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Marcos tasks Zubiri, Romualdez to tackle legislations for SONA By Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 106 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRESIDENT-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has asked Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez to “sit down” and discuss

the possible legislative agenda that he would include in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July. “He (Marcos) instructed me and incoming Speaker Martin Romualdez to sit down and discuss possible legislative Next page

PH raps China for sea threats DFA protests research ship harassment, fishing ban in country’s EEZ

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE government on Tuesday said it summoned a senior Chinese Embassy official back in April to protest the harassment of a Philippine research in the West Philippine Sea, and rejected a unilateral fishing ban declared by Beijing in waters where the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued the statement after Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported that Chinese Coast Guard and militia, in three months, harassed Filipino vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. The DFA said the presence of the Chinese coast guard vessels around Reed Bank was not consistent with innocent passage and “are clear violations of Philippine maritime jurisdiction where only the Philippine government has the mandate of enforcement.” “The detailed reports of these activities are being reviewed for the filing of appropriate diplomatic action,” the department said. Only the Philippine Coast Guard has “enforcement jurisdiction over these waters,” the DFA said. Next page

WHERE PEOPLE USED TO STAND. Health workers and doctors arrange 321 pairs of shoes and slippers at the Lung Center of the Philippines on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 to mark the ‘World No Tobacco Day.’ Some 321 Filipinos die every day due to tobacco-related diseases, the health experts said. Manny Palmero (Story on Page 2)

Dar: Shortage of fish, pork, rice still persists

By Maricel Cruz AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar on Tuesday said there is still a shortage in the local production of fish, pork, and rice due in part to years ofå neglect of agriculture. In an interview on GMA-7, Dar said there was still a scarcity in fish and pork, and rice levels were only at 92 percent. “Local production is not

EGG SUPPLY. A worker arranges trays of eggs at a store in Blumentritt Market in Sta Cruz, Manila on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The United Broilers Raisers Association warned the supply of eggs may be tight in the next few months on the back of higher cost of production as the price of feeds increased. Danny Pata

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Big LPG price cut: Petron as much as P5.90/kg Petron said it would implement a P5.90 typical 11-kilogram LPG tank. per kilogram slash in its household LPG Phoenix will likewise roll back its LPG price by P5.18 per kilogram and Auto PETRON Corp. announced a hefty price prices effective today (Wednesday). The price adjustment is equivalent to LPG by P2.86 per liter effective today. rollback for its liquefied petroleum gas about a P64.9 decrease in the price of a (LPG) products. Next page

By Alena Mae Flores

Tulfo told to digitalize distribution of DSWD financial and relief aid PRESIDENT-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants the distribution of aid through the Department of Social Welfare and Development digitized to make it faster, DSWD Secretary-designate Erwin Tulfo said Tuesday. Tulfo also said he will prioritize the country’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery and hasten the distribution of financial aid and relief goods during calamities once he takes over as Social Welfare Secretary.

“He wants to digitalize the distribution of aid from the DSWD so that it would be faster,” the veteran broadcaster said in a public briefing. Tulfo called on the public, particularly his critics, to judge him based on his performance as DSWD chief after six months. He said he may let somebody else lead DSWD if he could not function well within this timeframe.

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Comelec eyes replacing old VCMs, needs P6.7b for that By Macon Ramos-Araneta OFFICIALS of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday recommended the leasing of new vote counting machines (VCMs) at a cost of P6.7 billion to replace the 13-yearold machines used in the last election.

Facing the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms hearing, Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said a total of 97,000 VCMs should be replaced but the poll body failed to do so due to their small budget. The committee led by Sen. Imee Next page

FDA okays Monderna vax for children 6-11 years old WHO sees no

pandemic yet for monkeypox

By Willie Casas

HONOR CABIE NEW MS OPINION EDITOR

Honor Blanco Cabie, Manila Standard’s Night Editor, has been appointed as Opinion Editor effective today. Mr. Cabie is a professional journalist for 56 years now, and even covered the Vietnam War as a news agency correspondent. He has also taught journalism and literature subjects in both graduate and undergraduate levels. The proud son of Pinili, Ilocos Norte is the president of the alumni association of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), where he finished his Masters in Media Management and in Journalism.

THE Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency use authorization (EUA) of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years old, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday. This developed as the DOH reported five additional cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the Western Visayas region. Meanwhile, independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said it is “too early to tell” if the increase in COVID-19 cases in some areas of the Philippines will be sustained. Health Promotion and Communication Service director Dr. Beverly Ho, during her regular briefing, said the Philippine FDA granted the amendNext page

LEARNING NEVER STOPS. Elementary school teachers tutor their pupils inside

bamboo houses at the Aurora Quezon Elementary school in San Andres, Manila on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Department of Education is encouraging all schools to return to holding in-person classes for the upcoming school year. Danny Pata

THE World Health Organization said it was not concerned for now that the spread of monkeypox beyond the African countries where it is typically found could spark a global pandemic. Since Britain first reported a confirmed monkeypox case on May 7, nearly 400 suspected and confirmed cases have been reported to the WHO in nearly two dozen countries far from the states where the virus is endemic. The UN health agency has voiced concern at this “unusual situation,” but reiterated Monday that there was no reason to panic over the virus, which Next page

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Comelec refers 7 ‘fake news’ to NBI T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has referred seven fake news incidents to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that “undermined” the credibility of the May 9 national and local polls.

Fake News was formed to counter any attempt to undermine the credibility of the electoral process. “We have referred to about seven that we have seen that undermined the credibility of our election. There are also, if you notice, those abroad who released information that the name of a candidate was not included on the ballot. Here in the country, the NBI has already issued a subpoena, we have referred it to the NBI,” he said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. The candidate in question was Robredo, but the Comelec refuted the allegation, saying the photo of an overseas ballot that did not contain the name of the Vice President was “deliberately edited.”

The poll body said the Office for Overseas Voting was coordinating closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand to identify the persons responsible for editing the photo, and for spreading the photo on social media. Garcia also said the NBI is currently investigating one of the persons claiming the poll body will change the number of votes of the winning candidates. “The NBI is ready, they are actually interrogating those involved for the investigation. The one involved said that the election was done but the Comelec might change this number of votes for each candidate from president to senators,” he said.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, head of the poll body’s Task Force Kontra Fake News, said Tuesday the NBI has subpoenaed one of those involved and is currently investigating the matter. This developed as the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo, who lost the elections to President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is not yet done with its assessment on 2022 polls, spokesperson and lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez said Tuesday. Gutierrez commented two days after Robredo returned to the country after

attending the graduation of her youngest daughter Jillian from New York University and spending two weeks with her daughters in the United States. “Machinery still counts a lot in the Philippine elections. We haven’t really finished the assessment of the totality of what happened,” Gutierrez told ANC in an interview. “This is a post-social media election... it’s [apparent] that social media now determines the outcome,” he added. But Garcia said Task Force Kontra

Dar:... From A1

Manila Bay dolomite beach reopens June 12

enough,” he said. Speaking of the low priority given to agriculture, Dar said the Philippines only allots 1.5 percent of its budget to the sector while other countries dedicate 3.5 percent to 6 percent of their budget. Dar said the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will inherit an agriculture sector that has been “underbudgeted, and neglected all these 30 years.” “It’s gasping for breath, and we need sizable budgetary support to make it possible to really now unlock the potential of Philippine agriculture,” said Dar, who was appointed DA chief in 2019. “I would’ve been much happier if agriculture would have been properly budgeted,” he added. Dar, a vocal supporter of Marcos Jr., has consistently said he is willing to serve under the incoming administration. “If offered, I am there to serve this incoming leadership. If given the chance,” he said. But the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) on Sunday expressed concerns about the prospect of Dar’s reappointment. In an interview on radio dzBB, UBRA Chairman Gregorio San Diego said local farmers, particularly the smaller ones, were concerned about the government’s importation of agricultural products from other countries, which has affected their cost of production. The DA’s mandate is to nurture and improve local agriculture and not importers, he said.

Big LPG... From A1 The country’s oil firms earlier implemented a mixed adjustment in pump prices to reflect the movement in the world oil market. The firms set a hike of P1.20 per liter for diesel and P2.45 per liter for kerosene but cut the price of gasoline by P1.70 per liter. The world oil market remained volatile due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. On Tuesday, European Union leaders struck a watered-down deal to ban more than two-thirds of Moscow’s oil imports. They, however, played down the chances of a rapid embargo on Russian gas to follow the partial ban on oil imports. Europe is heavily reliant on Russian gas. with AFP

Tulfo... From A1 In a related development, Marcos Jr. will not have an official spokesperson, his incoming Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Tuesday. “Our President-elect has not designated a spokesperson. He said he would face the media himself,” Cruz-Angeles, who will head the Presidential Communications Operations Office, told TeleRadyo’s “On the Spot” in Filipino. “We don’t know yet how often [the President-elect will hold press conferences], but I think there are some issues where he prefers to deal with himself,” she said. “For the rest, what we’re doing is to bring out the information, provide the clarification,” the erstwhile blogger added. She said Marcos has yet to name Cabinet secretaries to key departments due to the deluge of applicants. The incoming Press Secretary add-

321 Pinoys die every day due to smoking AT LEAST 321 Filipinos die every single day due to cigar-related diseases, according to the Lung Center of the Philippines. According to Dr. Glynna OngCabrera, LCP’s smoking cessation program manager and Department of Health’s Quitline project director, to quit smoking is not just a matter of personal responsibility. “Every day, 321 Filipinos die because tobacco companies continue to sell and market their addictive and deadly products,” she said. “Tobacco products are designed to make it difficult for smokers to quit, putting them at risk to develop tobacco-related diseases which may eventually lead to death,” she added. Meanwhile, the Department of Health, in collaboration with Viral Strategies, and Smokefree Philippines, on Tuesday launched a campaign rallying for smoke-free beaches, parks, and tourist destinations in Boracay Island and Aklan. The campaign will have an eightmonth duration starting May 31, coinciding with the celebration of “World No Tobacco Day.” The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, for its part, commended local government units in the National Capital Region for organizing activities in line with the “World No Tobacco Day” event. The Lung Center of the Philippines initiated an art installation of 321 pairs of shoes and slippers at its main lobby to mark the 321 Filipinos who die every day due to tobacco. “We need an ecosystem of policies that will make it easier for Filipinos to quit the deadly habit of smoking,” Dr. Jessica Catalan-Legarda, the hospital’s advocacy chairperson, said. “Tobacco control saves lives,” she added. Rio N. Araja. Wilie Casas, Joel Zurbano

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to reopen Manila Bay’s dolomite beach on June 12. DENR Secretary Jim Sampulna said the beach will be reopened to the public on June 12 coinciding with the country’s celebration of Independence Day. “We are excited to open the dolomite beach to the public again on June 12.

This is the good legacy of the Duterte administration. That’s why we really aim to open it before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s term ends,” he said. The agency reset the beach’s reopening from May to June since several infrastructure works have yet to be finished in the area. Undersecretary for Policy, Planning,

and International Affairs Jonas Leones said the 500-meter beach nourishment project, which started in 2020, withstood rains, typhoons and floods. “This proves that the dolomite beach, thanks to the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the other agencies, is stable and will prevail,” he said.

