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Palace: Face masks a must

Still, Cebu prov’l board legalizes Garcia’s order to make them optional By Vito Barcelo, Joel Zurbano, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

“T

HE Chief Executive’s directive is clear: Continue wearing face masks.”

This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the public on Tuesday despite Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia’s insistence on making the use of anti-COVID-19 masks optional in well-ventilated and open spaces in her province. Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar issued the statement to assert the President’s order, which is based on the government’s pandemic task force. Next page

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 119 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MASK UP. Members of the Manila Police District patrol along Ylaya Street in Divisoria, Manila on Tuesday to remind people to comply with the minimum public health standards, including the wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing. Norman Cruz

Pinoys must brace for global recession—solon OCTA sees NCR to elevate to moderate risk next week FILIPINOS must tighten their belts to brace for the looming global recession in the coming months, a House leader warned on Tuesday. Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd

District Rep. Isidro Ungab said Filipinos should be prepared and must plan on how to budget their income and expenses, as the country faces a worldwide increase in inflation rates, skyrocketing fuel prices, looming food shortage, and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine War.

Ungab said on top of all these, another possible spike in COVID-19 cases is projected, as the government raised the possibility of reverting to a stricter Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila. The congressman was a former Davao City councilor, economic analyst, development bank manager, and consultant to various financial institutions Next page

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz A PRIVATE group monitoring the pandemic said Metro Manila could move up from a low to a moderate risk for COVID-19 by next week, with 400 to 500 new cases daily. “At this time we’re still at a low risk in Metro Manila, but by next week, we are projecting a moderate risk,” said OCTA Research Group fellow Guido David.

Low risks means an average daily attack rae (ADAR) of under 1 per 100,000 population, while moderate risks means it is between 1 and 7 per 100,000. In an interview, David said the positivity rate—or the number of people who test positive for COVID-19—in Metro Manila climbed to 2.7 percent, while Quezon City, Manila and Makati are under “yellow” status, meaning they are preparing for a possible rise in cases. “Right now, we're seeing a continuous Next page

Padilla dead set to push death penalty, shift to federal system

Members of various militant groups trooped to a gas station in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to protest against the latest round of oil price hikes. The groups also urged the incoming administration to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12 percent value added tax on petroleum products. Manny Palmero

Retractions won’t stop cases vs. De Lima By Rey E. Requejo DESPITE the retraction by several key witnesses, the Justice Department said Tuesday it would proceed with the prosecution of drug cases filed against former senator Leila de Lima. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said a review of De Lima’s drug cases showed that the prosecution

still has a strong chance of securing a conviction based on existing evidence. “The panel of prosecutors in the De Lima cases has advised the Justice secretary that, after a thorough review of the evidence already presented as well as evidence still to be presented, there is good reason to continue the active prosecution of the senator,” Next page

DESPITE his lack of any legislative experience, neophyte Senator Robin Padilla said Tuesday he is confident he can lead the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, saying he is determined to shift the country to a federal system and to reinstate the death penalty—but not for poor people. “It’s difficult if you don’t know what you’ll do, but me, I know what I’ll do,” the action star turned legislator said in Filipino. “There are lawyers to guide me. It won’t be difficult for me. It will be difficult

ROBIN PADILLA

Immigration lookout up vs. driver in runover rap By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Tuesday issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against the owner of the sports utility vehicle who ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the ILBO was issued against Jose Antonio Sanvicente, the alleged owner

and driver of the Toyota RAV 4. DOJ-National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento confirmed that the Office of the City Prosecutor in Mandaluyong City filed the request for an ILBO on Monday. No request for a hold departure order, however, has been made. Malcontento said such a request should come from the police or a representative

of the complainant. The ILBO directs Immigration officers to alert the Office of the Secretary of Justice and the Office of the Prosecutor General if the respondent attempts to leave the country. It does not prevent the respondent from leaving. The Philippine National Police filed complaints of frustrated murder and Next page

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

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Zelensky pleads for arms as Russian forces advance R Moscow has laid siege for weeks to the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, which are separated by a river, as the last areas in the eastern Donbas region of Lugansk still under Ukrainian control. The head of Severodonetsk's administration said "massive shelling" had destroyed a third bridge linking the twin cities, but insisted his city was "not isolated." "There are communication channels even if they are quite complicated," Oleksandr Stryuk told Ukrainian television. Ukraine's "continue todefend the city" but that the situation on the ground "changes every hour," he added. On Monday, Sergiy Gaiday, gover-

nor of Lugansk, told Radio Free Europe that Russian forces had "destroyed all the bridges and getting into the city is no longer possible. Evacuation is also not possible." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has branded the human cost of the battle for east "simply terrifying," urging Western allies to speed arms deliveries to shore up Ukraine's ability to reclaim territory. "We just need enough weapons to ensure all of this. Our partners have them." His presidential advisor, Mikhaylo Podolyak, has listed hundreds of howitzers, tanks and armoured vehicles as among items needed by the Ukrainian army. "To end the war we need heavy weap-

ons," he tweeted. Last week, Ukraine's defense minister said up to 100 Ukrainian troops were being killed and 500 sustaining injuries every day. The capture of Severodonetsk would open the road to Sloviansk and another major city, Kramatorsk, in Moscow's push to conquer Donbas, a mainly Russian-speaking region partly held by proKremlin separatists since 2014. AFP team in Lysychansk saw massive damage after months of shelling, with no water, electricity or phone signal. The Ukrainian military is using high ground in the city to exchange fire with Russian forces fighting for control of Severodonetsk, just across the water. Lysychansk resident Maksym Katerin buried his mother and stepfather in his garden on Monday after a shell ripped through his yard, killing them instantly. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Palace:...

as officer-in-charge of the provincial office following Soriano's relief. The Interior department earlier refused to recognize Cebu's face mask policy and warned that those who violate health protocols could be apprehended. The DILG reminded Garcia that the country is still under a Public Health Emergency, where local policies must align with local policies to control and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has also urged the public and local officials to continue following minimum public health standards (MPHS) as key to defeating the pandemic. “The President has directed that we will continue to wear face masks except under circumstances defined by IATF. Current IATF protocols allow only for specific instances when masks can be taken off, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities,” he said. Año on Friday said he has spoken with the PNP chief and regional and provincial police directors to implement the mandate on wearing masks. "If the provincial (police) director won’t uphold the law, he will be relieved of his position, and we will place somebody there who will implement the law," Año said in an interview with Teleradyo. However, his superior, Police Regional Office-7 chief Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega sided with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases' rule on the mandatory wearing of face masks. On Monday, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. ordered all police officers to follow the national government's rule enforcing mask mandates across the country. He also advised police officers who refuse to follow the national government's directive to just resign from their posts. Taking a cue from Cebu, the League of Provinces of the Philippines said they would discuss whether to make it optional to wear a face mask against COVID-19 when outdoors. “We have not yet discussed it. But I look forward to this Friday because we will have a term-end meeting and hopefully, I plan to talk and ask my colleagues regarding their views on the issue," said LPP National Chairman and Quirino Governor Dakila Cua at the Laging Handa briefing. “We see that some LGUs are saying that it should at least be studied, discussed, and the data looked at,” he added. Cua said the provincial government of Quirino had started discussing whether they would follow Cebu's example. "We see that perhaps there should be dimension or depth to this policy at least in the outdoors. Because time will come, and we shall see, that the pandemic will subside and will become only a local matter,” he said. “But if it will be dangerous for our province-mates, we will not implement such a policy," Cua clarified. Local authorities "understand" the risk that comes with the slight uptick in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, the governor said, adding that any policy shift on masks would "depend on our experts." Quirino has no active COVID-19 case as of Tuesday, Cua said. The province is currently under Alert Level 1, the loosest of the country's 5-tier COVID-19 alert system. The Department of Health, meanwhile, appealed to local governments to follow "only one protocol." Cebu lawmaker Borgonia said some countries in Southeast Asia are also removing the mandatory use of face masks and cited the low number of new COVID-18 cases in the province. The measure also invoked local auton-

omy and was seconded by Board Member Andrei Duterte. It will be effective 15 days after the ordinance is posted to the public. Senator-elect JV Ejercito said the DOH is mandated to recommend what would be best suited for any health crisis situation. "They are the health experts. They have to be transparent and explain well to our people why there is, if ever, a need to raise the alert level," he said. He said businesses would continue “if our people feel safe to continue with their work and life amidst Alert Level 2.” If there is uncertainty, he noted that everything “will be put to a halt, our economy included. The government needs to make its people feel safe." Ejercito’s half-brother, returning Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said they understand the concerns of the business community “but we should comply with the recommendations of our health experts especially now that more people are going out and more businesses are operating in full capacity.” "We should be more careful. It is imperative to observe the minimum health protocols and ensure that we are fully vaccinated with the needed booster shot," he said. “We cannot afford another COVID-19 surge right now. “ Guevara also has no choice but to implement the law and policy, said Sen. Sonny Angara, but he questioned why the IATF still requires masks outdoors. Angara noted that all over the world, masks are no longer required outdoors. "Why do we still have such a policy to begin with? Doesn’t science already support the proposition that there is much less risk of catching the virus in an outdoor setting?" he asked, saying he believes the wearing of face masks should be optional. "Outdoors yes; in crowded spaces, OK to still require masks,” the senator said, noting that in Europe and the United States, wearing of face masks outdoors is no longer mandatory. Sen. Win Gatchalian said learning from his visit to Singapore, they no longer require masks when outdoors, and its convention centers and restaurants are at full capacity. The effect, he said, is a resurgence of their tourism industry to shore up government revenues. He noted that the vaccines are effective as evidenced by the very low hospital occupancy rates. "We just have to live with this virus already and continue to promote booster shots to the entire population," Gatchalian said. Sen. Imee Marcos believes living with COVID will include wearing a face mask in crowded enclosed spaces, as many countries learned during the SARS and other contagion outbreaks. "Really, it’s a small price to pay for our families' health," he said. Outgoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III said policies of either the national or local governments must be sciencebased and data-driven. "Who between the two governments has such a basis? Then that one must prevail," he said. This is not the first time Garcia drew controversy over her COVID-19 policies. In 2020, Garcia called out doctors who criticized "tuob" or steam inhalation as therapy for COVID-19, a recommendation made by the Cebu Provincial Government for its employees. The governor also drew flak from the online community after she revealed in a Facebook comment in 2020 that she refuses to wear a mask because it allegedly causes her to "inhale back" carbon dioxide she exhales, which she claimed "causes exhaustion, lowers her immune system, and affects her brain." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Floralde, 31, who was directing traffic at an intersection near a shopping mall in Mandaluyong City on June 5. The prosecutor general said that the complaint is currently undergoing preliminary investigation. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has revoked Sanvicente’s driver’s license

and perpetually disqualified him from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle. He snubbed LTO hearings scheduled on June 7 and 10. LTO records showed that Sanvicente had been apprehended three times for reckless driving in 2010, 2015 and 2016.

USSIAN forces on Tuesday stepped up efforts to cut off Ukrainian troops in the key industrial city of Severodonetsk in the east of the country despite Ukrainians insisting they were holding on.

From A1

He said the Palace supports the legal opinion of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution on the mandatory wearing of face masks "shall prevail over the executive orders by local government units, including the one issued by the provincial government of Cebu." Guevarra on Monday said the IATF resolution is "incorporated in and/or enabled by executive orders" issued by the President, who has supervision over local governments. Still, the Cebu provincial board on Tuesday approved unanimously on its third and final reading an ordinance easing the use of face masks in the province. Authored by Board Member John Ismael Borgonia, the ordinance was decided in a special session requested by Garcia. Ordinance No. 2022-03 legalizes Garcia's Executive Order 16, making use of face masks optional in outdoors and wellventilated spaces. However, face masks are still required in indoor and air-conditioned areas. They are also needed for those with symptoms of COVID-19. The new ordinance also authorizes the governor to come up with rules and regulations on the issue. Garcia on Tuesday also warned law enforcers they will be charged with illegal arrest if they insist on arresting individuals not wearing face masks in open spaces in Cebu. The governor stood pat on her decision, saying she has a responsibility to her constituents and not to outgoing and unelected officials. “If they make arrests, they can be charged with illegal arrest,” said Garcia, in reaction to statements made by national government officials that locals can face arrest if they defy a presidential order to wear face masks in public to protect against COVID-19. The governor also discredited the statement of Guevarra on IATF resolutions prevailing over executive orders issued by local government units. She said a provision in the Local Government Code grants local governments autonomy in issuing policy, and that the resolutions issued by IATF are merely recommendatory. Garcia added that even the IATF recognizes that its resolutions are neither equivalent to laws created and passed by Congress nor any executive order. However, the IATF is composed of Cabinet secretaries who are alter egos of the President, Guevarra noted. Andanar said the Department of the Interior and Local Government has instructed the Philippine National Police "to implement the existing IATF resolution on wearing of face masks accordingly." Cebu Provincial Director Police Col. Engelbert Soriano – who released a statement two days earlier on the CPPO's Facebook page saying that Garcia's Executive Order No. 16 "remains the law" —has been relieved from duty effective June 12, the PNP Public Information Office said on Tuesday. The PNP statement said Soriano was relieved after having served for more than a year, to give way "for career advancement and to give greater opportunity to other qualified Third Level PCOs (Police Commissioned Officers)." "His relief is pursuant to the provisions of PNP Memorandum Circular 2022-002, which states that Provincial Director, City Director or COP of NCRPO shall be held by a PCOL for a continuous period of one year," the statement read. Police Col. Elmer Lim was designated

Immigration... From A1

abandonment of one’s victim under Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) against Sanvicente, who is accused of running over a security guard, Christian

OCTA... From A1

rise in cases, and it's quickening in Metro Manila,” David said in a mix of Filipino and English in a televised briefing. “We had 188 cases yesterday. It might increase to 200 to 300. In fact, our projection by end of June is that it might increase to 400 to 500,” he said. David urged employers to implement a flexible work arrangement to allow their employees to work from home to avoid virus transmission. “Let's hold off the return to onsite work. I've heard that on June 15, many will return to onsite work. So maybe offices can reconsider this so we can reduce the capacity in the office,” he said. "Work-from-home will help them save money," he added, noting the sharp increases in fuel prices. He also urged the government to ensure that proper protocols are in place as face-to-face classes resume. He reminded the public to continue wearing face masks and to observe minimum health standards. The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said the government might raise the capital region’s alert level status from the current Alert Level 1. But the chairman of the House committee on ways and means on Tuesday said he opposed any further restrictions on economic activities. “At this point, the alert level system, which is primarily based on the number of COVID-19 cases, no longer makes sense from a health care point of view. Cases will always be there, so we have to measure our ability to live with the cases,” said Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, the panel's chairman. Salceda said Executive Order 166 states that the authorities use both total and severe cases, case fatality and vaccination rates as the basis for restrictions. "So, I don’t understand this talk that a rise in cases might necessitate a higher alert level,” Salceda said. He also urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging

Infectious Diseases (IATF) to consider that every week in lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) costs workers about P1.6 billion in salaries. “If they have no plan for how to replace the nutrition, non-COVID health, and welfare losses from that, then we should be more circumspect about declaring alert levels,” Salceda said. Earlier, Salceda warned of a possible nutrition crisis due to higher prices of food. “An alert level increase will worsen the food situation for around 640,000 households in NCR, and could bring them below the hunger line. Again, I hope the IATF considers that,” Salceda added. He said a lockdown at this late stage in the pandemic, when people have learned to live with the virus, would be counterproductive. “Let’s keep minimum health standards and empower people to take care of their health. Vaccines, better nutrition, and the certainty that there will be hospital beds when they need them – these things give our people more agency than lockdowns or higher alert levels. Give them that, and allow them to earn a living, and they will be able to make decisions about their health.” “An alert level will have very marginal, if any, COVID-mitigating effects. But it will cost working families, especially in the informal and self-employed sectors, gravely,” he added. Metro Manila—or NCR--is home to nearly 13.5 million people, and accounts for about a third of the national economy. More than 12 million people in the region have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, of whom, more than 3.7 million have received their booster shots. The Philippines has so far detected 29 cases of the Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant, including five in Metro Manila. The country has also detected one case of the Omicron BA.4 subvariant and five cases of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant. As of Monday, the Philippines logged a total of 3.69 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which, 3,097 are active. Its first infection was recorded on Jan. 30, 2020.

before getting elected to the House in 2007. “We foresee difficult times ahead… and it is up to us if we can safely ride it through and survive or go unprepared and succumb to the strong financial distress, being experienced globally,” Ungab said in a statement. He suggested Filipinos should also explore other sources of income and become innovative in challenging times like this. A University of the Philippines Los Banos graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics, the lawmaker noted that the rise in prices of food and basic commodities is outpacing wages, which is becoming a growing household concern. Ungab supported President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to set a stimulus package in the 2023 national budget, which he said shows the incoming administration's determination to rebuild the country’s economy. “I urge everyone to unite and help the incoming administration. Let us come together and work for our country to be

able to overcome these economic woes and adversities,” Ungab said. Apart from the government’s plan to manage the rising inflation, the Davao solon also recommended for the incoming administration to prepare and update the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for 2023 – 2028. This will become the basis of budgeting the expenditures in the coming months and years of the incoming Marcos’ administration, he noted. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez earlier said the next Congress will prioritize the passage of Marcos Jr.'s legislative agenda, including a stimulus package to help the country recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Romualdez, who is the top contender for the Speakership in the 19th Congress, said they are eyeing the passage of a Bayanihan-type of legislation to be called Bayan Bangon Muli. "It will allow the incoming President to harness the resources available to him during this closing period of 2022 and address the measures that are needed for the pandemic, hopefully endemic, stage of this Covid issue, and of course, to harness whatever remaining resources to stimulate the economy and to reinvigorate it for the betterment of all," Romualdez said.

Retractions...

Padilla...

From A1

Guevarra said in a text message to reporters. “As far as the ‘retractions’ of certain persons are concerned, the prosecution takes the position that until these persons are actually presented in court for examination to ascertain their truthfulness, their alleged recantations have no probative value whatsoever,” he added. Witnesses who have recanted their statements implicating De Lima in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was still Justice secretary include former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, a key witness in one of her cases; self-confessed drug-lord Kerwin Espinosa; Marcelo Adorco; and De Lima’s co-accused and former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan. Ragos had executed an affidavit on Sept. 5, 2016 claiming that in November 2012, as BuCor OIC and together with aide Jovencio Ablen, they delivered a black bag containing P5 million to Dayan and De Lima at the latter’s residence. He said at the time they made another delivery of money contained in a plastic bag in December 2012 to De Lima and Dayan. In 2016, testified before the House Committee on Justice hearing on the NBP drug trade where he reiterated his previous affidavits. But last month, Ragos, who served as deputy director for intelligence of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said he was forced to execute false affidavits against and issue false testimonies before the House of Representatives and the court against De Lima and Dayan by several people led by former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

for the public because they will need to amend our Constitution,” he added. Padilla said real change can only be achieved through constitutional changes, and pointed out that Presidents Gloria Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos all tried to do this. Neither of them did this because they wanted to stay in power, he added, but because they saw that Charter change was inevitable. Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte had promised to push for a federal form of government when he was campaigning for high office in 2016, but did not pursue it when he became President. Earlier, presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that the majority in the incoming Senate agreed to let Padilla lead the committee on constitutional amendments and revision of dodes and the committee on social justice, welfare and rural development in the 19th Congress. Padilla has attended several briefings to prepare him for his work at the Senate, learning how a bill is passed into law, and how a committee hearing is conducted. Padilla said he is determined to change the country's form of government into federalism and support bills that will revive the death penalty, especially on crimes related to illegal drugs. "I should first set up talks between the two Houses. That’s the first step. This year, this is the target," he said in Filipino, referring to Charter change. As for the capital punishment, Padilla said he has seen the "underworld," which gives him the authority to talk about the issue. Padilla was sent to jail in 1994 for illegal possession of firearms and was sentenced to a maximum of eight years, but was subsequently pardoned—conditionally by Ramos in 1997, and absolutely by Duterte in 2016.

Pinoys... From A1

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Allowance for frontliners missing—PHAP By Willie Casas

HEY were called the “heroes” in the ﬁght against the deadly coronavirus, yet certain quarters appeared to have easily forgotten these heroic frontliners and neglected to give their rightful compensation. The Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said these health workers have yet to receive their so-called “One COVID allowance.” “Hinihintay ang beneﬁts nila sa One COVID Allowance, supposedly narelease na ‘yan ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” PHAP president Jose Rene de Grano.

As early as last February, Malacañang said the budget department has released some P7.9 billion for the allowance of the healthcare frontliners. “We’re wondering why our different hospitals have yet to receive it,” De Grano said. He disclosed that about 50 percent of the health workers in private hospitals have left for jobs

abroad, posing a serious setback in the country’s hospital services. Some public and private hospitals earlier reported a surge in non-COVID admissions as patients with chronic diseases sought consultation after coronavirus infections declined. The Department of Health (DOH) last month said it has disbursed some P86.5 million to 54 health facilities since January 2022, while P403 million has been allocated for 266 medical facilities, but was “readily available.” “However it is pending and for issuance of check due to lack of submitted documents, especially the signed memorandum of agreement and liquidation report from the

previously transferred funds to the health facility,” the DOH said in a statement last May 25. A total of P639.96 million in special risk allowance has been disbursed to 234 health facilities since February. Of this amount, P581.3 million was claimed by 218 facilities, while P58.66 million earmarked for 16 facilities remained unclaimed, the DOH said. Around P80.77 million worth of meals, accommodation, and transportation (MAT) allowances has been issued to 47 health hospitals, of which P76.63 million was claimed by 34 facilities, with P4.14 million still be claimed by 13 health facilities, the DOH said.

Senator eyes wider LGU role in education SENATOR Win Gatchalian is pushing for increased local government units’ (LGUs) involvement in improving the delivery and quality of basic education in the country. The senator cited the crucial role that local governments played to ensure learning continuity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the proximity of local governments to their constituencies allows them to be more responsive and ﬂexible when it comes to the people’s needs. Gatchalian was expected to retain chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture in the 19th Congress. He added that incoming Secretary of Education Sara Duterte-Carpio could mobilize local governments to increase their involvement in education. By winning more than 61 percent of the votes in last May’s elections, the Vice President-elect has the political capital to effectively implement reforms that will address the education crisis, Gatchalian said. During the recently concluded 18th Congress, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1579 or the 21st Century School Boards Act. Under the measure, local school boards will be mandated to formulate and implement reforms and policies to improve the quality of education. The success of these programs will be measured based on indicators such as the participation rate of students, the number of dropouts and out-of-school youth, achievement scores in national tests, assessment tools, and other standardized test scores, among others. The establishment of child development centers, support to special education and Alternative Learning System (ALS) were also included in the success metrics of these programs. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Taguig cites LSB for outstanding achievements THE Taguig City government has cited a local school board (LSB) for its significant programs and accomplishments in school year 2021-2022 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Taguig LSB office shared the department’s achievements for the school year 2021-2022 during the weekly flagraising ceremony held at the city hall grounds on Monday. LSB officer in-charge Dr. Natividad Jimenez said that Taguig was among the cities that implemented limited face-toface classes, with the approval from the Department of Education. Jimenez said selected pupils from kindergarten to sixth grade are attending classes in their schools as a precaution to limit interactions due to COVID-19. Other students are still attending online and modular learning classes. Based on DepEd’s Tele-Aral Program, eligible teachers conduct online lessons depending on students’ academic needs like Math, English, Science. They tutor students online with a maximum of ten (10) students per class. Tele-Aral teachers receive P25,000 a month and other benefits from the city, while non-eligible teachers are given P12,500 monthly. The city government has also turned over the following seven new school buildings equipped with air-conditioned classrooms, elevators, basketball courts, and roof decks. Joel E. Zurbano

MOVE OVER BORA. The controversial dolomite beach along Roxas Blvd. offers a scene comparable to the world renowned Boracay Island--kilometers-long stretch of immaculate white sand that is as close as it gets to the big city. Rico H. Borja

CHED mulling partial lifting of moratorium on nursing study THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) discloses it is looking at selective lifting of the ban on new nursing courses. CHED chair Prospero De Vera III said the CHED’s technical panel on nursing has been working on the new policy, which may be released soon. “CHED is working with the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) and DOH (Department of Health) to determine the supply and demand for nursing graduates for a possible strategic selective lifting of the moratorium in key geographic areas and types of institutions and the Commission will issue the new policy soon,” De Vera said. He said it has been several years now since they started the assessment, considering the demands brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. “The Commission on Higher Education has already recognized the need to review the 2011 moratorium on the opening of new nursing programs given the changing regional and global demand for health manpower over the past ﬁve years,” he said. However, De Vera pointed out that a total lifting of the ban might be unfavorable, hence, the need for a “strategic study” before imposing a new policy. “The lifting of the moratorium, however, must be based on a correct assessment of the supply and demand for nurses both locally and internationally... The unilateral lifting of the moratorium and allowing all higher education institutions (HEIs) to offer nursing will not address the problem,” he added. CHED, in Memorandum Order 32 dated September 30, 2010, stopped the opening of all undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management and information technology education beginning school year 2011-2012.

Solon thanks Rody for upgrade of Valenzuela hospital A LAWMAKER on Tuesday expressed gratitude for President Duterte’s fulﬁllment of a campaign promise to upgrade the Valenzuela Medical Center’s operational capacity to meet the growing needs of local residents. In 2018, Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez ﬁled a bill seeking to increase of VMC’s bed capacity from 200 to 500 to cope with the increasing demand for public health care in the city.

The P208-million project would include an expanded radiology department, operating room complex and surgical intensive care, hemodialysis, chemotherapy and ambulatory surgical units. Since the approval of the VMC expansion project in 2018, the hospital has constructed an Infectious Disease Clinic and warehouse building which has a 134-bed operating capacity, two emergency rooms—one for infectious

and another for non-infectious diseases, and a Malasakit Center. “I am very much thankful to President Duterte, as well to Sen. (Christopher) Go, who sponsored the bill for the VMC expansion project; Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, and Valenzuela City 1st. Dist. Wes Gatchalian, who were co-authors, and Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, who spearheaded the local government efforts on the realization of the project,”

Martinez said. Set for completion by June 2023, the VMC aims to become the “People’s Choice” by 2028 through its mission of providing institutionalized patient-centered and pandemic-resilient health care. The project was rolled out by the ofﬁce of Go through the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Maricel V. Cruz

BI nabs overstaying Pakistani, Indian; both face deportation IMMIGRATION agents have arrested a Pakistani and an Indian national in Mindanao who were both facing deportation for overstaying and illegally working in the Philippines. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identiﬁed the duo as—Rafshad Cherikkal Phutiyapurayil, 33, an Indian national; and Zain Ul Abideen, 25, a Pakistani. Morente said operatives from the BI intelligence division arrested the two aliens during separate operations conducted in Zamboanga City and Basilan. “They will undergo deportation proceedings for overstaying, being undocumented and violating the conditions of their stay in the country,” the BI chief said, adding that the two foreigners will be blacklisted afterwards and banned

from re-entering the Philippines. According to BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the two aliens were subject of complaints from residents in their workplace who reported their presence and illegal activities without the required permits and visas. Manahan said both Phutiyapuravil and Abideen were found to have arrived in the country years ago, but did not bother to apply for extension of their stay. It was reported that except for a driver’s license, Phutiyapuravil could not present his passport which he claimed was in a friend’s possession. As for Abideen, Manahan said the Pakistani admitted that his passport already expired in 2020 and that he never applied for any visa or extended stay. Vito Barcelo

COCONUT PROCESSING THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. Technological advancements notwithstanding, a farmer from Barangay Upu, Maitum, Sarangani province prepares coconuts using a centuries-old yet still effective tool to remove the thick husks. Danny Pata

Mayor-elect warns of apparent scam PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION.

A member of the Philippine Coast Guard hands over a plaque of appreciation to Miss Philippines Earth Air Ameera Almamari for her participation in the tree-planting activity of the PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Parañaque City.

MALABON Mayor-elect Jeannie Sandoval warned her constituents about an apparent scam purporting to give away aid, land, houses, wages and jobs this coming July 1st. “Dumating po sa ating kaalaman ang umiikot na Community and Urban Poor Affairs Ofﬁce (CUPAO) Survey Forms at hinihikayat ang mga residente ng Malabon na sagutin ang mga naturang survey sa pangakong mabibigyan ng ayuda, bahay, lupa, sahod at trabaho,” Sandoval said. Sandoval reminded her constituents that her term of ofﬁce has not yet begun and she has nothing to do with the documents offering such promises. “Sa katunayan, hindi po namin alam kung bakit may nangangakong magbibigay ng ayuda, bahay, lupa, sahod at trabaho. Kung ito po ay nakaloob sa budget ng

Malabon City para sa natitirang bahagi ng 2022, mapalad po tayong lahat. Ngunit sa pagkakataon na walang budget, walang bahay at lupa, ayuda, trabaho o sahod ang nakalaan para sa mga sasagot ng survey na ito, niloloko lamang po kayo ng mga nag-iikot at kinukuha lamang ang inyong impormasyon,” Sandoval explained. Aside from the Urban Poor form, another form targeting senior citizens and PWDs asking for their signatures which again promises beneﬁts are said to be circulating. This form uses the logo of Malabon Citizen Welfare Association Inc. In view of this, Sandoval reminds her constituents, not to easily believe any sweet promises, especially if there is no proof of its authenticity. Sandoval will assume ofﬁce as mayor of Malabon starting June 30th.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Lakas beefs up roster, adds 2 more lawmakers By Maricel V. Cruz TWO more congressmen in the incoming 19th Congress have joined the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), bringing the party’s strength to 52. House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, have sworn in Salvador Pleyto Sr. (Bulacan) and Emeng Pascual (Nueva Ecija) as new Lakas-CMD members at Lakas-CMD Headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday afternoon. “Our partners in our call for unity are growing by the day. This is no surprise since the just-concluded May elections showed everyone that the Filipino people prefer unity right now, with the stake as high as they are in order for our country to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Romualdez, a lawyer from University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said. In the same event, nine congressmenmember of Lakas-CMD from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao formally took their ceremonial oath, thus further solidifying the party. Reps. Daphne Lagon (Cebu), David Suarez (Quezon), Emmarie Ouano-Dizon (Mandaue City), Edsel Galeos (Cebu), Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro), Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III (Isabela), Steve Solon (Sarangani), Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran (Sultan Kudarat), and Jinky Bitrics Luistro (Batangas) have sworn in by Romualdez.

