. “Our challenge and responsibility then is to formulate and implement water development strategies and trajectories in the era of climate change – up to the last mile, up to the last person. To this end, we need climate financing. Make it more accessible and available. Unlock it for the developing world,” he said. “This is not a plea for handouts. This is an urgent call for responsible partnership. We want to contribute more but we in the developing world need to help ourselves first,” Borje added. He mentioned, in particular, Tropical Depression Agaton, which inundated large swathes of the Visayas region at the height of summer and displaced many residents. Total damages was estimated at $1.6 billion, representing the country’s health insurance budget for around 60 percent of the total population, he said. “But the narrative can still be transformed: from frustration and desperation to one of action and inspiration. This is where climate justice becomes relevant in what we do – a guiding light towards a more informed collaboration among our nations, so that our peoples, across generations, will be equipped to restore and ensure the quality of and access to water for all – as a matter of life – a dignified life,” he added.

Govt...

information" from their operations. Customs chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero also said he is familiar with some of the names disclosed by Sotto but did not know the others. The Senate Committee of the Whole is investigating the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products. It is also digging into the alleged involvement of the Bureau of Customs in the illegal activities. Last week, Sotto told a media forum that they have the names of the “untouchables” involved in vegetable smuggling from China. "This is the third hearing already and we would like to come up with a committee report as soon as possible. Even while we campaign, we're trying to squeeze time for this is part of our job and so that the Ombudsman can look into the matters at hand," he said. Sotto said they will invoke parliamentary immunity in case they are fed the wrong names. During the second hearing of the Committee of the Whole on March 28, the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post public relations officer, Agot Balonoy, said they are incurring huge losses due to rampant smuggling. "Our regular daily order of carrots declined by up to 40 percent or equivalent to P2.5 million per day since last year. Retailers and consumers now prefer to buy smuggled carrots from China," Balonoy said. United Broiler Raisers Association president Elias Jose Inciong also accused the Department of Agriculture of being “pro-importation.”

From A1

Tan, who supposedly operates in the freeports of Subic, Cagayan de Oro (CDO), and Batangas and one Andrew Chang, who allegedly operates in Subic, Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila (POM), and Batangas. He also identified a certain Luz/Lea Cruz, who is reportedly the “onion queen” who operates in Subic, MICP, and CDO and a certain Jun Diamante, alleged to be a smuggler of agrifisheries products in CDO. The names of the four, Sotto said, were given to him by a whistleblower, who supposedly described them as “well-versed” in the processes of importation and familiar with the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs. Sotto threatened to recommend charges against them if NICA fails to give them the names of individuals who are allegedly protecting the smugglers of agricultural products. He also told the hearing there were reports that the four are being coddled by politicians. NICA director Edsel Batalla, focal person of Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence (STG-EI), said the names of the four are included in their watchlist but information on their alleged links to smuggling have yet to be validated. Aside from the four, Batalla also said there are more than 20 individuals, including the so-called "protectors" who were on their list. However, he said its information still needed to be validated as these are all "raw

Shanghai, a city of about 25 million, went into lockdown to curb a COVID-19 outbreak four weeks ago. About 42,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the city. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said that safety measures are still in place, even though the country has opened its borders to foreign tourists. She explained the Philippines can no longer close and open its borders repeatedly, and must rely on the strategies that the government has imposed to protect the population. Only fully vaccinated foreign tourists are allowed entry into the country. The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday attributed the slight rise of new COVID-19 cases in some areas to electionrelated activities and the increased mobility of people during Holy Week. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, in a briefing, said Marinduque, Davao City, Butuan City, Surigao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Batanes, Quirino, Catanduanes, Olongapo City, Tarlac City, Angeles City, and Eastern Samar recorded a slight rise in new infections. “We don't see common factors in all areas but except of course the influx of tourists, and those who return home to their provinces," Cabotaje said in Filipino. The Philippines on Wednesday recorded 365 new cases, the highest in over two weeks, ABS-CBN Data Analytics head Edson Guido said, citing DOH data. The figure fell Thursday to 134, the lowest daily tally in almost two years or since May 8, 2020. The number of those still battling the disease as of Friday, meanwhile, is the lowest since Dec. 31 last year, Guido said. Last week, the DOH warned that Metro Manila could record up to 446,000 COVID-19 cases by mid-May if people violate health protocols, given the increasing election-related activities. Metro Manila and dozens of other areas are under the loosest pandemic alert level until April 30. This allows all establishments and activities to operate at full on-site capacity, with face-to-face classes subject to the approval of the Office of the President.

Throng... From A1

Marcos, in his message, said the overwhelming support of Filipinos means they approve of his vision of unity for the country. "It is very important for us that you are here and you have expressed support and trust in the UniTeam tandem and our advocacy for unity," Marcos said. Also in attendance were members of the UniTeam senatorial slate—Sherwin Gatchalian, Jinggoy Estrada, Herbert Bautista, Larry Gadon and Gibo Teodoro. On Saturday night, tens of thousands of Manileños also showed their solid support for the UniTeam tandem. The throng of Manila residents, clad in red and green, trooped to Bustillos in Sampaloc, Manila to listen to UniTeam candidates led by Marcos and Duterte-Carpio. "Our family owes all of you a debt of gratitude, for the love and support you have showered us. President Duterte wants you to know that he has a grateful heart for all of you in Manila,” said Duterte-Carpio in her speech. Marcos, for his part, called on his supporters to be vigilant against possible efforts to subvert the peoples' will in the May 9 polls. “Let us continue what we have started, this movement for unity. This will be a victory not just in the elections but for our future,” he said. Manila mayoralty candidate Alex Lopez said the City of Manila, which he claimed is buried neck-deep in debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will soon recover under the UniTeam’s leadership. “We here are united in the same goal, to lift each other out of poverty and rise again,” he said. In response, Duterte-Carpio assured the crowd that should they win, they will focus on reopening jobs. “The government must focus on the jobs and businesses lost due to the pandemic. The government must focus on the money in the pockets and food on the table of every Filipino family,” Duterte-Carpio said.

News

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

4 hurt in Parang, Maguindanao bus explosion

DAUNTLESSLY DEFIANT. Despite government warning not to swim in the polluted waters of Manila Bay, residents of Navotas city beat the scorching heat by taking a plunge Sunday when the temperature hit 34 °C. Danny Pata

SolGen seeks re-arrest of ex-gov By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has been asked to lift the temporary restraining order it issued last month stopping the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court from enforcing its warrant of arrest against former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes.

Instead, the Solicitor General said, the Court should order his immediate re-arrest to ensure his appearance during the trial of the murder case filed against him, in connection with the killing of staunch anti-corruption crusader, environmentalist and broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega in 2011. In a 62-page comment filed on April

1, 2022, the Office of the Solicitor General also sought the dismissal of Reyes’ petition for review on certiorari, which seeks to reverse and set aside the November 28, 2019 amended decision of the Court of Appeals’ Special Former Eleventh Division that enjoined the Puerto Princesa City RTC, Branch 52, to issue a warrant of arrest against

the former governor. The CA’s amended decision reversed its January 2018 ruling, which dismissed the murder case against Reyes and ordered his release. Instead, the appellate court upheld the ruling of the Puerto Princesa City RTC that denied the plea of Reyes to suspend the proceedings and sustained the validity of the warrant of arrest it issued against the petitioner. Reyes has been charged with murder along with his brother, former Coron town mayor Mario Reyes, and 8 others for the death of Ortega. A known critic of Reyes, Ortega was gunned down in front of a thrift store in

Puerto Princesa City on January 24, 2011. The trial court ordered his arrest in March 2012, despite Reyes moving to suspend the murder case and recall the warrant of arrest. This prompted Reyes to assail the RTC ruling before the appellate court, citing the trial court’s reliance on the “uncorroborated statement” of witness Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad, his bodyguard. Aside from Edrad’s affidavit, the CA cited the sworn statements of Arwin Arandia, who claimed to have been initially hired by Edrad to kill Ortega; and Dennis Aranas and Marlon Recamata who also confessed to being paid to kill Ortega. Recamata was convicted in 2013.

FOUR people were hurt when a bomb exploded inside the bus they were riding in Parang, Maguindanao Sunday, police said. Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the Rural Transit Bus was on a stopover for breakfast in Barangay Making of the town when the blast occurred at the backside of the bus. Authorities found an improvised explosive device had been planted in the bus, on its way to Dipolog City from General Santos City. The four injured passengers have been sent to hospitals and are still undergoing treatment as of posting. Police are now checking CCTV surveillance footage from the area to see who among the passengers of the bus disappeared shortly before the explosion. “There are CCTV cameras along the vicinity. We are now looking at all the footages to see those passengers and their faces who is or are missing...an investigator is also sent to the owner of the bus company to conduct questioning,” Cabalona said. While police have yet to determine the motive behind the explosion, Cabalona said they were looking into “reports of extortion or attempts of extortion.” The explosion occurred just a few meters away from the BARMM police regional headquarters. The bus involved in the explosion was taking a new route which was only launched last March, plying from General Santos to Dipolog via Cotabato City.

Online food delivery rider nabbed, yields ‘shabu’ worth P68m—police AN ONLINE food delivery rider was arrested on Saturday and yielded 10 kilos of illegal drugs believed to be shabu worth P68 million, a biggest haul so far this year, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas. Lt. Col. Glenn Mayam, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-7, identified the suspect as Josh Vincent “Justin” Camion, 24, a resident of Barangay Guadalupe where he was nabbed by the PRO-7’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit. The operatives led by Capt. Joffre Grande seized from Camion eight large packs of shabu marked “888” and placed inside green tea bags, the marked money used in the buy-bust operation, and a black sports bag he used to carry the contraband.

PERFECT PEDAL.

Cyclists from environment and cycling groups participate in the morning ride “Pedal for People and Planet” from the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila Sunday, aimed at pushing their advocacy for bolder action on climate change from governments and corporations worldwide. Danny Pata

The shabu seized from Camion is valued at P68 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation. “This operation was based on intelligence work. We placed the suspect under eight months of intelligence operation. Actually, they have a group that we have traced and placed their modus operandi under monitoring,” Mayam told reporters as he witnessed the onsite inventory of the evidence. Mayam dismissed insinuation that the proceeds of the bulk of drugs recently seized were meant to finance politicians, saying the drug personalities like Camion were placed under police watch several months ago. He said Camion was considered as a regional high-value target. He has a pending illegal possession of firearm case in court but was released on bail.

Gov’t agencies to solve conjoining titling issues 224,000 PNP, BJMP members By Rio N. Araja GOVERNMENT agencies—the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples -- have met up to address overlapping issues related to Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project. They conducted a consultation meeting on land and forestry to settle overlapping issues in relation to parcelization of collective certificates of land ownership awards (CCLOAs) for the SPLIT project. According to Agrarian Reform Under-

secretary for Legal Affairs Office Luis Meinrado Pañgulayan, based on a joint guideline, DAR and DENR before processing applications for land titles pursuant to their mandates must notify the NCIP of the specific area to be titled. All lands covered by collective CLOAs within classified timberlands, unclassified public forests, mineral lands, and national parks, shall be parcelized in favor of agrarian reform beneficiaries, he said. “During the implementation of parcelization and in the issuance of appropriate tenurial instruments, the actual occupants on the lands covered by collective

CLOAs shall not be displaced,” he added. The NCIP is tasked to certify subject land to the projection of survey plans and issuance of the certification of nonoverlap, whether the same affects an alienable and disposable or ancestral land involving “conflict areas” as identified by the agencies concerned pending/overlapping, jurisdictional/operational issues or conflicting claims which are contentious or potentially contentious. Meanwhile, housing czar Eduardo del Rosario announced Sunday the government was set to award permanent shelters for internally displaced persons in the war-torn Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.

have received COVID-19 jabs

THE Philippine National Police and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology have vaccinated almost their entire force against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of data released Sunday, 224,305 out of 224,573 members of the PNP, or 99.67 percent, have completed their primary doses. Of the total, 219,648 cops or 98.24 percent have received booster doses. The remaining ones are partially vaccinated (278 or 0.13 percent) or un-

vaccinated (454 or 0.20 percent). No new cases were recorded Sunday, leaving the number of active infections at two. The PNP Health Office data showed 48,863 cases were recorded since the start of the pandemic two years ago, 48,732 recovered, and 129 died. Meanwhile, 18,593 or 99.76 percent of the 18,638 active personnel of the BJMP are already vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Saturday.

Pinoys in Israel warned vs. going to West Bank THE Philippine Embassy in Israel advised Filipinos in that country to remain vigilant and avoid or postpone traveling to the West Bank due to tensions in the area. The embassy said in a statement: “Be careful and vigilant. Avoid or postpone trips to the West Bank [Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron,

etc.]...Avoid going to these areas in Jerusalem starting April 21 until May 3.” The embassy also advised Filipinos to avoid or postpone going to Golan Heights, areas near the border of Lebanon, and the border of Gaza. Tensions between Israeli security forces and Palestinian militants

heightened starting last month with casualties on both sides. At least 152 Palestinians were injured inside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound on April 15 during clashes with Israeli riot police. Fresh clashes erupted on April 22 in the same area, with at least 57 Palestinians injured.

Death toll from storm Agaton rises to 212

‘LIBRENG SAKAY’. Several passengers avail themnselves of the Metro Rail Transit

Line 3 free ride over the weekend. The MRT-3’s free ride program – meant to celebrate the completion of its rehabilitation and ease the burden of rising fuel prices on the public – will end on April 30. Jess M. Escaros Jr.

THE death toll from storm Agaton that hit Mindanao and the Visayas rose to 212 Sunday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. It said 186 of the fatalities were reported in Eastern Visayas, 21 in Western Visayas, three in Davao Region, and two

in Central Visayas. Of the reported deaths, 111 were already confirmed. Of the number, 94 were from Eastern Visayas, and 17 from Western Visayas, the NDRRMC said. A total 132 individuals have been reported missing, 130 of whom were from Eastern Visayas, and one each from

Western Visayas and Davao Region. Of the 132 missing, two cases were confirmed by NDRRMC, each from Eastern Visayas and Davao Region. At the same time, of the eight people reported injured, four were from Soccsksargen, two from Northern Mindanao, and one each from Central Visayas and Davao Region.

Supporters flock to Leni’s birthday celebration, rally

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

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ICE President Leni Robredo celebrated her 57th birthday on Saturday, with supporters packing the two-kilometer stretch of Macapagal Avenue from Gil Puyat Avenue to EDSA in Pasay City. Organizers say the crowd was more than 412,000, and it was the presidential aspirant’s largest rally yet this campaign period. Robredo thanked everyone in attendance, many who had waited since the morning to greet her. The usual pink flags on the campaign trail were replaced by huge Philippine flags the audience proudly waved in the wind, and many of the performers onstage wore red, white, blue, and green, in addition to the campaign’s trademark pink. Robredo, clad in a light silver top accented with a pink rose, had invited people of all political persuasions to join the celebration, as she said if she is elected president, she will be there for the whole country. With 15 days left in the campaign period, Robredo called on her supporters to go house-to-house to combat lies and fake news. Robredo also cited the presence of many artists including Vice Ganda, Gary Valenciano, Maricel Soriano, and the APO Hiking Society, who are all first-time attendees in this campaign period. She said the presence of many famous artists and performers meant that they support her candidacy

even if surveys show she is trailing the presidential race. Robredo emphasized that real power is in the hands of ordinary citizens and not politicians. She urged supporters to join the fight for “change.” Film actor John Arcilla, best known for his award-winning portrayal of the Filipino hero, Heneral Luna, channeled the general, calling on the LENI’S BIRTHDAY. Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo celebrated her 57th birthday on Saturday at the “Araw Na10 Street Party and People’s Rally. Celebrities including Gary and Gab Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, and Janno Gibbs, nation to put the country first before ‘To!” among others, performed at the rally where more than 400,000 supporters packed the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. themselves as he endorsed Robredo’s VP Leni Media Bureau presidential bid. Arcilla said that many people make their choices based on candidates’ looks or popularity, or because they feel a connection with further stated Lacson. relevant to that, whether it’s a Central By Macon Ramos-Araneta them. Even if he or she is 80 years old but Bank regulation or whatever regulation He said he, too, could easily PRESIDENTIAL candidate Panfilo remains productive, Lacson said we we need to revisit,” said Lacson. The veteran statesman noted that un‘Ping’ Lacson slammed some policies should not discriminate. vote for Robredo just because she Lacson discussed the issue when a der his leadership, he would enforce an of financial institutions which he said is personable, and he feels he 66-year-old woman opened up about anti-age discrimination policy not only were perceived to be discriminatory of can relate to her because like him, her concerns of reaching the age of 70 in terms of employment opportunities, senior citizens. she too has experienced profound “Why is it that when you get to 70 during which, she said, she would start but in other aspects that could negaloss. But he said all that is irrelyears old, you are automatically ren- losing her benefits and other entitle- tively affect the quality of life of the evant because it is Robredo’s acdered unproductive? Like you are no ments from a microfinance association seasoned members of our society. complishments that make her his “We should not discriminate. That longer useful,” said Lacson while ques- where she has been a member of. Lacson and his running mate Sena- policy (of denying benefits to senior tioning the policy. choice for President. “They are assuming that once you tor Tito Sotto said they are looking at citizens) is wrong. We should look at Arcilla said everything Robredo are 70 years old, you may no longer the possibility of revisiting laws that the capacity, the productivity, the abildoes is for the good of the country. have the capacity or wherewithal to pay govern microfinance institutions under ity of the person, not his or her age.” Still channeling Heneral Luna, ArLacson and Sotto are both 73 years for your microfinance,” added Lacson. the supervision of the Bangko Sentral cilla exhorted the audience to be old, but are still of sound mind and He noted that his policy is wrong. ng Pilipinas. more responsible citizens and to “Even if we are only senators now, body because of their healthy and ac“That’s wrong. We should look at the stand with honor. we will revisit some regulations or laws tive lifestyles. capability of the person,”

Lacson hits ‘discriminatory’ rules against the elderly

Moreno says he’s not ‘panicking’ amid rival bets’ massive rallies

BOOSTER SHOT.