PH raps... From A1

bon exploration activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. The DFA confirmed the “presence of foreign coast guard vessels” around Reed Bank and in the vicinity of the Philippine-approved activities around Service Contracts No. 75 and 72. At the same time, the DFA said it does not recognize China’s fishing moratorium from May 1 to Aug. 16 as it covers waters in areas where the Philippines exercises “sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.” Beijing imposed the three-and-a-halfmonth fishing moratorium “in areas of the South China Sea north of the 12 degrees North latitude.” “In a diplomatic note dated 30 May 2022, the DFA conveyed its protest to the moratorium, which covers areas in the West Philippine Sea over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,” the DFA said. The DFA cited Paragraph 716 of the Award of the South China Sea Arbitration rendered on July 12, 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands which states that any Chinese fishing moratorium in the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is illegal. “The Philippines calls on China to comply with its obligations under in-

ternational law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the final and binding Award on the South China Sea Arbitration; cease and desist from the conduct of illegal actions that violate the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in its maritime zones; and adhere to its commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC),” the DFA said. The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands, which ruled in favor of the Philippines, also upheld the traditional and legitimate fishing rights of Filipino fishermen. “The declaration of a moratorium on fishing that extends to the West Philippine Sea has no basis in law, and undermines the mutual trust, confidence, and respect that should underpin bilateral relations, as affirmed most recently by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and President Xi Jinping during their Telesummit on 08 April 2022,” the DFA said. China has rejected the 2016 international tribunal ruling and maintained historic rights over 90 percent of the South China Sea — a major shipping route and said to be harboring rich oil and gas reserves. Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims over the resource-rich waters.

presidency appeared to be a toss-up between Zubiri and Sen. Cynthia Villar. But for the elder sister of the President-elect, Sen. Imee Marcos, it is “most unlikely” for her brother to make an endorsement. “It’s most unlikely and quite improper as you are well aware there’s a separation of the three branches of the government,” she said. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Senators-elect Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda are also reportedly seeking the Senate’s top post. For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the race for the Senate presidency is still very “fluid.” “In my view, it is very fluid...There

are no 13 senators at this point who have made firm commitments on the Senate presidency,” Drilon said. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, however, claimed eight senators, majority of them allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, would back Villar. Dela Rosa also revealed that Villar had offered Zubiri a possible term-sharing arrangement. Nevertheless, Sen. Imee stressed the need for a “supermajority” in the Senate which will unite to address the problems that the country is facing. “I think at all costs we need to have a supermajority. Our country faces, with the world, a very challenging future. We need to be together,” she said.

ment to the EUA of Moderna last May 20 for use as a primary vaccine series for children. However, the DOH still awaits the recommendation of the World Health Organization for the use of Moderna for children six to 11 years old. This will be the guide of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) for its independent evaluation. Zuellig Pharma Corp.’s ZP Therapeutics, citing published and peer-reviewed clinical data, said in a statement that two doses of the Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine have “an acceptable safety profile and elicits a strong immune response for children aged 6 to 11.” Zuellig also pointed out that the efficacy of Spikevax among the younger age group is similar to those in adults. “This is a welcome development in expanding COVID-19 vaccine access within our pediatric population,” said Zuellig medical doctor Dr. Philip Nakpil. “The Spikevax COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna boosts opportunities in ensuring more children are protected against the virus,” he added. In late December last year, the FDA approved the EUA for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11 years old.

Commissioner George Garcia recommended that the 97,000 VCMs used in the last election be “retired.” “It is no longer feasible at this point to use these machines in 2025. These VCMs are too old already,” he said. Garcia said they would prefer leasing the machines than buying new ones to avoid having to fund their maintenance and proper safekeeping. “Based on the experience of the Commission on Elections, it’s always leasing the machine that is the best option, not purchas-

ing the machine, simply because we have to rent a warehouse to store the machines and at the same time it’s very difficult to maintain the machines,” he said. Comelec Executive Director Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. said the government must allot about P70,000 per VCM, which would come up to P6.7 billion for 97,000 machines. During the May 9 polls, long lines and several cases of malfunctioning VCMs were reported. The VCM issues were flagged by several international observers and election watchdogs.

that “we don’t know.” But “we don’t think so,” she said. “At the moment, we are not concerned of a global pandemic.” It was important, she said, to take rapid steps to rein in the spread of the virus. “It is still possible to stop this outbreak before it gets larger,” she told an online public forum. “I don’t think we should be scared collectively.” Monkeypox is related to smallpox, which

killed millions around the world every year before it was eradicated in 1980. But monkeypox is much less severe, and most people recover within three to four weeks. The initial symptoms include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a blistery chickenpox-like rash. Experts are trying to determine why the virus has suddenly begun spreading in countries where it has never been seen before, and mainly among young men. AFP

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not yet issued a statement on the matter. “The Department summoned a senior official of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to protest the harassment by CCG on RV Legend, which had been conducting an authorized marine scientific research (MSR) activity, with Philippine scientists on board,” the DFA said. It did not provide further details but said the activity was led by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences. In a May 26 report, the AMTI said RV Legend was shadowed by Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5203 at a distance of two to three nautical miles while conducting research about 60 nautical miles northwest of Luzon on March 24. Taipei responded on March 25 by dispatching its own coast guard vessel from Taiwan-occupied Pratas Island. AMTI said Taiwan’s 5001 maneuvered to keep the Chinese vessel away from RV Legend for the next two days, with the vessels “in some instances coming within 1,000 meters of each other.” Apart from this, AMTI reported two separate incidents of CCG vessels challenging marine research and hydrocar-

Marcos... From A1 agenda for the SONA, discussions for the SONA,” Zubiri told reporters. Zubiri assured Marcos that whether or not he gets the Senate presidency, he would cooperate with the new administration. “And we promised to him and I told him that ‘Boss, whether or not I become Senate President, I will help. So we’ll have a series of meetings. We will be discussing how we will assist the president-elect on his legislative agenda for the 19th Congress,” the senator added. This early, the contest for the Senate

ed she has also yet to choose her undersecretaries and other officials of the PCOO. “A lot of candidates are applying. A lot of them are well qualified,” she said. “My nightmare is choosing among these brilliant people. We really are having a difficult time.” At the DSWD, Tulfo said Marcos Jr. told him to “clean” the list of beneficiaries at the agency to ensure those receiving financial aid or relief goods were qualified. “Those who should no longer be there must be removed, and the list should be compared with that of the LGU, particularly the barangay, to determine who really needs aid so that it does not go to waste. Those who did receive aid would get some now,” he said in Filipino. Interviewed on Unang Balita a day after his nomination was announced, Tulfo pointed out that he wants to expedite the allocation of aid to calamity-stricken areas so that people would no longer have to wait 24 hours or more.

Comelec... From A1 Marcos conducted a hearing to make a general assessment of the last national and local elections. “I am wondering if you have already computed forward exactly what we should do with the VCMs. We’ve gone through the repairs and so on. Perhaps partial or complete replacement of these VCMs is in order?” Marcos asked.

WHO... From A1 spreads through close contact and usually does not cause severe disease. Asked during an epidemiological briefing whether the virus, which is endemic in a range of west and central African nations, might provoke another pandemic, WHO’s top monkeypox expert Rosamund Lewis acknowledged

FDA... From A1

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Garments firms seeking exemption from wage hike NOTWITHSTANDING the across-theboard increase in the daily minimum wage, garments manufacturers are seeking, at least, a one-year exemption from the 2022 wage hike, given that many stakeholders are still reeling from the lack of opportunities during the pandemic. The Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) is asking for government support to defer the wage hike until the second quarter of 2023. “The bottomline here is that wage increase is too high for specific regions like Region 3 where workers are asking for 10 percent increase and in Region 7 with proposals for 7 percent increase. We requested to defer at least a year so we can recover,” said CONWEP executive director Maritess Agoncillo. Already, some factories in Cebu are considering to streamline operations that may cut employment, she added. CONWEP’s data highlighted that al-

IN BRIEF PNP exec orders update of illegal drug watchlist MAJ. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Philippine National Police (PNP) director for operations ordered all chiefs of police to regularly update their illegal drugs watchlist as part of the efforts to continue the campaign against illegal drugs. “We cannot lower our guard because there will be new players who may take over the operations of the drug traffickers that we neutralize. We should not allow that to happen,” de Leon said in a statement. De Leon reminded all police commanders to continue the aggressive campaign against illegal drugs amid concerns that anti-illegal drug operations will weaken once President Rodrigo Duterte steps down on June 30. De Leon said the PNP has developed a new strategy to prevent drug syndicates from continuing their illegal operations. The operations and law enforcement would be backed by an aggressive information drive and education campaign aimed at students, who are often the target customers of illegal drug syndicates.

DOH closely monitoring dengue cases in 3 areas

most 20,000 direct workers were displaced due to the global pandemic. Prepandemic, the sector employed 260,000 to 280,000workers. Agoncillo stressed that the garments and wearable industry has barely recovered from the pandemic and with the rising inflation, growth forecast is reined at 5 to 6 percent, which is far lower than the wage hike demand from the regions where the industry has presence. The industry, Agoncillo said, is wary of the P40 daily increase in Region 3, where many of the stakeholders are located, noting that the amount is almost at $1 threshold. She noted the increase will put added pressure on manufacturers as they compete with exporters from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. “We are now at another standstill as we continue to price ourselves out of the global competitiveness structure,” she added. Othel V. Campos

FRESH FISH. Freshly caught fish from Manila Bay is seen being unloaded by fishermen from their boat in the nearby Noveleta Fish Port in Barangay San Rafael, Noveleta, Cavite Province. May 31 was declared National Fisherfolk Day in honor of the contribution of farmers and fisherfolk to the growth and development of the local agriculture sector. Norman Cruz

Semicon firms warn $3b in losses due to BIR work-from-home rule T By Othel V. Campos

HE country’s group of semiconductors and electronics manufacturers, on Tuesday, warned of losing $3.6 billion following a set of concerns on the surprise audit system introduced by the Bureau of the Internal Revenue (BIR) to monitor compliance with the 70/30 work set-up. The Semiconductors and Electronics Industry of the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) said five companies have pulled out from commitments to locate in the Philippines, and another two firms, with combined investments of $400 million, threatening to do the same. “There are lots o concerns and what happened is capital flight. We have about 5 companies that moved to Vietnam, Thailand, and China instead of

investing in the Philippines,” said SEIPI president Dan Lachica at an open forum during the signing of a memorandum of understanding Tuesday between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The MOU will seal the two agencies’ cooperation to identify idle lands for the development of new

THE Senate has adopted a resolution allowing the sale, transfer, or assignment of a broadcasting network franchise established by Rep. Martin Romualdez. Adopted was Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19, introduced by Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri, which approved the sale, transfer, or assignment of the controlling interest in Philippine Collective Media Corporation to Golden Peregrine Holdings Inc. PCMC was founded in 2008 by Romualdez and got its franchise on November 14, 2009. Initially, its broadcast operations were limited to the Eastern Visayas region. In the 2010s, PCMC launched 3 stations in Tacloban: AM station DYBR (discontinued in 2013 following the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda), FM station DYDR, and the first local independent TV station PRTV. Macon Ramos-Araneta

FREE RIDE. Commuters enter the MRT North Ave station in Quezon City on May 31. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has extended the free rides on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT ) Line 3 until June 30 throughout the railway’s operating hours from 4:40 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. Manny Palmero

OUTGOING President Rodrigo Duterte wished Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio good health and success in her role as the second-highest official of the land, the Palace said. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also on Tuesday called Duterte-Carpio his “BFF,” or “Best Friend Forever” and greeted her a “happy birthday” in a Facebook post. Duterte-Carpio celebrated her 44th birthday on Tuesday. Her friends and allies have sent her birthday greetings, including her running mate in the 2022 national elections, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million policy-based loan to support the Philippines in its climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. The Climate Change Action Program will help the Philippines deliver its nationally determined contribution—its commitment to help advance global efforts to stabilize the world’s climate under the Paris Agreement—and intensify efforts to transform vulnerable sectors toward a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy. “We have a climate emergency, and all countries must come together and address the causes and adapt in a way that ensures food security, protects our biodiversity, and improves the well-being of millions of vulnerable persons,” said Ahmed M. Saeed, ADB Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. “The Philippines has adopted important climate actions and goals that will help address these threats and

challenges and guide a green and resilient recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.” “This is ADB’s first climate action policy-based loan. It will support the Philippines develop, deliver, and finance a holistic approach to address climate change by transitioning to low-carbon pathways, strengthening the ability of vulnerable sectors to adapt to climate change, and increasing conservation of land and marine resources,” he said. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 ranks the Philippines fourth among countries most affected by extreme weather globally from 2000 to 2019. The pandemic has heightened the country’s vulnerability to the economic impact of severe weather events. Poorer households are disproportionately affected, especially in urban areas with less secure infrastructure, and those situated along the country’s vast coastal areas most exposed to extreme weather.

DFA set to deploy rapid response team to Sri Lanka By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will send a rapid response team tasked to bring assistance to Filipinos in Sri Lanka amid the ongoing economic crisis in the foreign country. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola revealed on Tuesday that the response team is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on June 2. The team will come from the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh to extend the government’s response to close to 500 affected Filipinos in the embattled country. “They are having a hard time. So the DFA is going to Sri Lanka to give financial assistance to our fellowmen who are in need,” Arriola said, in a press briefing.

According to her, the DFA is planning to provide 300 US dollars of cash assistance to every Filipino adult in Sri Lanka. Around 25 Filipinos have already expressed their intention to return to the Philippines, Arriola said. They are expected to be brought home “either this coming weekend or early nest week.” “As long as they are decided. It’s important that they are decided, we will get the first available commercial flight to bring them home considering their situation in Sri Lanka,” the DFA undersecretary for migrant workers said. At present, there are 492 Filipinos in Sri Lanka. More than half of them are married to Sri Lankans. “There are only a few Filipinos there but they can already feel the effect of inflation in Sri Lanka,” Arriola said. Of the 25 Filipinos up for repatriation, nine of

Duterte, BBM send greetings to Inday Sara By Vito Barcelo

“We’ve been working hard for the 70/30 set-up,” said Madrid stressing that the sector has been observing the practice way before the push for WFH during the pandemic. Marcos, a staunch advocate for the continuation if not institution of the WFH arrangement, asked for ITBAP’s cooperation not to antagonize agencies of interest. “The reality is that it needs to be addressed in a more nuanced way. We can’t just say 70/30 absolutely to everything under the sun,” she said. She asked the group to identify the niches that urgently need as high as 90 percent on-site and the other areas where WFH is needed, asap, “so we don’t scare real estate developments, hotels and restaurants, shopping and malls.”