NEW LAKAS MEMBERS. Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader

Martin Romualdez (left) administers the oath-taking of new Lakas-CMD Party members. From right are Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez, Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Arnan Panaligan, and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro at the Lakas-CMD headquarters in Mandaluyong City. Ver Noveno

News

‘PH needs independent CHR chief’ By Willie Casas

NTERNATIONAL watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday urged President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to choose “qualified and independent” human rights advocates who will take posts as commissioners at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson, in a statement, said Marcos should guarantee an inclusive and transparent process in selecting the new commissioners of the body. “President-elect Marcos should appoint commissioners with a proven track records of defending human rights,” Robertson said.

Robertson noted that the appointment of the new commissioners will be”an important first test for his administration’s commitment to human rights.” Robertson said Marcos should convene an independent search committee, which will come up with a short list of candidates for commissioners. “This committee should identify individ-

uals with strong human rights backgrounds and credentials. Convening such a search committee will help ensure transparency in the process,” Robertson said. Amnesty International said there had been human rights abuses under the military rule of Marcos’ father, late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Amnesty International pegged the number of those killed under Martial Law from 1972 to 1981 at 3,200 while those who were illegally detained at 70,000. Recently, Marcos had committed to ensuring a high-level of accountability when it comes to human rights, according to United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez. The HRW also said Marcos would “in-

‘Mount Bulusan tremors more than doubled’

Guanzon files docs for her bid as P3PWD rep ACTING Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson Rex Laudiangco confirmed that retired Comelec official Rowena Guanzon has formalized her bid to become the first nominee of party-list Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons With Disabilities (P3PWD) in the 19th Congress. Laudiangco confirmed that Guanzon filed documents to be a nominee of the party-list, which won one seat, CNN Philippines reported. If granted, Guanzon will represent P3PWD in the next Congress, but this is “[s]ubject to the deliberation of the Commission en banc,” Laudiangco said Substitution of candidates may only be done until Nov. 15, 2021, but the hearing of petitions for replacement of nominees of winning party-lists would depend on the Comelec, CNN reported. Guanzon was known for her social media posts which indicated that she is nominee of P3PWD. However, she has not filed any document on the withdrawal and substitution of nominees for P3PWD at the time. She also drew flak after being photographed with House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

herit” the human rights situation under the Duterte administration, which has been plagued with alleged violations and abuses. Earlier, Marcos Jr. said he was inclined to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September, citing the importance of the event and his desire to meet with other world leaders. Marcos issued the statement after UN Resident Coordinator to the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez paid a courtesy call to Marcos at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City to discuss preparations for this year’s UN General Assembly in New York, USA. Gonzalez said he discussed three main points of the UN—human rights, peace, and development—with Marcos.

FARMED SHRIMP. From left to right: Dinna Umengan (Executive Director, Tambuyog Development Center), Eduardo Gongona

(National Director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - BFAR), Enrique Nuñez (Country Executive Director, Conservation International Philippines) and Garrett Goto (Aquaculture Manager, Conservation International Center for Oceans), hold a plate full of farmed shrimp during the Climate Smart Shrimp Aquaculture Forum held at Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City on June 14. Norman Cruz

Govt urged to lead work-from-home setup By Macon Ramos-Araneta SEN. Grace Poe on Tuesday called on government agencies to lead the way in implementing work-from-home arrangements for civil servants without compromising prompt and reliable delivery of services to all citizens. Poe issued the call after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) issued a policy institutionalizing an adaptable setup in

government as the country transitions to the new normal. She also noted that country continues to have public transportation woes affecting workers. “As frontliners in the delivery of basic services, our government workers need as much support to deal with the soaring prices of essential goods and the current lack of public transport,” Poe said. “We hope that agency heads, in con-

sultation with stakeholders, can sit down and formulate vetted guidelines in order to give our state employees greater flexibility in doing their jobs with the same, if not greater productivity and efficiency,” Poe said. The CSC resolution allows for work arrangements such as “flexiplace,” compressed work week, skeleton force, work shifting, flexitime or a combination of the schemes.

ALTHOUGH the volcanic earthquakes recorded in Mount Bulusan for the past 24 hours are fewer than the previous day, the volcanic tremors detected have more than doubled, based on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) record on Tuesday. For the past 24 hours, 69 volcanic earthquakes caused by movements or eruptions of magma from the volcano have been recorded, fewer than the 126 volcanic quakes recorded the previous day. However, 56 volcanic tremors that lasted 19 minutes were detected, higher than the 20 volcanic tremors Phivolcs previously recorded. Volcanic tremors are earthquakes that could last for more than a minute, hours, or even days. For Mount Bulusan, the volcanic tremors signify hydrothermal activity or boiling of groundwater, according to Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, Jr. Meanwhile, sulfur dioxide emission on June 12 was at 4,627 tons. Voluminous plume emission for the past 24 hours reached 750 meters tall, a bit higher compared to the plume emission 500 meters high the previous day. Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest) is maintained over the Bulusan Volcano. Entry into the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited, and vigilance in the 2-kilometer extended danger zone on the southeast sector must be exercised due to the increased possibilities of sudden and hazardous phreatic eruptions.

Villar pushes for more organic fertilizers in PH By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar is pushing for composting and the use of organic fertilizer anew, citing that bad practices in agriculture reduce nutrients has resulted in significant soil degradation. In her video message during the

71st anniversar y of the Bureau of Soils and Waste Management (BSWM), Villar underscored the need to produce organic fertilizer from agricultural residues like rice straw, cor n stover, animal manure, and others that can replace the inorganic/synthetic or chemical fertilizers.“You are one with us in

actively promoting organic farming methods especially producing organic fertilizer,” Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, told the BSWM. She said the biodegradable wastes in residential areas consist of kitchen and garden wastes.

Philippines, Israel deepen bilateral economic ties By Rey E. Requejo

BOOSTER SHOTS FOR COPS. Members of the Manila Police District (MPD) on Tuesday receive their booster shot for COVID-19. The Department of Health (DOH) is not discounting the possibility of escalating the alert level in the National Capital Region (NCR) if the number of COVID-19 cases in the NCR continues to increase. Norman Cruz

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday disclosed that the Philippines and Israel have agreed to deepen their bilateral economic cooperation by signing an investment promotion agreement intended at creating more jobs for Filipinos

The DFA said Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently signed the Philippines-Israel Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), signaling their commitment to facilitating direct investments between both countries.

The agreement further broadens bilateral economic cooperation by creating a conducive environment for investments in agriculture, health, water management, ICT, cybersecurity, fintech, defense industry, smart transportation, smart manufacturing, and diamond industry development, the DFA added.

Opinion What’s the US agenda?

One possible outcome of the detente is that the US could favorably consider the resumption of economic assistance to the Philippines through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Given all this, are Washington’s moves to restore “special relations” with Manila – and possible resumption of MCC assistance to the Philippines – aimed at protecting its geopolitical interests in this part of the Pacific? Would the US, for instance, as part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, significantly step up economic assistance to the Philippines to sweeten the pot, so to speak, to convince Manila to allow Ground-Based Intermediate-Range Missiles (GBIRMs) with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km to be stockpiled here? That’s one possibility, but an exceedingly remote one, as even the Rand Corporation observed in a recent report. But we don’t think Filipinos would respond favorably to any overtures from the US to deploy long-range non-nuclear weapons here as a deterrent against an emergent China. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Fil-Ams query election results (Part 2 of 2) IN MY column last week, I wrote about the first online press conference held by the group U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance (USFGG) where they presented the analyses of two experts probing “possible irregularities” in the May 2022 Philippine national elections. The group held another live event yesterday titled “Sanctity of the Ballot,” Part 2 of their Electoral Fraud Series of conferences. The analysts at the first USFGG event were big data analyst and engineer Phil Daily, whose presentation I reported on last week. Here’s the report of forensic election fraud expert and University of Michigan political science and statistics professor Walter R. Mebane Jr. Mebane’s findings Mebane has written many papers on election forensics and political fraud in election results all over the world, and is “familiar with Philippine politics, having analyzed the 2016 Philippine elections,” according to the USFGG. In his paper “eforensics Analysis of the Philippines 2022 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections,” Mebane used clustered precinct data to “estimate e-forensics frauds to measure the magnitude of malevolent distortions of electors’ intentions—frauds” in the elections. Based on transparency server vote count and Project of Precincts eligible voter data on the Comelec website, he found that the data show “2,079 precincts and about 416,109 votes for [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] are produced by malevolent distortions” and “bad acts – more by stealing votes from other candidates” while 25,144 precincts and some 1.71 million votes for Marcos “are produced by a mix of bad acts that manufacture votes and of strategic elector behavior that shifts votes between candidates.” Mebane found similar patterns in the votes for Sara Duterte. He pointed out that “suspicions abound about the election,” given the prevalence of vote-buy-

ing, political patronage, intimidation, and even violence among “influential families who struggle for power,” as well as “’online disinformation campaigns flooding social media with false stories portraying [Ferdinand] Marcos Sr.’s rule as a golden era’” (quoting Ratcliffe, 2022). Mebane also showed estimates that “many precincts have eforensics frauds” and indications of “lost votes.” He further noted that the 2022 presidential election has “4.4 times more precincts with extreme frauds than does the 2016 election” and “26.1 times more precincts with incremental frauds.” Extreme frauds, he wrote, “are larger.” In this year’s elections, the proportion of extreme fraud varies from province to province. Whether these factors and the others discussed in Mebane’s paper could have influenced the results to tip in favor of the second placer is unclear, given the “wide margin” of 31 million votes attributed to Marcos Jr. However, it is precisely this turnout of 31 million that many Filipinos find difficult to believe. It is the largest in the nation’s history and overturns historical trends for voter turnout. Doubt has been cast on the credibility of the fully automated voting that was conducted, and calls are being made for the implementation of a hybrid system and for greater transparency in the vote counting process. Review of SD cards In Part 2 of USFGG’s “Electoral Fraud Series” of live conferences yesterday and titled “Sanctity of the Ballot,” Frank Ysaac, former president of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, pointed out that less than two hours after the closing of polling places at 7:00 p.m. on election day, the Comelec server was issuing election returns “in record millions.” He said the batch ERs showed “incredible patterns of doubtful voting ratios from the President to the Vice President,” and that this “never happened during the 2016 election.” He pointed to possible tampering of the secure digital cards being used in the voting machines. Ysaac said analysis shows a pattern wherein some SD cards were “apparently reading shaded ballots of one candidate but counting them as ballots of another candidate.” He said any programmer can write this pro-

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EDITORIAL

If Nepal accepts MCC funds, it risks alienating its northern neighbor” (China), citing critics from diverse backgrounds. Will Nepal follow the example of Sri Lanka, which refused to sign a $480 million MCC agreement in February 2020, claiming that some of its features “threaten national security and [the] welfare of the island nation”? Hmm. The op-ed piece said that while the MCC insists that its grant is not part of an Indo-Pacific Strategy, other US policy documents claim that MCC is an integral part of the IPS and its national security strategy. A US State Department document titled “A Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Advancing a Shared Vision” recognized the MCC and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) as economic pillars of the IPS. The commentary noted further: “In December 2017, the US issued the National Security Strategy (NSS), which argues that the MCC will be used for executing diplomacy and assistance abroad. It clearly targets China, stating that the latter’s dominance risks ‘diminishing sovereignty’ of many states in the Indo-Pacific region, calling for sustained US leadership. The NSS pulls no punches: ‘US development assistance must support America’s national interests.’ By ‘national interest’ the US means to exercise its hegemony in the IndoPacific region through its development assistance. The NSS gives credence to widespread suspicion that the MCC is to serve as a diplomatic instrument to advance the US geopolitical ambition in the region.”

WITH Washington cozying up to the incoming administration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., would there be a big change in our bilateral ties starting next month? That appears to be the case, if we’re to go by the congratulatory message from US President Joe Biden soon after it became clear that Marcos was headed towards a landslide victory in the May 9 presidential election. Recently, a top official from the US State Department said Marcos Jr. would be welcome to visit the country because as head of state, he enjoys diplomatic immunity despite an adverse US court ruling years back that effectively kept him from stepping foot on American soil. The warming bilateral ties, of course, are a sea change from Washington’s attitude towards the Duterte administration, which it kept at arm’s length because of what it considered brazen human rights violations in the course of the latter’s bloody war on drugs since 2016. One possible outcome of the detente is that the US could favorably consider the resumption of economic assistance to the Philippines through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a foreign aid agency created by the US Congress in January 2004 that seeks to assist countries in fighting poverty through economic growth. The MCC model focuses on policy reforms and economic growth opportunities. It forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to good governance and investments in their citizens. MCC has approved over $8.4 billion in programs worldwide to support such sectors as agriculture and irrigation; transportation (roads, bridges, ports); water supply and sanitation; access to health; finance and enterprise development; anticorruption initiatives; land rights and access; and access to education. The Philippines was among the beneficiaries of MCC assistance. In December 2017, however, the Duterte administration withdrew a second application with the MCC, citing the need to concentrate instead on rebuilding Marawi in southern Philippines after months of bloody fighting between government forces and Islamic State. But the real reason may have been the deterioration in bilateral ties due to Duterte’s violent war on drugs that Washington insisted had led to unacceptable human rights abuses. But is the MCC really about supporting good governance, agriculture and the like? A recent op-ed piece in a Nepal newspaper noted that a $500 million MCC grant had turned into a “contested geopolitical issue in Nepal, dividing its populace for and against it…those supporting it argue that the US grant helps build much-needed power transmission lines and upgrades dilapidated roads, but a growing number of people have insisted that it has undermined the country’s sovereignty and constitutional autonomy.” The commentary warned that MCC presence in Nepal could be “part of the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) that aims to contain the rise of China.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Rising tension in East Asia

ET once more we heard unwanted ripples in East Asia, during the first face-to-face meeting between China’s Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, only 160 kms off the former’s southeast coast – by force, if necessary, with WashingtonBeijing tensions rising in recent months. Taiwan’s foreign ministry denounced China’s claims of its sovereignty as “absurd” and thanked the US for the show of support. “Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government, and the people of Taiwan will not succumb to threats of force from the Chinese government,” said ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou. Wei warned Austin that “if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost,” defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian quoted the minister as saying during the meeting. The Chinese minister vowed that Beijing would “smash to smithereens any ‘Taiwan independence’ plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland,” according to the Chinese

defense ministry. He “stressed that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan… Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail,” the ministry said. Austin, the latest senior official to visit Asia as Washington seeks to shift its foreign policy focus back to the region from the Ukaraine-Russian war, for his part “reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the (Taiwan) Strait, opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and called on (China) to refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan,” according to the US Department of Defense.