A frontliner administers a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot to a churchgoer on April 24. Vaccination sites have been opened in various places in Manila. Danny Pata

By Rey E. Requejo DESPITE rivals touting large turnouts for their grand rallies, Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso said he is not panicking, saying the “lean and mean” rallies that he conducted the past weeks where tens of thousands of “real supporters” gathered to show their full support. Be it a few thousands or tens of thousands, Moreno said he takes pride that the turnout in his rallies comprised the “silent majority,” which he believes will ultimately be the game-changer in his quest for the presidency. “Don’t panic, it’s organic!” Moreno said, when asked of the crowd turnout in his rallies - which were always huge in the first place – referring to the natural warmth and sincere support the

Municipal, city councilors back BBM-Sara tandem in May AT LEAST 85 percent or 14, 600 of the 17,177 municipal and city councilors nationwide have given their full support to the BBM-Sara UniTeam in the upcoming May 9 national polls. In a simple ceremony at the BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong on Friday afternoon, officials of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) personally handed their signed manifesto of support to the candidacy of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., and his running mate Inday Sara Duterte. “Securing 85 percent support from the 17, 177 municipal and city councilors nationwide favoring Bongbong Marcos for president and Inday Sara Duterte for vice president on the May 9, 2022 elections is sufficient to declare that majority of the legislators in our country prefer the BBM-Sara tandem

that can further propel the reign of the next national government administration,” read the statement of support signed by Councilors Danilo Dayanghirang, PCL Chairman and Nelson Sala, PCL President. “The BBM-Sara’s imminent victory is greatly considered an opportunity by the PCL to push for its many governance advocacies, in securing more special benefits (that) can cascade down the grassroots not only for the good of the PCL members but also for the Filipino people in general. These 14, 600 councilors strongly believe that BBM-Sara will champion local governance initiatives in the national level,” it added. For his part, former MMDA chair Benhur Abalos Jr., campaign manager of Marcos, personally welcomed the

PCL officials as he thanked them for their support. “Well, we are really grateful for the support given by the Philippine Councilor’s League. You know this is the grassroots right? Grassroots of our councilors so they know they are one of the most members because there are few councilors in every area, in every precinct and just to think that eighty -five percent almost support it really makes my heart fat, ”Abalos said in an interview. Abalos assured that the BBM-Sara UniTeam will give back to the country and its supporters if ever elected in the upcoming elections. “They hope that this trust will really be rewarded with a genuine service, of course by BBM and Inday Sara UniTeam. Again, many many thanks, ”Abalos added. Rey E. Requejo

people exude wherever he went. The Manila city mayor’s confidence is further bolstered by the tens of thousands of screaming and adoring supporters who warmly welcome him with open arms as they jostle for position during motorcades and town hall meetings, all trying to shake or just touch the hands of the former basurero who became councilor, vice mayor, mayor and now a presidential candidate. Moreno said his preferred mode of “retail” style of campaigning in town halls and out-of-the-way places may be tedious, but it fosters intimacy and unity more than the large but staged rallies like what other candidates are doing. “Because I don’t like ‘motor-paid.’ ‘Motor-paid’ is expensive. Isn’t it, I mean, why would I drive myself crazy with 40,000 people but I paid them five hundred each just to rah-rah,” he said.

Defensor vows to scrap occupational permit fees for Quezon City workers AN ESTIMATED one million private sector employees in Quezon City are expected to benefit from Congressman Michael “Mike” Defensor’s plan to scrap the local government’s “occupational permit” requirement once he is elected mayor of the country’s largest city. “Right now, workers in Quezon City are forced to spend around P1,000 every year and endure at least a day without work and without pay just so they can renew their local occupational permit. They will be spared from the costly hassle once we abolish the permit,” Defensor said in a statement on Sunday. “We maintain that the occupational permit is absolutely unnecessary. It is just one of the many ways by which the local government is unfairly charging fees for minor services so that the incumbent mayor can report huge savings and look good,” Defensor said. Defensor previously vowed to revoke

“the oppressive and burdensome occupational permit” within his first 100 days in office if he is elected city mayor. The local government under Mayor Joy Belmonte requires all persons to secure the annual occupational permit before they can lawfully work anywhere in Quezon city. “Based on our estimate, the city government collects from our workers a total of up to P432 million in annual fees out of the occupational permit. Our workers can keep the P432 million in their pockets once we discard the permit,” Defensor said his statement on Sunday. The occupational permit fee is P170 each, but Defensor said workers are compelled to spend much more to comply with the extra requirements that include a local health certificate, sputum and stool tests, a community tax certificate or cedula, and attending an HIV/ AIDS seminar, among others.

Nur Misuari is not endorsing Pacquiao bid, MNLF says

MANNY AND NUR. The MNLF Central Committee Senator Manny Pacquiao paid a courtesy call to MNLF chairman Nur Misuari at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati before Misuari’s upcoming trip abroad.

A PICTURE Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari with presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquaio is not an official endorsement for Pacquiao’s candidacy. The MNLF Central Committee in a statement on Saturday said the photo is “was a courtesy call by the good Senator to the Chairman at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati before the Chairman’s upcoming trip abroad,” The MNLF said Misuari “remains neutral” in the presidential race. “Any endorsement of any kind from some members of the MNLF for any particular candidate is personal in nature and does not reflect the endorsement of the Chairman of the MNLF or the organization as an entity,” the MNLF further said. The political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF) meanwhile has thrown its support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, a CNN Philippines report said. The report said officials of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) — including Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim — made the formal announcement in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat on Saturday. This is the first time the MILF is endorsing a presidential candidate for the elections, te report further said, adding that Murad cited how Robredo has consistently supported the advocacies of the Bangsamoro. “[W]hen we needed allies in Congress, and as Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo was there for us,” Murad said. “She was there for Marawi. She makes time for the Bangsamoro.”

Opinion For climate change resiliency and sustainability IT’S IN the middle of a hot summer but heavy rains triggered ﬂash ﬂoods and landslides by tropical storm Agaton displaced over 2 million people in the Eastern Visayas and Davao regions of South-Central Philippines. According to the April 18 update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), this latest extreme weather hit killed 172, damaged 10,400 homes, 309 roadways, and 15 bridges. The estimated damage in infrastructure and agriculture is over P250 million. This latest climate change bomb has again exposed how millions of Filipinos are so vulnerable to the increasing frequency of weather borne calamities. Scientists have pointed out in many international fora that developing countries like the Philippines will suffer the brunt of consequences of millions of tons in greenhouse gas emissions spewed daily by the industrialized and richest countries dominating the global economic system. An irony is that studies have shown that Philippine total carbon emissions don’t even count relative to these big economies.

We need reforms to the Electric Power Industry Reform (EPIRA) Act of 2001. This puts us in a dilemma wherein in our urgent need to recover and rebuild from the pandemic crisis and sustain pre-COVID 19 economic trajectories, we must aggressively develop our infrastructure and industries requiring more power and energy to support the expansion of our economic sectors unavoidably emitting more GHG emissions. So how do we balance our right to build a prosperous nation while honoring our commitments to the historic Paris Agreement and meet the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to cut carbon emissions by 75 percent in 2030? A school of thought that I have been advocating is to harness the power of new technologies that have embraced sustainability and aligned with the ongoing global movement to prevent catastrophic global warming. But in the Philippine situation, being at the receiving end of what is becoming a yearly attack of extreme weather, building resiliency to calamitous events should be a top national and local government priority. This will need an all-of-society approach in redesigning disaster response and recovery protocols to seamlessly integrate pro-active readiness of the public and private sector. A prerequisite to initiating the right disas-

ter resiliency and response systems that are borderless and devoid of bureaucratic turfs is to have a sound policy foundation that encourages openness to fast evolving technology innovations. Overcoming the change resistant and static thinking of existing policies is the first challenge. Take, for instance, the appeal of environmental advocacy group, Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) in its recent public statement calling for an amendment of the Electric Power Industry Reform (EPIRA) Act of 2001. Specifically, PBEST proposes to expand access to renewable energy (RE) sources by lowering the 100kW consumption threshold prescribed in the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) of the EPIRA law. PBEST co-convenor Eng. Felix Vitangcol points out that currently, only electricity end-users consuming at least 100kW for the preceding twelve months are allowed to participate in the program as a contestable market or those electricity end-users who have a choice of supplier of electricity including renewable energy. “The policy puts a threshold on the number of electricity end-users that can immediately transition to RE. Electricity end-users having low power consumption but having the capacity to transition to RE cannot do so,” he said. Eng. Vitangcol further points out the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, (Republic Act No. 9513) being too developer centric as majority of the incentives to them and little left for electricity end-users who have the capability to establish RE sets in their own facilities. Incentives should be restructured and expanded to include electricity endusers who want to utilize their own RE infrastructures. Furthermore, PBEST proposes an amendment to the implementing rules and regulations of the RCOA accelerating the threshold timeline to 10 kW to 99 kW this year instead of waiting for another year to allow more industries to utilize RE. An example that Eng. Vitangcol cited was the RE generator sets provided by Globe which activated its facilities to provide internet connection to affected areas through its power modernization program. PBEST advocates the building of a robust and sustainable mix of energy supply that can tap into stored battery power from RE as an alternative source for telecommunications and disaster response scenarios when the electricity grid is down. With this in place, disaster response and recovery will definitely be more efficient, and more lives will be saved. As we will soon elect new leaders to govern another six-year political cycle, let is award this mandate to candidates that understand the interlinked dynamics of the environment, health, economy, and the value of harnessing science and technology as a rich and innovative toolbox for governance where the private sector is an indispensable and capable partner that shares the national interest of sustainable prosperity for the country.

Prettier in pink: Remaking Japan’s cherry blossom season By Hiroshi Hiyama JAPAN’S famed cherry blossom season blankets the country in the delicate white flowers of the prized and popular “someiyoshino” tree, delighting residents and visitors alike. But some want change. The season produces a nationwide frenzy, as forecasters compete to declare when full bloom will arrive, and Japanese unfurl picnic blankets for sometimes raucous flower-viewing parties—at least in pre-pandemic times. The blooms of the ubiquitous somei-yoshino strain, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the cherry trees planted in Japan, last only around a week and tend to emerge simultaneously in a given region because the trees are clones of a single specimen. And while the tree has become synonymous with blossom season, it is a growing headache for city planners because the strain is prone to disease and tends to grow too large to be well managed in urban settings. “It’s all about planting the right flora in the right place,” says Hideaki Tanaka, an expert on sakura—Japanese for cherry blossoms—who is trying to popularize other strains. “There are all kinds of sakura, not just somei-yoshino. I want to help recreate the

old times when people enjoyed a wide variety,” added Tanaka, 63. He runs a farm in Yuki, in eastern Japan’s Ibaraki prefecture, with around 1,000 sample trees of 400 cherry varieties. His goal is to convince local officials across Japan to consider alternatives with petals in all shades of pink, or even rare green. As Tanaka sits on the grass among his trees, nail-sized petals of pale pink flutter down in the gentle breeze, while elsewhere other flowers are still coming into bloom. It’s a scene more like the cherry blossom seasons Japanese enjoyed several centuries ago, with a range of blooms arriving at different times. Promoting diversity His farm is operated by the Flower Association of Japan, which gives cherry saplings to communities that want to create scenic spots to draw tourists and please residents. The farm has distributed about three million saplings, including somei-yoshino, but it is now promoting the “jindai-akebono” variety which is more resistant to infection and grows smaller, making it easier to prune. Its flowers bloom around four days earlier than somei-yoshino’s and are a stronger pink color. But convincing Japan to turn its back on the somei-yoshino strain may not be easy.

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EDITORIAL

The arrogance of authority

UBLIC officials often forget that they are supposed to serve the public, not threaten those who disagree with them.

Certainly, this must have been the case of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rey Bulay, who threatened “to call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines” to round up and jail anyone who suggested that the Comelec is biased or that it would cause election fraud. Bulay, appointed to the Comelec in November 2021, said he and his fellow commissioners were determined to conduct credible, peaceful and clean elections. “That’s why I am personally issuing this warning … and I will not think twice about filing cases against those of you who sow discord,” he said. Bulay’s outburst came after his fellow commissioner, Socorro Inting, criticized the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Alumni for Leni over its “unnecessary” call for honest and credible elections in May. “As commissioner of our poll body, I am ever conscious of this mandate. My colleagues in the commission en banc are likewise cognizant of this constitutional directive,” she said in a statement. “The appeal of AIM Alumni for

To be truly unbiased, these commissioners should appreciate the notion that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Leni calling for non-partisanship and for holding of orderly, peaceful, and credible elections on May 9, 2022 is therefore unnecessary as it tends to sow distrust on the integrity of the Comelec,” Inting said. “Casting aspersions on the Commission on Elections and its deputized agencies, without sufﬁcient basis, is the last thing we need now, more so that we are already in the homestretch of the campaign,” she said. Then, reading words that were not in the document, she said the appeal “subtly conditions the minds of Filipinos that the upcoming elections is not credible should Vice President Leni Robredo

lose in the presidential race.” Oddly enough, we did not see Bulay or Inting complain when the chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms recently questioned the integrity of the Comelec’s computerized voting system and its information technology provider. Certainly, these accusations were equally if not more damaging to the Comelec’s credibility, yet neither commissioner spoke out. Would not the doubts cast on the computerized voting system not also be construed as “subtly conditioning the minds of Filipinos” that if the elections did not go a certain way, they were not credible? To be truly unbiased, these commissioners should appreciate the notion that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Moreover, Commissioner Bulay needs to be reminded that Section 4 of our Bill of Rights reads: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” The Comelec may have control over the military during the election period, but the commissioner is sadly mistaken if he believes he also has the authority to suspend the Constitution and throw out our Bill of Rights.

When the hunter becomes the hunted AS A senator who’s known for launching congressional investigations on matters concerning anomalous transactions involving government funds and officials, Richard Gordon has become a household name as an anti-corruption crusader. However, if we are to believe President Rodrigo Duterte, Gordon, who is seeking a reelection this coming May 9, is nothing but another holier-than-thou legislator who could be equally guilty as the ones he is investigation According to Duterte, Gordon is fond of wearing a Rolex watch the cost of which range from P500,000 to P5 million. Duterte also alleged Gordon maintains a fleet of luxury vehicles including a Cadillac Escalade SUV which reportedly costs about P17 million. Gordon is also said to own several condominium units in Pacific Plaza in BGC, Taguig. The cost of a condo unit in Pacific Plaza BGC can range between P90 million all the way up to P250 million. One of his condo units is now used by his daughter. So, where does Gordon source his funds to afford such a luxurious lifestyle as alleged by the President? According to Duterte, Gordon has yet to return the disallowed funds worth P86 million, which he incurred when he was still SBMA chairman. The President furthers Gordon to be allegedly involved in several anomalies including allegations that he pocketed P8 million worth of pork barrel funds. The so-called pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles has earlier revealed that she gave P8 million to Gordon for his 2010 campaign funds, and that the money was delivered to his condo 36-C, South Garden

The season produces a nationwide frenzy. As urban development swept the country from the 1950s to 1980s, cities competed to plant countless millions of fast-growing somei-yoshino trees. Decades on, many of those trees have not been properly pruned, leaving them vulnerable to an infection called “witch’s broom” that deforms twigs, discourages ﬂowering and can kill the trees. Somei-yoshino also grows large—as high as ﬁve-storey buildings in some cases—with sprawling branches stretching from enormous trunks that can develop hollows, and bulky roots that can crack pavements.

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Unit in Paciﬁc Plaza. I really appreciate Gordon’s probe on anomalous government transactions, especially the most recent one on Pharmally. In fact, I have been egging him to effect the arrest warrant the Senate issued against former Pharmally executive Rose Nono Lin but with such accusations coming from no less than the President, it has become imperative he clears his name on those matters. From being a hunter, he has now emerged as the one being hunted.

He should be aware that for someone who is out on a cleansing act, should come with clean hands himself. The principle of the Clean Hands Doctrine. On the Easter Sunday presscon I was supposed to write my take on the press conference conducted by three presidential candidates—Senator Ping Lacson, former Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Mayor Isko Domagoso—last Easter Sunday. But then, my partner in my radio program, Jenni Munar, shared with me her reaction, which I decided to use instead as not only I deem it is a sound analysis, but it also bears the same analysis as I have. Here’s Jenni’s take on the trio’s press brieﬁng: The recent Easter presscon was not even worth mentioning, for as you can see they are only attacking fellow candidates and presenting themselves as alternate candidates. The statements given by the participants are conﬂicting as well, so why waste your time? But, as always, the Chameleons (from Yellow to Pink) are changing the nar-

ratives whether they don’t understand or just want to capture their desired “soundbites.” Nevertheless, what’s new? In a gist, they issued caution that if BBM wins there would be chaos and one even said that he can’t believe that there are more than 50 percent loyalists in this Country. For one, those who are rooting for BBM are just disappointed that after 36 years we are stuck in reverse, we are getting worse, those who are rooting for BBM saw that life was far better during the Marcos years and you can’t blame them. So more than 50 percent just wanted to have a new kind of leadership. Second, enough saying that they are only attacking Leni, it may sound that way but look deeper beyond their action, those who attended are lagging behind the survey. One presented as an alternative, while one who gets only .001 percentage has the guts to warn us, and tell us to be more cautious. For me, in short, the presscon simply conﬁrmed that they accepted that the Presidential Survey may be True, even though they reverberate it’s not. This election is not all about Marcos and the Yellow/Pink gang. This is more about our country, our future … By the way, enough saying that BBM doesn’t have any platforms, if you listen to him, his platforms are very realistic and can uplift our present condition, while the other one promises to give jobs to everyone, free hospitalization etc. etc. (which entails a lot of cost and all of which are just promises, it’s easier to say those things than do it, for the love of me I can’t fathom how she will do it). Am sure a lot are already very sure whom he/she wanted to support (no need to berate those who are rooting for BBM, for it won’t work). This election divides us, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what is good for this country. Pause for a while, open your mind, stop spreading “false news and narratives.” Think beyond what is presented and pray for discernment.