ADB OKs $250m loan for PH climate change programs

THE Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday it is now closely monitoring the increase in dengue cases in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula. According to the DOH, 6,622 dengue cases were reported from April 10 to May 7, 2022, most of which came from Region 9 with 908 cases (14 percent), Region 7 with 881 cases (13 percent), and Region 3 with 593 cases (9 percent). The DOH has seen recent increases in dengue cases starting the end of March. It noted that the 11,435 dengue cases recorded from March 20 to April 30 was 94 percent higher than the cases reported during the same period in 2021, which was 5,901. Reports showed that 19 people have already died due to dengue in Zamboanga City alone, which has already declared a dengue outbreak. The cases in the city reached over 2,000 from January to May 14, 2022. Willie Casas

Senate adopts network franchise sale of PCMC

economic zones. With the fresh set of capital flight, the country’s bid to provide jobs to 25,000 Filipinos was put in jeopardy. On top of BIR inconsistencies, Lachica underscored the effects of incentives rationalization, seen to have detrimental to companies as well as the lack of support to the work-from-home work set-up which has “undermined the effectiveness of PEZA.” Jack Madrid of the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said investors are looking at a “black and white clarity” on the WFH issue. The support from Senator Imee Marcos to secure a resolution from the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) for the institutionalization of the 70/30 work ratio.

Duterte conveyed his message to his daughter during the Cabinet’s last meeting and thanksgiving last Monday night, according to Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar. Duterte-Carpio is set to take her oath of office as the 15th vice-president of the Philippines on June 19. But her six-year term of office will only start on June 30. Inday Sara, a lawyer, is the first female mayor and the youngest to have been elected as Vice President of the country. President Duterte had endorsed his daughter’s vice-presidential run but was not able to attend her proclamation in the Batasang Pambansa Complex last May 25. In his previous speeches, Duterte said

Sara, given her qualities and leadership style, would be a great fit for the vice presidency. Duterte also expressed optimism that his fellow Filipinos would accept the leaders of the country, “whoever they are.” House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez meanwhile wished the vice-president elect a “ long life, excellent health, and more opportunities to serve her beloved Filipino people.” “I join the Filipino nation in extending our warmest greetings to Vice Presidentelect Sara Duterte as she celebrates her birthday today,” Romualdez, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, said. With Maricel V. Cruz

them are minors. The DFA official advised Filipinos there that as long as they can present a birth certificate of their child and a proof that they are a Filipino citizen, they can be listed for repatriation. The response team will also help the Honorary Consul in Sri Lanka to get in touch with Filipinos on the ground to check their situation and assist them for repatriation. “If there are more repatriates, we will continue buying commercial tickets to bring them to the Philippines because they are now suffering from the rising prices of goods,” Arriola said. Arriola assured that there are no reports of Filipinos being affected by the protests that turned violent in the past weeks. According to the DFA official, the protests have mellowed down and the violence have lessened but the greater challenge for Filipinos there is the surging prices of goods.

STREET ART. An artist applies colorful paint to benches and balusters of Muelle Loney, once a trading center of the sugar industry from the 1800s to the 1900s. The street art added more colors and transformed the scenery of the clean Iloilo River. Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

Opinion

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The war on drugs

WITH outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte urging the incoming Marcos administration to continue the war on illegal drugs—and the president-elect agreeing in principle with his predecessor—there’s the danger that a return to the ‘take-noprisoners’ approach and its violent and bloody outcome since 2016—could well be replicated and even take center stage in the months ahead. We have no quarrel with combating illegal drugs with every weapon at the disposal of the State, particularly if targeted at the big-time drug traffickers and their coddlers in government. But we have a big problem with the police terminating with extreme prejudice even the drug dependents who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and find themselves invariably depicted in police reports as ‘nanlaban’, the rule of law and due process be damned. Now, with a new administration poised to take over the reins of government by July 1st, there’s been conflicting views on what should be done with it. Will continue it with the same “kill, kill, kill” approach that Duterte preferred, or temper both the punitive aspect with the treatment and rehabilitation component? The outgoing regime has concluded that the drug problem has grown too big beyond its capability to control. And the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) apparently wants the war on drugs to be the agency’s priority under the Marcos administration. Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said the supposedly lower crime rate brought investors to the country. He did not, however, cite any data to back up his conclusion. “This is a very important thing. Because the crime rate is down, many investors came to the Philippines because our peace and order situation is good. I am hoping this continues,” he intoned. The official said it is up to the next administration how it would carry out its anti-narcotics campaign, but suggested its initial phase could be implemented in Metro Manila. “We will brief the incoming secretary Benhur Abalos. Then we will leave it up to them if they will continue the project or revive it in the next administration. But it is a good peace and order program and for the security for our people,” Densing said. The DILG’s stand, however, might not be consistent with what President-elect Marcos, Jr. and Vice-President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio said: that they would “add heart” to Duterte’s drug war, citing the importance of rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities for recovering drug users. Do you still remember that a Chinese businessman who started small in Manila’s Chinatown but became very rich over the years decided to give back to the country by donating money for the construction of a huge 10,000-capacity drug rehabilitation facility in Nueva Ecija

EDITORIAL

province? Whatever happened to it? We haven’t heard news about it but the little that we’ve read in news reports is that only a few hundred drug dependents actually used the facility, and that it’s been converted to other uses, since it’s located near a huge army camp in the province. In short, the Duterte government did not seem to give any priority to the rehabilitation of drug dependents but concentrated more on eliminating anyone involved in illegal drugs, whether casual drug user, street-level dealer, or big-time trafficker. Duterte has emphasized that his successor should continue to fight illegal drugs, and that it “has to be a war.”

The outgoing regime has concluded that the drug problem has grown too big beyond its capability to control. That’s what’s disturbing, as all-out war against illegal drugs as what has happened since 2016 caused too many lives lost and yet the drug problem persists. The International Criminal Court (ICC) last year authorized an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity on the administration’s flagship program, but it has been suspended to assess the scope of the country’s deferral request. Will the Marcos administration allow the ICC to do its probe? That we’ll have to see. Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has said its latest report on the drug war situation in the country has “encouraged a culture of impunity” as it failed to respect and protect the rights of Filipinos. While acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said it is “pleased that the CHR has independently exercised its mandate”, the Palace also sees a “rehash of old issues” in the report. “It’s not a rehash because actually, we released a partial investigation report last year but this is a continuation of a report on the national scale,” according to the agency. In its 48-page report titled “Investigated Killings In Relation to the Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign” released recently, the CHR concluded that police officers involved in the drug war” showed “intent to kill” and used “excessive force” in its anti-illegal drug operations. The CHR study analyzed 882 case dockets involving 1,139 victims. Of this, 920 were killed, while seven cases have remained shrouded in mystery. Even more disturbing is the recent statement of outgoing President Duterte that after he leaves Malacañang on June 30, he will go back to Davao City and continue his brutal crusade against illegal drugs: “I’ll search for drug peddlers, shoot them, and kill them.” Not good, not good at all, if you ask us, for the rule of law and due process in this country. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Study: Global societal collapse is possible

SUSTAINABLE development scientist Thomas Cernev has warned of the escalating risk of global societal collapse in a contributing paper to the 2022 Global Assessment Report (GAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction, In his paper on global catastrophic risk (GCR) and planetary boundaries, Cernev presented a scenario analysis that considers four scenarios in relation to GCR (high and low) and planetary boundaries (crossed and uncrossed). These scenarios are Stable Earth, Earth Under Uncertainty, Earth Under Threat, and Global Collapse. In all these scenarios except Stable Earth, the “achievement of global targets and accompanying frameworks is negatively impacted,” while under Earth Under Uncertainty and Earth Under Threat, the trend is toward Global Collapse, unless radical changes are made. Alarmingly, multiple planetary boundaries are close to being breached, writes Cernev, and should they fail, economic and political breakdowns will follow. In

this case, “total societal collapse is a possibility,” he writes. ‘Planetary boundaries’ are natural systems, and a framework created by the Stockholm Resilience Center in 2009, according to Byline Times’ Nafeez Ahmed, presents nine key ecosystems that if “pushed past a certain threshold, will dramatically reduce the ‘safe operating space’ for human habitation.” Ahmed adds that the UN report “notes that four of the nine planetary boundaries now seem to be operating outside the safe operating space” – land system change and climate change are “in a zone of uncertainty with increasing risk” of going beyond the safe operating space, while biochemical flows and ‘novel entities’ (“new engineered chemicals, materials, or organisms and natural elements mobilized by human activity such as heavy metals”) have “far exceeded” that space. However, two other planetary boundaries – ocean acidification and freshwater use – would also probably be exceeded, said Professor Will Steffen of the Stockholm Resilience Center last year. That’s six out of nine planetary boundaries in immediate danger, and at this rate, adds Ahmed, “it is possible that we cross almost all of them before 2030.” Ahmed adds that “escalating synergies between disasters, economic vulnerabili-

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Looming uncertainties ture of the next generation of students, who have been dealt with the challenge of learning during a pandemic. Can they cope with the demands of technology and of the workplace in succeeding years? These are our questions, among others. All these uncertainties ask of us, citizens, to do our part and to remain vigilant about the decisions being made by our government officials. More than ever, let us hold them to account and remind them that their actions should serve the people, nobody else – especially not themselves. The affairs of the state are as much the business of the governed as it is of those they have chosen to lead them. With this we can at least be certain that we truly get the government we deserve.

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HERE are many things about which Filipinos remain uncertain.

We wonder whether the “slight” increase in COVID numbers in recent days would lead to yet another surge. We know all too well the harrowing effects of a higher number of fresh cases – on the health system, on businesses, on the general public. Certainly it would reverse whatever gains we might have made in the past few months. We wonder too whether we should at all be concerned about monkeypox, which saw an increase in Europe last month. We are being warned about a looming food crisis, with more Filipinos poised

The affairs of the state are as much the business of the governed as it is of those they have chosen to lead them. to suffer the consequences of higher prices and lack of access to basic food on the table. We are also concerned about the fu-

Selling optimism ONE thing about the incoming Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (or BBM) presidency, it will be incorrigibly optimistic. BBM comes to power on June 30, 2022 amid the most challenging and toughest crises ever faced by a new presidency—energy crisis, food crisis, war and geopolitical crisis, on top of the worst pandemic in a century that has yet to abate. At least 1.1 million Filipinos will be impoverished by these multiple crises, according to the Asian Development Bank. Officially, there are 3.87 million jobless Filipinos, the equivalent of 6.4 percent unemployment rate. This 6.4 percent unemployment rate is based on a so-called labor force participation rate of 63.8 percent—the ratio of working age Filipinos looking for a job. The Philippines has 76.2 million who are 15 and above. They are the labor force or working age Filipinos. But the government says only 63.8 percent of those 76.2 million, or 48.6 million, are looking for a job, leaving 27.58 million Filipinos in limbo—they are jobless but the government says they are not looking for a job and therefore, they cannot be counted as jobless. How neat is that? In effect, the Philippines has 27.58 million jobless but not looking for a job plus 3.87 million officially jobless Filipinos— a total of 31.45 million Filipinos. We have 31.45 million jobless Filipinos—no bullsh*t. They don’t have jobs, plain and simple. They are hungry, malnourished, angry, restive. BBM inherits the anger of those 31.45 million jobless Filipinos. Readily, he doesn’t have the jobs available to employ them instantly. Why? The economy has been hit by multi-faceted crises. On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, crude price hit $119.15 a barrel, paced by Brent crude which touched $123.80 per barrel. The $119 is almost double the $63 average in mid-August 2021. When oil prices hit the hilt, they raise the price of nearly everything, especially food. You need fertilizer to grow food. Fertilizer comes from crude. You need transportation to bring ties, and ecosystem failures are escalating the risk of a ‘global collapse’ scenario,” and adds that this “urgent warning” seems to have remained unreported until now.