Wei warned Austin that ‘if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost’ Tensions over Taiwan have escalated in particular due to increasing Chinese aircraft incursions into the island’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). US President Joe Biden, during a visit to Ja-

pan last month, appeared to break decades of US policy when, replying to reporters’ questions, he said Washington would defend Taiwan militarily if it is attacked by China. The White House has since insisted its policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would intervene has not changed. With concerns rising over China-Taiwan tensions, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also issued a clear-cut warning at the summit: “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.” This is where, as Kishida said, the world must be “prepared for the emergence of an entity that tramples on the peace and security of other countries by force or threat without honoring the rules,” he said. While he did not mention China by name in his address, the Japanese head of government repeatedly called for the “rules-based international order” to be upheld. Not only on Taiwan, China and the United States have been locked in a range of other disputes. They have been at loggerheads over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Washington accusing Beijing of providing tacit support for Moscow. China has called for talks to end the war, but has stopped short of condemning Russia’s actions and has repeatedly criticised American arms donations to Ukraine. China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have also stoked tensions with Washington. Beijing claims almost all of the resource-rich sea, through which trillions of dollars in shipping trade passes annually, with competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Cause for concern.

Unity SOCIAL cohesion That is how influential congressman Joey Salceda calls the one great quality of the incoming presidency of Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos or BBM). The Albay congressman credits two men for this social cohesion – outgoing president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Marcos Jr. During his six-year presidency, Duterte unified the country, integrating the deep separatist south with the powerful north, where Manila is. His performance made him the most popular president in history with the highest job, approval and trust ratings of any outgoing president in history. BBM rode on this popularity. Voters gave him their largest mandate ever—31.6 million votes, 59 percent of the total votes cast for president last May 9. For three reasons: One, the record of his father, Ferdinand Sr.’s 20-year presidency (he was good, if not great); two, BBM’s own likable personality; and three, they wanted a continuity of Duterte, for another six years. In what Foreign Secretary Teddyboy Locsin calls the cleanest election in history, BBM won in 64 of the 80 major provinces, 25 of the 27 largest cities (including the 15 cities of Metro Manila and the cities of Cebu and Davao, both the population hubs of the south), and in 15 of the 17 regions. In short, BBM won handily in 80 percent of the archipelago. That’s social cohesion. Why is it important to talk about cohesion or national unity now? Because the nation is facing the gravest crisis in its 124-year history as Asia’s first republic. It is a crisis that BBM’s administration must overcome if he is to achieve three things – be a great president, redeem his family’s tattered reputation, and bring his country to upper middle class status by the end of this decade. The crisis comes from three things – a food crisis, an energy crisis, and the worst education that a country’s young could possibly obtain. Filipino teenagers are the worst performing in the world—in reading comprehension, in math, in science. The country does not produce enough food to feed its teeming 110 million. Easily 25 percent of the people’s food needs must be imported—rice, corn, fish, chicken, pork, beef, in fact, anything edible, must come from abroad paid for with hard earned dollars of 12 million overseas Filipinos who remit $32 billion annually to their home country.

Doubt has been cast on the credibility of the fully automated voting that was conducted, and calls are being made for the implementation of a hybrid system and for greater transparency in the vote counting process gram into the SD cards in “less than a minute.” This could be noted as well in the “constant voting ratio” of 68/32. What should have happened, Ysaac said, is that the automated election system process should have had a “review of each SD card before, during, and after election to check whether each one was the same SD card presented to the concerned parties,” to ensure that the cards were not tampered with.

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

OFWs have boosted the country’s foreign reserves, which amounted to $108.5 billion in March this year, but are rapidly dwindling because of rising costs of imported goods and services. “The war in Ukraine is leading to high commodity prices, adding to supply disruptions, increasing food insecurity and poverty, exacerbating inflation, contributing to tighter financial conditions, magnifying financial vulnerability, and heightening policy uncertainty,” said the World Bank in its Global Economic Prospects report released June 14, 2022. “Agricultural prices are forecast to rise 18 percent this year, above previous projections, reflecting

It is a crisis that BBM’s administration must overcome if he is to achieve three things—be a great president, redeem his family’s tattered reputation, and bring his country to upper middle class status by the end of this decade weaker grain production in Ukraine as well as much higher input costs, including for fuel, chemicals, and fertilizers,” reports the World Bank. According to the bank, “fertilizer prices are expected to increase by nearly 70 percent in 2022, due to soaring input costs, reduced production, and trade disruptions Russia and Ukraine are key exporters of wheat, together accounting for about one-quarter of global wheat exports. Russia is also the world’s largest exporter of fertilizers and has instituted new quotas and restrictions on exports. About 90 percent of Ukraine’s grain exports flow through Black Sea ports, which are not currently operational.” The Philippines has among the highest energy costs in the world. Energy is easily 20 percent of the

Ysaac added that without a review of the cards, “we can conclude the election was not credible and therefore the result is not acceptable… If IT experts find SD cards were tampered with, then the election can be considered a failure.” At the same conference yesterday, National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) chairman Gus Lagman said the automated election process was “not transparent to voters” because no one witnessed the counting of votes, only Comelec and Smartmatic (“a foreign company”) understand the process, and “insiders can easily manipulate the results if they wanted to.” Lagman advocates a hybrid system where manual vote counting is done at the precinct level for accuracy. The results obtained by manual counting will be transmitted electronically using any laptop (this also obviates ballot box snatching), and any software used will be open source “which can be reviewed by anyone interested.” This system, he said, will also save the government millions. In addition, Gen. Eliseo Rio, former Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary for operations, showed statistical and mathematical analyses pointing to the “statistically improbable” numbers as well as distorted ratios that he said tend to show that “the results were programmed to jibe with the poll surveys.” He said his presentation questions the credibility of the election results due to the “lack of transparency in this election, from the printing of ballots and configuring SD cards without any witnesses,” among other issues he raised.

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

cost of producing nearly everything and of a household’s average spending. The country imports nearly all of its oil needs. The price of imported oil has tripled in two years to today. In 2020, the average price of crude was $39.68 per barrel. Today, crude is $100.66, an increase of 154 percent, or 2.5x. On Tuesday, June 14, crude oil, per barrel, was quoted at $121.80, with the benchmark Brent crude at $123.25, 2.9x the 2020 average of $41.90. Says the World Bank: “Energy prices are forecast to rise 52 percent in 2022, 47 percentage points higher than previously projected. Brent crude oil prices are forecast to average $100/bbl—an upward revision of $24/bbl.” The global lender adds: “In contrast to previous oil price spikes when plentiful coal and natural gas enabled substitution away from oil, the prices of all fossil fuel energy sources are currently very high, which reduces the possibility of easing price pressures by substituting to cheaper fuels.” What is the impact of the mis-education of the young? Joblessness, massive joblessness because job seekers lack the skills, basic skills, to be useful in their work. About 30 million Filipinos either have no jobs or have no jobs because they have gotten tired looking for a job. A phenomenon not seen since the 1970s has emerged—stagflation, which is slow economic growth and high unemployment accompanied by rising prices. In the 1970s, prices rose so high they hade to be brought down, by high interest rates. “The interest rate increases that were required to control inflation at the end of the 1970s were so steep that they touched off a global recession, along with a string of debt crises in developing economies, ushering in a ‘lost decade’ in some of them,” recalled the World Bank’s GEP report. Warns the World Bank: “The danger of stagflation is considerable today. Between 2021 and 2024, global growth is projected to have slowed by 2.7 percentage points—more than twice the deceleration between 1976 and 1979. “Subdued growth will likely persist throughout the decade because of weak investment in most of the world. With inflation now running at multi-decade highs in many countries and supply expected to grow slowly, there is a risk that inflation will remain higher for longer than currently anticipated.” President BBM, now more than ever, needs to rally the nation behind him. His immense mandate gives him the gravitas to make that call. It’s now unite now—or perish together. biznewsasia@gmail.com

“To resolve all of this,” he said, “we need a citizen-initiated random manual audit of ballots and IT audit of SD cards in a transparent and credible manner.” Supporters of the incoming administration will of course say that the rest of the Filipinos should just accept the results as presented and move on. However, while doubts about this election’s credibility linger and remain unresolved, legitimacy will always be an issue. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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Polluted air shortens global life expectancy by at least two years MICROSCOPIC air pollution caused mostly by burning fossil fuels shortens lives worldwide by more than two years, researchers reported Tuesday. Across South Asia, the average person would live five years longer if levels of fine particulate matter met World Health Organization standards, according to a report from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute. In the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, home to 300 million, crippling lung and heart disease caused by so-called PM2.5 pollution reduces life expectancy by eight years, and in the capital city of New Delhi by a decade. PM2.5 pollution—2.5 microns across or less, roughly the diameter of a human hair – penetrates deep into the lungs and enters the bloodstream. In 2013, the United Nations classified it as a cancer-causing agent. The WHO says PM2.5 density in the air should not top 15 micrograms per

cubic metre in any 24-hour period, or 5 mcg/m3 averaged across an entire year. Faced with mounting evidence of damaging health impacts, the WHO tightened these standards last year, the first change since establishing air quality guidance in 2005. “Clean air pays back in additional years of life for people across the world,” lead researcher Crista Hasenkopf and colleagues said in the Air Quality Life Index report. “Permanently reducing global air pollution to meet the WHO’s guidelines would add 2.2 years onto average life expectancy.” Almost all populated regions in the world exceed WHO guidelines, but nowhere more so that in Asia: by 15-fold in Bangladesh, 10-fold in India, and nine-fold in Nepal and Pakistan. Central and West Africa, along with much of Southeast Asia and parts of central America, also face pollution levels—and shortened lives—well above the global average. AFP

DEED DEED OF OF EXTRAJUDICIAL EXTRAJUDICIALSETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT OF OF ESTATE ESTATE OF OF THE THE LATE LATE BIENVENIDO BIENVENIDO TUASON TUASON CONTI CONTI Notice Notice isis hereby hereby given given that that the the estate estate of of the the late late BIENVENIDO BIENVENIDO TUASON TUASON CONTI CONTI who who died died on on July July 15, 15, 2001 2001at atQuezon QuezonCity, City,Metro MetroManila, Manila,Philippines, Philippines,have have been been extra-judicially extra-judicially settled settled among among heirs heirs before before Notary Notary Public Public Atty. Atty. Dennis Dennis Arvin Arvin L. L. Chan Chan of of Makati Makati City City as as per per Doc. Doc. No. No. 92; 92; Page Page No.: No.: 20; 20; Book Book No.: No.: 15; 15; Series Series of of 2022. 2022. (MStandard (MStandard--June June8,8,15 15&&22, 22,2022) 2022)

PRACTICE. Indonesian soldiers take part in a security drill in preparation of the G20 summit in November in Denpasar on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on June 14, 2022. AFP

Top US, Chinese nat’l security advisers hold ‘candid’ dialog

HE top Chinese and US security advisers have held lengthy talks, with both sides describing them as “candid” following days of acrimonious exchanges over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues.

Readouts of the meeting in Luxembourg on Monday were toned down compared with last week, when China’s defence minister warned his country would not “hesitate to start a war” over Taiwan, while the US defense sec-

retary blasted Beijing’s “provocative, destabilising” military activity. But US security advisor Jake Sullivan and top diplomat Yang Jiechi did not indicate any compromise on their core points of disagreement, especially Taiwan. China considers the self-ruled island a part of its territory, to be seized by force one day if necessary. “The Taiwan question concerns the political foundation of China-US relations which, unless handled properly, will have a subversive impact,” Yang was quoted as saying by China’s official Xinhua news agency. “The United States should not have any misjudgements or illusions (about Taiwan).”

A senior White House official said Sullivan reiterated the US policy of recognising Chinese sovereignty but expressed “concerns about Beijing’s coercive and aggressive actions across the Taiwan Strait.” Tensions over Taiwan have escalated in recent months due to increasing Chinese military aircraft incursions into the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). US President Joe Biden, during a visit to Japan last month, appeared to break decades of US policy when, in response to a question, he said Washington would defend Taiwan militarily if it was attacked by China. The White House has since insisted

FAREWELL.

A tug pulls Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant, an iconic but aging tourist attraction designed like a Chinese imperial palace, as it is towed out of Aberdeen Harbour on June 14, 2022, after years of revitalization efforts went nowhere. AFP

Trump: US Capitol riot hearings ‘mockery of justice’ FORMER US president Donald Trump on Monday decried the congressional probe into the riot by his supporters last year at the US Capitol as a “mockery of justice.” In a rambling, 12-page missive, Trump said that instead of focusing on the country’s larger problems, the Democratic-led panel was “a Kangaroo Court, hoping to distract the American people from the great pain they are experiencing.” The former US leader also reiterated the same conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election that earlier

in the day the congressional probe had argued were a key motivating factor for his supporters to riot. “Democrats created the narrative of January 6th to detract from the much larger and more important truth that the 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen,” Trump, who turns 76 on Tuesday, said in the statement. Trump, fuming that the committee was one-sided in its approach, said the panel “is making a mockery of justice.” As part of Monday’s televised hearing, the congressional panel – which is composed of seven Democrats and two

Republicans – showed videos in which former aides to Trump testified that they repeatedly told the president that his assertions of widespread fraud in the election were false. “When I went into this and would tell him how crazy some of these allegations were, there was never an indication of interest in the actual facts,” former US attorney general Bill Barr said in testimony revealed Monday, as he likened addressing Trump’s avalanche of false allegations with playing the game “whacka-mole.” AFP

20 containers stolen in ‘unprecedented’ Mexico heist HEAVILY armed attackers stole 20 freight containers, some carrying gold and silver, from a port in western Mexico in a heist of “unprecedented” proportions, authorities said. The burglary, described by local media as “the theft of the century,” took place on June 5 in a private compound

of a commercial port in the city of Manzanillo on Mexico’s Pacific coast. After incapacitating the port’s security teams, the assailants used cranes and trucks to move the containers, said state security spokesman Gustavo Adrian Joya. “This is unprecedented. We had seen sporadic thefts of containers before, but not in such a quanNOTICE NOTICE OF OF DISSOLUTION DISSOLUTION tity,” he said, adding that the heist took eight to 10 Notice Notice is is hereby hereby given given to to the the public public that that DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS GROUP GROUP hours. “They were very selective in the type of goods they OF OF COMPANIES, COMPANIES, INC. INC. (Shangri-La (Shangri-La Finest Finest Chinese Chinese Cuisine) Cuisine) with with business business address address at at No.4 No.4 Times Times Street Street West West Triangle, Triangle, Quezon Quezon stole: precious metals and other things, like air condiCity City was was declared declared closed closed effective effective after after the the close close of of business business hours hours tioning units,” the spokesman told reporters. on on 30 30 September September 2021, 2021, as as per per Board Board Resolution Resolution executed executed by by its its National customs head Horacio Duarte OlivaBoard Board of of Directors Directors led led by by President President and and CEO CEO Ramon Ramon A. A. Syhunliong Syhunliong in in Quezon Quezon City; City; subscribed subscribed and and sworn sworn before before Notary Notary Public Public Atty. Atty. Raul Raul V. V. res said the area where the burglary occurred was Macatangay Macatangay on on January January 10, 10, 2022 2022 under under Notarial Notarial Registry Registry Doc Doc No. No. 161 161 not under the jurisdiction of the Navy, which is in Page Page 34; 34; Book Book 69; 69; series series of of 2022. 2022. charge of port surveillance. The Public Prosecutor’s Office said it was openThis This notice notice is is being being published published for for whatever whatever legal legal purpose/s purpose/s that that itit may may ing an investigation, but did not give details of the serve. serve. quantities of gold and silver stolen. AFP (MS-JUNE (MS-JUNE15, 15,22 22&&29, 29,2022) 2022)

its policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would intervene had not changed. The Sullivan-Yang meeting, which followed up on a May 18 phone call, lasted about four and a half hours, the White House official told reporters. Xinhua said the talks were “candid, indepth, and constructive” while the White House statement described them as “candid, substantive, and productive.” The US-China relationship has deteriorated in recent years, with the two powers locking horns on several issues, from international trade and security to human rights in China and – most recently – the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