Older trees are at risk during the country’s typhoon season, giving city planners plenty of reasons to consider replacing them. But residents are less convinced. ‘Green shoots of feeling’ In western Tokyo’s Kunitachi, it has taken officials three decades to remove around 80 of the approximately 210 trees that have been designated as needing to be felled or replaced. The trees formed an elegant floral tunnel every spring and residents wanted to keep them, said Ryusuke Endo, an official at the city’s roads and traffic division. “Some people moved here to enjoy them and bought apartments along the street,” he said, describing locals as emotionally attached to the trees. Elsewhere, efforts in Yokohama to axe around 300 cherry trees along a busy street

caused public outcry and made television news. In Kunitachi, ofﬁcials have started planting the jindai-akebono variety promoted by Tanaka’s farm, and residents are starting to embrace the new arrivals. “I believe green shoots of feeling are emerging among residents who are starting to see that they too are very beautiful,” Endo said. But Tanaka said even diversity evangelists like him are convinced the somei-yoshino will never be dethroned as Japan’s sakura king. Instead, he hopes to encourage people to “learn about the profound diversity of cherry trees”. “The somei-yoshino will always be the main draw for cherry viewing. I want to help communities create other places where people can enjoy all kinds of cherry varieties.” AFP

Someone who is out on a cleansing act should come with clean hands himself.

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Aussie official accuses China of paying bribes to win deals AUSTRALIA’S defense minister on Sunday accused China of paying bribes for international deals but refused to say whether corruption played a role in Beijing’s newly signed defence pact with the Solomon Islands. Peter Dutton made the allegations as his conservative government faced questions in the run-up to May 21 general elections about how China apparently outmanoeuvred Australia by securing the agreement. The deal shocked the Solomon Islands’ traditional allies Australia and the United States, which fear it may give China a military foothold in the South Pacific less than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Australia’s coast. “The Chinese don’t play by our rules,” Dutton said. “If you look at what has happened in Africa, there are corrupt payments be-

ing made,” he told Sky News Australia. “We can never compete with that sort of playbook. We have values and we have the rule of law that we abide by.” Asked specifically if he believed corrupt payments were made to forge China’s deal with the Solomon Islands, which was announced by Beijing on April 19, the minister said he could not comment. “The reality is that China has changed,” he added. “China’s incredibly aggressive acts of foreign interference, the preparedness to pay bribes to beat other countries to deals: that’s the reality of modern China.” A draft of the pact shocked countries in the region when it was leaked last month, particularly measures that would allow Chinese naval deployments to the Solomons. AFP

THE COLORS OF PROTEST. People attend the Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2022 Parade in Tokyo on April 24, 2022, to show support for members of the LGBT community. AFP

Top US officials, Zelensky st to meet in 1 wartime visit CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 212, MANDALUYONG CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OF THE OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY OF TCT NO. 177557 REY IGNACIO M. DIAZ and JACINTO T. UY, represented by REY IGNACIO M. DIAZ, Petitioners, -versus-

R-MND-20-01854-LR

SPOUSES RICARDO and GILDA VILLABONA and The Register of Deeds for Mandaluyong City. Respondents. x---------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

Filed to this court on September 27, 2021 is Petitioners’ AMENDED PETITION For Partition and Cancellation of Owners Duplicate Copy of TCT No. 177557 by counsel. In the Order dated March 18, 2022, the court admitted the instant Amended Petition after finding it in order. In their Amended Petition, petitioners REY IGNACIO M. DIAZ and JACINTO T. UY allege the following Petitioner Rey Ignacio M. Diaz, is of legal age, married, Filipino citizen and with office address at Moldex Building, No. 3 Ligaya t. corner West Avenue, West Triangle. Quezon City while petitioner Jacinto T. Uy is also of legal age, widower, Filipino citizen and with the same office address as above-stated. He is represented by his co-petitioner and duly authorized Attorney-in-Fact, Rey Ignacio M. Diaz, pursuant to and by virtue of Special Power of Attorney (SPA). Petitioners may be served with summons and other processes through their counsel of record at their given address indicated hereinbelow.

comment on the highly sensitive trip by two of President he United States’ top diplomat and Republic of the Philippines Joe Biden’s top cabinet members. Regional Trial Court defense chief were Sunday set to comes NationalTheir Capitalvisit Judicial Regionas Russian forces show no sign of easmake their first wartime visits to ing their attacks and after a missile strike on the southern Quezon City, Metro Manila Branch 223 that Ukraine said killed eight people, includcity of Odessa Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine two ing an infant. months ago, with fierce battles raging IN THE MATTER OF THE WILL ANDin “Among those killed was a three-month-old baby girl. TESTAMENT OF EMMANUEL KENNETH How did she threaten Russia? It seems that killing children the east of the country. F. VELASCO

The trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and De- is just a new national idea of the Russian Federation,” ZelSPEC. PRO. CASE NO. R-QZN-22-00810-SP fense Secretary Lloyd Austin comes as the war enters its ensky said. He also accused Russia of being a terrorist state and of third month with thousands dead and millions displaced. ATTY. ARNEL P. KHO, A series of European leaders have already travelled acting like Nazis in the shattered port city of Mariupol, Petitioner. x-------------------------------------------x to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and un- which has been devastated by weeks of intense bombardORDER derscore their support, but the United States – a leading ment. This is a verified Petition for Probate of the Last Will Testament thecrimes Late Emmanuel F. Velasco “Newand facts aboutofthe of the Kenneth occupiers against our donor of finance and weaponry – has yet to send any top dated February 3, 2022, and which was received by this Court on February 9, 2022. Mariupol residents are being revealed. New graves of peoofficials. killed by the occupiers are being(Testator”) found. executed We are atalking In his daily video addressThe Saturday Zelensky saidof hisple Petitioner night, alleges that to the best knowledge, Emmanuel Kenneth F. Valasco L:ast Will and Testament (“Will”)talks sometime of which was sent to him through Viber residents,” Message; about2021, tensa copy of thousands of dead Mariupol he he was preparing for “tomorrow’s important withon August that to the best of his knowledge, Testator died on September 27, 2021, as evidenced by a certified true copy of his said. AFP American partners.” The State Department declined to Certificate of Death issued by the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City; that at the time of his death, Testator was a

VOTING FOR HIS FUTURE. A man

casts his vote for the second round of France’s presidential election at a polling station in La Possession on the French Indian ocean Petitioners are considered as the absolute and exclusive owners of all the island of La Reunion, rights interest and participation of respondent Ricardo Villabona to the parcel of land covered by TCT No.177577 of the Mandaluyong City, Registry of Deeds, on April 24, 2022. The together with the improvements constructed thereon, by virtue of being the buyers of the said property in a public auction conducted in accordance with French will choose, as in law as evidenced by a Certificate of Sale dated 06 July 2012 and annotated on 2017, between France’s TCT No. 177577 as Entry No. 2012002752 on 11 July 2012. President and La Sans redemption of the auctioned property, the RTC of Quezon City Branch 92 issued an Order dated 25 October 2016,confirming the consolidated of Republique en Marche title and ownership over the property with all the improvements and buildings thereon in the name of petitioners. Despite demand, theManila respondents as (LREM) candidate registered owners reflected in TCT No. 177577 failed to surrender the Standard for re-election owner’s copy of said TCT No. 177577 in their possession to enable the RD of TODAY Mandaluyong City to cancel the same and issue a new one in the names of the Emmanuel Macron petitioners and the remaining co-owner respondent Gilda Villabona. and France’s far-right To petitioners’ knowledge, except for respondent Gilda Villabona who as stated is a registered co-owner of the subject property, there are no other party Rassemblement persons or entities who are interested in the parcel of land covered by TCT National’s (RN) No. 177577. presidential candidate Petitioners have no knowledge and/or information of any encumbrance whatsoever affecting the parcel of land covered by TCT No. 177577. Which Marine Le Pen. AFP have been previously executed or is now pending registration in the RD of

resident of 38 Rosa Alvero, Brgy. Loyola Heights, Quezon City; that the original copy of the Will was delivered to him by Mr. Benjamin F. Velasco; that a perusal of the Will, particularly item 3 thereof, shows that the Testator instructed the Petitioner to dispose of his personal investments and give from the rental or proceeds from sale of his personal investments to the following legatees: Legatees

Respondent Spouses Ricardo and Gilda Villabona are both of legal age. Filipino citizens and with common postal address at No.434 B. Francisco Street, 1550 Mandaluyong City where they may be served with summons and other processes of this court while respondent Register of Deeds for Mandaluyong City, is being impleaded as a nominal party in this case and may be served with summons and other processes at its office address at the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong, Manaloto Building Boni Avenue Mandaluyong City.

Mandaluyong City. The original copy of TCT No. 177577 remains intact and on file with the RD of Mandaluyong City. Petitioners as co-owners of the parcel of land presently covered by TCT No. 177577 also have the right to compel the partition of said parcel of land. Petitioner Rey Ignacio M. Diaz would be presented as a witness to prove the foregoing allegations and petitioners’ entitlement to the reliefs prayed for. The Judicial Affidavit of petitioner Rey Ignacio M. Diaz is attached and made an integral part of the instant Amended Petition.

Petitioners pray that this court, after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered (i) ordering that the parcel of land presently covered by TCT No. 177577 be partitioned between petitioners and respondent Gilda Villabona in such part and proportion of the property as said parties may hereafter agree upon; (ii) alternatively and should the parties be unable to agree to make the partition among themselves ordering the appointment of a commissioner/s to make the partition; (iii) in either case, ordering the respondents to share in such costs and expenses to give validity and effect to the partition; (iv) ordering the respondents Ricardo and Gilda Villabona to deliver, produce and surrender the Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT No. 177577 issued by the RD of Mandaluyong City to the said office and upon receipt thereof directing the same office to cancel said TCT No. 177577 and issue new separate titles in lieu thereof in the names of petitioners and respondent Gilda Villabona and (v) in the alternative and should the respondents fail to deliver, produce and surrender TCT No. 177577 as aforestated, a Judgment be issued declaring said owner’s duplicate copy of TCT No. 177577 as null and void and ordering the RD of Mandaluyong City to cancel the same and issue new separate titles in lieu thereof in the names of the petitioners and respondent Gilda Villabona. After a careful evaluation of the instant Amended Petition as well as the supporting documents attached thereto, the court finds the sufficient in form and substance. ACCORDINGLY, let the instant Amended Petition be set for hearing on May 19, 2022 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this court located at the 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Building, Mandaluyong City Hall, Mandaluyong City, on which date, time, and place, Petitiioners shall appear and prove their Petition and that all persons having any opposition thereto may appear and show cause, if any, why the present Petition shall not be granted. MOREOVER, let this Order be published once at the expense of Petitioners in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, the same to be raffled at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City. FURTHER, let copies of this Order be posted at the main entrance of Mandaluyong City Hall Building at the bulletin board of New Hall of Justice Building and the Barangay Hall where the subject property is located for a period of thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date of hearing. FINALLY, Petitioners are directed to cause the service of this Order together with a copy of the instant Amended Petition and all its annexes upon the following government agencies Register of Deeds, Mandaluyong City; Commissioner, Land, Quezon City; Director, Land Management Bureau, Quezon City; Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City; Office of the City Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City; and the Office of the Legal Department, Mandaluyong City.

(MS-APRIL 11/18/25, 2022)

Testator’s Brothers

Amount Php 1,000,000.00 Php 3,000,000.00 Proceeds from the sale of Testator’s interest in Palawan Property Balance of the proceeds from the sale of Testator’s personal real estate investments

The petitioner likewise alleges that to the best of his knowledge, Testator’s brothers are Benjamin and Emmanuel Hugh F. Velasco; that to the best of his knowledge, the only surviving heirs of Testator are his father, Emmanuel T. Velasco, and his mother, Gloria F. Velasco (collectively referred to hereinafter “Heirs”); that to the best of his knowledge and information, none of the Legatees, Testator’s Brother and / or the Heirs have presented and/or filed any petition to probate the Will of Testator before any competent court and/or applied for any letters of administration, and/or settlement of the estate of Testator in accordance with the Will; that to the best of his knowledge, the addresses of the Legatees, Testator’s Brothers and Heirs are: Name A.

Legatees/Testator’s Brothers

1. 2. 3.

Gerry Sy-Quia Lorelie Realingo Marlon Pedregoso

4. 5.

Emmanuel Hugh F. Velasco Benjamin F. Valasco

Heirs

1. 2.

Emmanuel T. Valasco Gloria F. Velasco

Residence

8232 Avocado St., Marcelo Green Village, Parañaque City 12C Flerida St., Acacia, Malabon City 31-A East Tower, The Beaufort, 5th Avenue, corner 23rd Streets, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 17 Regidor St., Varsity Hills, Subdivision, Quezon City 2 King Pin St., Vermont Royale, Mayamot, Antipolo City

38 Rosa Alvero, Brgy. Loyola Heights, Quezon City 38 Rosa Alvero, Brgy. Loyola Heights, Quezon City

NORTH Korea’s state media boasted Sunday try’s military achievements, from its battles further alleges that to theinvincible best of his knowledge Testator left the following against and the information, United States in the 1950-53 Korean that The its petitioner armed forces had “gained properties, which may be disposed of and/or used to honor the wishes of Testator: power” under leader Kim Jong Un as it pre- War to smaller conflicts. “All the people of the country are looking paresReal forProperties: a major army holiday that analysts say could be marked with a military parade or major back deeply on the history of the 100 victories weaponsNature test. Condominium T a x Locationof Tour o t arevolutionary l A s s e s s e d Marmed a r k eforces,” t North Korea on Certificate Monday celebrates the 90th it said. A r e a Value Per Value Per of Declaration (CCT) No.of theNo. (SQM) (Php) TD (Php) The report added TD Kim had further propelled anniversary of the Title founding Korean People’s Revolutionary Army and the nuclear- the country’s military might with his “genius 1. Condominium 18368 militaryTDparades No. EB- inUnitmilitary 115, ideology, 42 419,840.00 military 699,730.00 armed country has staged excellent command Unit 011-02585 R o sand e w unparalleled ood the past to mark key holidays. courage and guts.” Condominium. Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozenU s u “Our s a n ,revolutionary armed forces have gained weapons tests this year, including firing an in-Taguig invincible power that the world cannot ignore,” City tercontinental ballistic missile at full range for it said, in an42apparent reference to the North’s 2. Condominium 18370 TD No. EB- Unit 116, 419,840.00 699,730.00 the first time Unit since 2017. 011-02586 R o snuclear e w o o darsenal. A report by the North’s official Korean Cen-Condominium, North Korea had been widely expected to u s a n , its military strength to mark the 110th tral News Agency listed the history of the coun-U s showcase Taguig City anniversary of the birth of its founding leader 3. Condominium 27193 TD No. Eb- Parking Area 12.50 32,000.00 80,000.00 and Kim’s grandfather Kim Il Sung on April 15, Unit 011-10667 Rosewood but instead, the day was celebrated with a civilCondominium, AFP U s ian u s parade. a n ,

RESCUERS said Sunday they had found nine people, most of them unresponsive, from a boat that sank off Japan’s northern coast with 26 on board a day earlier. “As of 11 a.m. (0200GMT), coastguard aircraft have rescued four people, local police aircraft rescued four people and a Self Defense Force aircraft rescued one person from waters or rocky coastal areas,” Japan’s coastguard Manila said in a press release. Earlier, local officials and media TODAY said those retrieved so far were unresponsive, though the exact condition of all nine was not immediately clear. Those rescued so far were being taken to medical facilities, with national broadcaster NHK showing at least one person on a stretcher being moved by rescue workers from a helicopter to an ambulance. Search and rescue operations were continuing for others still missing from the Kazu I, which sent a distress signal at 1:13 p.m. (0413 GMT) on Saturday saying it was sinking in the frigid waters off Japan’s northeastern coast. The sightseeing boat with 24 passengers, including two children, and two crew on board said its bow was flooded. AFP

Standard

Beijing says brace for ‘grim’ situation

UN chief discusses Jerusalem tensions

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres discussed the ongoing flare-up of tensions around Jerusalem’s holy sites in separate calls Saturday with the Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president. In statements released after both calls, the UN said Guterres discussed “efforts to lower tensions, end provocations and unilateral steps, and restore calm.” More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been wounded over the past week in clashes in and around the Al-Aqsa compound, a holy site for both Muslims and Jews. Palestinians have been outraged by a massive Israeli police deployment and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site, which is governed through a tenuous power-sharing agreement. Guterres “reiterated that the status quo at the Holy Sites must be upheld and respected,” both statements read. AFP

Taguig City

Cash in Bank

FERVENT PRAYER. The faithful pray in

front of Sao Jorge During Sao Jorge’s Savings and Current Accounts with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company in the totalChurch amount of Php 1,279,646.20 (Saint9,George) celebrations in Porto as of September 27, 2021, as shown by a Bank Certification dated Day December 2021.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines. March 25, 2022

Alegre, Brazil, on April 23, 2021. AFP

The petitioner prays of this Honorable Court, that after notice and publication, (i) the Last Will and Testament of Testator Emmanuel Kenneth F. Velasco be probated, particularly item 3 of the Will; and (ii) petitioner Atty. Arnel P. Kho be appointed as executor and administrator with respect to item 3 of the subject Will of Testator.

(Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge Copy Furnished:

Wherefore, finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is set fore hearing on July 29, 2022 at 8:30 in the morning, Session Hall of Branch 223 of this Court, at which date and time, petitioner and counsel are directed to appear to substantiate the allegations of the petition and for any interested persons may appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

ATTY. JOWEL T. CLOMA Counsel for the Petitioner 3rd Floor, Moldex Building, Ligaya St., Corner West Avenue West Triangle, Quezon City REGISTER OF DEED Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong

Let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation to be selected by raffle pursuant to Section 3 of Rule 76 of the Rules of Court, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing.

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR Hall of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle Mandaluyong City

Let a copy of this Order together with copies of the Petition and its annexes be furnished upon the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, who are directed to file their opposition to the petition within fifteen (15) days from the last date of publication of this Order.

COMMISSIONER, LAND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY Quezon City SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES Quezon City DIRECTOR, LAND MANAGEMENT BUREAU Manila

SO ORDERED. Given in Chambers. Quezon City, Philippines, March 30, 2022.