Let’s not drop the ball on this one. Cernev recommends that “both preventive and reactive policy be developed, with preventive prioritized due to the lower resource cost.” He adds that factors related to GCR be incorporated into global targets, particularly in the next version of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meanwhile, the 2022 GAR, released by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR), asks how “governance systems can evolve to better address the systemic risks of the future.” It emphasized the interconnection of global systems, and we saw this proven when Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine led to a sharp increase in petro-

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

farm products to markets. Transportation is fueled mainly by oil. In an average Filipino consumer basket, food is about 50 percent, if not more, of spending. Half of every consumer peso is spent on food. Another 20 percent is spent on utilities, basically oil. So 70 percent of consumer spending has been raised by record high energy prices. At the same time, a third of the food needed by Filipinos is not available nor produced locally. It must be imported. But overseas, supply has been cut back and prices have risen astronomically.

seen all the crises,” he says, including a debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly 100 percent of GDP. “I have seen the worst,” the bespectacled outgoing Bangko Sentral governor says. Having seen the worst, Ben looks at the bright side of things. They include: • The International Monetary Fund no longer supervises the Philippine economy. PH is not a borrower; it does not need baby-sitting by IMF. • The dollar reserves, at $107.9 billion, can buy nine months of importations, including energy and food. At its worst time, in the mid-1980s, the Philippines had barely $1 million in usable reserves. • The government now has more tax collections. To reduce debt-to-GDP ratio, Ben’s formula is to increase the size of the GDP, which means make the economy grow. Indeed, in the first quarter this year, the economy grew by 8.3 percent, defying the expectations of all analysts. In 2021, GDP growth was 5.6 percent. In 2020, the economy fell into a recession with a whole-year drop of 9.6 percent— the worst decline since the second World War. From -17 percent GDP decline in Quarter 2 2020 to 8.3 percent growth in Q1 2022—wow, that shows remarkable resilience and high growth potential for the economy. That resilience gives Ben Diokno enough confidence to even promise to reduce poverty incidence from 18 percent (or 4.74 million families or 26.14 million Filipinos) early last year to 14 percent this 2022 and to single digit in the coming years. A poverty incidence of 14 percent of families is rescuing at least a million families (or 4.5 million Filipinos) from poverty. Assures Ben: ”We are almost there.” Finally, the government can sell assets. Like the 646-hectare (6.46 million sqm) Ninoy Aquino International Airport which can be sold because San Miguel has a 2,400-ha., Asia’s most modern airport, coming up in five years. NAIA sits cheek-by-jowl to the 100-ha Makati Central Business District where lot prices are P1.5 million per square meter. Multiply 6.46 million sqm by P1.5 million. Now, there is cash.

The coming administration will be incredibly optimistic. So where does the government get the money to buy much higher priced energy and food supplies? That’s the problem. The Duterte administration cut income taxes for business, big and small, and for 99 percent of all taxpayers. The idea is for businesses to reinvest their tax savings so they create jobs. Business did not do that. Instead, businessmen declared the tax savings as profits and as cash dividends. The money was pocketed. There is another source of money— borrowings. But the Duterte administration borrowed the equivalent of 63.5 percent of GDP or economic production, that is, P12.6 trillion debts. Debtto-GDP ratio, pre-pandemic, was a sterling 39.6 percent in 2019. So 63.5 minus 39.6 is 23.9—the BBM administration must reduce debts by 23.9 percent of GDP or economic production. If GDP were P20 trillion, 23.9 percent would be P4.78 trillion. The government must reduce debt by P4.78 trillion. This is a government whose 2023 national budget is P5.268 trillion. Imagine reducing that P5.268 trillion by P4.78 trillion; it will leave you with just P488 billion—money not even enough to pay for the salaries of two million government workers. Now comes Benjamin E. Diokno as BBM’s finance secretary. He has no fear. In 30 years with the government, “I have leum prices – in the Philippines, the price per liter of gas doubled – and in the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan that became a pandemic, the effects of which we are still dealing with two years later. This global interconnectedness, according to the 2022 GAR, also means global vulnerability. A local risk like coronavirus became global. Global risks like climate change are creating major impacts everywhere around the world. What does all this mean for the Philippines, that is already feeling the ill effects of climate change and many other global risk factors? It is imperative that the new administration put into place policies that are in line with these latest scientific findings and do its part toward fulfilling global goals that will mitigate the risks and help reverse the trend. The year 2030 is only eight years away. Moreover, the Philippines is not doing well enough in its environmental efforts. According to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2020, the Philippines ranks 111th out of 180 in overall environmental health, with an EPI score of 38.4

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

biznewsasia@gmail.com (0=worst, 100=best). In the Asia-Pacific region, its regional rank is 9 overall, 14th in air quality, 16th in terms of carbon dioxide growth rate, and 22nd in terms of its biodiversity habitat index. We call on the next president to put qualified experts on these matters in charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Climate Change Commission, and other relevant government agencies. It is disappointing already that he has put a broadcaster in charge of the welfare department instead of, let’s say, the Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) or some other government media agency, and a formerly suspended lawyer/blogger as head of the PCOO instead of an actual journalist or communication expert. Global societal collapse is no longer the stuff of science fiction, but an actual impending doom hanging over our heads. Let’s not drop the ball on this one – the ecological fate of our country and the world as we know it is in our hands. *** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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China flies 30 jets into Taiwan space T

AIPEI —China has made the second largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defense zone this year with Taipei reporting 30 jets entering the area, including more than 20 fighters. Taiwan’s defense ministry said late Monday it had scrambled its own aircraft and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the latest Chinese activity. In recent years, Beijing has begun sending large sorties into Taiwan’s defense zone to signal dissatisfaction, and to keep Taipei’s ageing fighter fleet regularly stressed. Self-ruled democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. Monday’s incursion was the largest since January 23, when 39 planes entered the air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan’s territorial airspace but includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China’s own air defense identification zone and even includes some of the mainland.

A flight map provided by the Taiwanese defense ministry showed the planes entering the southwestern corner of the ADIZ before looping back out again. - ‘Increasingly provocative’ The United States last week accused Beijing of raising tensions over the island, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken specifically mentioning aircraft incursions as an example of “increasingly provocative rhetoric and activity”. Blinken’s remarks came after US President Joe Biden appeared to break decades of US policy when, in response to a question on a visit to Japan, he said Washington would defend Taiwan militarily if it is attacked by China. But the White House has since insisted its policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would intervene has not changed. There is growing bipartisan discus-

sion in Washington over whether to switch to “strategic clarity” given Beijing’s increasingly aggressive approach to cross-strait relations, epitomised by the air incursions. US senators have made multiple trips to the island in a show of support -- a group led by Republican Lindsey Graham visited in April, and Democrat Tammy Duckworth landed in Taipei on Monday. Duckworth was one of the main sponsors of the Taiwan Partnership Act, which aims to deepen security ties between Taipei and Washington. It has yet to be voted on or become law. But after a meeting with Duckworth on Tuesday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen suggested that some form of link-up was already happening. “As a result (of the Act), the US Department of Defence is now actively planning cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan’s defense forces,” Tsai said in a statement, without explaining further. - Constant alert Last year, Taiwan recorded 969 incursions by Chinese warplanes into its ADIZ, according to an AFP database -more than double the roughly 380 carried out in 2020. AFP

IN BRIEF Trudeau pressing handgun ‘freeze’ OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday a proposed freeze on handgun ownership in Canada that would effectively ban their importation and sale, following recent mass shootings in the United States. The bill must still be passed by Parliament, with the ruling Liberals holding only a minority of seats. “We’re introducing legislation to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership,” Trudeau told a news conference, joined by dozens of families and friends of victims of gun violence. “What this means is that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada,” he said. “In other words, we’re capping the market for handguns.” Days after Canada’s worst mass shooting left 23 dead in rural Nova Scotia in April 2020, the government banned 1,500 types of military-grade or assault-style firearms. But Trudeau acknowledged Monday that gun violence continues to rise. The government statistical agency reported last week that firearms-related violent crimes account for less than three percent of all violent crimes in Canada. AFP

Deaths reach 34 in Iran tower fall

BIG MAMA BELLY. Dayana Saborio poses after participating in “La Madre Panza” (Mother Belly) contest to celebrate

Mother’s Day in Managua, on May 30. The “Mother Belly” contest consists of awarding prizes to the pregnant woman with the biggest belly. AFP

Russian troops take ‘control’ in part of Severodonetsk

Notice to the Public Change of Business Name and Status Notice is hereby served to the public that LMTJ CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLIES a single proprietorship has filed with the Philippines Contractors Accreditation Board for change of business name and status to LMTJ CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLIES CORPORATION. (MS-JUNE 1, 1, 2022) 2022) (MS-JUNE

KYIV—Russian forces have taken partial control of a key industrial city in eastern Ukraine, a regional governor said Tuesday, hours after European Union leaders struck a deal to ban more than two-thirds of Moscow’s oil imports. Severodonetsk is one of several urban hubs that lie on Russia’s path to capturing the Donbas’s Lugansk region, where Moscow has shifted the bulk of its firepower since failing to capture Kyiv in the war’s early stages. “The situation is extremely complicated. Part of Severodonetsk is controlled by the Russians,” Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said in a statement on social media, adding that Ukrainian troops still retained some areas. But as Russian troops edged closer to the Severodonetsk city centre, officials in Brussels were tightening the economic screws on Moscow. A compromise deal reached late Monday, meant to punish Russia for its invasion three months ago, cuts “a huge source of financing for its war machine,” European Council chief Charles Michel tweeted. “Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war,” he said. Leaders of the 27-nation bloc met to negotiate the long-sought deal amid concerns raised by Hungary and other neighbouring countries reliant on Russian fuel. The agreement also includes plans for the EU to send nine billion euros ($9.7 billion) in “immediate liquidity” to Kyiv, Michel announced. Hours earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called an oil embargo the “key point” to any sanctions package. “I believe that Europe will have to give up Russian oil and oil products in any case, because this is about the independence of Europeans themselves from (weaponized) Russian energy,” he said in his daily address to the nation. AFP

TEHRAN—The death toll from last week’s collapse of a tower block in southwestern Iran has risen to 34, state media reported Tuesday, as emergency crews continue to comb the rubble. A large section of the 10-storey Metropol building that was under construction in a busy street in the city of Abadan crashed to the ground on May 23, leading to one of the country’s deadliest disasters in recent years. “The total number of fatalities stands at 34 with the discovery of another body this morning,” state news agency IRNA quoted the city’s governor Ehsan Abbaspour as saying. That leaves four people unaccounted for from the 38 authorities had previously said were missing in the collapse. Over the past week, night-time protests have been held in Abadan and other cities in Khuzestan province to demand that those responsible be prosecuted and punished. “Incompetent officials must be executed” was among the slogans chanted by protesters, Iran’s Fars news agency reported. At a memorial ceremony in Abadan late on Sunday, hundreds of hecklers drowned out a speech by a local member of the Assembly of Experts, the body that selects Iran’s supreme leader. AFP

Nepal plane crash: All bodies retrieved POKHARA, Nepal -- Nepali rescuers have retrieved the bodies of all 22 people from a plane that crashed in the Himalayas, authorities said Tuesday as they began identifying the victims. “All bodies have now been found,” Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Deo Chandra Lal Karn told AFP. Air traffic control lost contact with the Twin Otter plane shortly after it took off from Pokhara in western Nepal on Sunday morning and headed for Jomsom, a popular trekking destination. The wreckage was found a day later strewn across a mountainside at around 14,500 feet (4,420 metres). Ten of the bodies were brought by helicopter to the capital Kathmandu on Monday with the remaining 12 still at the hard-to-reach crash site, with poor weather hampering the operation, officials said. About 60 people were involved in the search mission, including the army, police, mountain guides and locals, most of whom trekked uphill for miles to get there. Many spent the night camped at the high-altitude site. - On holiday The cause of the crash has yet to be confirmed, but Pokhara Airport spokesman Dev Raj Subedi said on Monday that the aircraft operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air did not catch fire in the air. AFP

PINK PHARMACISTS.