60 activists convicted in Cambodia A PHNOM Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including an outspoken US-Cambodian activist in a mass trial Tuesday as longserving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2016 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had another eight years added to his existing sentence. Outside court, US-Cambodian lawyer and campaigner Theary Seng – dressed as the Statue of Liberty – was abruptly dragged into a car by police after receiving a six-year jail term for treason. “I am ready for a guilty verdict because this regime will not let me go free,” Theary Seng said before her conviction. “It will be an unfair and unjust verdict because I am innocent, the others charged with me are innocent,” the 51-year-old added. Patrick Murphy, the US Ambassador to Cambodia, tweeted he was “deeply troubled” by the verdict against Seng Theary. “Freedom of expression and association, and tolerance of dissenting views, are vital components of democracy,” the ambassador said, calling for her release. Theary Seng is among scores caught up in a push to detain and arrest former members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), human rights defenders, and any dissenting voices to the administration. The case is linked to Sam Rainsy’s failed attempt to return to Cambodia in 2019 – moves characterized by the government as an aborted bid to overthrow Hun Sen. The charges faced by those convicted on Tuesday ranged from treason to incitement and conspiracy. Several defendants have already been jailed, while many remain at large or have fled Cambodia. AFP

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Market closes flat; SM Investments up

TOCKS closed nearly flat Tuesday to break out of a slump that saw the benchmark index sinking below 6,500 points in the previous session.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added just 7.52 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,474.53 on a value turnover of P5.6 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 118 to 62, withy 44 issues unchanged. SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group advanced 3 percent to P830, while PLDT Inc. of Indonesia’s Salim Group, the biggest telecommunications

firm, also rose 3 percent to P1,850. Major property developer Ayala land Inc. of the Ayala Group, however, fell 2.3 percent to P29.35, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the largest port operator, declined 2.5 percent to P195. Meanwhile, Asian equities mostly fell Tuesday after the previous day’s global rout but dip-buying helped pare early losses, while Europe saw gains, with attention turning to the Federal Reserve as it prepares to ramp up interest rates to fight runaway inflation. Panic has swept through trading floors since data on Friday showed US consumer prices rising at their fastest

pace in a generation owing to a spike in energy and food costs caused by the Ukraine war, China’s lockdowns and supply chain snarls. The pain has been felt across all assets, with bitcoin threatening to fall below $20,000 for the first time since December 2020, currencies retreating against the dollar, and even safe-haven plays including the yen and gold feeling the squeeze. In Asia dip-buying helped some markets recover to positive territory, and others pare the morning’s drop. Sydney shed 3.6 percent but was much better off than the initial losses of around five percent as traders there returned after a long weekend. Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington

and Taipei were also lower. Hong Kong was marginally higher and Shanghai edged up, while there were also advances in Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta. Investors are now laser-focused on Wednesday’s Fed interest rate decision as it struggles to walk a fine line between reining in inflation and trying to keep the economy on track. Danielle DiMartino Booth, at Quill Intelligence, said: “While tightening into a recession is no easy task, the Federal Reserve must indicate a willingness to raise interest rates by more than a halfpercentage point at upcoming meetings if inflation continues to surprise to the upside.” With AFP

Dominant energy producer Australia braces for outages SYDNEY, Australia—Australians have been warned to expect blackouts across the densely populated east coast on Tuesday, as an energy crisis grips one of the world’s biggest coal and gas producers. Australia’s energy market regulator warned there could be a power shortfall in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, which are home to more than 13 million people. Newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed the energy crisis on the previous government, which was in power for nearly a decade. “The consequences of the former government’s failure to put in place an energy policy is being felt right now,” he told reporters in Brisbane. Albanese said “all things are on the table” as his government examines how to ease the crisis, which has dominated his center-left government’s first weeks in power. The country’s energy market regulator spent much of Tuesday negotiating with generators but an Aus$300/MWh ($208) price cap left many unwilling to pump more power into the system. The regulator was also exploring the option of forcing companies to generate more electricity, a lever it pulled Monday to avoid blackouts in Queensland. Australia is one of the world’s top three producers of gas and coal, but about a quarter of the east coast’s coal-fired power stations are currently offline because of outages and maintenance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also seen export demand for Australian gas spike, mopping up any potential surplus that could ease the domestic shortfall. AFP

PSEi June 14, 2022

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TRANSPORT STRIKE. A South Korean truck driver (left) leaving a container port is asked to join striking drivers in Incheon on June 14, 2022, on the eighth day of protests over rising fuel costs that have further snarled global supply chains. AFP

WTO goes green as climate change influences trade GENEVA, Switzerland—The World Trade Organization’s boss insisted Monday that turning trade green was now urgent business, with the WTO putting climate change at the heart of its negotiations. The WTO is staging its first meeting of trade ministers in nearly five years and environmental issues are rocketing up the agenda at the global trade body. The European Union on Monday teamed up with Ecuador, Kenya and New Zealand to launch a new Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate, in the expectation that other countries will join the forum. And diverse nations are already banding together in other groups to try and find mutual ways forward on topics such environmentally-sustainable trade

and tackling plastic pollution. “Greening trade is urgent: climate change isn’t waiting,” WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said after attending the new coalition’s launch on day two of the WTO ministerial conference in Geneva. EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the new group would try to tackle the climate crisis in a fair manner through trade policy. “Trade has to be part of the solution. It is an engine of growth that can create new green jobs, reduce poverty and support the transition to climate-neutral economies,” he told the group’s launch. Its ministers want to boost trade, and trade policies, in support of sustainable development and the 2015 Paris Agreement climate goals. A first meeting is planned for July to

work out the coalition’s next steps. Climate change is not strictly within the WTO’s purview but the organization—which is looking to revive its importance on the world stage— wants to make sustainable development and environmental protection among its core objectives. “We need to profoundly change how we produce and consume things if we want our children to have a sustainable, peaceful and comfortable life in 50 years’ time,” said WTO deputy directorgeneral Zhang Xiangchen. The WTO traditionally reaches agreements by consensus, and some of its 164 members form groups on various issues to try and find ways forward—with climate change being no exception. AFP

Nuclear versus renewables debate REYNALDO C. LUGTU JR.

Green Light THE incoming administration has expressed support in revisiting nuclear energy for the Philippines, specifically by reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (BBM), in a press conference last week, reiterated his support for nuclear energy, hailing it the “cleanest and cheapest” source of energy. Together with Vice President-Elect Sara Duterte, he vowed “to support and expedite the country’s adoption of nuclear power” during their campaign. Expectedly, many immediately opposed the apparent looming nuclear scenario in the country. Environment non-profit organization Greenpeace states in its website that the “recent statements [of BBM] that nuclear energy is the ‘cleanest and cheapest’ are not true and are dangerous assertions,” and that “nuclear power is the most dangerous and most expensive way to produce electricity.” The website cites the “2020 report by Lazard, the Levelized Cost of Operating Energy (LCOE) of solar is around $36–$44 per megawatts hour (MWh), while nuclear costs $112-189 per MWh.” Furthermore, “nuclear energy will be too risky to operate in the Philippines, considering that we are constantly battered by strong typhoons and other extreme weather events, which could easily compromise the operation of a nuclear power plant.” The environmental organization instead urged the incoming administration to prioritize the development and promotion of renewable energy (RE) in the country. This call was echoed by nongovernmental organization Agham-Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, which said that “we need to harness our own indigenous energy resources and move away from imported, dirty, and dangerous fuels such as coal and nuclear,” as cited

in EnergyCentral.com. The group further stated that reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant will not solve the country’s energy crisis. Advocates of RE herald it as a “cleaner” energy source compared to nuclear. Based on a study of 123 countries spanning 1999 to 2014, “the adoption of nuclear power did not achieve the significant reduction in national carbon emissions that renewables did—and in some developing nations, nuclear programs actually pushed carbon emissions higher,” as published in Sciencealert.com. But nuclear energy is not without its merits. The website of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) headlines, “Nuclear Power is the Most Reliable Energy Source and It’s Not Even Close.” It further states that “nuclear energy has by far the highest capacity factor of any other energy source,” which means that “nuclear power plants are producing maximum power more than 93% of the time during the year.” Moreover, it’s reliable “about 1.5 to 2 times more as natural gas and coal units, and 2.5 to 3.5 times more reliable than wind and solar plants.” Nuclear plants are more reliable because “they are typically used more often because they require less maintenance and are designed to operate for longer stretches before refueling (typically every 1.5 or 2 years).” As regards RE plants, they are “considered intermittent or variable sources and are mostly limited by a lack of fuel (i.e., wind, sun, or water),” hence “these plants need a backup power source such as large-scale storage (not currently available at grid-scale)—or they can be paired with a reliable baseload power like nuclear energy,” said the US DOE website. In an unprecedented development, nuclear energy has been recently recognized as part of the solution to climate change, as agreed in the 2021 COP26, the UN’s Climate Change Conference. Even before this summit, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe released a document last month “arguing that nuclear power can help deliver the goals of capping global warming at 1.5

degree Celsius as agreed upon in the Paris Agreement,” as reported by TheFederal. com. The document also cited “a 2018 report by the Inter-Governmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), which stated that the demand for nuclear generation will increase six times by 2050, with the technology providing 25 per cent of global electricity.” Another comprehensive study conducted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018 found that “although a number of low- or zero-carbon technologies can be advantageously employed in various combinations, nuclear is virtually essential as a contributing low-carbon technology,” and that “it would be almost impossible to decarbonize without it,” as reported by BigThink.com. Indeed, the debate between nuclear and renewable energy must continue, but conclusions need to be drawn quickly and actions need to be implemented fast. Year in and year out, our country encounters energy shortage scares. Administration after administration has commissioned studying alternative energy sources. The Arroyo administration considered nuclear energy, the Aquino administration studied renewable energy, and the current Duterte admiration ordered the study of both. The real cause of our perennial energy crisis is inaction and politics. Our prayer is that the incoming administration decides well on our country’s energy future and executes with firmness. The author is founder and CEO of Hungry Workhorse Consulting, a digital and culture transformation consulting firm. He is a Fellow at the US-based Institute for Digital Transformation. He teaches strategic management in the MBA Program of De La Salle University. He may be emailed at rey.lugtu@ hungryworkhorse.com.

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VOLUME 26,460,800 16,416,900 3,084,170 397,790 1,936,200 4,740,670 9,213,000 1,697,840 1,546,940 78,350

VALUE (PHP) 777,372,290 610,465,015 600,897,311 321,346,655 240,550,657 236,220,062 206,915,565 157,070,423 154,678,534 142,605,390

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO: ALL STOCKHOLDERS Notice is hereby given that there will be a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation to be held at the 151 San Francisco St., Mandaluyong City on June 20, 2022 at 1 :00 o’clock in the afternoon. The agenda for the meeting is as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Proof of Notice of Meeting 3. Certification of Quorum 4. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting of Stockholders; 5. Approval of the Dissolution ofthe Corporation; 6. Other Matters/Adjournment Stockholders who are unable to attend the Special Stockholder’s Meeting in person may execute a proxy. Proxies must be submitted to the undersigned prior to the commencement of the meeting. For your information and guidance. Very truly yours, Manila

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MARISSA R. LAO Corporate Secretary

(MS-JUNE 15, 2022)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To

All Stockholders MRC ALLIED, INC.

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of MRC Allied, Inc. (the “Corporation”) will be held Manila Polo Club, McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City, Metro Manila at 9:00 a.m. on 14 July 2022. Agenda: 1. 2. 3.

Call to Order Proof of the Required Notice of Meeting Proof of Presence of a Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting July 07, 2021 4. Approval of the 2021 Audited Financial Statements 5. Report of the President 8 & 14, 2022) 6. (MS-JUNE Ratification of the Corporate Acts of the Board of Directors & Management during year 2021 7. Election of Directors 9. Appointment of External Auditors 10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment The record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of and vote at the said meeting is fixed at the close of business hours on 21 April 2022. The deadline for submission of proxies is 04 July 2022 at 5:00pm. The validation of the proxies will be on 05 July 2022 at MRC ALLIED, INC., 4th Floor Spirit of Communication Centre 106 Carlos Palanca St. Legazpi Village, Makati City. For your convenience in registering, please have available some form of identification such as driver’s license, voter’s ID card, TIN card, etc.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

For the Board of Directors SGD ATTY. JOHNSTON R. BRUSOLA Corporate Secretary (MS-JUNE 14 & 15, 2022)

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IN BRIEF

DOT promotes Clark, NCC as leading sites

THE Department of Tourism said Monday it is positioning Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga and the New Clark City in Tarlac as premier tourist destinations to bolster government’s bid for quick recovery of the tourism industry. It teamed up with the Tourism Promotions Board and the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development to promote Clark Freeport as a modern sustainable aerotropolis and preferred MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibits) destination and the New Clark City as an ideal destination for sports tourism in the Asia-Pacific region. DOT Region 3 director Caroline Uy said during the first Central Luzon Tourism Investment Summit and Business Exchange at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort the agency’s goal is to transform Clark Freeport Zone into a preferred business and tourism destination and enable investors to find longterm economic returns. Clark is strategically located in Pampanga which major foreign tourist markets like China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, South Korea and Japan have easy access to. Othel V. Campos

PH joins Indo-Pacific economic meeting

Business China extends P17.4-b loan to fund Samal-Davao bridge By Julito G. Rada

HINA approved a 2.34-billion renminbi (about P17.39 billion) loan to finance the construction of a two-way, four-lane bridge connecting Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal in Mindanao, the Department of Finance said Tuesday. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian exchanged documents on the framework and the loan agreements on Monday afternoon at the

Department of Finance in Manila. The loan was the first renminbidenominated loan secured from China under the Duterte administration. It will cover 90 percent of the financing requirements of the project’s design-andbuild contract worth P19.32 billion. The project is envisioned as a modern bridge that will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City through R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction. It will have a total length of 3.98 kilometers including Davao ramps and at grade road and roundabout in Samal. The bridge has a width of 24 meters and a vertical navigational clearance up to 47 meters. The bridge crossing over Pakiputan Strait will also be supported by two pylons with a height of 73 meters.