OFFICE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT Mandaluyong City Hall, Mandaluyong City OCC-RTC MANDALUYONG CITY RTCU/vbp civil

9 found from boat that sank in Japan

SHANGHAI reported 39 COVID deaths Sunday, official data showed, its highest daily toll since a weeks-long lockdown started, while China’s capital Beijing warned of a “grim” situation with rising infections. The world’s second-largest economy has been struggling to stamp out its worst COVID-19 outbreak in two years with a playbook of harsh lockdowns and mass testing as it sticks to a strict zero-COVID policy, taking a heavy toll on businesses and public morale. The cosmopolitan business hub of Shanghai has been almost entirely locked down since the start of the month, snarling supply chains, with many residents confined to their homes for even longer as it became the epicenCYAN MAGENTA YEL ter of the outbreak. China’s biggest city only announced its first fatalities on April 18, despite reporting thousands of cases each day in recent weeks. It reported 39 more deaths on Sunday, National Health Commission data showed, bringing its total toll to 87, while the country logged nearly 22,000 new local virus cases. Shanghai’s previous highest daily toll since lockdown was 12, reported a day earlier. The city of 25 million has struggled to provide fresh food to those confined at home, while patients have reported trouble accessing regular medical care as thousands of health staff were deployed for COVID testing and treatment. AFP

North Korea boasts of ‘invincible power’

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late TIC CHING CHU GO has been extra-judicially settled among his heirs WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS consisting of cash deposits in MBTC Tacloban Rizal Ave. Branch. As per Apostille No. 99741 before Notary Public ANDREA JAFFIER (California Ventura County); Doc. No. 250; Page No. 50; Book No. I; Series of 2022 before Notary Public ATTY. ELISEO S. CALMA, JR (Quezon City); Doc. No. 183; Page No. 38; Book No. LXXII; Series of 2022 before Notary Public ATTY. CARLOS ALLAN F. CARDENAS (Mandaue City); Doc. No. 77; Page No. 17; Book No. III; Series of 2022 before Notary Public ATTY. JANN CLAUDINE M. AMAGO (Tacloban City).

Gerry Sy-Quia Lorelie Realingo Marlon Pedregosa

IN BRIEF

(MStandard - Apr. 25, 2022)

Date of Third Publication: April 25, 2022

CMWL/mcc SPEC. PRO. CASE NO. R-QZN-22-00810-SP/Initial Order Copy furnished: The City Prosecutor’s Office

(Sgd.) HON. CARIDAD M. WALSE-LUTERO Presiding Judge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Emmanuel Hugh F. Velasco

Business Another way in every way: Being creative in diversity

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

China’s lockdown, rate hike fears worry market I

OVER the past several decades, corporations have put a lot of effort into being inclusive of all people. KALEENA There can be a great deal of tension coming next month to curb the inflation country’s gross domestic product target By Jenniffer B. Austria SANTILLAN and stress in the workplace; emrate. to 6.5 percent from 6.3 percent. ployees will feel much less driven Three sectoral indices closed in the “As the US Fed rate hikes and global due to their experiences within the NVESTORS at the trade uncertainties remain dominating, green. Mining and oil rose 3.6 percent; business, which will ultimately Philippine Stock we expect resistance at 7,000 levels financials advanced 1.9 percent; and lead to the demise of one’s firm. However, there will be many adjustments as we above,” online brokerage firm UTrade services climbed 1.6 percent. Exchange are expected learn to nurture empathy in ourselves and others, particularly for leaders who comThe industrial index declined 2.2 perInc. said in its weekly report. prehend their people and get to know them better rather than simply influencing to opt for range-bound Luis Limlingan, head of sales of Re- cent; property fell 0.3 percent; and holdand persuading them. Leaders must maintain their impact in establishing a congina Capital Development Corp., said ing firms dropped 0.2 percent. trading as inflation fears structive work environment and a diverse range of beliefs within the firm, which Weekly top price gainers include investors are also concerned the lockwill continue to weigh will assist employees in improving their expertise and broadening their horizons. down in China could temper profitabil- Nickel Asia Corp., which surged 9.8 Being diverse in the workplace is one of the most positive perceptions a comdown investor sentiments. percent to P8.37; Emperador Inc., ity of some of listed companies. pany can have, providing their employees with fair compensation and the best Analysts said the continued increase Meanwhile, investors will be moni- which climbed 7.2 percent to P18.34; possible care. Initiating diversity initiatives, whether it’s offering more essentials in oil prices and the supply chain dis- toring the release of first-quarter earn- and Wilcon Depot Inc., which advanced for their employees, supporting them with the assistance they require, or deliverruptions caused by China’s COVID-19 ings report of listed companies as they 6.8 percent to P28.30. ing workshops or seminars, will be advantageous for its sustainable future. These lockdown are affecting the prices of could provide a clue and outlook on Weekly top losers were GMA Netinitiatives have, without a doubt, increased the motivation of its members to learn commodities that will lead to higher in- how firms will perform this year. work Inc., which sank 11.4 percent to more about their work and realize their full potential. Furthermore, leaders must flation and eventually increased interest ThePhilippine Stock Exchange In- P14.10; Manila Electric Co., which introduce their staff to various work environments to uncover their maximum porates. dex added 0.2 percent to 6,998.59 amid dropped 6.1 percent to P340; and Unitential as individuals and as employees. The US Federal Reserve last week optimism on the economy after the In- versal Robina Corp., which declined 5.2 Defined as the surroundings we are constantly surrounded by, a healthy work signaled that bigger rate hikes may be ternational Monetary Fund raised the percent to P111.40. With AFP culture may benefit all. A work environment is the collection of universal interests, cultural beliefs, behaviors and conceptual frameworks that employees in an organization have in common. Personal development, as well as interpersonal circumFARMERS’ stances, influences this. The power structure and successful management orientaPROTEST. tions and maintenance, on the other hand, have a significant impact on workspace Farmers and ethos in a professional setting. A strong organizational culture leads to efficacy, rural workers elevates the spirit, improves production and reliability, and enhances the probabiltake part ity of employees remaining with the company. in a protest organized by Furthermore, perhaps most crucially, a pleasant workplace culture helps people the agricultural feel less stressed. For workers to expand as individuals and develop new capabilisector against ties or interests within a particular field, it would be immensely beneficial for them economic to be subjected to various work environments. Leaders must encourage their staff policies of to think and work outside the box to realize their tendency and deal with difficult Argentine situations at work. President The company believes that they have many bright and intellectual copywriters. Alberto They further develop their workers’ abilities and extend their perspectives on their Fernandez’s work. Seminars for those authors and delving into numerous sectors of writing can government, in be beneficial. Also, new workers must get to know the organization and its work Buenos Aires, on April 23, culture to acquire a better understanding of the corporation. 2022. AFP Individuals are more empowered to pursue their abilities and expertise in an increasingly multicultural company. Having a varied set of possibilities and experiences allows people involved to acquire a broader group of partners. This could also improve problem-solving skills and enhance gratification and efficient performance in the workplace. A culture of invention and motivation is a powerful force for corporate achievement when it exists in a workplace where all people are empowered. For purposes of the meeting, the Board of Directors has set We are not soliciting your proxy. However, if you are TO: ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF GMA NETWORK, INC. A decent workplace is highly productive since April 27, 2022 as the record date for the determination of unable to attend the meeting but would like to be it boosts employees’ effects and overall pleasant stockholders entitled to notice, to participate, and to vote represented thereat, you may accomplish the sample Please be notified that the Annual Meeting conditions. As a result, workers’ interactions are in absentia, at such meeting and any adjournment thereof. proxy form attached as Annex “C” and “D” of the Notice of the Stockholders of GMA Network, Inc. strengthened, and their capabilities and inventiveof the Meeting. Stockholders who wish to appoint a proxy (the “Company”) will be held on May 18, 2022 ness are enhanced. Pressure is mitigated, so workDue to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company will be should submit advance electronic copies of their duly (Wednesday) at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom application ers’ ability to recover from troubles is improved. conducting the annual stockholders’ meeting via remote accomplished forms during registration and must send the through https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85298995357 Their wellness is improved. communication. The conduct of the annual stockholders’ originals on or before 3:00 p.m. of May 6, 2022 at the Office to consider, discuss or vote on the following: meeting including the attendance and participation thereto of the Corporate Secretary at 15/F Sagittarius Building, Associates are drawn to these workplaces will be through Zoom application. H.V. De la Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati not later 1. Call to Order and foster their loyalty to management and than May 6, 2022, for validation purposes. Any stockholder 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum the corporation while generating their most Stockholders of record who intend to attend and may vote by proxy provided that such authorization 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ significant characteristics. Developing conparticipate via remote communication and/or vote in remains unrevoked and on file with, or is submitted to, the Meeting Held on May 19, 2021 and the Minutes structive and beneficent mindsets help firms absentia shall notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary undersigned at the said address. of the Special Stockholders’ Meeting Held on enhance organizational performance. In this by email to GMA2022ASM@gmanetwork.com beginning December 9, 2021 way, the artistic and cultural dimensions of April 27, 2022 until May 6, 2022 and shall register in A video and audio recording of the Annual Stockholders’ 4. Annual Report of the Chairman and integral human development are tightly interaccordance with the procedure set forth in the attached Meeting will be available ten (10) days after the meeting Chief Executive Officer twined because they cultivate and strengthen Procedure for Registration, Participation and Attendance and the recording shall be available for access by 5. Financial Report employees’ abilities by immersing them in a in the Meeting by Remote Communication and Procedure the stockholder within thirty (30) days from posting 6. Ratification of the Acts of the Board of Directors, for Voting in Absentia (Annex “A” of the Notice of Meeting date, subject to the stockholder’s compliance with the variety of activities that are both rewarding Executive Committee and Corporate Officers attached to the DIS). All information to be submitted as requirements set forth in Annex “A” of the Notice of the 7. Approval of the Meritorious Justifications for the and beneficial. required under Annex “A” shall be subject to verification Meeting attached to the DIS. Retention of Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban and Cultural initiatives add artistic inclinations to and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Upon Dr. Jaime C. Laya as Independent Directors the workplace, as leaders encourage their staff successful registration, the meeting link will be sent to the For complete information on the annual meeting, kindly 8. Election of Directors (including the Independent Directors) to experiment with diverse areas of work while participant/stockholder. visit: www.gmanetwork.com/asm2022 through the QR Code 9. Election of the External Auditor guiding the way. This type of good culture in provided hereunder. 10. Consideration of such other business as may properly the workplace encourages employees to take Voting for matters to be submitted for approval, including come before the meeting proper care of one another while fostering betthe election of directors, shall be made in absentia 11. Adjournment For the Board of Directors ter relationships inside the firm itself. through a secure online voting facility. Once duly

Green Light

GMA NETWORK, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at kaleena_santillan@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

Indonesia announces ban on palm oil exports JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia will ban exports of palm oil starting this week, its president said Friday, as the world’s biggest producer faces a shortage of cooking oil made from the product. The Southeast Asian archipelago has been running low on palm-based cooking oil since November as producers turn to exports to cash in on an increase in prices around the world. Authorities now fear the scarcity and soaring prices could provoke social tensions and have moved to secure supplies. “The government will prohibit the export of raw materials for cooking oil and cooking oil itself... until a deadline to be determined later,” President Joko Widodo said in a statement. “I will continue to monitor and evaluate the implementation of this policy so that cooking oil in the country is abundant at affordable prices,” he added. Officials introduced limited curbs on palm oil exports in January, capped prices, and announced cash subsidies for some Indonesians to compensate for rising food prices. But the commodity continued to become harder to find at markets and grocery stores, with long queues appearing at many locations. AFP

A brief description of each item is summarized under Annex “A” of this Notice. Moreover, the rationale for each agenda item including the requirements and procedure for nomination and election of Directors is set forth in detail under Annex “B” of the Notice of the Meeting attached to the Definitive Information Statement (“DIS”). The DIS, the Management Report, and the Annual Report may be viewed at and downloaded from www. gmanetwork.com/asm2022.

registered, the stockholder may vote in absentia on or before May 16, 2022 in accordance with the procedure set forth in Annex “A” and in the Information Statement. In order to allow time to validate the votes, the deadline to cast votes shall be on or before May 16, 2022. Votes submitted after May 16, 2022 will no longer be included in the tabulation of the total votes cast for each of the items in the Agenda.

ANNEX “A” BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The annual report of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer is made part of the Agenda in order to inform the stockholders of the Company’s ratings and financial performance during the previous year and to adhere to the principles of transparency and good corporate governance. The annual report also contains the Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the year ended December 31, 2021, which were audited by Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.), and reviewed and approved by the Audit and Risk Management Committee and subsequently by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 25, 2022. Stockholders may request for a hard or soft copy of the 2021 Annual Report through GMA2022ASM@gmanetwork.com. The Annual Report is also posted on the Company’s website.

CALL TO ORDER The Chairman will call the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. on May 18, 2022. CERTIFICATION OF NOTICE AND QUORUM The Corporate Secretary will certify that a written notice for the meeting was duly sent to stockholders and that a quorum exists for the transaction of business. Kindly see Procedure for Registration, Participation, and Attendance in the GMA Annual Stockholders’ Meeting 2022 by Remote Communication and Procedure for Voting in Absentia, under Annex “A” of the Notice of the Meeting contained in the DIS. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING HELD ON MAY 19, 2021 AND THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 9, 2021 The approval of the minutes of the previous year’s Annual Stockholders’ Meeting and Special Stockholders’ Meeting is made part of the agenda for transparency and in order to comply with the requirements of the Company’s By-laws, the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 11232), as well as the pertinent rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The draft of the minutes of the annual stockholders’ meeting held on May 19, 2021 and draft of the minutes of the special stockholders’ meeting held on December 9, 2021 are posted on the Company’s website and attached as Annexes “I” and “I-1” of the DIS. These minutes are subject to stockholders’ approval during this year’s meeting.

FINANCIAL REPORT The Company’s financial performance during the year 2021 has been detailed in the Audited Financial Statements (AFS) of the Company which were reviewed in audit by the Company’s independent external auditor. The AFS have been reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors, as recommended by the Audit and Risk Management Committee. The Company’s 2021 AFS is attached as Annex “G” of the DIS. RATIFICATION OF THE ACTS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CORPORATE OFFICERS The Acts of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Corporate Officers taken or adopted since the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on May 19, 2021, until May 18, 2022 were duly deliberated upon prior to their approval and were conducted in the Company’s ordinary course of business. The aforementioned acts of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Corporate Officers, including the approval of the amendments and corrections to the By-laws, are submitted for approval to

ANNA TERESA M. GOZON-VALDES Corporate Secretary

the stockholders in compliance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, as well as pertinent rules and regulations of the SEC. APPROVAL OF THE MERITORIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE RETENTION OF CHIEF JUSTICE ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN AND DR. JAIME C. LAYA AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS On March 25, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company provided meritorious reasons for the retention of Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban and Dr. Jaime Laya as Independent Directors, subject to the stockholders’ approval at the May 18, 2022 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting. The meritorious reasons for their recommended retention are set forth as Annex “B-1” of the Notice of the Meeting attached to the DIS. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The incumbent Directors have been recommended by the Company’s Nomination Committee for re-election. On the basis of the nominated directors’ proven track record as shown by the results of the Company’s performance and after review of their qualifications, the said Directors were recommended for re-election by the Nomination Committee. Their appointment is submitted for approval to the stockholders in compliance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, as well as the pertinent rules and regulations of the SEC. The Procedure for Nomination of Directors is set forth under Annex “B” of the Notice of the Meeting in the DIS. ELECTION OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR Upon the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and after proper deliberation, the Board approved the re-appointment of SyCip Gorres & Velayo & Co. (SGV) as the Company’s external auditor for 2022. The SGV’s appointment is submitted for approval to the stockholders in compliance with the Company’s By-laws, the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, as well as the pertinent rules and regulations of the SEC.

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

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

ICTSI bags 3.2-ha. foreclosed Manila property for P3.7b PHILIPPINE National Bank said over the weekend it successfully bid out a foreclosed 3.2-hectare property at Manila Harbour Centre in Tondo, Manila. PNB said listed port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. won the bidding when it offered P3.68 billion, above the minimum bid price of P3.2 billion. The property is classified under real and other properties acquiredor more commonly known as acquired properties by the bank. “We were able to successfully complete the sale of this ROPA through a public sealed bidding process engaging the help of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The winning bid is P3.68 billion in cash,” said PNB president and chief executive Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso. “This transaction will monetize another low-revenue-generating foreclosed property, giving the bank additional financial resources that it can use to pursue its strategy and capture opportunities brought about by the recovering economy,” said Veloso. The bank brought PWC in to ensure an independent, transparent and competitive bidding that would be beneficial to PNB. Supporting PWC in the transaction were its member-firm in the Philippines, Isla Lipana & Co. for bid administration and Cabrera & Company for legal support. The property is a 32,000-squaremeter industrial lot and building within the Manila Harbour Centre InManila Standard dustrial zone in Tondo, Manila with a TODAY minimum bid price of P3.2 billion or P100,000 per square meter. A public sealed bidding was held on April 19, 2022. The public bidding was open to individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships or corporations authorized by law to acquire properties in the Philippines.

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, April 22, 2022

-62.9 PTS. 6,998.59

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the acquisition by United States private equity firm Cerberus Frontier of the former Hanjin shipyard at the Subic Bay Freeport is a “win-win” for the Filipino people, as it will retain and create more jobs, stimulate the Philippines’ robust growth and serve the requirements of both the military and the private sector. Dominguez said with the conclusion of the agreement for the buyout of the shipbuilding facilities, the deal would allow five of the Philippines’ largest banks to book a profit from their written-off loans with Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, while the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, where the shipyard is located,

would get a better tenant in Cerberus. The Philippine Navy will also get a naval base “with an ideal harbor for its rapidly expanding fleet facing the West Philippine Sea,” Dominguez said. Many of the displaced workers in the former Hanjin shipyard will be retained, while additional jobs averaging about 300 per year from locators and

subcontractors will be created, catalyzing growth in Central Luzon and the rest of the country, Dominguez said. “With this development beneficial to all stakeholders, we look forward to a robust shipbuilding and ship repair facility to serve not only our military and coast guard requirements but also the requirements of the private sector,” Dominguez said at the reception in Washington D.C. hosted by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez to mark the conclusion of the agreements involving the Cerberus takeover of the shipyard. “I congratulate Cerberus, the Department of Defense of the Philippines, the Philippine Navy, the banks and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for striking a deal that will benefit each of the partners and, more importantly, will benefit the Filipino people,” Dominguez said.

San Miguel Corp.’s education assistance beneficiaries participate in community activities, such as coastal cleanup, greening projects and seminars as part of their values formation as future leaders. SMC’s educational assistance program focuses on children of disadvantaged families near its planned development sites nationwide as part of an advocacy to help improve learning outcomes and CYAN increase their life chances. SMC president Ramon Ang said the program will benefit some 292 elementary, junior high, senior high and college students around communities it serves in Bulacan, Quezon province, Batangas and General Santos City.