This picture taken and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 31 shows Korean People’s Army medical personnel in protective clothing supplying medicines at a pharmacy in Pyongyang as the hermit country battles a COVID-19 surge. AFP

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Stocks decline; Globe, PLDT lead losers S HARE prices fell Tuesday on profittaking amid rising inflation and soaring crude prices in the world market caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dipped 47.64 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,774.68 on a value turnover of P35.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 113 to 76, with 48 issues unchanged. Trading was heavy as investors reacted to the rebal-

ancing of the MSCI Global Standard Index on Philippine stocks that took effect May 31. Noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. sank 6.3 percent to P14.80, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group, dropped 2.9 percent to P36.90. PLDT Inc. of Indonesia’s Salim Group, the biggest telecommunications firm, declined 3.1 percent to P1,900, while rival Globe Telecom Inc. of the Ayala Group, the second-biggest, slumped 6.2 percent to P2,428. The rest of Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday as investors battled to

maintain a global rally, with inflation still niggling over a pick-up in oil prices while a top Fed official pressed for a series of sharp rate hikes. But optimism was boosted by data indicating an improvement in China’s crucial manufacturing sector, helped by the easing of some strict COVID containment measures in major cities including Shanghai. With Wall Street closed for a holiday, there were few catalysts to help extend the gains enjoyed in recent days, allowing inflation and borrowing costs to take center stage. Crude prices built on Monday’s ad-

vance after the European Union reached a deal on a partial embargo of Russian imports as part of a punishment for its invasion of Ukraine. Brent broke above $122 for the first time in two months and WTI sat around $117 as European chiefs said the latest sanctions would ban purchases of Russian oil delivered by sea, though there would be a temporary exemption for pipelines. While widely expected, the agreement adds further upside to crude just as China begins to ease COVID restrictions in Shanghai and Beijing, raising the likelihood of a jump in de-

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mand from the world’s number two economy. Hong Kong and Shanghai rose more than one percent, while Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington also advanced. Tokyo, Sydney and Mumbai fell. The lift in oil prices will help fan already elevated inflation and pile further pressure on central banks to tighten monetary policy to prevent prices from running out of control. In a sign of the struggle policymakers face, German prices are rising at their fastest pace ever while Spain’s topped forecasts. With AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

Business

BSP retains interest rate cap of 2% on credit cards By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said Tuesday it maintained the interest rate cap on credit card transactions to help ease people’s financial burden amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement the Monetary Board decided to maintain the ceilings on credit card transactions under Circular No. 1098 dated Sept. 24, 2020. The maximum interest rate or finance charge on the unpaid outstanding credit card balance of a cardholder remains at 2 percent per month or 24 percent a year. The monthly add-on rates that credit card issuers can charge on installment loans is retained at a maximum rate of 1 percent. The maximum processing fee on the availment of credit card cash advances stays at P200 per transaction. “The decision of the Monetary Board will continue to help ease the financial burden of consumers through affordable credit card pricing amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Diokno said. “It will also allow the BSP to assess the impact of the improvement in macroeconomic fundamentals and easing of mobility restrictions on the performance of the credit card industry,” he said. Latest credit card business activity data show that the demand for credit cards moderated in the second half of 2021 as customers shifted towards alternative digital products. The number of credit cards grew by 0.3 percent to 10.3 million, while monthly card billings increased by 33.9 percent year-on-year to P100.6 billion in December 2021. Credit card receivables grew by 4.9 percent year-on-year in December 2021. Banks/credit card issuers were also able to maintain the asset quality of their credit card portfolios through intensified remediation and workout arrangements.

IN BRIEF 8990 Holdings hiked Q1 income to P1.9b

MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. increased its first-quarter net income by 23 percent to P1.9 billion from P1.55 billion in the same period a year ago on the back of double-digit growth in sales. 8990 Holdings said in a financial report filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday first-quarter revenues rose 17 percent to P5.22 billion from P4.47 billion yearon-year. The company attributed the strong firstquarter performance to higher sales in projects located in the National Capital Region, Bulacan and Davao. Net income margin duringthe three months were also higher at 36.4 percent, compared with consolidated net income margin of 34.7 percent in the same period last year Given the company’s strong first quarter performance, 8990 Holdings president and chief executive Anthony Vincent Sotto expressed confidence the company’s upcoming projects would meet the needs of its key mass housing client base. Jenniffer B. Austria

Cityland Group bares early turnover of units

MRT 7 DEPOT. San Miguel Corp.’s infrastructure arm begins construction on a 20-hectare property in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan that will serve as the main stabling area or train depot of the upcoming Mass Rail Transit 7 project. The depot, a key element of SMC Infrastructure’s first mass rail project, will have enough capacity to accommodate up to 150 train cars in all. It exceeds the 36 trainsets or 108 rail cars set for the project to ensure enough room for future expansion. MRT-7’s trains are made in South Korea by rail systems provider Hyundai Rotem, which is expected to fully deliver the complement of 108 MRT-7 train cars by end of this year.

PSE okays North Star Meat’s P4.5-b initial public offering By Jenniffer B. Austria

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HE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P4.5-billion initial public offering of Iloilobased meat vendor North Star Meat Merchants Inc.

North Star, based on the offer terms approved by the PSE, will offer a maximum of 360 million primary shares and 32 million secondary shares with an over-allotment option for another 58 million shares. The IPO shares are priced at P10 apiece, but the final offer price will be determined on June 8 following a bookbuilding exercise. The offering period is set from June 13 to 17. The shares will be listed on the main board of the PSE on June 24 using the ticker symbol “NSTAR”. “Domestic consumption is expected to remain among the drivers of the country’s post-pandemic

economic recovery, with the food sector among the primary industries that will benefit from a resurgence in consumer spending. This environment is ideal for companies like North Star Meat Merchants, which is looking to raise funds for expansion,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon. The company said it would use the capital raised from the IPO to expand its cold chain infrastructure, improve operating cycle efficiencies and expand product lines and research and development work. North Star will have a public float of 21.78 percent, assuming the over-allotment shares would be exercised. The PSE said local small investors could subscribe to the IPO through the PSE EASy website or mobile application. North Star started in Iloilo over two decades ago as a thesis project of business school student Anthony Mark Ng to become a major supplier of fresh meat products to the largest

retailers in the country including the SM Group. The company operates three cold chains serving over 1,250 stores nationwide, supported by 2,200 butchers. It also has 360 meat concessions nationwide. It supplies frozen and fresh meat to 383 SM supermarket branches and Waltermart outlets. The company has 8.09 million kilograms of company-owned cold storage capacity across the country and can deliver up to 120,000 kilograms of meat daily. It plans to expand its main integrated plant in Bulacan province and build more facilities across the country to reach new markets. The company tapped BDO Capital and Investment Corp. as the sole issue manager, which will be joined by China Bank Capital Corp. as joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners. PNB Capital Investment Corp. and SB Capital Corp. will also serve as co-lead underwriters.

CITYLAND Group of Companies recently concluded the successful early turnover of its project in Alabang known as One Premier in April this year. In keeping up with its commitment to investors, another early turnover of its condominium in Manila—One Taft Residences— will start this May. One Taft Residences is a 40-story residential, office and commercial condominium located at 1939 Taft Ave., Malate, Manila. It is a few steps away from the university belt with easy access to various transportation hubs, shopping centers, businesses, commercial and government offices. With comfort and security as Cityland’s priority, One Taft Residences is equipped with amenities such as swimming pool, gym, multi-purpose function hall, movable children’s playset, view deck, CCTV, and 24-hour association security. Carefully-designed commercial, office, and residential units of studio and onebedroom and two-bedroom units are now available at affordable and flexible payment schemes.

SKYcable launches ‘Oplan Kontra Putol’

SKYcable has launched a campaign dubbed as “Oplan Kontra Putol” to combat the growing number of intentional cable-cutting incidents that are disrupting internet access and cable services, affecting thousands of Filipino households nationwide. The company, which offers cable TV and fiber internet services in different parts of the country, condemned the acts of intentional cable cutting by unscrupulous individuals seeking to profit from the illegal activity. SKY chief operating officer Claudia Suarez said the company is actively working with various pay TV, telcos and internet service providers for a concerted effort to curb the rampant illegal cable cutting activities. “Oplan Kontra Putol’ demonstrates our commitment to provide a reliable and uninterrupted internet connection and cable services to our SKY Kapamilyas. Rest assured that we are working closely with local government units and authorities day in and day out to prevent these incidents from happening,” said Suarez. SKY’s head of network operations RJ Licup said that SKY is working closely with local authorities in monitoring the streets and barangays for such illegal activities. Darwin G. Amojelar

Chinese drug firm keen on vaccine production in PH By Othel V. Campos

FARMERS MARKET. SM City Sta. Rosa hosts KSK Farmers Market that sells quality farm produce at affordable prices. The agricultural produce—vegetables, fruits and herbs—are cultivated by beneficiaries of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Sustainable Agriculture Program. SM Foundation launched Farmers Market in several SM Malls to help KSK graduates even after they’ve completed the dual-tech training. Aside from farming techniques, they also received training on how to become entrepreneurs.

Meralco investing P39b in smart grid program By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, plans to invest over P39 billion in four years to roll out its smart grid program, a top executive said Tuesday. Meralco president Ray Espinosa said the company is laying the groundwork for the breakthrough Advanced Distribution Management System 2.0 and Advanced Metering Infrastructure to efficiently manage the evolving grid, integrate more renewable energy resources and empower customers to monitor energy use. “Looking ahead, in collaboration with the DOE [Department of Energy] and ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission], Meralco plans to invest over P39 billion in the next four years to ramp up its smart grid program,” Espinosa said during the annual stockholders’ meeting. He said Meralco invested heavily in building a digital distribution utility last year.

The company launched the Operations Platform and Telecommunications Integrated Command Center, the first of its kind among electricity DUs in the country. The OPTIC manages all information, communication and technology systems of Meralco. “To enhance system reliability and improve the efficiency of our power restoration efforts, we piloted the Mobile Distribution Transformer Project reducing the usual 2-to3-hour service interruption to only a few seconds,” Espinosa said. Espinosa said that in terms of supply procurement, Meralco is open to contracting “reasonably priced” supply from power generators including the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plan if repowered by the new administration. “Meralco will favorably consider contracting reasonably and competitively priced supply from generation companies including BNPP if the same should become operational,” he said.

CHINESE pharmaceutical firm Yisheng Biopharma Co. Ltd. expressed interest to invest in clinical trials and the opportunity for co-development, manufacturing and marketing of vaccines with a local partner in the Philippines. A delegation from Yisheng Biopharma led by chairman Zhang Yi discussed with the Board of Investments about its plans to initiate Phase III of its global multicenter clinical trial for PIKA rabies vaccine and Phase II-III of combined trials for PIKA COV-19 vaccine. The company has an ongoing engagement with a local pharmaceutical company and sees the need for new partnerships for the commercialization of its vaccines. BOI executive director Evariste Cagatan encouraged Yisheng to also consider establishing a manufacturing facility in the Philippines for vaccines and avail of incentives under the law. The BOI highlighted options for a production facility in the Philippines and partner either with a local company or with the government through the National Development Company. The BOI assured Yisheng of its support in realizing the proposed projects in the country. It also committed its support for Yisheng in terms of fill-and-finish business arrangement and eventual expansion in the pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain. Yisheng Biopharma plans to arranged a second visit to the country to meet up with prospective partners and immerse on site visits for potential manufacturing sites/facilities with possible local partners and work on the preparations for the clinical trials of its vaccines. Yisheng has operations in China, the US and Singapore and is engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative biotherapeutics for cancers and infectious diseases using its novel PIKA immunomodulation technology.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

Tsitsipas, Medvedev crash out of French Open

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Croatia’s Marin Cilic during their men’s singles match on Day 9 of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris. AFP

SEA Games darling Sarno prepares for Asian tourney By Randy Caluag

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ELL aware of the lofty tag on her shoulders, weightlifting Southeast Asian Games’ medalist Vannesa Sarno is back in training to prepare for the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championship set in July in Uzbekistan. “Back in training na po. Back to work para paghandaan ang susunod na laban,” Sarno, who is dubbed as the next darling of Philippine weightlifting after Olympic golden girl Hidilyn Diaz, told Manila Standard. The 19-year-old lifter from Bohol became an instant star when she set a new SEA Games record in the snatch (104kg), clean and jerk (135kg) and total (239kg) in weightlifting women’s 71-kg category at the recent biennial meet in Hanoi, Vietnam. Sar no claimed that her coaches have always reminded her about hard work and a

positive mindset. “Lagi po kaming handa pagdating ng competition. I try to focus lang po on what I can lift and do my best,” said Sarno. She is well aware of the challenges ahead and has assured her team that she will continue to focus on her goal. The Batang Pinoy discovery paid tribute to her coaches Nic Jaluag and Liza Danao in her long post on social media. “Lagi niyo po pinapaalala sa akin kung bakit ako nandito, kung bakit ko sinimulan ‘to, lagi po kayo nandiyan para sa akin sa kahit ano man po mangyayare since day 1. Thank you so much po sa lahat lahat, ‘wag po kayong mag alala, hindi ko po makakalimutan ‘yung goal ko, goal po natin, aabutin po natin ‘yun,” vowed Sarno, who first tried weightlifting at the age of nine years old at a makeshift gym of Jaluag in Tagbilaran City. She first tried doing the deadlift. From then on, she began training while studying. In 2013, Sarno topped the 32-kg category in the 2013 Batang Pinoy National Finals in Bacolod City. That made her qualify for the Vanessa Sarno: Record breaker national training pool.