Public Works Undersecretary and ‘Build, Build, Build’ chief implementer Emil Sadain said the project would break ground in July 2022, and the construction period is expected to last 60 months. “Once completed, the bridge will provide a resilient and reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and Samal Island, reducing travel time from 26 to 30 minutes via roll-on roll-off or ferry operations to only 5 minutes, and enhancing internal mobility and external linkage to support the economic and tourist growth potential of the local region, “Sadain said. The ceremonial exchange coincided with the celebration of the 47th anniversary of Philippine-China diplomatic relations and the 21st commemoration of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day. With Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines participated in the informal ministerial meeting of the so-called “trade pillars” of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework at the US Embassy in Paris, France on June 11. Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the IPEF is envisioned to be a vehicle to spur investments from the private sector. “We see the IPEF as a framework providing incentives to our stakeholders, tied up with the reforms that we are already undertaking domestically, through having a mechanism to link the Trade Pillar with pillars on supply chain resiliency and green energy transition,” he said. US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai led the meeting, attended by all framework partners that joined the official launch of the IPEF in May 2022. These include Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Fiji. Tai highlighted the vision and goals of the IPEF for future negotiations specifically on trade, supply chain, clean energy, decarbonization, infrastructure, tax and anti-corruption. Othel V. Campos

Robinsons malls adopt energy conservation

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. and Robinsons Land Corp. teamed up to boost available standby supply through the government’s Interruptible Load Program. The two companies signed a deal for the ILP enrollment of 10 Robinsons malls, which have a total committed capacity of 31 megawatts that can potentially spare around 124,000 households and small businesses from the inconvenience of unplanned power interruptions. “We continue to enjoin our large load customers to participate in ILP so that, in the eventuality of a crisis, we have the contingencies in place to prevent brownouts. Fortunately, the projections on the dips in power supply did not affect much of our customers, as we always find ways and means to anticipate our customers’ needs,” Meralco chief commercial officer Ferdinand Geluz said in a statement. The ILP is a demand-side management program led by the Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission where malls are asked to temporarily de-load from the grid and use their generator sets when supply deficiency and power interruptions are imminent. Alena Mae S. Flores

OPERATION SMILE. Executives of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Melco Resorts Philippines Foundation and City of Dreams Manila join Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo (third from right) and Operation Smile Philippines country director of development Roberto Manzano and executive director Emiliano Romano during the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the MRP Foundation’s funding of OSP’s Community Health Assistance Program.

NEA in talks with two Mindanao electric cooperatives over P13-b debt By Alena Mae S. Flores THE National Electrification Administration said Monday it is working with two Mindanao electric cooperatives to resolve their financial obligations to Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. that exceeded P13 billion. NEA and PSALM executives met with local government officials of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat to look for solutions on the plight of cash-strapped Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative and Maguindanao Electric Cooperative Inc. “I will bring the matter to the NEA board of administrators,” NEA administrator Emmanuel Juaneza said on the

possible financial assistance that the agency could provide to LASURECO. Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. met with PSALM, LASURECO and NEA executives to resolve the mounting debt of the electric cooperative. LASURECO agreed during the meeting to write a letter to PSALM containing its commitment to pay an amount that will be determined by the parties. PSALM agreed to defer LASURECO’s disconnection in the interest of consumers. Adiong said he would discuss with the municipal mayors of the province how they could help LASURECO pay its obligation to PSALM and asked for

three months to resolve the matter. PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. NEA executives also met with MAGELCO to resolve its outstanding obligations with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu and Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu attended the meeting. “We have to first improve our services,” Teng Mangudadatu said as a prerequisite to complying with the payment. “And we will develop our financial program further.”

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, June 14, 2022

7.52 PTS. 6,474.53

TOTAL VOLUME

827,406,704

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP)

73,067 5,600,290,306.06

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

62 118 44

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.2490

Japan

Yen

0.007440

0.3962

Pound

1.213700

64.6283

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127395

6.7837

Switzerland

Franc

1.002004

53.3557

Canada

Dollar

0.775555

41.2975

Singapore

Dollar

0.717103

38.1850

Australia

Dollar

0.692600

36.8803

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652801

141.2590

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266560

14.1941

Brunei

Dollar

0.714541

38.0486

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028666

1.5264

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.4990

Euro

1.040900

55.4269

Korea

Won

0.000774

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.148082

7.8852

India

Rupee

0.012806

0.6819

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226398

12.0555

New Zealand

Dollar

0.626200

33.3445

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033662

1.7925 Source: BSP

SMC to complete 31 battery storage projects next year By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. expects to complete 31 battery energy storage systems with a combined capacity of 1,000 megawatts by 2023, a top executive said Monday. San Miguel president and chief executive Ramon Ang said during the annual stockholders’ meeting 21 BESS projects would likely be completed this year and the rest by next year. Ang said the BESS projects would improve power quality and distribution, especially in off-grid communities. The projects will also facilitate the company’s transition from coal to renewable energy and liquefied natural gas, he said. San Miguel announced last year it would discontinue future coal projects, except those already committed and required by the government as part of the country’s long-term energy sufficiency plan. Ang, meanwhile, reported that Metro Rail Transit Line 7 would likely start commercial operations by early next year. San Miguel started the construction of a train depot for the MRT 7 on a 20-hectare property in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. The depot will have the capacity to accommodate up to 150 train cars, exceeding the 36 trainsets or 108 rail cars set initially targeted 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 deliver 108 MRT-7 train cars by end2022. Once completed, the line will be 22.8 kilometers (14.2 miles) long, with 14 stations from San Jose Del Monte to North Triangle Common Station in North Ave., Quezon City. Ang also reported that construction of the P740-billion Bulacan airport project was in full swing. He said about 1,500 workers from Royal Boskalis were working in the area to finish the airport platform by the third quarter of 2024.

Balai ni Fruitas reduces IPO price to P0.70 per share to raise P288m

PILLAR OF STRENGTH. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno speaks during the Bloomberg Philippines: NEXT Summit about the role of banks as a pillar of strength on the Philippine economy. He says bank loan growth hit 10.1 percent in April, faster than 8.9 percent in March. Loans finance business growth and household consumption, both of which support the economy. The Philippine economy expanded 8.3 percent in the first quarter, exceeding the growth figures posted by its ASEAN peers Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand in the same period.

BALAI ni Fruitas Inc., a company led by businessman Lester Yu that operates a chain of bakeries and juice shops, priced its initial public offering at P0.70 per share, lower than the original maximum price of P0.75 each. The price will bring Balai’s equity deal to P288.75 million. The company will sell 412.5 million shares, consisting of 325 million in primary shares, 50 million in secondary shares and 37.5 million in overallotment shares. It scheduled the IPO from June 17 to June 23. The shares will start trading on the small, medium and emerging board of the Philippine Stock Exchange under the symbol “BALAI” on June 30.

The company said it would use the proceeds from the IPO to fund store network expansion, commissary setup and introduction of new concepts and potential acquisitions. Balai said that from 69 stores, it was planning to have 120 stores by 2023. Most of the new stores will be established in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Balai is a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed food and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings controlled by Yu. It has three active brands including Buko Ni Fruitas , Fruitas House of Desserts and Balai Pandesal. The company appointed First Metro Investment Corp. as the sole issue manager, bookrunner and underwriter for the offer. Jenniffer B. Austria

PAL to resume flights between Manila and Bali on July 1 as it pursues expansion with border reopening By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines said Tuesday it will resume flights between Manila and Denpasar Bali, one of the top destinations in Indonesia, on July 1 as part of of major international expansion with the reopening of foreign travel. “We are excited to be able to fly leisure

and business travelers to Bali, one of the world’s most spectacular and beloved destinations,” said PAL vice president for sales Bud Britanico in a statement. “Philippine Airlines is also happy to offer our Indonesian customers regular nonstop flights from Denpasar Bali to the wonders of the Philippines and to other destinations in our global net-

work,” Britanico said. He said PAL would fly thrice weekly services between Manila and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport starting July 1. The airline will offer two additional weekly flights from Aug. 1, 2022, increasing frequencies to five times weekly, before ramping up to daily flights by Oct. 4, 2022.

It said travelers may connect conveniently with Bali-bound flights from various domestic points in the Philippines and from overseas points served by PAL such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Bangkok and Los Angeles. PAL serves 30 destinations in the Philippines and 29 overseas destinations in Asia, the US, Canada, Australia

and the Middle East. The flag carrier also operates daily flights between Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta and Manila. PAL said it is keen on gradually reopening flights to key destinations in Southeast Asia, following the easing of restrictions and reopening of borders in different countries.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Wiggins puts Dubs on brink of NBA crown

Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. AFP

‘PH sports’ golden era a product of funding, athletes’ hard work’ T

HE golden era of Philippine sports is a product of hard work and sacriﬁces of our athletes and coaches, coupled with funding. Lots of it.

This was the assessment of Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez in what he described as his ‘exit interview’ during a solo appearance in the first face-to-face Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in over two years at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex administration building audio visual room in Manila. “These so-called golden years of Philippines was the result of the hard work and sacrifices of our athletes and coaches. And it was people’s money, taxpayer’s money that made it all possible,” said Ramirez. The outstanding success of Philippine sports in major competitions, highlighted by weighlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s historic gold in the Tokyo Olympics, in the last six years was not by chance or conjured out of thin air, stressed Ramirez. “These achievements were not done by

PSC chairman William Ramirez

magic. Hindi ito tsamba,” noted “Kung wala kang itinanim, wala ka rin aanihin,” added the PSC honcho of the hundreds of millions of pesos the government sports agency has poured into elite sports and national athletes that led to the country’s fruitful campaigns overseas. “I was blessed that we had the money when I came back as PSC chairman and knew the need of our national athletes since I stayed with them at the Philsports

Complex dorms in Pasig,” said Ramirez in the session backed by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Unilever, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. He disclosed the PSC invested P600 million in elite sports at the start of his second term in 2016, P800 million in 2017, then over P1 billion in 2019 as the national athletes primed themselves for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. The fruits of that investments resulted in the country bagging four golds, two silvers and five bronzes in the highly-competitive 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, recapturing the SEA Games overall crown in 2019 at home with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals, and its first gold medal in the Olympics in Tokyo last year courtesy of the heroics of Diaz. Counting the Olympic silver medals of boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, and the bronze of fellow fighter Felix Eumir Marcial, the Tokyo Olympic edition was the best Philippine outing in the quadrennial Summer Games since Filipinos made their debut in the 1900 Paris Olympics. “The PSC has not been remiss in supporting our Philippine delegations to over-

seas competitions. This has been very, very clear,” he said, adding that the feats were a “collaborative effort of the PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, and National Sports Associations.” To sustain the gains in Philippine sports in the next six years, Ramirez said the new leaders of the agency should learn how to adapt to the changing conditions “One of the most important pillars of management is adaptability. Our leaders need to be alert and adapt to the times. Hindi puwedeng patulogtulog,” he said. “We have to provide money, provide proper support for our sports such as sports science and provide good governance by our leaders. You will not achieve this high level of performance in international competition without these provisions,” the PSC chief explained. Ramirez said he was ready to step down at the end of the month after more than two decades of being associated with PSC, beginning as commissioner in 1998 under the administration of the late chairman Carlos Tuason. “I am ready to return to Davao, but am willing to be an adviser and share my experience and knowhow with the incoming PSC leadership,” the 72-year-old Davao City native said.

Winning start for Lady Bombers in NCAA JOSE Rizal University reboundter Urmenata committed Games Today ed from a first-set loss to upend an attack error followed (Paco Arena) Letran, 13-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25by a service ace by setter 12 noon – LPU vs CSB Jerry Lyn Laurente. 17, for a winning start NCAA 2:30 p.m. – SSC-R vs Mapua The Lady Bombers finally women’s volleyball tournament got into the groove of things Tuesday at the Paco Arena. Sydney Riegos had three blocks for a 11-point in the next two sets to prevail in the two-hour, effort, Renesa Melgar had 10 points and 13 digs six-minute match. Marianne Alona, JRU’s new libero made her while Dolly Verzosa contributed nine points for presence felt with 19 digs and five receptions the Lady Bombers. Shereena Urmeneta took the scoring mantle while Laurente tossed in 23 excellent sets and to for the Lady Knights with 13 points, while Cha go with two service aces. Cuñada chipped in 12 points. The Lady Bombers, who tallied four wins in It was Verzosa, who turned things around the pandemic-hit 2020 season, hope to fare well for JRU in the second set by building a 16- with an upgraded roster in the setting and libero JRU’s Sydney Niegos and Jerry Ann Laurente foil the smash attempt of 12 lead and fended off a late Letran rally af- department. Letran’s Cha Cuñada.

Top guns seek strong start as ICTSI Pradera unwraps LUBAO, Pampanga—The ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic unfolds today (Wednesday) here with 19 pros all set for a strong start and four amateurs out for another surprise on a course which puts premium on power and putting for its length and sleek surface. The three-week break after amateur Mafy Singson upended top guns Chanelle Avaricio, Sunshine Baraquiel and Harmie Constantino by one at Splendido Taal has given the pros time to further hone up and polish their respective games that could lead to another frenetic finish the way it was the last time out. Redemption is more than enough motivation for the three pros although the rest are keen on putting up solid starts to fuel their respective title drive in the 54-hole championship serving as the sixth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. They put premium on driving and putting on a flat, well-kept course that repels anything less than accurate shots. “I focused on driving and putting during the break and hopefully, correct my mistakes,” said Avaricio, easily the marked player with two victories and a couple of runner-up finishes in the last four tournaments of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit.

Sunshine Baraquiel

But Baraquiel, whose bid for a follow-up to her breakthrough win at Tagaytay Highlands last year got stymied by late-hole mishaps at Splendido which she had led in the stretch, is also going flat-out to get another shot at the crown, along with Constantino and multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda “If my ball striking clicks, I’ll have a good chance,”

said Baraquiel, adding that putting also holds key to one’s title bid at Pradera Verde. Focus will also be on Constantino, who has served notice of her resurgence from a mini-slump with a third-place effort at Mt. Malarayat and a joint runner-up finish at Splendido, while Ikeda, who foiled Avaricio’s three-peat bid at Mt. Malarayat, is eager and ready to strike back after struggling to joint fifth at Splendido. Arnie Taguines, meanwhile, and fellow amateurs Eagle Ace Superal, Mariel Tee and Aily Kidwell set out to spring a surprise although they would need to match the pros’ power and class to duplicate absentee Singson’s feat. Pamela Mariano, Florence Bisera, Gretchen Villacencio and rookies Martina Miñoza, Lesley Icoy and Kristine Fleetwood also exude confidence coming into the P750,000 championship while Marvi Monsalve seeks to finally come up with a strong finishing kick and end a long search for a maiden win. Korean Jane Jeong also rejoins the hunt in pursuit of a breakthrough along with locals Shery Villasencio, Apple Fudolin, Lucy Landicho, Eva Miñoza, Sarah Ababa, Lovelynn Guioguio and Majorie Pulumbarit.