Villar plans to list 2 more companies later this year By Jenniffer B. Austria

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of FIRST GEN CORPORATION will be conducted virtually at https://conveneagm.com/ph/fgen_asm2022 at 10am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Following is the agenda1 of the meeting: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the May 19, 2021 Annual General Meeting Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements Ratification of the Acts of the Board of Directors and Management Approval of an Amendment to Article Sixth of the Articles of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Directors from Nine (9) to Ten (10) 7. Election of Directors2 (Including Independent Directors) 8. Election of External Auditor 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment Only stockholders of record as of March 1, 2022 are entitled to notice of, and vote at, the meeting. Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting by remote communication are required to register by 6pm on May 10, 2022 at https://conveneagm.com/ph/fgen_asm2022. Stockholders who have successfully registered will receive an email with instructions on how to access a secure online portal which will allow them to participate and vote at the meeting, either by voting electronically or through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. A stockholder who participates by remote communication or votes in absentia shall be deemed present for purposes of quorum. The procedure for participating in the meeting through remote communication and casting of votes in absentia are set forth in Annex “A” of the Information Statement (Requirements and Procedure for Voting and Participating in the 2022 Annual General Meeting). Duly accomplished proxy forms should be submitted on or before May 10, 2022 to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 6th Floor Rockwell Business Center Tower 3, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, or by email to 2022asm_info@firstgen.com.ph. Pursuant to the February 16, 2022 Notice of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Information Statement and its attachments, minutes of the previous meeting of stockholders, and other documents related to the meeting, can be accessed through the company website www.firstgen.com. ph. The meeting proceedings will be recorded in audio and video format. Should you have any questions about the conduct of the meeting, you may send an email to 2022asm_info@firstgen.com.ph. For technical concerns, you may contact support@conveneagm. com. Pasig City, April 25, 2022. By Order of the Board of Directors: (Sgd.) CARA MARTHA D. MATHAY Assistant Corporate Secretary 1 2

Please refer to the Definitive Information Statement in www.firstgen.com.ph. Including a regular director who will occupy the additional board seat upon SEC approval of the Amended Articles of Incorporation. (MS-APRIL 25 & 26, 2022)

4,822,951,979.33

ADVANCES DECLINES

79 100

UNCHANGED

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022

COASTAL CLEAN-UP.

NOTICE OF 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

450,496,196 55,767

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP)

F oreign E xchange R ate

DOF lauds Cerberus buyout of Hanjin’s shipyard in Subic By Julito G. Rada

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

REAL estate tycoon Manuel Villar plans to list two more companies engaged in small power plants and coffee shops and restaurants. Villar said in a recent interview plans to list Siquijor Island Power Corp. and Coffee Project later this year. The maiden share sales will follow the initial public offering of retail estate investment trust company Vista REIT Inc. in June. The Villar Group is aggressively expanding its coffee business under Coffee Project which now has 100 stores across various brands. The group plans to establish 200 stores before the IPO. Aside from the coffee shop, the Coffee Project also has various restaurants under its group. Villar said the Coffee Project IPO may be conductedin the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023. The IPO size of Coffee Project is expected to be over P1 billion. Villar said he was also planning to list Sipcor, which operates in Siquijor and Camotes Islands with a combined capacity of 21.7 megawatts. Named as the county’s richest by Forbes Magazine, Villar controls several listed compnaies, including Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., AllHome Corp., AllDay Marts Inc., Golden MV Holdings Inc. and StarMalls Inc. Villar said AllDay Marts would open seven to eight new stores, while AllHome would launch five outlets this year. He said Vista Land plans to infuse more assets into Vista REIT after its IPO.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.3950

Japan

Yen

0.007787

0.4080

Pound

1.303600

68.3021

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127476

6.6791

Switzerland

Franc

1.049098

54.9675

Canada

Dollar

0.794849

41.6461

Singapore

Dollar

0.732869

38.3987

Australia

Dollar

0.737300

38.6308

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

138.9898

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

13.9709

Brunei

Dollar

0.730194

38.2585

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029533

1.5474

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2665

Euro

1.083800

56.7857

Korea

Won

0.000805

0.0422

China

Yuan

0.154988

8.1206

India

Rupee

0.013116

0.6872

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233155

12.2162

New Zealand

Dollar

0.673200

35.2723

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034215

1.7927 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

SMC unit eyes $1-b LNG plant in Cebu

SAN Miguel Corp.-controlled Converge Power Generation Corp. plans to develop a 600-megawatt liquified natural gas combined cycle power plant project in LapuLapu City, Cebu with an estimated project cost of $1 billion, documents show. CPGC said in a filing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the additional capacity would support the program of the Department of Energy in ensuring stable power supply for the Philippines. CPGC aims to construct and operate a combined cycle power plant within the 26.16-hectare property leased from Keppel Cebu Shipyard Land Inc. and National Development Company in Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City. A combined cycle power plant converts energy resident in natural gas/oil to electricity. CPGC said the country’s electricity demand is projected to grow by 5 percent a year and will eventually reach 49,287 MW by 2040 based on the the Power Development Plan 2017-2040 of the DOE. Alena Mae S. Flores

Converge ICT gets more partner outlets

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. strengthened its presence across the country to make its services more accessible and visible. The company said it teamed MAGENTA YELLOW BLACKup with ExpressPay Inc., MicroGold Pawnshops, PETNET and Sta. Monica Pawnshop Inc. to amplify its presence and accessibility in different areas. Converge now has a total of 1,076 partner outlets nationwide, composed of 648 outlets from ExpressPay, 336 outlets from MicroGold, 86 outlets from PETNET and six outlets from Sta. Monica. Each outlet has its own distinct strengths that help Converge become a more accessible internet provider for all. The expansion allows customers to conveniently pay their bills or apply for a new line through the CPOs. ‘ “Here in Converge, we always innovate ways to give our customers the best experience they deserve. With the help of our CPOs, we can make our services more accessible to the public, so they can start or continue their journey with us through convenient transactions,” Converge chief operating officer Jesus Romero said. Darwin G. Amojelar

WTTC delegates visit New Clark City

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority and Clark Development Corp. hosted an investment tour of New Clark City and the Clark Freeport Zone for the delegates of the recently-concluded 21st World Travel and Tourism Council Summit in Manila over the weekend. BCDA officer-in-charge president and chief executive Aristotle Batuhan said the WTTC visit came at a perfect time as Clark and New Clark City are playing increasingly critical roles in enabling the local tourism industry and the Philippine economy transition to the new normal. “The BCDA has always believed that the vision for New Clark City as a smart, resilient, sustainable and inclusive metropolis of the future deserves to be on the world stage. What better way to do this than to let international tourism leaders experience in person the excitement that is building here in New Clark City. We at the BCDA are thrilled to host our WTTC guests and show them how far we’ve come in making this vision a reality,” he said. The investment tour was the final activity for WTTC Summit delegates. WTTC delegates visited the Clark International Airport passenger terminal and the Clark Freeport Zone and New Clark City, where the summit’s closing ceremony was held. Othel V. Campos

Diokno: PH poised for sustained recovery in 2022 BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend the Philippine economy is poised for a sustained recovery this year from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Diokno stressed the country’s manageable inflation, stable banking system and robust external position at the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. Diokno, in separate discussions with institutional investors in conferences organized by Barclays, Bank of America Securities and J.P. Morgan, said while inflation would likely pick up to 4.3 percent this year, exceeding the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent, it was expected to ease to 3.6 percent next year. Inflation averaged 3.4 percent in the first quarter on the back of elevated energy costs.

Diokno said the Philippine banking system remained sound and stable throughout the pandemic, with credit and capital conditions supportive of growth and well above regulatory requirements. The country’s external position remained strong with gross international reserves of $108.5 billion as of end-March. This was equivalent to 9.6 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services. External debt was manageable at 27 percent of the gross domestic product in 2021, he said. He said the usual sources of foreign exchange also continued to rise in 2021, including overseas Filipino remittances which increased 5.1 percent, business process outsourcing receipts which grew 9.5 percent and net foreign direct investments which jumped by 54.2 percent. Julito G. Rada

Sports

Asian Games to go ahead in Hangzhou, says OCA exec KUALA LUMPUR—The 2022 Asian Games in China will go ahead, the Olympic Council of Malaysia said Saturday, denying claims that it was facing the possibility of being postponed. The Olympic-sized event is scheduled to be held in September in Hangzhou, a major metropolitan area less than 200 kilometres (124 miles) southwest of Shanghai. Shanghai is currently grappling with a major coronavirus emergency, with its roughly 25 million residents currently in a weeks-long lockdown as authorities try to curb an Omicron-fuelled wave. An official working with governing body the Olympic Council of Asia, who did not want to be named, had told AFP Thursday that no decision had been made but there was a possibility of postponement. However, Olympic Council of Malaysia president Norza Zakaria disputed that. “The Asian Games 2022 in China is going ahead,” he told AFP Saturday. “We have checked with OCA (the Olympic Council of Asia) and the organizing committee.” Most international sports events have been on hold in China since the Covid-19 pandemic, although Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics in a strict bio-bubble in February. Right after the Olympics ended, Shanghai—China’s biggest city— witnessed the country’s worst Covid outbreak in two years, and its residents have largely been confined to their homes since early April. All 56 competition venues for the Games in Hangzhou have already been completed, Chinese organisers said this month, promising to publish a virus control plan that takes its cue from the Winter Olympics. Hangzhou is scheduled to hold the Games from September 10-25, becoming the third Chinese host after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010. AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

Cone: Living up to never-say-die Ginebra tag both an honor, curse By Peter Atencio

INNING this year’s Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup has left Barangay Gin San Miguel Gin Kings coach Tim Cone in amazement because the Gin Kings have gone further than what they were expected to accomplish.

And claiming their fourth Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup title was beyond his expectation. “Am I in shock? Yeah. And we are a team that does not quit and we have that legacy,” said Cone after the Gin Kings took Game 6 of the best-ofseven championship showdown with a 103-92 victory, to finish their series with the Meralco Bolts with a 4-2 triumph. The Gin Kings have dominated the Governors’ Cup championships over the last five years, while settling for the Commissioner’s Cup title in 2017. The Ginebra franchise, under different club team names, has earned a total of 14 PBA crowns since winning the PBA Open Confer-

ence plum in 1986. Since then, the club has been trying its best to live up to their reputation as a do-or-die or never-say-die team. “It’s always an honor and a curse at the same time to try to live up to. And these guys have been trying to find a way to do that,” said Cone. The Ginebra mentor remembered the days in the elimination round when the Gin Kings were not in the best shape. Being in seventh place during the elimination round was a struggle for the team. And trying to get past a 5-5 winloss record following their 103-115 loss

to the NLEX Road Warriors was a big challenge that they finally overcame. “If this happened to us in a bubble, we would have not been able to overcome this,” added Cone, who noted that three of his players, Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger and Justin Brownlee were recovering from long layoffs and injuries because of COVID-19 restrictions back then. But in the finals, the cheers of the fans gave them a lift, as their games picked up as soon as they reached the quarterfinals. “When we started playing better basketball, the

LUCIO Tan III aims to continue the legacy in grassroots sports development started by his father, the late Lucio “Bong” Tan, with Tanduay’s participation in local leagues such as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Tanduay will be renaming the team and fielding a new Batangas City Embassy Chill team in the MPBL. During its first stint in the league, it won the Rajah Cup championship in 2018. “Tanduay has always been supportive of sports such as basketball. The goal is not just to join leagues, but, more importantly, to give players from different communities in the country the chance to fulfill their dreams of making it big in sports,” said Tan, who is now the President and COO of Tanduay Distillers, Inc. The older Tan was a staunch supporter of Philippine sports, particularly basketball. He played

fans started started going crazy. And that just lifted us up, and they kept us going, especially in the quarterfinals,” said Cone. Also, Scottie Thompson distinguished himself as a cut above the rest after winning the Best Player of the Conference plum and taking the Finals Most Valuable Player honors as well. The 6’1” do-it-all guard earned his spurs after averaging of 17.83 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.17 steals in the series. This was Thompson’s second Finals’ MVP award as he also won the trophy back in the 2018 PBA Commissioners’ Cup.

Davao Tigers gun for crown

Ginebra coach Tim Cone embraces his player, LA Tenorio.

Lucio Tan III to continue late father’s grassroots sports development program at Tanduay Lucio Tan III

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

basketball himself and would have Tanduay employees participate in various amateur leagues. His sons Lucio III and Kyle Tan shared their father’s passion. “I can’t be my dad’s son if I don’t care about basketball,” said Lucio III. “I’m a huge NBA fan. When I was younger, I followed the PBA for a time.” He also revealed that exercise is one of his biggest passions. “My biggest passion is exercise, working out at the gym. What attracted me to it is that it’s incredibly systematic; it’s like working on engineering problems, but this time you’re focused on your body. It was something I was able to focus on outside of work,” said Tan, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University. Part of the Tanduay Culture For Lucio III, basketball is like a “universal language.” “It’s something I can connect with, with

The Batangas Embassy Chill logo

my friends, executives, and younger people as well. We would be talking about financial statements, and then would be asking if we watched the game yesterday. It’s something that all of us could talk about,” he said. On the other hand, Team Manager of the Batangas City Embassy Chill and Tanduay Distillery General Manager Gerry Tee reiterated that basketball is a huge part of the Tanduay culture. “Sports development is already ingrained in the culture of Tanduay. Not only do we support teams, but we also support our employees who play basketball. During Mr. Bong Tan’s time, we would participate in many leagues. He wanted his employees to be healthy, so that we could be more productive,” shared Tee.

HAVING a newly crowned Most Valuable Player, a top Mythical 5 selection, prolific shooter, old warriors, young reliables and homegrown talent in the Tigers’ den, powerhouse team Davao Occidental has all the reasons to complete a sweep and clinch the championship today against the Cagayan de Oro Higalas in the inaugural conference of the Pearl of the Orient Cup-Cocolife Pilipinas Super League’s Game 2 Finals at the University of Southern Philippines Gym and Cultural Center in Davao City. Pambansang Liga ng Pilipino-Cocolife PSL MVP Gab Dagangon is expected to pour his might offensively, with M5 Robby Celiz, sweet-shooting John Wilson, veteran slotman Larry Rodriguez and spitfires Emman Calo and Bonbon Custodio, who are out to control the game on both ends. The Tigers, owned by the Bautista clan of Davao Occidental, will try to fulfil their mission and continue the winning tradition, dedicated to their hometown crowd and all PSL followers nationwide. Game 1 main man Calo, who posted a sterling double-double performance of 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, said he will treat the game tonight as a ‘no more tomorrow’ contest, sharing the same motivation to his teammates and coach Alvin Bonleon to assure a hometown victory for basketball-loving Davaoenos. Keith Agovida, Joseph Terso, Marco Balagtas, Arvin Palencia, Chris Lalata, Joseph Grimaldo, point generals Allan Santos and Jerwin Gaco and homegrown Ron Anib will provide ample support for the team’s fruitful campaign in this ‘Year of the Tiger’. A big win tonight by the Tigers, supported by Cocolife president Atty. Jose Martin Loon, SVP Joseph Ronquillo, VP Rowena Asnan and SVP Franz Joie Araque, in the league organized by PSL president Rocky Chan with VP Ray Alao and Commissioner Marc Pingris, will be their second franchise title after winning the Lakan Cup of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League last year.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

TODAY National Capital Judicial Region Branch 100, Quezon City

CARLO Y. LEPATAN, Plaintiff, -versus-

R-QZN-14-11748-CV

NELSON C. SONER, ALL ASIA STRUCTURES, INC., and MACRO STRUCTURES, INC., Defendants. x----------------------------------------------------x

DECISION Attributing negligence on defendants on the mishap that transpired on 01 December 2013, plaintiff filed this instant case for Damages. He prayed that: WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that judgment be rendered in favor of herein Plaintiff LEPATAN and against herein Defendants SONER, MACRO STRUCTURE, ALL ASIA STRUCTURES, xxx ordering the latter to pay, joint and severally the following: a. The sum of PHILIPPINE PESOS: SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY and 60/100 (Php 781,350.60) as the total amount of actual damages plus legal interest; b. The amount of PHILIPPINE PESOS: TWO MILLION (Php2,000,000.00) representing the loss of earning capacity of the deceased Ms. Eileen M. Lepatan; c. The amount of PHILIPPINE PESOS: FIFTY THOUSAND (Php 50,000,00) as death indemnity for the death of Plaintiff LEPATAN’S wife by reason of this incident; d. The amount of PHILIPPINE PESOS: ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (Php100,000.00) representing moral damages; e. The amount of PHILIPPINE PESOS: FIFTY THOUSAND (Pph50,000.00) as exemplary or corrective damages by way of an example or correction for the public good; f. The amount of PHILIPPINE PESOS: ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (Php100,000.00) as payment for attorney’s fees plus payment for appearance and pleading fees; and g. The cost of the suit. Other reliefs, just and equitable under the premises, are likewise prayed for. In the Order dated 12 February 2021, plaintiff’s Motion to Declare Defendants in Default was granted and the former was allowed to present evidence ex-parte.

Thus, whether there is an employer-employee relationship between the registered owner and the driver is irrelevant in determining the liability of the registered owner who the law holds primarily and directly responsible for any accident, injury or death caused by the operation of the vehicle in the streets and highways. As explained by this Court in Erezo, the general public policy involved in motor vehicle registration is the protection of innocent third persons who may have no means of identifying public road malefactors and, therefore, would find it difficult – if not impossible – to seek redress for damages they may sustain in accidents resulting in deaths, injuries and other damages; by fixing the person held primarily and directly liable for the damages sustained by victims of road mishaps, the law ensures that relief will always be available to them. To identify the person primarily and directly responsible for the damages would also prevent a situation where a registered owner of a motor vehicle can easily escape liability by passing on the blame to another who may have no means to answer for the damages caused, thereby defeating the claims of victims of road accidents. We take note that some motor vehicles running on our roads are driven not by their registered owners, but by employed drivers who, in most instances, do not have the financial means to pay for the damages caused in case of accidents. These same principles apply by analogy to the case at bar. Filcar should not be permitted to evade its liability for damages by conveniently passing on the blame to another party; in this case, its Corporate Secretary, Atty. Flor and his alleged driver, Floresca. Following our reasoning in Equitable, the agreement between Filcar and Atty. Flor to assign the motor vehicle to the latter does not bind Espinas who was not a party to and has no knowledge of the agreement, and whose only recourse is to the motor vehicle registration.19 (underligning supplied) Hence, plaintiff was able to prove his case by preponderance of evidence. As pronounced by the Supreme Court: Xxx. On this score, Section 1, Rule 133 of the Revised Rules on Evidence provides: Section 1. Preponderance of evidence, how determined. – in civil cases, the party having the burden of proof must establish his case by a preponderance of evidence. In determining where the preponderance of evidence or superior weight of evidence on the issues involved lies, the court may consider all the facts and circumstance of the case, the witness’ manner of testifying, their intelligence, their means and opportunity of knowing the facts to which they are testifying, the nature of the facts to which they testify, the probability of their testimony, their interest or want of interest, and also their personal credibility so far as the same may legitimately appear upon the trial. The court may also consider the number of witnesses, though the preponderance is not necessarily with the greater number. “Preponderance of evidence” is the weight, credit, and value of the aggregate evidence on either side and is usually considered to be synonymous with the term “greater weight of evidence” or “greater weight of credible evidence.”20

Plaintiff then presented himself and Anna Josette A. Mendoza

What then is the liability of defendants?