Tolentino: Anybody’s ballgame in Cambodia WITH all things written and said about the country’s “very successful” participation in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, the Philippine Olympic Committee is looking at the next stop: Cambodia. It’s just a year from now when the nation of just over 17 million people hosts the SEA Games for the first time. And with Cambodia having no realistic shot at the overall title, POC chief Abraham Tolentino sees a wide-open race. “It’s anybody’s ballgame,” said Tolentino during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum. “With due respect to Cambodia, of course,” added Tolentino, who vowed to send a full contingent to the next SEA Games, which comes 12 months after the Hanoi edition that was rescheduled from 2021 due to the pandemic. The Philippines is coming off a fourthplace finish in Hanoi with its 52 gold, 70 silver and 104 bronze medals, which is actually its biggest medal haul in the last 11 editions when it was not the host. “We are proud of our athletes. Thank you, athletes. It was very successful,” said

Rep. Abraham Tolentino

Tolentino barely eight days after the Hanoi Games, where Filipino gymnastics world champion Caloy Yulo won five gold medals, came to a close. Again, Team Philippines will shoot for a podium finish or something better than that in Hanoi where the Philippines won 70 silvers, 40 of them in subjective sports and 27 of them against Vietnamese athletes.

“We have to accept reality na sila ang host,” added Tolentino during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The POC chief said Cambodia will

come up with the final list of events this coming month, and from there, the various national sports associations, in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission can plan ahead. Proper training, overseas or on home soil, and under foreign coaches should be on top of the agenda as Team Philippines prepares to challenge Vietnam, Thailand and the host country. The incoming administration, and perhaps a new set of officers in the government sports agency, should also play a key role preparing the athletes for the next SEA Games, a tune-up for the Asian Games, which will be held next year after its postponement this year. Magkaroon na sana tayo ng mas-mahabang training,” added Tolentino, who lauded the most Filipino athletes for performing well in Hanoi despite limited time to train and the absence of foreign exposure. “Salihan natin lahat sa Cambodia. We’re just waiting for the final list of e ve nt s ,” said the P O C chief.

Lady Falcons clinch 6th volley win ADAMSON University hardly broke a sweat in clinching its sixth win in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament, downing Far Eastern University, 25-17, 25-17, 25-16 , Tuesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Adamson setter Louie Romero orchestrated the offense, dishing out 17 excellent sets all while producing four double-digit scorers in the match which lasted for just an hour and 26 minutes. She also had three points in the contest. Trisha Genesis led the Lady Falcons’ scoring barrage with 14 points to go along with nine excellent receptions while May Ann Nique had

12 points and nine digs. Rizza Cruz and Kate Santiago chipped in 11 points each. Cruz landed a booming ace to put the Lady Falcons ahead by 11, 18-7, in the third set. The Lady Tamaraws were able to slice it to seven after a hit from Julia Monares, but it was not enough as Trisha Genesis and Cruz put on the finishing touches. It was a tough outing for FEU, who only converted 30 attacks and a block compared to Adamson’s 50 and seven, respectively. This is also the Lady Tamaraws’ sixth consecutive loss – their ninth in 10 games. “‘Yun, talagang pinaghandaan

namin ‘to nu’ng nakaraang two days na interval. Talagang gusto namin kunin ‘tong game na ‘to. Unti unti, one game at a time para papunta doon sa Final Four na gusto ng lahat na marating,” said head coach Lerma Giron as the Lady Falcons sent the Lady Tamaraws to the brink of elimination. Chen Tagaod led the Moraytabased spikers with 14 points, while Shiela Kiseo added eight points, 11 excellent receptions, and six excellent digs. Adamson looks to hand NU its first loss on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., while FEU will try to break out of its slump against UP at 10:00 a.m.

Adamson’s May Ann Nique slams one in.

B1

PARIS—World number two Daniil Medvedev and fourth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the French Open in the fourth round on Monday as women’s top seed Iga Swiatek took her winning streak to 32 matches after surviving a huge scare. US Open champion Medvedev was beaten by 20th seed Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in just 1hr 45 min on Court Philippe Chatrier. Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up to Novak Djokovic, was defeated by Danish teenager Holger Rune 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 earlier in the day. Cilic will face Russia’s Andrey Rublev in his third career Roland Garros quarter-final. “It’s one of the most beautiful matches of my career, it was fantastic from the first to the last point,” said Cilic, adding he is playing his “best tennis in recent weeks”. Medvedev had enjoyed his best run in Paris 12 months ago when he reached the quarter-finals. He hadn’t dropped a set at this year’s tournament but was completely outplayed by the 33-year-old Cilic who broke serve five times. Medvedev was unable to carve out a single break point as the Croatian got the better of the Russian for the first time in four meetings. Rublev made the quarter-finals for the second time when Italian opponent Jannik Sinner retired with a left knee injury with the Russian 1-6, 6-4, 2-0 ahead. Rune became the first Danish man to reach the French Open quarter-finals when he shocked Tsitsipas. Rune, just 19 and ranked 40, swept to a memorable win on the back of 54 winners. With fellow 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz already into the quarter-finals, it’s the first time two teenagers have made it this far in Paris since Hendrik Dreekman and Andrei Medvedev 28 years ago. In a tense fourth set, Rune gave up a 5-2 lead and fought off three more break points in the 10th game before securing victory when Tsitsipas hit long. “I was very nervous and I knew that if I went away from my tactics I would lose,” said Rune, who won his maiden ATP title in Munich in the build-up to Paris. “I told myself just stick to the plan and that gave me a confidence boost. It’s so great to still be here.” Tsitsipas said he would be ready for Rune when they meet again. “I can see something different next time with this opponent. I’m pretty convinced I can do way better,” said the 23-year-old. Rune will next face eighth-seeded Casper Ruud who became the first Norwegian man to reach the last eight with a 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. AFP

Isleta got inspiration from Akiko By Peter Atencio SWIMMER Chloe Isleta is ecstatic before she went to Malacanang to be among the many Filipino athletes, who won medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games and were honored on Tuesday by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang. The 29-year-old Isleta, who ended the country’s 29-year-old gold medal swimming drought for a female swimmer the biennial meet, got inspiration from Olympian Akiko Thomson-Guevarra when she had her preevent RT-PCR test. “She just told me to enjoy the moment and enjoy swimming. Sometimes, it gets very hard at times and that’s how you keep interested in the competitions,” said Isleta, a communications media graduate at the Arizona State University. Isleta took the gold medal the women’s 200-meter backstroke event at the My Dinh Water Sports Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam. She went on to claim the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke. Last year in the World Swimming 25-meter Short Course Championships , Isleta topped the preliminaries with a time of 2:25.14. Thomson-Guevarra, who is considered as the most accomplished Filipina swimmer in the Southeast Asian Games, inspired Isleta by touching her medals and sharing her life and accomplishments. The 47-year-old Thompson won eight gold medals in the biennial multi-sport meet between 1987 and 1993. “We took pictures and she touched my medals,” beamed Isleta. Thomson-Guevarra was also in three editions of the Summer Olympic Games in 1988, 1992 and 1996.

B2

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

Filipino-led gaming guild exhibits strong growth in ‘22

San Juan snaps Valenzuela win streak SAN Juan and Pasig got back on track in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season with breezy victories on Monday at the FilOilFlying V Centre in San Juan. The San Juan Knights Go for Gold routed Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty, 90-74, in the nightcap to duplicate the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors’ 87-75 trouncing of the Mindoro Tamaraws earlier. After losing their opening games, both San Juan and Pasig reinforced their rosters and reaped dividends in the 22-team tournament. The Knights got twin digits from five players, including new acquisition Jammer Jamito, who chipped in 14 points plus 7 rebounds. Other major contributors for Coach Randy Alcantara’ s charges were Macky Acosta with 18 points, including 3 triples; Michael Calisaan with 15 points and 6 rebounds, Mon Abundo with 12 points and 6 assists, and Justin Gutang with 10 points and 3 assists. A jumper by Acosta gave San Juan a 66-45 spread with 1:56 left in the third quarter from which Valenzuela failed to recover. Valenzuela saw its 3-game run broken and dropped to 3-2 despite getting 15 points each from Patrick Cabahug and Ronjay Buenafe and 11 from Julius Pasculado. Pasig, led by Jason Melano and new acquisition Tonton Peralta, made 25 points from Mindoro’s’ 18 turnovers, spelling the difference in the game the Realtors largely dominated. Peralta, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Perpetual Help, poured 23 points while Melano scored 15 and grabbed 17 rebounds as Pasig shrugged off its initial 60-67 loss to Batangas on May 17.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

For the past two months, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 teams have competed level eight events.

DESPITE the uncertainties in the global cryptocurrency landscape, Filipinoled gaming guild Yield Guild Games (YGG) remains steadfast and agile in its continued growth trajectory, effectively executing a global growth strategy. In a recently released YGG Q1 2022 Community Update, YGG disclosed its outstanding performance in market expansion and global scholarship growth, game asset acquisition, and partnerships. “The crypto market has always been cyclical. Despite the challenges ahead, we are continuing to build for our community. We take a very long-term perspective on the opportunities in crypto and YGG’s mission remains unchanged,” YGG Coin three Super Quests which are founder Gabby Dizon said. Market Expansion and Scholarship Growth YGG’s three new regional subDAOs, YGGSEA, IndiGG, and Ola GG, helped the guild realize its global expansion strategy by establishing local offerings. These subDAOs allowed the guild to operate more efficiently by localizing operations and streamlining processes, thereby effectively providing solutions specific to country, game, and regional challenges while widening player access to various Web3 opportunities. In comparison, a full conference comYGGSEA supports locally developed posed of seven legs from a level four doplay-to-earn games in Southeast Asia mestic league in the country only brings while IndiGG focuses on offering NFT in almost 35,000 points in total. assets in blockchain games and educaMeanwhile, the top eight players in the tional programs in India. On the other country all belong to Chooks-to-Go Pilihand, Ola GG aims to promote financial pinas 3x3 as well. inclusion by bringing more games and Cebu Chooks’ Mac Tallo retained his scholarships to its Hispanic community. spot as the country’s ace 3x3 player while Additionally, these subDAOs were also rising to no. 72 in the world with major drivers of scholarship growth (149,120). This is the highest position a as they allowed YGG to leverage their Filipino has notched in the World Tour deep local knowledge and experience era since former Pasig Chooks player in reaching remote players and identiJoshua Munzon placed 92 during the fying local partnerships to secure serfourth week of May, 2019. vices for players. Cebu’s Zach Huang (no. 114, 98,941 As the YGG market expands, the pts), Manila’s Chico Lanete (no. 139, month-on-month scholarship has been 86,612), Manila’s Dennis Santos (no. 163, growing as well with 50.13% in Janu75,817), Cebu’s Brandon Ramirez (no. ary, 28.80% in February, and 41.93% 191, 66,722), Manila’s Mark Yee (no. 303, in March. Overall, YGG network pro41,515), Manila’s Ken Holmqvist (no. 435, vided 29,548 scholarships in Q1 with a 27,000), and Manila’s Ron Dennison (no. more effective ability to onboard and 785, 17,160) complete the top eight. manage scholars. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

PH rises to no. 18 in FIBA 3x3 ranking C

HOOKS-TO-GO’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters last weekend not only brought glory to the company, but also to the country. Because of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3’s continuous participation and hosting of FIBA 3x3 events, the Philippines has risen to no. 18 in the world. Gaining valuable FIBA 3x3 points is important in this crucial stretch as the cutoff for qualification in both the Paris Olympics and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament is just 18 months away. “We already know the formula for us to reach the OQT having done so during the last Olympic cycle,” said Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas. “Maintaining our rank will be relatively easy. The goal now is to turn our players into worldclass athletes.

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“Hosting and participating bring in points but winning FIBA 3x3 tournaments will bring maximum points,” he continued. For the past two months, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 teams have competed in three Super Quests which are level eight events. The Philippines got 22,750 points in Dubai last March 31, 80,675 points for hosting and winning the Asia Pacific Super Quest last April 30, and 52,805 points for joining the Ulaanbaatar Super Quest last May 6-7. The biggest points though came from the Manila Masters as it brought in 247,158 points, pushing the country from no. 27 last week to the top 18.