SAN FRANCISCO—Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 104-94 to move within one win of a seventh NBA championship crown on Monday. With Stephen Curry having a rare off-night after his 43-point game four heroics, Wiggins seized control to lead a balanced Golden State offensive effort which leaves the Warriors 3-2 up in the best-of-seven series. Wiggins delivered a huge performance at both ends of the Warriors’ Chase Center court, shooting 12-of-23 while hauling in 13 rebounds with two steals and a block. The Warriors can clinch the championship when the series heads back to Boston for game six on Thursday. “We have two cracks at getting one win, but we also know how difficult it’s going to be,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Nobody’s celebrating but we are excited to be in this spot and we want to take advantage of it.” Kerr led the tributes for Wiggins, the Canadian former No.1 draft pick who has steadily become an integral part of the Warriors set-up since joining the franchise two years ago. “He loves the challenge. He loves the competition. And he’s found such a crucial role on our team, and I think that empowers him,” Kerr said. “He knows how much we need him, so he’s been fantastic.” Wiggins led the Warriors scorers while Klay Thompson provided support with 21 points including five threepointers. Gary Payton II (15 points) and Jordan Poole (14) both made double-digits from the bench. Curry, the Warriors’ talisman and front-runner for NBA Finals MVP, chipped in with 16 points but shot only 7-of-22 from the field, going 0/9 from three-point distance. It was the first time in Curry’s playoff career he has failed to score a threepointer and the first time he has drawn a blank from beyond the arc in any NBA game since 2018. “I think Steph was probably due for a game like this,” Kerr said. “But we’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of depth that can make up for that, and the guys did a good job of that tonight.” Warriors star Draymond Green, who had an improved performance despite fouling out in the fourth quarter, said Curry’s display was good news for Golden State. AFP

Ramirez: Next PSC chair must adapt to times By Peter Atencio OUTGOING Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez expects strong leadership qualities in the next chief of the government sports body, traits he hopes will inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes in the next six years to perform excellently in the national and international stage. Ramirez believes that the next chairman must be young and not just educated, but must be exposed to sports. He must also show dedication and dynamism, be a good manager, a father-figure and a good listener. Having such qualities will help the PSC develop a better relationship with the athletes, coaches and the national sports associations. “One of the most important pillars of management is adaptability. We have to be alert. Leaders from the NSAs, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the PSC must adapt to the times,” said Ramirez during Tuesday’s face-to-face session of the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Ramirez feels that the next PSC board must be able to have enough funds to sustain not only the elite programs, but also be able to provide for the grassroots activities of the agency as well. “Hindi tulog-tulog. Handa dapat sa pagbabago sa budget na tumataas ang gastos, pagbabago sa coaching, sa sports at sa lahat,” added Ramirez. The PSC chief said they are now preparing for a new set of board members and chairman to come in by the latter half of the month.

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Expo ushers in Rock ‘n’ Roll running series week AN exposition on health and fitness takes place starting today (Wednesday) at the Mehan Garden in a lead-off to the ASICS Rock ‘n’ Roll running series firing off Sunday at Rizal Park. Close to 5,000 runners gear up for the first staging of the world’s largest running series in Southeast Asia and in Asia after the pandemic in a race that will cut across Manila’s most iconic locales and neighborhoods, including the National Museum, the Walled City of Intramuros, Manila Cathedral, Manila City Hall and the Kartilya ng Katipunan. But before they can take to city streets, they’ll need to head to the expo for the bib number and race kits collection and where the event’s sponsors also get the chance to interact with their potential customers and clients in a casual atmosphere. The claiming of the bib number and race kits will start at 11 a.m. to 7 a.m. today till Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. As part of the organizing The IRONMAN Group and Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series’ commitment to guarantee the safe conduct of the event, precautionary measures have been put in place—from the collection of kits to pre-event listup. As mandated by the host city, only participants with Covid-19 vaccination cards will be allowed to join while those unvaccinated will be required to present their 48-hour antigen results. Physical distancing will be observed at all event areas. Backed by ASICS as title sponsor, Gatorade as official hydration partner and Alaska, Lightwater, Regent and Sante, the four-category run on Sunday mixes running and endurance with partying and a concert that will have participants treated to music throughout the route enhanced with themed water stations and a musical bash at the finish that will run through midnight. The 10K and 5K races will be flagged off at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., respectively, while the 21K and 42K events will start at 5 p.m., both at Rizal Park. Celebrities and running buffs Troy Montero and Kim Atienza will also grace the blue-ribbon event, held as part of the city’s 450th founding anniversary with the Philippine Star, One Sports, Cignal and Sportograf.com as media partners, with the former vying in the full marathon and the latter joining the 10K cast. For details, log on at www.runrocknroll.com.manila.

Rising MMA, boxing stars strut stuff at SM Southmall

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) and mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura pose during a news conference announcing their exhibition boxing bout at The M Resort in Henderson, Nevada. The bout will take place in September in Japan as part of a RIZIN Fighting Federation show. AFP

Mayweather to battle MMA fighter in Japan T OKYO—Newly enshrined Hall of Fame boxer Floyd Mayweather will ﬁght Japanese mixed martial arts star Mikuru Asakura in a September exhibition in Japan, organisers said Tuesday.

The former welterweight world champion, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday after retiring with an unbeaten 50-0 record, beat “Dangerous” Don Moore in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month. The date, venue and rules of his fight against 29-year-old featherweight Asakura will be announced later this month. It will be the 45-year-old Mayweather’s fourth exhibition and his second in Japan, after beating kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa by TKO in

just two minutes in December 2018, in a bout that was widely ridiculed. Mayweather called himself the “pioneer of exhibitions” and promised to “put on a show” for fans when he returns in September. “We’re going to treat him nice, we’re going to let him go three rounds, we’re going to let him try to land his shot,” Mayweather said of his opponent. “I may not let him land one punch, it’s all up to me, it’s all on what I want to do,” the American added, describing himself as “the puppet-master”.

Mayweather said his “legacy is already set in stone” after entering the Hall of Fame. He retired from professional boxing in 2017 after beating UFC star Conor McGregor. “It’s great to go into the Hall of Fame and the great thing about it is I did everything on my terms,” he said. “You look at so many champions and they can barely walk, they can barely talk. That’s not cool. The name of the game is to hit and not get hit.” Asakura said he intends to “use this opportunity to raise my name and my value internationally”.

LOOKING for something exciting to do this weekend? Head to SM Southmall and prepare to witness an avalanche of action from the region’s most promising amateur boxers and mixed martial arts fighters! The UFC Gym, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Game Park, will be showcasing the country’s up-and-coming fighters at Musclecontest Philippines’ ‘King of the Fight 9,’ an exhibition match to be held at the SM Southmall Events Center from June 18 to 19. The exhibition matches on both days will begin at 1 p.m., with 24 boxers set to battle it out on June 18, Saturday; and 24 mixed martial artists to step into the Octagon on June 19, Sunday. Each fight will be composed of three-minute rounds. Since debuting in 2009, UFC Gym has opened over 150 locations across the US, Australia, Canada, South America, and Asia. The fitness franchise offers a full range of functional fitness classes, group and private MMA training, group fitness, and personal and group dynamic performance-based training fit for all ages and fitness levels. And on June 18, history will be made as SM Supermalls opens its doors to a UFC Gym in the south of Metro Manila. To know more about SM Supermalls, check out www.smsupermalls.com or like and follow @ smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

Nadal trains on Mallorca grass 2 weeks before Wimbledon MADRID—Rafael Nadal trained on grass for the first time on Monday morning, with a light session in Mallorca raising hopes he could overcome his foot injury to play at Wimbledon. Nadal performed some gentle physical activities during a short, closed session at the Mallorca Country Club in Santa Ponca, where the Mallorca Championships begin on Sunday. The plan is for Nadal to increase the intensity of his training from Tuesday until the end of the week and the 36-year-old will then decide whether to play at Wimbledon, which starts on June 27, depending

on how his foot responds. Nadal said his left foot was “asleep” from injections during his victory over Casper Ruud in the final of the French Open on June 5, a win that secured him a record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title. Nadal then travelled to Barcelona last week to begin “pulsed radiofrequency stimulation”, a treatment aimed at reducing nerve pain. The treatment means the nerves around the area of Nadal’s injury were “temporarily numb”, a spokesman for the Spaniard said. Nadal has for years suffered from a problem in his foot called Muller-

Weiss syndrome, a rare and degenerative condition affecting bones in the feet. “I will be there if my body allows it. Wimbledon is a priority, the Grand Slams are a priority,” Nadal said at Roland Garros, when asked about Wimbledon. “Playing it with anti-inf lammatories, yes; with anaesthesia injections, no.” Nadal has won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010. His 22 major triumphs puts him two clear of both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time list of male grand slam champions. AFP

Spain’s Rafael Nadal speaks during the graduation ceremony of the sixth promotion of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, on the Balearic Island of Mallorca. AFP

Rahm, McIlroy get early US Open starts with LIV in afternoon Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the eighth tee during a practice round prior to the 2022 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. AFP

BROOKLINE—Defending champion Jon Rahm and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy will tee off early in Thursday’s first round of the US Open while Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s top stars make afternoon starts. Tee times were released Monday by the US Golf Association for the first and second rounds, with local amateur Michael Thorbjornsen hitting the opening shot off the first tee at 6:45 a.m. (1045 GMT) Thursday at The Country Club. World number two Rahm, a Spaniard who took his first major title last June at Torrey Pines, will start in the fourth group off the first tee Thursday alongside James Piot, last year’s US Amateur winner, and fellow American Collin Morikawa, the reigning British Open champion and 2020 PGA Championship winner. Northern Ireland’s third-ranked McIlroy, coming off a victory Sunday at the Canadian Open, begins from the 10th tee at 7:40

a.m. alongside Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters winner, and American Xander Schauffele, last year’s Tokyo Olympic champion. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, tees off at 1:25 p.m. on the 10th hole along with Australian Cameron Smith and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka. World number five Justin Thomas, who captured his second major crown at last month’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills, goes off the first tee at 1:14 p.m. alongside US compatriot Tony Finau, ranked 15th, and Norway’s ninth-ranked Viktor Hovland. Top players who have signed with the LIV Golf Invitational Series are being allowed to play this week by the USGA even though they have been suspended from PGA Tour events. Most of them will launch afternoon charges in what promises to be an emo-

tional matchup. Six-time major winner and LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson tees off at the first hole alongside LIV Golf’s Louis Oosthuizen and Ireland’s Shane Lowry at 1:36 p.m. Dustin Johnson, another LIV Golf rebel, will start in the group ahead of them along with Webb Simpson and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick. Bryson DeChambeau, the long-driving former US Open champion who signed with LIV Golf last weekend, will start at the 10th tee at 1:47 p.m., two groups after Scheffler, alongside fellow American Gary Woodland and England’s Justin Rose, the former US Open champion who fired a 60 in Sunday’s final round of the Canadian Open. Patrick Reed, a former Masters champion who also joined LIV Golf last weekend, goes off in the group after DeChambeau at 1:58 p.m. alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood and South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

Amber Heard says ‘hate and vitriol’ on socmed during court battle not ‘fair’

Online public opinion favors Johnny Depp (left) during the six-week defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard

Alden-Jasmine starrer ‘The World Between Us’ to stream on Netflix PRIMETIME series The World Between Us will be available on the popular streaming platform Netflix Philippines. The drama that revolves around the romance between two individuals whose love hurdles many obstacles but, in the end, brings them together, will stream on the platform on June 17. The series stars three of the Philippines’ most popular and highly-talented actors Alden Richards as Louie Asuncion, the intelligent orphan who has a penchant for inventing gadgets and who will work his way up to prove that he is worthy of Lia’s love; Jasmine Curtis-Smith who charms viewers with her portrayal of Lia Libradilla, the lovable and compassionate youngest member of the affluent Libradilla family who falls for Louie; and Tom Rodriguez as Brian Libradilla, the stubborn and bullheaded heir of the Libradilla family who does not consider Louie as his equal. The soap begins with an orphaned tech genius named Louie who is taken under the wings of Rachel Libradilla, CEO of Prime Mobile, the leading cellphone manufacturing company in the Philippines. He meets Rachel’s children, Brian and Lia. Louie becomes close to Lia and he develops feelings for her. Soon, Lia also falls in love with Louie. However, they cannot reveal their love as Louie does not want to betray Rachel’s trust. He wants to be an asset to Rachel and prove that he is worthy of Lia. As the years pass, Louie now holds an executive position in Prime Mobile because of his invaluable contribution to the company, and he finally has the courage to tell Lia how he feels. Just when things are starting to fall into place, Brian ruins everything for Louie by setting him up for a crime. The World Between Us is produced by GMA Entertainment Group and directed by Dominic Zapata.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith (left) and Alden Richards prove that love can overcome challenges in ‘The World Between Us’

US ACTRESS Amber Heard said the “hate and vitriol” she suffered on social media during her libel trial against Johnny Depp was not “fair,” but insisted in an interview released Monday she did not blame the jury for largely siding with her ex-husband. After a six-week legal tussle between the former Hollywood power couple, a US jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages for defamation, in contrast to just $2 million for Heard who had counter-sued. The case, live-streamed to millions, featured lurid and intimate details about the celebrities’ private lives, and Heard was targeted by countless social media posts and internet memes throughout.

“I don’t presume the average person should know those things,” Heard told NBC in her first major interview since the verdict. “And so I don’t take it personally.” “But even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation.” “You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair,” she said in a clip from the interview, which airs in full on NBC News’ Dateline on Friday. Depp sued Heard over a Washington Post op-ed in which she did not name him, but described herself as a “public figure

representing domestic abuse.” Heard countersued after Depp’s lawyer described her abuse claims as a “hoax.” Online public opinion during the trial appeared to come down heavily on Depp’s side, and Heard’s lawyers accused his legal team of working to “demonize” her. Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft has said the Aquaman star wants to appeal the verdict. When interviewer Savannah Guthrie suggested it was the jury’s duty to not be swayed by Depp’s A-list status, Heard responded: “Again, how could they (not be) — after listening to three and a half weeks of testimony about how I was a non-credible person, not to believe a word that came out of my mouth?” AFP

Streaming app for urban millennials

The partnership between PLDT and Lionsgate Play is a part of PLDT’s mission to provide the fastest broadband connection in the country to better stream entertainment choices

TREAMING platform Lionsgate Play is having a solid moment after it partnered with the country’s leading broadband provider, PLDT Home, as it was officially launched in the Philippines on June 10.