The facts are unrebutted.

They are solidarily liable for the actual damages, that is, the repair of the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK damaged car of plaintiff and all expenses relative to the death of Eileen Lepatan

On 01 December 2013, at around 2:30 P.M., plaintiff was driving his Toyota Rav 4 with plate number ULO 725 along the Southbound lane of Mac Arthur Highway in Barangay Lanat, Sanof Manuel, Tarlac bound to Manila from Baguio Republic the Philippines City. His passengers were his wife, Eileen M. Lepatan, his sister –in law Anna National Capital Judicial Region Josette Mendoza, and his nephew Lorenzo Miguel Mendoza. The traffic condition TRIAL COURT that time in the areaREGIONAL was light. On the northbound lane, a Fuso tractor head truck with plate Branch number NPI868, in the name of defendant Marcro 212, registered Mandaluyong City Structures, Inc., as shown by its Certificate of Registration No. 9773906-21 and 2 IN RE:Receipt PETITION FOR THE Official No. 448553814 wasREISSUANCE being driven by defendant Soner. Said truck had forty (40) foot trailer DUPLICATE with plate number OF aLOST OWNER’S OFPUR-809 registered in the name of All Asia Structures, Inc., as shownOF by the latter’s Certificate of Registration3 and TRANSFER CERTIFICATE TITLE 4 Official Receipt No. 279721945. The cargo a height of about four (4) to NO. 008-16155 OF THE REGISTRY reached OF six (6) meters more or less from theMANDALUYONG floor of the trailer. DEEDS FOR THE CITY OF Said vehicle hit a sagging cable along the said highway, until the said cable R-MND-22-00219-LR was stretched causing the concrete posts to which the said cable was connected ANA MARIE including that atH.theDELFINO other lane, to be uprooted and one of which fell on the incoming Toyota Rav 4 of plaintiff.Petitioner, As a result, plaintiff lost control of the vehicle and the car plunged into a drainage which was under construction. Plaintiff and REGISTRY OF DEEDS FOR THE CITY all his passengers suffered injuries. They were all brought to a nearby hospital. OF MANDALUYONG, Eileen M. Lepatan was declared dead - on-arrival as shown by the Dead on Arrival Respondent. 6 Certificate5 and Medical Certificate both dated 01 December 2013, the Medicox------------------------------------------------x Legal Report7 dated 03 December 2013 and Certificate of Death .8 Likewise, the ORDER Rav 4 was damaged. The corresponding Spot Report9 dated 01 December 2013 Court on 28 February the instant Petition wasRaffled issued to by this the San Manuel Police Station.2022 The is scene of the incident were 10 likewise24 photographed shown by the taken thereon. corresponding dated February as 2022 filed by pictures Petitioner Ana MarieA H. Delfino 11 criminal Information datedpraying 02 December for Reckless Imprudence (“Petitioner”) by counsel for the 2013 reissuance of the owner’s Resulting toofHomicide, Physical Injuries, Damage to(“TCT Property was duplicate TransferDouble Certificate of Title No.and 008-16155 No. filed against herein before for the the Regional Court of Paniqui, 008-16155) of thedefendant RegistrySoner of Deeds City Trial of Mandaluyong Tarlac, Branch 67 docketed as Criminal Case No. 190-13. Prior to the subject the original duplicate copy of which is allegedly to have been lost. incident, at around 11 o’clock in the morning, defendant Soner was apprehended is a FilipinoOffice citizen, single, of legal and a resident by Petitioner the Land Transportation (LTO) at North Luzonage Expressway for excess 12 of No. Ilang-Ilang Street, Homes, Brgy. Barangka Drive, load as 837 shown by the Traffic TicketAyala Violation. Mandaluyong City while Respondent Register of Deeds for the total medical expenses spent as as wellnominal as the repairs of the Rav CityThe of Mandaluyong is impleaded party being the 4 13 amounted to of Phpall781,350.60 shown the one various receipts.Original At the and time of repository titles to as land andbythe issuing the death of Eileen M. Lepatan, she was gainfully employed as shown by her 2013 Transfer Certificate of Title under the law. Annual Income Tax Return.14 The subject property of this petition is located at No. 837 IlangIlang Homes, Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City AreSt., theAyala defendants liableBrgy. for damages? and covered by TCT No. 008-16155 with forty-four (44) square This Court answers in the affirmative. meters, more or less, registered under the Registry of Deeds of Mandaluyong City with the following technical description: As stated above, plaintiff anchored his present case on the negligence of parcel of land (lot 302176 Blk.of8the ofCivil theCode, consolidation and defendant“ASoner, banking on Article to wit: subdivision plan Pcs-04-000118, being a portion of the consolidated lot 17-Q-7-F-1-B-4-D-8-B-1 described on there Art. 2176, Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, Psd-13249 lot 15 block 55 damage described plan beingplan fault or negligence, and is obliged to pay for the done.onSuch fault or negligence, if thereLRC is no pre-existing the parties, is Pcs-2239, Rec. Nos.contractual 699, 875relation and between 917), situated calledina quasi-delict and is governed by the provisions of this Chapter. the Barrio of Barranca, Municipality of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila Containing an area of FORTY-FOUR (44) AsSquare well as Meters on the vicarious liability the registered owners of the truck and more or less of xxx” trailer as provided under Article 2180 of the same Code: The Petitioner’s late brother, Conrado H. Delfino (“Conrado”) is the of the Subject as part ofnothis Art.Vendee-mortgagor 2180. The obligation imposed by ArticleProperty 2176 is demandable only for one’s own housing acts or omissions, but also for of personshis for employer whom one is employer’s benefit project forthose employees, responsible. being the Vendee-Mortgagee.

Petitioner is the legitimate sister and one of the heirs The elements necessary to establish a quasi-delict case are: of (1)Conrado damages to who died intestate on by 17act March 2018 of–the with no ascendants nor the plaintiff; (2) negligence, or omission, defendant or by some person descendants. to be by of for whose acts theConrado defendant authorized must respond,his wassalary guilty; and (3) deducted the connection his employers and/or the for the payment of cause and effect between suchVendor-Mortgagee negligence and the damages. These elements showhousing that the source of obligation in a quasi-delict case his is theretirement. breach or omission the loan on the Subject Property until of mutual duties that civilized society imposes upon its members, or which arise The Certificate of Title was given to Conrado, after his from non-contractual relations of certain members of society to others.15 Hence, retirement on February 1995. The mortgage was released before defendant can be held liable these three (3) requisites must first be after Conrado’s retirement – as confirmed by BPI-PHILAMLIFE established: ASSURANCE CORPORATION (formerly Ayala Life Assurance Incorporated/Filipinas Life Assurance Company). Additionally, Based on these requisites, Dra. dela Llana must first establish by BPI Family Savings Bank, a of certification thewe preponderance of evidence the Inc. threeissued elements quasi-delictthat before determine Rebecca’s liability as possession Joel’s employer. She should show the certificate of title is not in their or custody. chain of causation between Joel’s reckless driving and her whiplash injury. Only Petitioner paid the annual real property tax on the Subject after she has laid this foundation can the presumption – that Rebecca did not Property. exercise the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and supervision of Joel – arise. negligence, the damages and not the proximate causation During the Once lifetime of Conrado, he was able to effect theare established, canname then proceed withhe thewas application and the interpretation transfer of this titleCourt in his because preoccupied with his of the fifth paragraph of Article 2180 of the Civil Code. Under Article 2176 of the side work. However, the certificate of title for TCT No. 008-16155 Civil Code, in relation fifth paragraph of Article 2180, “anknew action predicated was kept by him inwith his the drawer in his room. Petitioner of said on anbecause employee’s or omission maytheir be instituted against the employer who fact sheactwas living with deceased brother. is held liable for the negligent act or omission committed by his employee.” Conrado Petitioner and her siblings thethe TheWhen rationale for thesedied, graduated levels of analyses is that it checked is essentially drawer the act said wasitself kept. was then when they wrongful where or negligent or title omission whichIt creates the vinculum juris in extra-contractual obligations. discovered that the aforesaid title was missing in the drawer. In civil cases, a party who exerted alleges a diligent fact has the burden proving it. He Petitioner and her family efforts to of find the title whothe alleges hasproved the burden proving allegation by preponderance but same futileofsuch thathisTCT No. 008-16155 is now of evidence or greater weight of credible evidence. The reason for this rule is deemed lost and beyond recovery. that bare allegations, unsubstantiated by evidence, are not equivalent to proof. 16 After mere Conrado’s death, hisevidence. heirs (including Petitioner) In short, allegations are not (the emphasis in theexecuted original text an Extrajudicial is hereby adopted).Settlement of Estate of Conrado with waiver of share by the heirs of Conrado before Atty. Gabriel P. Corton, a In thePublic presentofcase, plaintiff tried and able toDoc. discharged his Page function.9, Notary Mandaluyong Citywas under No. 45, Book No. I, Series of 2019. It has been held that negligence is “the failure to observe for the protection By interests virtue of ofanother a Special of Attorney executed 3 of the person Power that degrees of care, precaution, and on vigilance December 2021 by the of Conrado H.other Delfino before which the circumstances justlyheirs demand, whereby such person suffersAtty. injury.” Rogelio J. Bolivar,isathe Notary Public test of Quezon City, under No. to Verily, foreseeability fundamental of negligence. It is theDoc. omission 401, Page No. 82,a Book No. XIX, of those 2021,considerations Petitioner was do something which reasonable man, Series guided by which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do, or the doing appointed as the authorized representative to execute an Affidavit of 17 something whichfile a prudent and reasonable man would notofdo.TCT of Loss and a Petition for the Reissuance No. 00816155. The Affidavit of Loss was annotated by the Registry of It must be emphasized that it was defendant Soner while the subject Deeds obtained a tax clearance which states that driving real property truck and trailer who hit the cable wire on the road, causing the post to which it taxes until 2022 for the Subject Matter has already been paid. was attached to topple down, and in the process of falling, hit the incoming car The Subject Matter conveyed, of plaintiff on the other side was of theneither street. Inmortgaged, the absence ofsold, any evidence to the contrary, defendant Soner’s liability is disposed of, or encumbered toestablished. any person or entity, nor was it ever confiscated nor relinquished in favor of any government Clearly, the proximate cause of the accident complained of is the negligence entity, agency or authority. of defendant Soner. Thus, it has been held: Hence, the instant petition with a prayer to declare the Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT No. as 008-16155 haveinbeen lost, and Proximate cause is defined that cause,towhich, natural andnull continuous void and that the Respondent of cause, Deedsproduces for Mandaluyong sequence, unbroken by any efficientRegister intervening the injury, and City to which issuethea result Newwould Owner’s Copy of TCT to without not have occurred. AndNo. more008-16155 comprehensively, the proximate legal cause is that acting first and producing the injury, either Petitioner. immediately or by setting other events in motion, all constituting a natural and After a careful evaluation of the instant verified Petition as well continuous chain of events, each having a close causal connection with its as supporting documents attached annexes (Exhibits immediate predecessor, the final event inthereto the chainasimmediately effecting the “A” toas “R” and submarkings), the of court findswhich the same sufficient in injury a natural and probable result the cause first acted, under such form and substance. circumstances that the person responsible for the first event should, as an ordinary prudent and intelligent person, have reasonable groundbe to expect at the moment ACCORDINGLY, let the instant Petition set for hearing 18 of his or default thatatan2:00 injury o’clock to some person might probably result therefrom. on 05actMay 2022 in the afternoon before this court located at the 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Building, This Court cannot attribute any negligence on the part of plaintiff. He Mandaluyong CitytheHall Compound, Maysilobefore Circle, manifestly observed traffic rules and regulations andMandaluyong during the impact, City, date,his time andwithin place, shall limit appear that is,onhewhich was driving vehicle thePetitioner allowable speed on theand other prove herroad, petition, and that allSoner persons opposition side of the and had defendant did hishaving part andany observed what was therein appear and show if any why petition expectedmay of him as dictated by thecause circumstances, thethe accident mayshould not have occurred. not be granted. MOREOVER, let this Order be published once in a newspaper Accordingly, it follows that the vicarious liability or imputed negligence of general circulation in the Philippines at the expense of the of the other defendants, the registered owners of the truck and trailer can be Petitioner, the being same to on bethis raffled at the Office the The Clerk of attached. Their mum case militates against of them. following Court, Regional Trial Court Court of Mandaluyong City. pronouncement of the Supreme is most enlightening: FURTHER, let copies of this Order be posted at the main It is well that in caseCity of motor vehicle mishaps, registered owner entrance ofsettled Mandaluyong Hall Building, at thethe Bulletin Board of the is considered as the employer the tortfeasor-driver of themotor Newvehicle Hall of Justice Building and atofthe Barangay Halland is made primarily liable for the tort committed by the latter under Article 2176, in where the subject property is located for a period of thirty (30) relation with Article 2180 of the Civil Code. daysIn prior to the scheduled datev.ofSuyom, hearing above. Equitable Leasing Corporation weindicated ruled that in so far as third persons are concerned, the is registered of thetomotor vehicle the employer FINALLY, Petitioner herebyowner directed cause theisservice of of theOrder negligent driver, and is considered merely as an agent this together withthe a actual copy employer of the petition and all its annexes of such owner. upon the following government agencies- Register of Deeds, In that case, aCity; tractorCommissioner, registered in the name of Equitable Leasing Corporation Mandaluyong Land Registration Authority, (Equitable)City; figured in an accident, killing andofseriously injuring and several persons. Quezon Secretary, Department Environment Natural As part of its defense, Equitable claimed that the tractor was initially leased to Resources, City;Agreement, Director, which Landagreement Management Bureau, Mr. Edwin Lim Quezon under a Lease has been overtaken Quezon Office of the Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City and by a DeedCity; of Sale entered intoCity by Equitable and Ecatine Corporation (Ecatine). City Legal Department, Mandaluyong City. Equitable argued that it cannot be held liable for damages because the tractor had already been sold to Ecatine at the time of the accident and the negligent driver SO ORDERED. wasMandaluyong not its employeeCity, but ofPhilippines. Ecatine. In upholding the liability of Equitable, as registered owner of the tractor, this 07 March 2022 Court said that “regardless of sales made of a motor vehicle, the registered owner is the lawful operator insofar as(Sgd.) the public and thirdT.persons are concerned; RIZALINA CAPCO-UMALI Cc: consequently, it is directly and primarily responsibleJudge for the consequences of its operation.” The Court further stated that “[i]n contemplation of law, the owner/ THE DIRECTOR ATTY. ALWHILAN A. BALJON operator record is the employer of the driver, actual operator and employer LAND the MANAGEMENT BUREAU Counsel forofthe Petitioner being considered as merely its agent.” Thus, Equitable as the registered owner Quezon City BALJON LAW OFFICES of tractor, was considered under the law on quasi delict to be the employer of 90 the General Kalentong Street THE SECRETARY the Raul Tutor; Ecatine, Tutor’s actual employer, was deemed merely as Brgy.driver, Pag-asa, Mandaluyong City DENR an agentOFofTHE Equitable. OFFICE CITY PROSECUTOR Quezon City Thus, it City is clear for the purpose of holding the registered owner of the motor Mandaluyong vehicle primarily and directly liable for damages under in relation OFFICE OF THEArticle LEGAL2176, DEPARTMENT REGISTER OF DEEDS with Article 2180, of the Civil Code, the existence of Mandaluyong Cityan employer-employee Mandaluyong City relationship, as it is understood in labor relations law, is not required. It is sufficient THE COMMISSIONER to establish that Filcar is the registered owner of the motor vehicle causing damage LAND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY in order that it may be held vicariously liable under Article 2180 of the Civil Code. Quezon City Rationale for holding the registered owner vicariously liable 11, 2022) (MStandard-Apr. The rationale for the rule that a registered owner is vicariously liable for damages caused by the operation of his motor vehicle is explained by the principle behind motor vehicle registration, which has been discussed by this Court in Erezo, and cited by the CA in the decision. The main aim of motor vehicle registration is to identify the owner so that if any accident happens, or that any damage or injury is caused by the vehicle on the public highways, responsibility therefor can be fixed on a definite individual, the registered owner. Instances are numerous where vehicles running on public highways caused accidents or injuries to pedestrians or other vehicles without positive identification of the owner or drivers, or with very scant means of identification. It is to forestall these circumstances so inconvenient or prejudicial to the public, that the motor vehicle registration is primarily ordained, in the interest of the determination of persons responsible for damages or injuries caused on public highways.