Cuas lead locals’ assault in PPS Kidapawan ANDRE Cua toppled last week’s champion Jose Palo in the quarters then went on to bag the boys’ 16-and-under crown and complete a family affair as Dhea Cua kept the girls’ 14- and 16-U titles in the PPS-PEPP President’s Cup national age-group tennis tournament in Cotabato last Monday. The unranked Andre Cua survived a three-setter against Jason Flores in the first round, eased past Celso Jimenez, 4-2, 4-1, in the next then wore down Palo via a 4-1, 4-5(2), 10-7 decision in the Last 8. The local bet then routed Randy Pausanos, 6-3, -6-0, in the semis then capped his surprise romp in the Group 2 tournament with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Marco Montecillo at the Kidapawan courts. Dhea Cua, on the other hand, reasserted her mastery of the 14-U field, dispatching Jannah Mamac for the second straight week, 6-0, 6-1. She then stunned No. 2 Chelsea Bernaldez, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8, to snare the 16-U diadem and match her two-title romp in Kabacan last week in

the Mindanao swing of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro. The Cuas thus shared the MVP honors and led the locals’ domination of the circuit, which resumes today (Wednesday) in Pigcawayan, also in Cotabato. For details, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464. Divine Collado from Libungan, Cotabato and Bernaldez captured the girls’ 12- and 18-U titles to break the Kidapawanos’ romp in the four-day tournament presented by Dunlop. Collado outlasted Jhuane Flores, 6-4, 1-6, 10-8, while Bernaldez made up for her setback in 16-U play with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Saschena Francisco. Other boys’ winners were Carl Eduarte, who trounced Matthew Abella, 6-1, 6-1, for the 12-U crown; Jose Palo, who crushed Inigo Barrios, 6-3, 6-0, for the 14-U title; and Joaquim Palo, who rapped Kristoger Espinoza, 6-1, Siblings Dhea (right) and Andre Cua pull off contrasting wins to 6-2, for the 18-U trophy. clinch MVP honors.

Rebisco expresses gratitude to PH volleyball teams TWO bronze medals in beach volleyball and a tough, fighting and promising stand put up in volleyball and Rebisco stood firm to continuing its relentless support to the sport. “Let’s look forward to more volleyball, more victories and more participation in Southeast

Asian, Asian and world stages in the years to come,” Rebisco Group Vice Chairman Jonathan Ng told members of the national team— athletes and officials—who saw action in the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian during a recent thanksgiving party at the Joy Nostalg Hotel and

Members of the national volleyball teams celebrate with Rebisco Group Deputy Finance and of Field Sales head Liz Co, ARC Director Rollie Delfino, Rebisco Group Vice Chairman Jonathan Ng and daughter Jamie and niece Ania Ng and Philippine National Volleyball Federation director Charo Soriano

Suites in Mandaluyong City. The beach volleyball duos of Bernadeth Pons-Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn GonzagaDij Rodriguez in the women’s class and Jude Garcia-Krung Arbastos and Jaron Requinton-Ranran Abdilla in the men’s contest retained their SEA Games bronze medal the country first bagged in the 30th SEA Games in Subic in 2019. Although the men and women volleyball squads missed the podium in Vietnam, the athletes displayed potential to improve further amid difficulties in training and preparation because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Ng said the campaign yields positive goals and that Rebisco’s thankful to the athletes and officials for putting up a fight in the SEA Games. “There is definitely much to be grateful for—the great health and well-being of our national team members, our volleyball community and especially the two bronze medals garnered in this year’s SEA Games by both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams,” Ng said.

Entertainment Louis Tomlinson will return to Manila for his first concert tour

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

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Former 1D member Louis Tomlinson announces Manila concert in July

Siargao’s singing sweetheart named Big Winner in PBB 10th season ANJI Salvacion from the Celebrity Kumunity emerged as the Big Winner of the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Kumunity Season 10 of ABS-CBN in an emotional Big Night held in front of the PBB house on May 29. “Ang Singing Sweetheart ng Siargao” edged out the other Big 5 housemates to become the season’s victor and winner of P2 million with 40.42 percent of the combined save and evict votes. As she received her prize, Anji thanked her supporters for bringing her to victory. “First of all, I want to really say thank you to God for giving me this opportunity and for giving me this biggest blessing in life. It’s not the title but it is how people trusted me. That’s my biggest, biggest blessing. How people look up to me...Tagumpay ang plano,” she said. Isabel Laohoo of the Adult Kumunity placed second with 18.20 percent to win P500,000 followed by Samantha Bernardo from the Celebrity Kumunity (16.28 percent), who received P300,000. Completing the season’s finalists were Rob Blackburn from the Teen Kumunity (4.01 percent) who got P200,000 as the 4th Big Placer, while Celebrity Kumunity’s Brenda Mage (1.19 percent) went home with P100,000 as the 5th Big Placer. Anji’s road to the Big Night and the Big Winner title was not easy after being nominated for eviction numerous times during the Celebrity Edition, which kicked off the season on October 16 last year. Moreover, her family in Siargao was also affected by Super Typhoon Odette while she was still inside the house. However, these did not stop her from improving herself as she used her gifts in singing and songwriting and her determination to succeed in each of Kuya’s tasks and challenges to win the hearts of the people and become part of the Celebrity Kumunity Top 2 alongside Alyssa Valdez. Anji continued to show grit and persistence as she and fellow celebrity housemates Samantha Bernardo, who replaced Alyssa, and comeback housemate Brenda Mage managed to snatch the first three slots in the Big 5. Welcoming Anji and the rest of the Big 5 outside the PBB house where hosts Bianca Gonzalez, Robi Domingo, Enchong Dee, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, MayMay Entrata, Sky Quizon, Richard Juan, and Kim Chiu, together with other PBB Kumunity housemates and ex-housemates from other seasons of the iconic Kapamilya reality show, which aired on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live, TFC, iWantTFC, and Kumu. The Big Night also featured guests Bamboo, KZ Tandingan, Ez Mil, Jeremy Glinoga, Sab, Nene Tamayo, as well as BINI, BGYO, and the loveteam of Andi Abaya, and Kobie Brown.

‘Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10’ Big 5 with Anji Salvacion (center)

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

I N T E R N AT I O N A L LYRENOWNED singer and songwriter Louis Tomlinson is returning to Manila, as announced by concert promoter, Live Nation Philippines. The Louis Tomlinson World Tour in Manila is happening on July 16 at the New Frontier Theater. Tickets will be on sale on June 5 Sunday via www.ticketnet. com. Tagged as Louis’ first concert tour, the show is also in support of his debut album Walls, released in 2020 which spawned five singles: “Two of Us”, “Kill My Mind”, “We Made It”, “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart” and “Walls”. In previous reports, Louis said he felt ready to record a solo album and was too excited to be back on stage. His run of hits in 2017, including hugely successful

collaborations with Bebe Rexha and Steve Aoki, was a mere dipping of toes in the water. Temperature tested, he made some decisions – Louis wanted to be an artist who had his sound make music that meant something to him and, in turn, to those allimportant fans. “There was definitely a process of understanding where I sit musically,” says Louis. “I have my own tastes, and, to a certain extent, they are fighting against the musical tide. “When I grew up, pop meant Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Killers, and Amy Winehouse. Times change, obviously. Currently, pop is very urban and street, which is not what I relate to. Sure, I could make those sorts of songs, but they wouldn’t feel like me. The puzzle was how to please both myself and the fans.”

In 2019, Louis won the Best Song Award at the Teen Choice Awards for his single ‘Two Of Us,’ which has hit 40 million streams on Spotify, with YouTube views at 23 million. In 2018 Louis won an iHeart Award for ‘Best Solo Breakout’ and an EMA Award for ‘Best UK & Ireland Act’ in 2017. He was ranked No.5 on Billboard’s emerging artists of 2018 and had over 60 million combined followers on social media. As a member of One Direction, Louis has sold over 100 million records. Overall, Louis’s solo music has garnered over a billion streams. Louis also premiered the first episode of his new YouTube video series. “I feel like a new artist now. It’s taken a while for me to be comfortable on my own, to learn

to trust my gut, and make sure I get what I want. I feel the most confident I’ve ever been, both as a songwriter and a singer, and the most mature. Of course, I want to be successful, but what matters is what my music means to me and what it means to the fans. That’s the priority. The rest we’ll have to wait and see,” the 30-year-old artist says. Register as a Live Nation Philippines member at LiveNation. ph/register to get exclusive access to concert news and updates. Live Nation Members Pre-sale is on Saturday, June 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Public On-sale happens on Sunday, June 5, at 10:00 a.m. through www.ticketnet. com.ph and its outlets. For ticket information, visit https://www. livenation.ph/

Yassi Pressman shows new side as host of ‘Rolling In It Season 2’ By Patricia Taculao The multifaceted artist takes care of herself by getting a well-deserved rest after working hard

VID viewers saw just how versatile Yassi Pressman is as an artist. She’s played numerous antagonist roles on television and in movies before landing a pivotal role in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano alongside Coco Martin. She made audiences laugh and cry. She even left them in awe with her dance moves.

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She continued to surprise everyone when she grabbed the opportunity to be the host for Rolling In It Philippines, an arcade game show that combines general knowledge and luck. Following a year of success with high viewer ratings because of its unpredictability and overall appeal, Rolling In It Philippines returns for a second season and promises to double the surprises compare to the previous season. Much like the coins that are crucial in the game show, Yassi is also showing a different side to her hosting—one that goes beyond her comfort zone. “I think I’m a little bit more open this time. Parang mas kumportable na kasi dati parang nahihiya pa ako,”

Yassi Pressman is now more open and comfortable as a game show host

she said during the media conference for Rolling In It Season 2. Yassi is also willing to see how far she can go as a host and how comfortable she is when talking to other people. She added that the show’s production team also encouraged her to be herself and explore her funny side when interacting with the contestants and celebrity guests. The contestants for Rolling In It Season 2, who Yassi already met, come from different parts of the country. “Marami kaming iba-ibang kwento and I feel like everybody’s different kasi lahat naman may ibang pinanggagalingan. Stories of their family, why they’re joining, and saan nila gagamitin ‘yung mapapalunan nila, that’s different everytime,” she said. Aside from being more open to interaction with the contestants, Yassi will also show a more comical side to her personality through a series of witty quips that viewers can laugh along with and relate to, which is part of the show’s charm that makes it a hit among the public. Being a game show host also requires Yassi to take better care of herself. She shared that she takes care of her voice and well-being by drinking water or tea and taking a well-deserved vacation, especially since she runs and manages several businesses. Yet regardless of her condition, Yassi believes that the most significant part of her role is to ensure that everyone is having fun. Rolling In It Season 2’s pilot episode premiered last May 28, Saturday, and had Nadine Lustre, Chad Kinis, and Jerald Napoles playing alongside the contestants. Other celebrity guests who will soon make an appearance on the show span from YouTube and TikTok stars, sports personalities, and more. The show also upped the ante as contestants stand a chance to win P2 million. Rolling In It Philippines Season 2 airs every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on TV5. Catch-up episodes are available on Cignal TV CH. 3 and SatLite CH. 30 or watch it live and on-demand via the Cignal Play App, free for download for Android and iOS users.

Yassi Pressman returns as the host of ‘Rolling In It Philippines’

GMA’s flagship radio stations top Mega Manila airwaves GMA Network’s flagship AM and FM radio stations, Super Radyo DZBB 594 and Barangay LS 97.1 Forever!, continued to dominate the airwaves in their respective categories in Mega Manila, according to the latest Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement data. Super Radyo DZBB 594 has again clinched the number one spot as the listeners’ preferred station in Mega Manila for April 2022. DZBB recorded a 43.9 percent total audience share, while its closest rival, DZRH, only got 29.9 percent. The station’s total reach for April was at 1.7 million individuals, with 87.6 percent of which are loyal DZBB listeners. The morning block remained as the station’s highest-rating daypart, driven by listenership from the 6:00 to 9:00 am segment. This includes Super Balita sa Umaga, Saksi sa Dobol

B, Melo del Prado sa Super Radyo, and Dobol Weng sa Dobol B. On FM, Barangay LS 97.1 Forever! maintained its leadership in Mega Manila for the said period with a 41.4 percent total audience share, way ahead of its closest competitor, 90.7 Love Radio, which posted only 12.2 percent

audience share. The station recorded a total reach of 7.1 million listeners in the reported month. Barangay Love Stories was still the undisputed number 1 FM radio program in Mega Manila. Its podcast version was likewise consistently at the top of the charts as the most popular podcast show o n both

Spotify and iTunes. Barangay LS shows Talk to Papa, Potpot & Friends, and Songbook were also some of the ratings drivers for the station. Netizens can also catch some of Barangay LS’ well-loved shows on YouTube with new episodes every week, and get the latest updates on its official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok. Tune in to Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and Barangay LS 97.1 Forever! Mondays to Sundays. Select DZBB programs are also simulcast via Dobol B TV on GTV, and abroad on GMA News TV. Online, listeners can also catch these stations via live audio stream on www.gmanetwork.com/radio. GMA radio anchors (from left) Rowen Salvacion, Melo Del Prado, Mike Enriquez, JoelReye Zobel, and Weng Dela Peña

Life

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

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

An artist’s tribute to indomitable Filipino spirit

Ginny Guanco with her artworks

LADIES festooned with flowers. Faces painted in vibrant hues and psychedelic patterns. Women crowned with fantastic headdresses. Whether the patterns follow a tribal design, or inspired by an imaginative free-flowing scheme, the latest painting series of artist Ginny Guanco depicts a conspicuous and unabashed display of energy, brio, and an unmistakable joie de vivre. Guanco features these masterpieces in her one-woman show Festival at the Gateway Gallery in Araneta City. The exhibit, which opened on May 20, showcases 25 original paintings interpreted in a variety of mediums, some of which Guanco created during the lockdowns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when the world is still in the clutches of the deadly COVID-19 virus, Festival is the artist’s expression of Filipino optimism and positivity. While the world has seen so much sadness, loss, and depression, Guanco aims to encourage hope, courage, and the anticipation of good and promising prospects. “Through my works in this exhibit, I aim to depict the festive spirit and joyous disposition of the Filipino, amidst the most trying situations. We have seen so much darkness, so many shadows, because of the ravaging effects of the pandemic. The loss of lives and livelihood are realities we must face and accept. But I think that by putting on the light, by wearing the vibrant colors of joy, we can transition

much more easily into a future that’s full of potential and promise. And Filipinos are resilient because of our ability to look forward and hope for better times ahead. Festival is my tribute to the indomitable Filipino spirit,” Guanco explains. Guanco’s love for the feminine form stems from her childhood passion for drawing female faces and figures. She would dress up these drawings in different fashionable clothes according to particular themes. In school, she relentlessly pursued this passion by joining art contests and even winning on many occasions. Festival is Guanco’s 2nd solo exhibit, following Boho Chic in 2016 where she displayed her unabashed fondness for Bohemian fashion. After the success of her first solo show, she branched out into making personalized, hand-painted bags. Aside from her regular floral subjects, clients would request her to draw their portraits on the bags. To date, she has done hundreds of bags by hand which she has sold, and which she still continues to do. Guanco’s various explorations and experimentations with an art show her openminded eagerness to evolve as an artist. And Festival is proof that her passion to create beauty can never be dulled by the passing of years. Festival is on view at the Gateway Gallery until tomorrow, June 2. Ginny Guanco shows her love for the feminine form through her artworks

‘Contemplation’ is an artwork Ginny Guanco made with oil pastel on paper

The Beginners’ Mandarin workshop is ideal for who wants to quickly learn the basics inan engaging way

Learn Mandarin at Sunshine Place Online LEARN to speak Mandarin from the comfort of your own home by signing up with Sunshine Place Online for its Mandarin Language Workshop. The workshop starts on June 6, and consists of 15-sessions every Monday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Module soft copy and certificate of completion will be provided. Platform to be used is ZOOM Meeting and Padlet for the handouts. The Beginners’ Mandarin workshop will be conducted by Marrie Miranda-Boledo, an enthusiastic and devoted Foreign Language teacher with excellent communications skills and high degree of fluency in Fujian and Mandarin. She is a graduate of Far Eastern University and currently teaches Mandarin courses for college students at San Beda College-Alabang. She also teaches Mandarin to grade school and high school students. She has 10 years of teaching experience specializing in managing students and maximizing learning opportunities in diverse classroom settings with residence experience across Taiwan. She has various training and seminars

on Course Module Development in Foreign Language and Speech Basics at the University of the Philippines. She has completed the HSK Levels 1-3 and passed her Mandarin proficiency test. The course is ideal for travelers and students as well as anyone who wants to quickly pick up the basics in an engaging way. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to introduce themselves and others, order food in restaurants; inquire about prices when shopping, and ask and understand directions in Mandarin. Aside from building new skills in reading, writing, and speaking Mandarin in a fun and easy manner, participants will have the opportunity to better appreciate Chinese culture. For more information and to register, contact M. (0917) 515-5656 or email: online.sunshineplace@gmail.com Follow Sunshine Place Online: Website: http://www.sunshineplaceph.com/ ; Facebook @SunshinePlace56Jupiter; Instagram @sunshineplaceph; YouTube Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center.

How arts survived the pandemic

CCP artistic director Chris Millado discusses how the CCP used technology to keep the arts alive

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selected artists-in-residence traveled to the program sites when the restrictions eased up. The sites included: Linangan Art Residency in Alfonso, Cavite, Merging Islands in San Juan, La Union, Orange Projects in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Butanding Barrio in Purerto Princesa, Palawan, and Manila Observatory in Quezon City. In 2022, Art Fair did a hybrid. “Despite the pandemic, we are lucky that our sponsors These were probably the still decided to work with us again.” core questions that the La National Book Development Board Nuit des Idees (Nights of “Before Covid, the Philippine publishing Ideas) explored for its 2022 edition. The industry is already in trouble. [During the discussion centered on the theme “(Re) pandemic], publishing houses had to shut building Together: Smart Ideas, Smart down and authors were out of work,” Projects Born During the Pandemic.” said NBDB executive director Charisse “After two years, we are called upon Tugade. to rebuild together. The cultural sector She shared that the ratio of foreign books is one of the worst-hit. Cultural venues, entering the Philippine market versus the movie houses, museums, and galleries number of Filipino books being exported is were closed to the public. Artists had to be 24 to 1. creative to make a livelihood and continue Being the steward of the book industry, to communicate in some way. But we NBDB seeks to address this huge disparity were able to survive and adapt to the new because “we deserve our stories in our normal,” said French Ambassador Michele own language, and the world deserves Boccoz. our stories.” They decided an institutional Distinguished speakers from the arts and change is needed and review the existing culture sector discussed how the various programs on readership and publishing. creative and artistic industries have been “If you look at the problem in the affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Philippines, there is a very low functional how we all can rebuild the cultural industry literacy in many regions. [This means] we and emerge from the global crisis. There lack critical thinking. Our test scores are were also discussions on how we can assist going down. There is a need to revamp institutions in adjusting to the new normal, readership programs. How can we revamp as well as how we can support artists and if we are not reading in the language that we attract audiences. understand?” said Tugade. This event was organized by the Embassy The NBDB worked on the creator and of France to the Philippines, in partnership publisher programs to make sure the creators with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, are creating, and the publishers continue to Ayala Museum, Art Fair Philippines, publish and find business opportunities. National Book Development Board, Regal They also work on policy and procurement Entertainment, Inc., and A Liter of Light, (with DepEd as the biggest client). among others. One of their biggest projects during the Here are my take-aways from the Night pandemic was the Book Nook. of Ideas: “Most people don’t go to the library. It is Cultural Center of the Philippines a very colonized space. So, we find spaces Like other industries, live events and that most Filipino can easily visit. We built performing arts were equally hit. Before book nooks in markets, DepEd libraries, COVID, CCP was averaging 800 shows tourist areas, and buses. We set it up in in our different venues, providing works to indigenous and remote areas, where culture more than 3000 artists and creatives. is intact. We equipped the leaders with “In 2019, we are already hitting the knowledge on setting up and managing a 900,000 mark in visitors library and doing storytelling,” and viewership. We were said Tugade. working on reaching a During the pandemic, they million visits. But the were able to mobilize 50 sites. pandemic happened,” said This year, another 50 sites. For CCP artistic director Chris next year, their target is 100 Millado. sites. Luckily, the CCP “There is so much we need hurdled through the to do. We hope we can write challenges using smart and read in our own languages. technology. It was really Before, we were not producing amazing if you look at it enough. But last year, something since live performance and happened. Everyone started digital technology/online creating. From 8314 published streaming are on different works in 2016, it rose to 9497 spectrums. But CCP in 2021, the largest number of managed to marry the two published works.” entities to produce artistic Reality MM Studios content. Before the pandemic, the “Before, live streaming Film producer Dondon Monteverde (leftmost) sharing the projects Philippine film industry was just a way to expand our Reality MM Studios did during the pandemic was doing well. For his viewership to the regions. film outfit, Dondon But it played a central Monteverde shared role in the way we distributed that they have been performing arts productions during producing works that the pandemic,” shared Millado. are shown locally He added: “Video archive and but have made marks live streaming – this save our lives. on the international We immediately made a quick stage like Honor pivot to digital platforms. Many Thy Father, Buy years ago, we started digitizing Bust, Seklusyon, and and archiving our productions and Kuwaresma, among performances. We have hidden in others. one basement corners thousands of “Film was one video titles. We didn’t know how to of the hardestdistribute them, but they were there hit industries. We for archival purposes. When the experienced lots pandemic hit, we found a treasure of hardships. The trove of digital content that we used cinema was basically in live streaming. This gave birth to dead, everything was CCP Channel.” The CCP also braved the new ‘Nights of Ideas’ invites distinguished speakers from the arts and culture to closed. We had to find ways to get our normal and brought live theater to the discuss there building of the country’s arts and culture sectors contents out,” shared digital platform through the Virgin to the tune of Imagine. Monteverde who revealed that they would Labfest. The book shows how, despite the be shooting the Philippine version of Call “We took the challenge to translate the liveness and excitement of theater to online confinement, artists are still reaching out My Agent for HBO Max this year. During pandemic, they launched streaming. After hurdling how to use ring and helping our society. Art Fair Philippines upstream.ph, an online transactional lights and maximize zoom frames, our When it was launched in 2013 at The video-on-demand that offers a wide range actors, our director, and playwrights were able to tell stories in innovative ways. This Link, approximately 6,000 people attended. of local and international content for the was the first theater festival in the Philipines And the number has been growing since. global Filipino audience. This was in Right before pandemic, co-founder Dindin partnership with Reality MM Studio, Regal that went online successfully.” Other successful projects included: Araneta shared that they were able to Entertainment, and Globe Studios. Any content they can think of, they put the Cinemalaya which anchored its sustain it through sponsorship and ticket on the platform – from entries of major programming and put the spotlight on short sales. Just like the others, Art Fair Philippines festivals such as the Metro Manila Film feature films; the EPA Digital (the project Festival and QC Cinema, to sporting had been fast-tracked during the pandemic migrated to the digital platform. In 2021, the art fair used its website as events, musical festivals, Korean wave, and because of the need to provide educational content for the academe); the CCP Digital a platform for the participating galleries. Hollywood films. “But we also created original content. Capsule, which has become a repository of Each gallery made a short video about the digital arts created during the pandemic, their exhibition, artists, and programs, and We want to give work to those who have provided information so that collectors lost their jobs during the pandemic. We also among others. could contact them immediately. The hope to showcase local content,” concluded Ayala Museum In 2019, Ayala Museum was closed for talks, films, photo tours, and open studio Monteverde. ••• renovations as a way to increase the public programs were made available over zoom There is really something resilient about or through pre-recorded video sessions. engagement with arts and culture. “One thing we did on-site was the artists. Even in the darkest of times, they “Located in the midst of a mall, it was clear that our competitions were shopping, residency program that provided artists with are still able to produce works and thrive. entertainment, fashion, and food. We set to an opportunity to continue their art practice They are able to keep their voices and use be more accessible on-site, online and off- beyond the confines of their studios and their arts to bring light and clarity to chaos. site, to be more engaging and fascinating in homes and immerse themselves in a new I hope they remain the bastion of truth. Salute to all artists and art institutions new ways,” shared Ayala Museum senior community,” shared Araneta. In partnership with Don Papa Rum, the who made it through this trying time. director Mariles Gustilo.

OW did various art organizations cope with the pandemic, and what are their plans to counter its effects?

As everyone knows, pandemic happened and our best-laid plans had gone awry. Ayala Museum decided to simply work steadily and picked up the renovation works. They also provided “moments of learning and respite” through digital technologies. “With no end in sight of the COVID-19 pandemic and not sure when we can access our building, we are unwavering in working to enhance museum experience with new narratives, exhibitions, and programming inspired by our collections and enhanced by digital technology.” Brave New World Ricky Francisco shared how they started an online exhibition as early as May, when they anticipated that the lockdown would be prolonged. “Artists needed financial support. They needed to earn. With 14 galleries, we organized an online exhibition with 400 artworks from the Philippines, France, and other countries. We were able to sell artworks so that artists and galleries would be able to survive the pandemic,” said Francisco. Along with the website, they were able to produce a book, titled Brave New World, which immortalized the pandemic through the artists’ eyes. Over 400 artworks featured artists’ responses to the grim reality. There were artworks that characterize the frontliners, and show their reactions to the new set-up with face masks, face shields, and PPEs. Some works focused on our confinement inside our homes, how some rely on government aid, and how people cope and adjust to new normal. Of course, there are works created with Pinoy humor. One article in the book talked about a group of doctors who were also art collectors have auctioned off and brought artworks to raise money to procure PPEs for our frontliners. Artist Jose Tence Ruiz created an imaginary scenario of how an old artist deals with the pandemic; while Pete Lacaba wrote a poem that can be sung