and injuries sustained by plaintiff and the other two passengers, as shown by the various official receipts, in the amount of Php775,981.60. They, too, should be made answerable for civil indemnity in the amount of Php50,000. They are likewise must pay for moral damages in the amount of Php50,000, exemplary damages of Php20,000 and attorney’s fees of Php50,000. In awarding the same, this Court adopts as its own the ratiocination of the Supreme Court as follows: This Court further agrees with the CA that the respondents are entitled to the award of moral and exemplary damages. Moral damages, x x x, may be awarded to compensate one for manifold injuries such as physical suffering, mental anguish, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings and social humiliation. These damages must be understood to be in the concept of grants, not punitive or corrective in nature, calculated to compensate the claimant for the injury suffered. Although incapable of exactness and no proof of pecuniary loss is necessary in order that moral damages may be awarded, the amount of indemnity being left to the discretion of the court, it is imperative, nevertheless, that (1) injury must have been suffered by the claimant, and (2) such injury must have sprung from any of the cases expressed in Article 2219 and Article 2220 of the Civil Code, x x x Also known as “punitive” or “vindictive” damages, exemplary or corrective damages are intended to serve as a deterrent to serious wrongdoings, and as vindication of undue sufferings and wanton invasion of the rights of an injured or a punishment for those guilty of outrageous conduct. These terms are generally, but not always, used interchangeably. In common law, there is preference in the use of exemplary damages when the award is to account for injury to feelings and for the sense of indignity and humiliation suffered by a person as a result of an injury that has been maliciously and wantonly inflicted, the theory being that there should be compensation for the hurt caused by the highly reprehensible conduct of the defendant – associated with such circumstances as willfulness, wantonness, malice, gross negligence or recklessness, oppression, insult or fraud or gross fraud – that intensifies the injury. The terms punitive or vindictive damages are often used to refer to those species of damages that may be awarded against a person to punish him for his outrageous conduct. In either case, these damages are intended in good measure to deter the wrongdoer and others like him from similar conduct in the future. In awarding the above, the CA correctly ruled that: It is extant in the records that defendants did not overturn or disprove the plaintiffs’ claim for actual damages such as the hospital bills/expenses which were duly supported by documentary evidence (receipts). It was also duly proven that defendant Al Dela Cruz acted with gross disregard for the suffering of his victims when he refused to board them in his car and only did so when forced by the by-standers who assisted the victims, when he drove to his house first before driving to a clinic then to [the] hospital when it was obvious that Renato Octaviano’s wound was severe and needed immediate professional attention. These insensitivity of defendant caused suffering to the plaintiffs that must be compensated. As to the award of attorney’s fees, Article 2208 of the New Civil Code provides the following: ART. 2208. In the absence of stipulation, attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation, other than judicial costs, cannot be recovered, except: (1) When exemplary damages are awarded; (2) When the defendant’s act or omission has compelled the plaintiff to litigate with third persons or to incur expenses to protect his interest; (3) In criminal cases of malicious prosecution against the plaintiff; (4) In case of a clearly unfounded civil action or proceeding against the plaintiff; (5) Where the defendant acted in gross and evident bad faith in refusing to satisfy the plaintiffs plainly valid, just and demandable claim; (6) In actions for legal support; (7) In actions for the recovery of wages of household helpers, laborers and skilled workers; (8) In action for indemnity under workmen’s compensation and employer’s liability laws; (9) In a separate civil action to recover civil liability arising from a crime; (10) When at least double judicial costs are awarded; (11) In any other case where the court deems it just and equitable that attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation should be recovered. In this case, since exemplary damages are awarded, the award of attorney’s fees is necessary.21 However, the claim for loss of earning capacity cannot be granted. It must be noted that plaintiff presented only the decedents’s Annual Income Tax Return which was made only after such death. There are no documents presented in support of the figures stated therein. There was also no mention what was the occupation or business of the decedent prior or at the time of death, or her daily wage for that matter, or where was she was conducting her business, or employment. The Supreme Court provided for the requirements or guidelines, which, sadly, plaintiff failed to supply and comply: Next, the Court holds that the CA erred in awarding damages for loss of earning capacity in the absence of documentary evidence to support the claim. Damages for loss of earning capacity is in the nature of actual damages, which as a rule must be duly proven27 by documentary evidence, not merely by the self-serving testimony of the widow. By way of exception, damages for loss of earning capacity may be awarded despite the absence of documentary evidence when (1) the deceased is selfemployed earning less than the minimum wage under current labor laws, and judicial notice may be taken of the fact that in the deceased’s line of work no documentary evidence is available; or (2) the deceased is employed as a daily wage worker earning less than the minimum wage under current labor laws. Based solely on Nelfa’s testimony, the CA determined that the deceased fails within one of these exceptions. Nelfa testified that her husband was in the business of contracting and manufacturing grills, fences and gates, and his earnings “exceed P6,000.00” per month prior to his death. She presented no documentary proof of her claims. It was error for the CA to have awarded damages for loss of earning capacity based on Nelfa’s testimony alone. First, while it is conceded that the deceased was self-employed, the Court cannot accept that in his line of work there was no documentary proof available to prove his income from such occupation. There would have been receipts, job orders, or some form of written contract or agreement between the deceased and his clients when he is contracted for a job. Second, and more importantly, decedent was not earning “less than the minimum wage” at the time of his death. Xxxx Respondent testified that her husband was earning not less than P6,000.00 per month. On the other hand, the highest minimum wage rate at the time of the accident, based on Wage Order No. RTWPB XI-07, was P148.00. At the rate, the monthly minimum wage would be P3,256.00, clearly an amount less than what respondent testified to as her husband’s monthly earnings. The deceased would not fail within the recognized exceptions. There is therefore no basis for the CA’s computation for Mumar’s supposed net earning capacity and the subsequent award of damages due to loss of earning capacity.22 WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of plaintiff. Accordingly, defendants are made solidarily liable to pay plaintiff the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Actual damages in the amount of Php 775,981.60 Civil indemnity in the amount of Php50,000, moral damages in the amount of Php50,000, exemplary damages of Php20,000, and attorney’s fees of Php50,000.

Considering that defendants, who were summoned by publication have failed to appear in this case, let this Decision be serve upon them also by means of publication in a newspaper of general publication in the Philippines, chosen by raffle at the expense of Plaintiff, pursuant to Section 13, Rule 13 of the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. SO ORDERED. 27 July 2021, Quezon City, Metro Manila. (Sgd.) EDITHA G. MINA-AGUBA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: ATTY. INOCENCIO VIVERO ATTY. CERIZAR VICENTE S. TORIO Counsel for the Plaintiff CARLO Y. LEPATAN Plaintiff NELSON C. SONER Defendant ALL ASIA STRUCTURES, INC., Defendant MACRO STRUCTURES, INC., Defendant Exhibit “A”; Records, p. 16 Exhibit “A-1”; Records, p. 17 Exhibit “B”; Records, p. 18 4 Exhibit “B-1”; Records, p. 19 5 Exhibit “D”; Records, p. 21 6 Exhibit “D-1”; Records, p. 22 7 Exhibit “D-2”; Records, p. 23 8 Exhibit “D-3”; Records, p. 24 9 Exhibit “E”; Records, p. 25 10 Exhibit “F” and series; Records, p. 28-29 11 Exhibit “G”; Records, p. 30 12 Exhibit “C”; Records, p. 20 13 Exhibit “H” to “J” and series; Records, pp. 31-48 14 Exhibit “K” and series; Records, pp. 49 -55 15 Dra. Leila A. Dela Llana, petitioners, versus, Rebecca Biong, doing business under the name and style of Pongkay Trading, respondent, G.R. No. 182356, 04 December2013 16 ibid. 17 R Transport Corporation, petitioner, versus, Luisito G. Yu, respondent, G.R. No. 174161, 18 February 2015 18 Mariano C. Mendoza, and Elvira Lim, petitioners, versus, Spouses Leonora J. Gomez and Gabriel V. Gomez, respondent, G.R. No. 160110, 18 June 2014 19 Filcar Transport Services, petitioner, versus, Jose A. Espinas, respondent, G.R. No. 174156, 20 June 2012 20 Rosena Fontelar Ogawa, petitioner, versus, Elizabeth Gache Menigishi, respondent, G.R. No. 193089, 09 July 2012 21 Al Dela Crus, petitioner, versus, Capt. Renato Octa Viano and Wilma Octa Viano, respondents, G.R. No.219649, July26, 2017. 22 Paulita “Edith” Serra, petitioner, versus, Nelfa T. Mumar, respondent, G.R. No. 193861, 14 March 2012 (MStandard-Apr. 18 & 25, 2022) 1 2 3

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

Sports

Fury mulls retirement after retaining crown L ONDON—Tyson Fury says he can walk away from boxing after winning “every belt there is to win” following a moment of brutal magic to stop Dillian Whyte and retain his WBC heavyweight crown. The unbeaten fighter produced a vicious uppercut at the end of the sixth round of the all-British fight on Saturday, sending a crowd of 94,000 at Wembley Stadium into raptures. The 33-year-old then told his adoring fans he was sticking to his plan

to hang up his gloves—forgoing the opportunity to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. Fury said he had promised his wife, Paris, after his third fight with Deontay Wilder in October that he would quit but owed it to his fans to fight one more time Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION on home soil. Regional Trial Court “This might be the final curBranch 78 tain for the Gypsy King,” he Quezon City said immediately after his vicIn re : PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF ANGEL tory in London on Saturday. CHRISLENE BENITEZ SANTILLAN AND CHANGE OF NAME TO ANGEL CHRISLENE SANTILLAN “And what a way to go out.” MALAPITAN. “I’ve won every belt there is S.P. CASE NO. R-QZN-21-09485-SP to win, there’s nothing more I can do, I’ve won every belt in SPOUSES WILFREDO MALAPITAN AND AILENE SANTILLAN MALAPITAN, the game,” he said later at his Petitioners. post-match press conference. x-------------------------------------------------- x “If this was a computer ORDER game it would definitely be This is a Verified petition filed by the SPOUSES WILFREDO MALAPITAN & AILENE SANTILLAN MALAPITAN on November completed for sure.” 15, 2021 for the purpose of adoption of minor ANGEL ‘Clash of the titans’ CHRISLENE BENITEZ SANTILLAN and application for change of his name from ANGEL CHRISLENE BENITEZ SANTILLAN to But Fury also muddied the ANGEL CHRISLENE SANTILLAN MALAPITAN. waters on a highly charged Finding the PETITION and its attachments sufficient in form evening, saying he had UFC and substance, the same is set for hearing for the presentation heavyweight champion Franof jurisdictional requirements/initial hearing on MAY 18, 2022, at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court sitting at cis Ngannou in his sights afRoom 203 Second Floor Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon ter the Cameroonian MMA City Hall Compound, Diliman, Quezon City. fighter got into the ring Let copy of this Order be published in a NEWSPAPER of national circulation selected by a Raffle under the supervision of the Honorable Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, at the expense of the petitioners.

during the celebrations. “I want to have fun,” he said. “I’m an entertainer and it’s what I do best. Big Francis Ngannou is on my hitlist in an exhibition fight. “However he wants it, in a cage, in a ring, with boxing gloves or UFC gloves, we can make it happen. He is a monster of a guy and so am I, so it will be a clash of the titans.” If this was to be the last official bout of his colourful career, Fury went out with a bang, revelling in the passionate support of an adoring crowd. Wembley rocked to the strains of Manila Don McLean’s “American Pie” as Standard huge screens in the stadium showed TODAY images of his glittering career. Ever the showman, Fury entered the arena decked in the red and white of the English flag, before posing on a golden throne as fireworks pierced the darkness. The giant fighter then discarded his robe and jogged to the ring, where he dominated the fight before the decisive moment left Whyte on the floor and unable to continue. Fury then led the crowd in a rendition of “American Pie” as he revelled in his victory. In reflective mood, the British boxer paid tribute to promoter Frank Warren —Fury battled depression, drink and drug problems in the years after he beat Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in 2015. AFP

Madam MARIEBEC CARIAGA, the Social Worker of the Court is ordered to conduct prepare and submit CHILD & HOME STUDY REPORTS pertaining to the herein petitioners, the adoptee and their family; and shall verify likewise with the Civil Registry the real identity and registered name of the adoptee. The same Social Worker shall establish that the child is legally available for adoption and the documents submitted in support thereof are all valid and authentic; that the petitioners has sincere intention and the adoption shall inure to the best interest of the child. If after the conduct of the case studies, the social worker finds that there are grounds to deny the petition, she shall make the proper recommendation to the court furnishing a copy thereof to the petitioners. Let copies of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, Assistant City Prosecutor Arnel F. Pabellar, DSWD, the NSO, the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the petitioners for their perusal and immediate reference. The City Civil Registrar of Manila, whereby the proposed adoptee is registered, and any one/offices who wishes to oppose instant petition including the Civil Registrar General are likewise ordered to appear on the above mentioned scheduled hearing to show cause why this petition should not be granted. The petitioners and the proposed adoptee must personally appear and the former must testify before the undersigned presiding Judge of this Court. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 26th day of November, 2021. (Sgd.) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, JR. Presiding Judge (MStandard-Apr. 11, 18, & 25, 2022)

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Regional Trial Court Branch 78 Quezon City In re: PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF A MINOR EDWARD THOMAS PALOYO WITH APPLICATION FOR HIS CHANGE OF NAME, FROM “EDWARD THOMAS PALOYO” TO “EDWARD THOMAS P. SAUNAR”. S.P. CASE NO. R-QZN-21-11293-SP SPOUSES RUEL J. SAUNAR AND SHEILA MARIE P. SAUNAR, Petitioners. x------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a Verified petition filed by the SPOUSES RUEL J. SAUNAR and SHEILA MARIE P. SAUNAR on December 22, 2021 for the purpose of adoption of minor EDWARD THOMAS PALOYO and application for change of his name from EDWARD THOMAS PALOYO to EDWARD THOMAS P. SAUNAR. Finding the PETITION and its attachments sufficient in form and substance, the same is set for hearing for the presentation of jurisdictional requirements/initial hearing on JUNE 22, 2022, at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court sitting at Room 203 Second Floor Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City Hall Compound, Diliman, Quezon City. Let copy of this Order be published in a NEWSPAPER of national circulation selected by a Raffle under the supervision of the Honorable Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, at the expense of the petitioners. Madam MARIEBEC CARIAGA, the Social Worker of the Court is ordered to conduct prepare and submit CHILD & HOME STUDY REPORTS pertaining to the herein petitioners, the adoptee and their family; and shall verify likewise with the Civil Registry the real identity and registered name of the adoptee. The same Social Worker shall establish that the child is legally available for adoption and the documents submitted in support thereof are all valid and authentic; that the Petitioners has sincere intention and the adoption shall inure to the best interest of the child. If after the conduct of the case studies, the social worker finds that there are grounds to deny the petition, she shall make the proper recommendation to the court furnishing a copy thereof to the petitioners. The counsel for the petitioner is given ten (10) days from receipt of a copy of this ORDER to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, DSWD, NSO and the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City copies of this Petition complete with annexes and to show compliance thereof soonest time possible. Let copies of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, Assistant City Prosecutor Arnel F. Pabellar, DSWD, the NSO, the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the petitioners/ counsel for their perusal and immediate reference. The City Civil Registrar of Quezon City, whereby the proposed adoptee is registered, and anyone/offices who wishes to oppose instant petition including the Civil Registrar General are likewise ordered to appear on the above mentioned scheduled hearing to show cause why this petition should not be granted. The petitioners and the proposed adoptee must personally appear and they must testify before the undersigned presiding Judge of this Court. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 28th day of December, 2021. (ORIGINAL SIGNED) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, JR. Presiding Judge

Britain’s Tyson Fury celebrates after knocking out Britain’s Dillian Whyte in the sixth round to win their WBC heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium in west London. AFP

Perpetual keeps hopes alive U N I V ERSIand coaches. TY of PerpetAyaw naming Games tomorrow (La Salle Greenhills Gym) ual Help Sysmatalo talaga.” 12 noon – CSB vs San Beda tem Dalta kept Staving off 3 p.m. – SSC-R vs Letran its hopes alive early vacaof making it tion, Perpetto the play-in stage following a ual hopes to hurdle its final 72-69 squeaker over Lyceum of elimination match against the Philippines University in the Emilio Aguinaldo College on NCAA men’s basketball tour- Friday, giving coach Myk Sanament Sunday at the La Salle guiguit more time to plot in a Greenhills Gym. game which he considered as Veterans Kim Aurin and Jielo do-or-die. Razon produced key lay-ups “Magandang pahinga then down the stretch as the Altas trabaho talaga. Malaking trabachalked up their third win in ho ang EAC. Hindi magpapatalo eight games. iyon kasi whoever wins, papaAurin, who finished with 22 sok sa play-in. Iyon ang stake,” points and five rebounds, simply said Saguiguit. wanted to extended his collegiate The play-in round, which incareer and help Perpetual return volves teams ranked third to sixth to the Final Four after missing the teams after the single-round elimbus in 2019. inations, will determine the two “Ayaw naming sayangin ang other Final Four qualifiers. opportunity na ito,” said Aurin. The rebuilding Pirates will “Ang nagmo-motivate sa akin miss the Final Four for the first ‘yung pamilya ko, ‘yung players time since 2016.

Imus vs Batangas; Valenzuela faces Sarangani in MPBL opener THE Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League returns to the country’s sports scene with its fourth season starting today (Monday) at the Batangas City Coliseum. Inaugural champion Batangas City tangles with Imus City in the nightcap at 9:30 p.m., following the 6:30 p.m. opener between Valenzuela City and Sarangani Province. An opening program featuring the parade of the competing teams with their muses will be held in-between the games with Senator Manny Pacquiao, chairman and founder of the country’s top regional league, and bigwigs of Cignal, the MPBL’s broadcast partner, gracing the occasion. Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes heads the MPBL officials in attendance with operations head Emmer Oreta and league coordinator Joe Ramos. Now known as Batangas City Embassy Chill, the Batanguenos, formerly the Batangas-Tanduay Athletics, will be led by former Makati stars Jeckster Apinan, Juneric Baloria and Rudy Linganay along with proven scorers Levi Hernandez, John Ambulodto and Ralf Olivares. Imus should be no pushover, however, with seasoned players Allan Mangahas, Leo Najorda, Adrian Celada, Genmar Bragais and Rene Pacquiao joining homegrown stars Ian Melencio and Jessie Saitanan in the fold.

(MStandard - Apr. 18, 25 & May 2, 2022)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

International dance superstar joins biggest P-Pop talent search THE country’s biggest and newest P-Pop reality search will be having internationally-renowned dance superstar and choreographer Brian Puspos as its official dance mentor. The lucky aspirants who will be part of the first batch of trainees in Top Class: The Rise To P-Pop Stardom are going to experience a unique dance lesson from a dancer that has been recognized as “Male Choreographer of the Year” by the world’s largest dance brand and enterprise - World of Dance (in 2012 and 2014).

Brian Puspos is an American dancer of Filipino descent hailing from Houston, Texas, USA. He first gained recognition in the dance scene when his dance crew called SoReal Cru finished as the runner-up in the second season of Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew. In the seventh season, he competed once again but this time with the Mos Wanted Crew, finishing third. As a choreographer, he has worked with famous acts such as Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, and K-Pop

group BTS. He is also an R&B singer, having already released three EPs in 2017 and 2020. “It means more than anybody could imagine. Although I am from the USA, I am a proud full-blooded Filipino, and I am so honored to be a part of making history and finding the next P-POP stars. To represent dance at such a high level and to be a proud Filipino on a platform like this is a dream come true,” Brian says. “I have many roles when it comes to dancing, but my most important role is

‘educating.’ I will share everything I know to help them explore dance and their potential,” he adds. Top Class is a reality show made possible by the collaboration of Filipino entertainment giants Kumu, Cignal Entertainment, TV5, and Cornerstone Entertainment. The show will be hosted by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. KZ Tandingan, and rap star Shanti Dope, the vocal and rap mentors, respectively, will be joining Brian Puspos to form the faculty of the talent competition.

Brian Puspos is the official dance mentor of ‘Top Class: The Rise To P-Pop Stardom’

Comedienne AiAi gets serious in new heartwarming drama S ELFLESS love, devotion, and the sacrifices one will make for her family are the central themes of Raising Mamay, a heartwarming drama by GMA Entertainment Group.

The actress feels both excited and challenged to be part of a drama that centers on a different kind of mother-daughter relationship

Premiering today on the network’s afternoon block, the series is headlined by AiAi De las Alas who will once again showcase her caliber as a top actress in a drama where she essays the role of a mentally challenged mother. “Apart from its beautiful story, this drama series has many firsts,” said the Comedy Queen whose career and experience in the industry span three decades. “First time kong magigiging bata na nanay sa isang teleserye and siyempre thankful ako kasi blessing ‘to eh dapat hindi tayo tumatanggi sa blessing,” she added. The 57-year-old actress admits to being both challenged and excited for the drama that centers on a different

Binibining Pilipinas reveals 40 official candidates for 2022 pageant

The official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2022

THE Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), led by Stella Marquez Araneta, has selected the official 40 candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2022 during the final screening at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City on April 22. The latest edition of the country’s most prestigious beauty pageant presents an exciting mix of fresh faces and pageant veterans, all bringing with them their unique stories, backgrounds, and advocacies. The official Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidates are Anna Valencia Lakrini, Anne de Mesa, Chelsea Fernandez, Christine Juliane Opiaza, Cyrille Payumo, Diana Mackey, Diana Pinto, Eiffel Rosalita, Elda Louise Aznar, Esel Mae Pabilaran, Ethel Abellanosa,

Fatime Kate Bisan, Gabrielle Basiano, Gracia Elizabeth Mendoza, Graciella Lehman, Gwendoline Meliz Soriano, Iman Franchesca Cristal, Ina Patricia Malaluan, Jane Darren Genobisa, Janine Navarro, Jashmin Dimaculangan, Jasmine Omay, Jeriza Uy, Jessica Rose McEwen, Joanna Day, Joanna Ricci Alajar, Karen Laurrie Mendoza, Krizzia Lynn Moreno, Leslie Avila, Ma. Francesa Taruc, Mariella Esguerra, Mary Justinne Punsalang, Natasha Ellema Jung, Nicole Borromeo, Nicole Budol, Nyca Mae Bernardo, Patricia Go, Roberta Tamondong, Stacey Daniella Gabriel, and Yllana Marie Aduana. The date and venue of the 2022 pageant have yet to be announced.

kind of motherdaughter relationship. “It’s a heartwarming drama. Nakakaiyak siya, pero at the same time, matatawa ka rin because of the honesty nung bata, yung inosente ba, sa mga pinagsasasabi niya, doon papasok yung nakakatawa,” she related. Playing alongside AiAi as her daughter, Abigail, is StarStruck Season 7 Ultimate Female Survivor Shayne Sava, who is ready to take on one of her biggest roles ever. “I’m grateful that GMA gave me this opportunity to play an important role,” she said during the series’ virtual conference. Abigail and her Mamay Letty, are as close as mothers and daughters can be; but when Letty unravels a secret that her husband kept from her, everything starts to change. Suddenly, she sees Abigail in a new light and can no longer stand being around her. Their situation begins to get even more dire when Letty suffers a traumatic brain injury that leads to her age regression.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Their roles have now been reversed. Abigail takes it upon herself to care for her mother, who now has a mental capacity similar to a seven-year-

old child. More family secrets are revealed, the past catches up to them, and suddenly Abigail finds herself questioning where her loyalties must stand. Joining AiAi and Shane in the cast are Valerie Concepcion, Gary Estrada, Antonio Aquitania, Ina Feleo, Joyce Ching, and Abdul Raman. Also in the cast are Tart Carlos, Raquel Pareño, Bryce Eusebio, Ella Cristofani, Hannah Arguelles, Lei Angela Ollet, and Orlando Sol. The series is under the helm of esteemed director Don Michael Perez and Associate Director Linnet Zurbano. Witness Letty and Abigail’s heartwarming journey in Raising Mamay, airing right after Prima Donnas on GMA Afternoon Prime.

Shayne Sava

Abdul Raman

The legacies of the Megastar and the Songbird BORN with the proverbial silver spoon and having a family rooted in politics and show business, Sharon Cuneta beguiled her adoring public initially with bubble gum anthems such as “Mr. DJ,” “Kahit Na Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,” and “Highschool Life.” Her first motion picture starrer was Dear Heart, the pictureperfect coming age movie of an affluent young miss and her first love. Soon enough, she dazzled in the trilogy composed of Bukas Luluhod Ang Mga Tala, Bituing Walang Ningnging, and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas. All her fanatics are aware of her grand slam best actress win for Madrasta and to many, Nung Iniwan Mo Ako reigns as the ultimate Cuneta movie. That is why, it is a no-brainer why Megastar is her title, not to mention her being acknowledged as one of the last four Philippine movie queens, together with Nora Aunor, Maricel Soriano, and Vilma Santos – a universally accepted truth in this side of local Tinseltown. Regine Veleasquez’s story, on the other hand, was of the Cinderella kind. An amateur singing contest contender who landed a coveted spot in Ang Bagong Kampeon, the premier televised singing contest hosted by the late, great comedian Bert Marcelo and Pilita Corales. In the talent show, she won all the elimination rounds and eventually became the victor. Her ascent to superstardom was a slow burn, with her early hits such as the revival of “Narito Ako,” “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang,” and “Urong Sulong.” Soon, her concert venues were always full-packed. Movies with Christopher de Leon, Aga Muhlach, and Robin Padilla were box office sensations. First love was the ‘90s kilabot ng mga kolehiyala Ariel Rivera and the man she married, singer and songwriter Ogie Alcasid. And yes, her title, the Songbird, fits her perfectly. She earned it, with blood, sweat, tears, and talent. Now, Mrs. Francis Pancratius Pangilinan and Mrs. Herminio Jose Alcasid, Jr., are together again on stage, for the repeat of Iconic, an artistic collaboration they did pre-pandemic times. What to expect with the repeat, Cuneta says: “There will be a lot of surprises of course. We will add some new songs but we will maintain the repertoire of the first concert held at the Araneta because they are the songs that our public wants.” Velasquez interjects: “There will be solo numbers and the duets that we are about to do, yun ang exciting part, you know, we have different voice ranges. Ate Sharon is an alto, while I border on the soprano.” Speaking of voice, Regine comes clean: “My voice does not

sound the same of course. I think it will not be realistic that at my age I still sound like I am 18 years old. You know, there are so many things that happen to a woman’s body that affect her emotions and of course voice. There was a time ALWIN when it was easy for me to reach all the high IGNACIO notes but now, may effort na talaga.” Cuneta adds: “Yes, may effort nga siya but she can still reach them. Ako kasi, for the past three years, I have not been singing so doing this, it gives me butterflies in my stomach, Regine assures me that with practice, the groove and feels will be back in no time. I am ecstatic that I am doing the concert with her.” The two singers admit that they miss the energy coming from the audiences, the singing along, the instantaneous and sincerest applause. “There is something magical when you perform on stage. Nothing beats that feeling of seeing the people happy, singing with you and that sense of appreciation is priceless,” Velasquez declares. “What I like most about the venue now is that it is more intimate. I truly look forward to being with the people who love and support Regine and I. I know that our songs have a special meaning to them. And this is our manner of giving back the love they have given to us,” Cuneta states. The two superstars’ back-to-back concert is happening at Marriott Grand Ballroom, Resorts World Manila on June 17 and 18. Directed by Paolo Valenciano with musical direction by Louie Ocampo and Raul Mitra, it is produced by Full House Theater Company. Tickets for Iconic are available on TicketWorld and SM Tickets.

ARIAS

Megastar Sharon Cuneta (right) and Asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid

Johnny Depp in starring role at defamation trial

Actor Johnny Depp on the witness stand at his defamation trial against his exwife, actress Amber Heard

TESTY at times, rambling and poetic at others, Johnny Depp has embraced a familiar role at his defamation trial against his former wife Amber Heard—the leading man. During three days on the witness stand, the three-time Oscar nominee has sought to convince a jury that the allegations of domestic abuse made against him by Heard are untrue and have destroyed his career. Lawyers for the 36-year-old Heard have

hammered away at the 58-year-old Depp’s history of drug and alcohol use in a bid to undermine his credibility. The Pirates of the Caribbean star has mostly kept his cool under cross-examination by Heard’s lawyers but has shown the occasional flash of anger. Asked by her attorney Ben Rottenborn to answer a “simple yes or no question,” Depp snapped back: “Nothing is simple in this case.”

Depp has also gotten the hang of the back-and-forth of the Virginia courtroom where high-powered lawyers for both sides are constantly interrupting each other to complain about hearsay. “That’s hearsay I guess,” Depp said of one of his own comments, drawing laughter from a gallery that includes some of the actor’s fans. “I’m learning.” AFP, Read full story on manilastandard.net

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

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022

Life

Celebrating the spirit of freedom, passion for style and design VESPA has always spurred the imagination of artists, stylists and designers around the globe. Over the recent years, big names including Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, and Sean Wotherspoon have coupled their authentic creativity with the unmistakable style of Vespa, developing exclusive brand collections. This year, it is time for an unexpected and exciting collaboration at top levels of the global pop culture: Justin Bieber, an internationally acclaimed music star with millions of fans all over the world, joins up efforts with Vespa to unveil Justin Bieber X Vespa, a new exclusive Vespa model personally ideated and designed by the singer. Bieber’s passion for Vespa is well known: “The first time I rode a Vespa was somewhere in Europe, probably either London or Paris. I just remember seeing a Vespa and being like ‘I want to ride one of those’. And I had such a great time, just the wind flying through my hair, the freedom.

It was fun,” comments Bieber. Glamorous and timeless, the new Vespa designed by Bieber reflects his creativity, always on whenever he dreams up something unique destined to become pure inspiration. “Being able to express myself, whether it’s through art, music, visuals, or aesthetics, being able to create something from nothing—it’s a part of me. Ultimately the goal in creating and designing is always to put your own unique spin on things,” said Bieber. Monochrome is the underlying style feature that distinguishes the new Vespa signed by the pop superstar. White color, selected by the singer, passes through all elements of the new Vespa Sprint: from the saddle to the grips to the spokes of the rims. The brand logo and the flames drawn on the body of the vehicle are also tone on tone white; that is the spin the singer wanted to put on the design to embody the creative drive, vibrancy and vigor – the val-

ues shared by both Bieber and Vespa. Justin Bieber X Vespa is rolled out with 150cc engines, capacities that have made Vespa history, now revamped in full respect of the most recent environmental regulations. The fresh, youthful geometry of the vehicle makes up a light yet protective body while the handlebar, with its unmistakable evocative rectangular headlight, supports an extremely modern full color multifunctional TFT display, in sync with all smartphone functions. The Full-Led lights and the spectacular 12” wheel rims are supreme results of blending style and technology. An exclusive limited edition is complemented by an equally irresistible accessories collection. A bag, a pair of gloves and a total white helmet with an utter “Justin spin”, the flames, will make the Vespa experience even cooler. Find more details on: https://www.vespa.com/ ph_EN/justin-bieber-for-vespa/ or at the https:// www.vespa.com/ph_EN/dealer-locator/?f=all Justin Bieber posing with the Vespa he designed

The elegance of Ikebana Delicious food also adds to the overall experience of Greenhills Skyline

The most exciting al fresco spot

in the heart of San Juan THINKING of where to go on your Sunset Bar next date or catch up session with Looking for a place to spend your friends while enjoying the stunning weekend nights? Enjoy the best-tasting view of the city? cocktails with stunning sunset views A more enjoyable dining experience at the Greenhills Skyline’s Sunset Bar. awaits mallgoers in Greenhills as Orti- With the expert bartenders from Luna gas Malls converts Sunset Bar, people the roof deck of the are sure to get their iconic Connectipinkies up as they cut Arcade into an groove to good open-air lifestyle music and feel hub. Dubbed the the good vibes all “Greenhills Skyaround. line,” the neighborhood alfresco Urban Garden offers panoramic The Greenhills views of the city Skyline features that makes it a per- Greenhills Skyline is the neighborhood’s an Urban Garnew alfresco destination, perfect for fect place for meetden where peodifferent activities ups over good ple can buy fresh food, coffee dates, produce during and even sunset weekends. They cocktail sessions. can choose from With the Greena wide selection hills Skyline of freshly-picked opening on April herbs and vegeta21, here’s what bles, as well as people can expeaccess Mayani — rience in the new a farm-to-table lifestyle hub. setup that helps over 70,000 loKids and adults can rent pedal go-karts Food, delish cal farmers bring and enjoy an exhilarating experience at the food their products to Pedway Go Kart Greenhills Skycustomers in the line prides itself as city. a dining destination with its wide selection of restaurants. Delight in personal Outdoor sports activities conversations with your favorites from Adjacent to the Greenhills Skyline is the Italian and Filipino restaurants, or rel- Pedway Go Kart, where kids and adults ish pica-pica sessions with sushi, sha- can rent pedal go-karts and enjoy an exhilawarma, wings, corn dogs, fresh fruit, rating experience. And since cycling is also juices, and more! a popular activity nowadays, Ortigas Malls will soon dedicate a trail where bike enthuKape Imperial siasts can ride around and kids can learn the At Greenhills, people work hard basics of cycling. Wellness sessions such as and play hard. They can work or Zumba and Yoga will also be hosted regubond over a good cup of coffee at larly at Greenhills Skyline. Kape Imperial. This cafe serves All these unique experiences at the 100 percent single origin Philip- Greenhills Skyline aim to bring an expine coffee, supporting local farm- citing atmosphere to the country’s ultiers. Alongside its coffee offerings mate shopping destination. are local craft beer (Boondocks and Non-stop fun awaits you at the newWeekend Craft Ale), dried fruit tea, est and coolest al fresco destination in and fresh vegetable juices. town. See you at the top.

Mayor Francis Zamora (third from right) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Greenhills Skyline

WAS first introduced to this Japanese art of flower arrangement several decades ago when I was still in Cebu on my first job. My lady boss at Pan Am, the late Pansy Paterno, was a member of the Cebu Ikebana Club and she, together with the Club’s President, Zelia Borromeo, would bring to our office some of the outstanding floral set-ups from the various exhibits they had over time. I wasn’t really into flower arrangements but what I saw opened my eyes to the many other unique and impressive ways to arrange blooms.

Nonette Hubilla, the current President of Manila Chapter 108

Master Senseis (teachers) from Ikenobo, Sogetsu, and other schools. This landmark celebration of the Manila chapter evoked so much enthusiasm from the many other chapters worldwide and even had the participation of Ikebana International chairperson Nobuko Sakata and honorary adviser Etsuko Hattori. The virtual exhibit showcased a total of 150 arrangements, a few of which are shown on this page. The Philippines displayed entries from the Manila, Cagayan and Davao Chapters. The Americas showed entries from the chapters in Montreal, Washington DC, Florida, Michigan, New When I was York, Philadelnew here in YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE phia, Houston and Manila and Two Hollywood stars ran into each Seattle. still didn’t have other at the door of their psychiatrist’s Europe was enough friends represented by office. “Hello there,” said one. “Are you to keep me busy masterpieces on weekends, I coming or going?” “If I knew that,” said from the chapters would go “hothe other, “I wouldn’t be here.” in Vienna, Cotel-hopping” penhagen, Hel(the five-star sinki, Paris, South hotels were still new then) and, sometimes, I’d see an Ike- Germany, Moscow, Spain, Stockholm and to be outdone, bana Exhibit, so, for lack of anything bet- Zurich. Not neighbors ter to do, I’d go in and see the display. The our Asian ladesh, more I got exposed to these exhibits, the B a n g more I realized the beauty and elegance H o n g of this art which, I learned later, is one Kong, of the three classical Japanese arts of re- I n finement, together with incense appre- d i a , ciation and the popular tea ceremony. I Inalso learned that an Ikebana arrangement always displays three elements – heaven, humans and earth – while evoking serenity, harmony and beauty. It’s been several decades that I haven’t seen an Ikebana exhibit so when my friend, Leny Fabul, invited me to the 55th Founding Anniversary of the Ikebana International Manila Chapter’s Ikebana To The Future virtual exhibit, I immediately said ‘Yes.’ The event started with a video-history of Ikebana in Manila, featuring founding President Carmen Guevara and founding members Rose Avancena, Virginia Avancena, Remedios Cepeda, Dolores Luz, Jane Markusson, Gloria Monzon, Pilar Relova, Carmen Roces, Asuncion del Rosario, and Susie Winternitz. After the chapter was officially recognized in 1967 by Ikebana International in Tokyo, members received training through workshops with headmasters of Ohara, Ichiyo and Chikusen, and with One of the artistic creations of Christopher Lim

Carmen Guevara, the Founding President of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 in 1967

Sogetsu Ikebana Riji instructor Christopher Lim from Singapore donesia, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taipei came in strong with their own entries. What I found very interesting during the event was the demonstration given by the renowned Sogetsu Ikebana Riji instructor of the highest level, Christopher Lim, from the Singapore chapter. He did several beautiful and unique flower arrangements, each time taking less than five minutes, much to everyone’s amazement. Having seen all the entries shown during the event, I now agree with French artist Camille Henrot who said, “In the traditional Ikebana, things always have to be asymmetrical because, this way, they look more natural and balanced.” And I guess that pretty much sums up the mystifying elegance of Ikebana. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com.

Celia Lazaro’s creation in memory of Carmen Guevara, Founding President of Manila Chapter 108