PLDT Home Fiber (for Plan P1699 or up), now allows users to access and watch Lionsgate Play’s 17,000 titles ranging from action to comedy and drama, and from horror to thriller. Lionsgate is a leading Hollywood studio that has created and distributed some of the world’s biggest properties, including the blockbuster film franchises The Hunger Games, Twilight Saga, John Wick, and Saw; and the television series Mad Men, one of the most acclaimed shows in television history. “What sets us apart? Lionsgate Play is a streaming platform that offers premium Hollywood content and it caters specifically to urban millennials,” said Lionsgate Play Philippines General Manager Ma. Cecilia Marino during the grand launch. “PLDT Home and Lionsgate are bringing entertainment straight from the box office into people’s homes. From the best love stories to the best of horror down to the most actionpacked films and shows, the world’s

Lionsgate Play Philippines General Manager Ma. Cecilia Marino

best content is simply a push of a button away with Lionsgate Play for all new and existing PLDT-powered homes,” PLDT Home Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business-Home Group Jeremiah de la Cruz said. “This partnership is part of our continuing mission to provide our customers the fastest broadband connection in the country so that they can better stream their entertainment choices including the most exciting and irreverent stories from Lionsgate Play. Beyond PLDT-powered homes, Lionsgate Play shall also be available to Smart customers soon,” De la Cruz added. “Our endeavor has been to ensure viewers are provided with a curated lineup of great content, spread across genres for the best viewing experience,” Lionsgate Executive Vice President Amit Dhanuka said of the partnership. “Taking this forward, we are excited to partner with PLDT Home to launch Lionsgate Play in the Philippines. We are reaching out to a large and diverse sector of consumers with a digitallydriven offering enabling them to ‘play more, browse less.’ We look forward to more Filipinos enjoying the best of what Hollywood has to offer!” Among the content available at the Philippine launch of Lionsgate Play is American crime drama Power. With rapper and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as executive producer, Power follows the triumph and trials of drug dealer James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick) as he tries to leave his life of crime behind to manage his own nightclub. Power is one of American premium cable TV’s most watched and

PLDT Home Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business-Home GroupJeremiah de la Cruz

highly-rated shows. Also among Lionsgate Play’s banner content is futuristic action film Apex. This Bruce Willis starrer follows Thomas Malone (Willis) as a wrongfully-convicted prisoner given a chance at freedom. Now available locally through Lionsgate Play is the critically-acclaimed drama Gaslit, starring Julia Roberts and Sean Penn. The new series spotlights Martha Mitchell (Roberts), wife of former US President Nixon’s Attorney General John N. Mitchell, discovering the full extent of the Watergate scandal in the 70s. Lionsgate Play also features the studio’s most commercially successful films and film franchises: The Hunger Games follows hunter Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her heroic adventures in a post-apocalyptic world; John Wick tells the story of the titular character (Keanu Reeves) forced to return to his life as a hitman to avenge the death of his beloved puppy; the Twilight Saga follows the epic love story of teenager Bella Swan (Kirsten Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson); SAW trails the sadistic machinations of John Kramer or Jigsaw; Knives Out follows a detective (Daniel Craig) in his investigation on the mysterious death of a wealthy novelist (Christopher Plummer); and many more. The streaming service also carries some of Lionsgate’s most iconic and groundbreaking series such as Mad Men, a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe-winning period drama starring Jon Hamm that’s widely considered to be one of the greatest TV shows of all time; and The Royals, a drama chronicling the tradition, opulence, and

scandal that surround a fictional modernday royal family. Lionsgate Play also gives PLDT Home subscribers first dibs on the hottest new shows including Becoming Elizabeth, which chronicles Elizabeth I’s rise to power and all the intrigue and betrayal that came with becoming the Virgin Queen. Catch these shows and more very soon on Lionsgate Play. The Philippines is the fourth country in the Asia-Pacific region that Lionsgate Play has entered. It first launched in India in 2020 and then in Indonesia and Malaysia last year. In time for the Philippine launch of the streaming service, both existing and new subscribers of PLDT Home Fiber Plans 1699 and up will be given exclusive access to Lionsgate Play without the additional charges until June 1, 2023. Enjoy a bigger, bolder, faster, and more powerful entertainment home viewing experience at home with Lionsgate Play, exclusive in the Philippines through PLDT Home. To learn more about Lionsgate Play, visit https://pldthome.com/ lionsgateplay. Julia Roberts (left) and Sean Penn star in the criticallyacclaimed drama ‘Gaslit’

Experience the epic conclusion to ‘Jurassic’ era 29 years. “There is a cataclysmic event in the middle of the trilogy that fundamentally changes everything,” director Colin Trevorrow says. “The dinosaurs are taken off the island and released out into the wider world. It was such an amazing opportunity to be able to explore the consequences of that. Jurassic World Dominion is about the need for us to respect the power of the natural world—if we fail, (From left) Sam Neill, Isabella Sermon, and Chris Pratt in a we’ll go extinct just like the dinosaurs. Not scene from ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ only are we finishing the story begun in 2015 in Jurassic World, but we’re finishing the The stars from both chapters of the franchise come together to JURASSIC World Dominion, the conclusion to the story that began in 1993 with Jurassic Park. create a cohesive timeline of the story unprecedented three-decade story of the Jurassic That’s a story that takes all the characters in the franchise, takes the audience to a world where saga to tell.” “We designed this trilogy to bring in characters dinosaurs live and hunt alongside humans all over For the first time, the film does not take place on from Jurassic Park. We had BD Wong in Jurassic the world. Isla Nublar, but entirely in our world, and, for the World to assure the audience that this was the Reshaping the future that will determine once only time in history, the stars of both chapters of same timeline; then we brought in Ian Malcolm in and for all, whether human beings are to remain the the franchise – Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler, Jeff Fallen Kingdom to reassure people that Malcolm apex predators, the film is about to break the fragile Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm, and Sam Neill as Dr. is very much paying attention to what’s going on. balance of the planet. Alan Grant from Jurassic Park and Chris Pratt as In Dominion, the legacy cast is as equally involved Jurassic World Dominion, by design, is unlike Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire as Claire and Owen. We don’t just bring them in to any Jurassic film that has come before. For almost Dearing from Jurassic World – are united on screen, exist in some supervisory, parental role. We send three decades, the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World joining BD Wong who, as Dr. Henry Wu, who them on a true, honest-to-God, scary-as-hell films, based on characters created by author Michael appeared in 1993’s Jurassic Park and now all three adventure.” Crichton and following the debut of Steven Jurassic World films. For Trevorrow, these characters Immerse yourself in an exciting Spielberg’s Jurassic Park in 1993, have inspired are central to this film and are the reason for the experience and get to see the Jurassic awe and wonder and terror and exhilaration and franchise’s success all these years. World dinosaurs. Follow the unfettered joy in almost every living person who has The fusion of those two casts was long-planned footprints and dig deeper into crossed the threshold of a movie theatre in the past according to Trevorrow. dinosaur fossil excavation.

Have your photos taken with the T-Rex and Giganotosaurus and check out the iconic Jeep and see them come to life in SM Cinemas. You can also advance your ticket purchase or get block screening and enjoy regular cinemas, IMAX, and Director’s Club at www.smcinema.com or download SM Cinema app. Experience this one-of-a-kind dinosaur installation only at the Block Atrium, SM City North Edsa until June 23, and bring home the experience with you by shopping for Jurassic World collectibles and merchandise. Chris Pratt reprises his role as Owen Grady

Life

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

The Alcala Family at the ‘Larry Alcala: Slices of Life, Wit, and Humor’ exhibit

Slices of life, wit, and humor AS PART of the recent National Heritage Month celebrations, mallgoers had the rate opportunity to have a glimpse of the life and works of National Artist Larry Alcala in an exhibit at the SMX Convention Center at SM Aura Premier. The Larry Alcala: Slices of Life, Wit, and Humor exhibition featured a collection of archival reproduction of Alcala’s works alongside works in drawing, print, and digital media of selected artists influenced by Larry Alcala, including members of the organization Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan (INK), which thrives to this day. The event was a partnership of The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M) and the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. (FHFI), with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and SM. The exhibit explores Filipino comics and illustrations as popular and enduring art forms that channel humor alongside hard-hitting commentary about Philippine society. It is a testament to the endurance and timeliness of Alcala’s observations, candor, and wit through visual form. At the height of his career, Larry Alcala was part of every Filipino’s life. Picture a day in the life in the Philippines: the bright pops of color brought on by passing jeeps and tricycles on Manila’s busy streets, the chitter-chatter of neighborhood gossip outside their houses, children climbing trees and playing wherever they can, and the warmth of the tropical sun shining down on all of this. Of all the Filipino artists who worked with these subjects, perhaps none was more prodigious or influential for generations to come than Larry Alcala. The exhibition received curatorial guidance from visual communications educator and award-winning illustrator Professor Ruben “Totet” de Jesus of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts. The exhibition at the SMX Aura was complemented by the M’s education and public programs from June to July: including an M Collab participatory project, inviting participants (aged 18 to 25) to share “à la Alcala” digital art contributions online. For more information, e-mail info@metmuseum.ph. National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon Santos

All for art and heritage. Project partners (from left) SM’s Millie Dizon, FHFI President Armita B. Rufino, and Metropolitan Museum of Manila Foundation Inc. President Tina P. Colayco

Chris Millado’s colleagues describe him as a creative and progressive leader

Retiring Chris Millado leaves rich legacy in artistic community I

FIRST met Chris Millado when I was still a newbie lifestyle reporter working for a newspaper based in Intramuros. Back then, I would cover the arts and culture beat, which entailed writing stories about what was happening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Whenever I would interview him, I would be amazed by his energy and passion. That same energy and passion I witnessed when I started working at the CCP. Truth be told, I often had apprehensions every time he would call me to his office. It felt like going to the principal office. Or in some cases, a thesis defense of some sort. He would clarify reports. He would ask for opinions and ideas. He would throw a curveball, challenging and picking the minds of everyone who attended the meeting. Don’t get me wrong. Working under CBM (as he was fondly called in the office) was challenging and at the same time, it was fulfilling. I learned a lot working with him. CCP associate director Ariel Yonzon shares the same sentiment. “He can be challenging. But what is good about him is that he sees the best in people. Even if we encounter hurdles, he is always bright, and always on the positive side. Of course, it could be daunting for us who have worked with him because he wouldn’t take no for an answer and he would not stop until we find ways to make his vision come true.” Yonzon continued: “Pag may vision siya, it has to happen. I think it comes with the territory of being a theater director. When you are a theater director, you have a vision and everyone after him has to follow to see the fruition of the production.” CCP administrator Tess Rances agreed, saying that CBM has this stimulating kind of energy that affects others. “You can’t help but just say yes to his ideas. He is very progressive. He always thinks out of the box. He is very creative and has the energy to propel things. Chris is very open to collaborating with as many people as he could. He was able to open many doors.” Rances met CBM back in her university days at UP Diliman. She was with UP Rep, while CBM was with Dulaang UP. They would bump into each other and even did street theater together during Martial Law years.

After graduation, they led separate lives until they met again at the CCP. They started working together in the Outreach Department, where they were assigned to expand and develop the training programs. Yonzon, meanwhile, remembers working with CBM back when he was the head of the Performing Arts Department (PAD). “We would meet in Booking and Discounts Committee meetings. We usually had disagreements on bureaucracy and administrative stuff. To my belief, he didn’t have the patience for the nitty and gritty of administrative processes back then. We couldn’t see eye to eye. As PAD head, he was very artistic. Being the head of Production and Exhibition Department, I focused on procedures and protocols.” Back then, as relayed by Yonzon, CBM didn’t understand why everything had to go through certain processes, why certain things were not possible, and why the processes were so stringent. “We had to explain the government procedural system. But now, he learned the ropes. He finally understood that when he became the artistic director, even value it. Later on, we found ways to improve the system,” shared Yonzon. If I would list down the things that CBM successfully did for the CCP, the space for this column would not be enough. He has done a lot of great things, starting with conceptualizing and producing the CCP’s biggest festivals – Pasinaya, Virgin Labfest, and Cinemalaya. For Pasinaya, Yonzon expounds on how CBM was able to bridge different art forms and bring artists and cultural workers together. He was able to collaborate with various art groups with different approaches and practices. “One of the challenges of being an artistic director is the community and network. One must have the respect of the artistic community. Otherwise, it is just a title. It is just a post and you can’t get things done. It would be valuable for the next artistic director to have that kind of respect from the

As an artistic director of the CCP, Chris Millado uses his experience in performing arts to preserve and develop Philippine arts and culture

Chris Millado (leftmost) with the CCP PR Team

Filipino artistic community.” For Rances, Cinemalaya was able to expand beyond CCP through CBM’s leadership. Seventeen years of independent filmmaking and exhibitions, and it is still growing strong. “The expansion we went through under his leadership in Cinemalaya. There’s also the Virgin Labfest. We were able to bring the playwrights, involving them in the theater production. Usually, it is the director who chooses and does all the work, but through the VLF, playwrights have a voice,” said Rances. Both Rances and Yonzon believe that CBM is a hard act to follow. “He brought in a heavy belt to the post. I can’t imagine anyone succeeding him. It would be presumptuous for anyone to think he can fill up that big shoe,” said Yonzon. CBM has the experience. He was trained both here and abroad. He has a good foundation from UP, PETA, his stay in the USA, and some stints in Europe. He was able to bring those experiences home, and even more. Every artistic director who helmed the CCP has their own strengths. “CBM brought to the table a different take from all those before him. The uniqueness of his experience, ‘yung lalim ng babad niya sa theater community at iba’t ibang genre ng performing arts,” shared Yonzon who has worked with almost all CCP artistic directors. “When I joined CCP in 1985, paalis na si Tita King. Dr. Nick Tiongson came in, and he was very academic. Short-lived sina Diana Recto, Cora Inigo, and Ramon Santos. Diana was very diplomatic because of her background in foreign affairs. Cora has a deep inclination for folk dance, while National Artist Ramon Santos was into music.” “Tata Nanding was very democratic, very grassroots. Dr. Raul Sunico is into classical music. Although his background was ballet, Nestor Jardin was able to reinvent himself to embrace other art forms, and I call him cultural diplomat,” shared Yonzon. For Rances, CBM was someone who was needed to answer the challenges of the time. (Read full story on www.manilastandard. net)

Ramon Magsaysay Center gets sustainable upgrade

Team Banyuhay has a sleek and modern concept for the function room

THE Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) has tapped 57 budding studentartists from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) to revitalize the Ramon Magsaysay (RM) Center into a sustainable structure as Asia’s center for inspiration and hope. “Benilde is an ideal partner because it has this inclusive and innovative educational activity that provides experiential opportunities for students and applies classroom-based knowledge to actual practice thereby finding solutions to challenges,” RMAF Trustee Emily Abrera noted. Designed by the lauded Architect Alfredo J. Luz, the 18-story RM Center features massive columns and is considered one of the first high-rise structures in the country. It currently houses the Ramon Magsaysay Hall with mid-century aesthetic, the expansive Ramon Magsaysay Plaza and Fountain,

The Silver Lining group’s design fro the Innovation Hub

and a two-story structure that will be home to the revamped Magsaysay Laureate Library and Museum, an Innovation Hub, and a coffee shop overseeing the Manila Bay. This initiative was held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the passing on of Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay. The students were mentored by the program’s educators and industry practitioners, Ley Gatpandan, Greggy Saliba, Karol Antonio, and Lheng Vito Cruz. Benilde officials President Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, Chancellor Benhur Ong, Vice Chancellor for Academics Angelo Lacson, School of Design and Arts Dean Asela Domingo, Environment Studies Associate Dean Christine Benet, and Interior Design Program Chairperson Kat Correa likewise guided the participants. The esteemed panel of judges is com-

Another design from the Silver Lining group, showing the preservation of the existing Magsaysay Laureate Library’s elegance

prised of Metropolitan Museum of Manila President Tina Colayco, landscape architect, environmental planner and author Paulo Alcazaren, and furniture designer Gaston Lorenzo Pastrano. They are joined by Atelier Almario CEO Ivy Almario, Metro.style Home and Living Editor Anna Magsaysay-Rosete, and United Architect of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA) 2021 National President Maxine Lumbera, who together selected the standout proposals. The winning teams include the Silver Lining group of Jasmine Tan, Alfredo Madamba, Patricia Parlade, Frances Ramos, Adrienne Torres, Alexandra Villanueva, Jeffrey Tan, Francine Cuason, Karen Alcozer, Derick Vigilla, Kaila Miranda, and Kaila Mendoza. They preserved the elegance of the existing library and suggested a lift for an easy PWD access. The team’s

Team Dalisay pays homage to the plaza’s mid-century modernist look

futuristic yet sophisticated design for the Innovation Hub likewise triumphed among the entries. Meanwhile, Dalisay Team members Lauren Khoo, Aquissa Baluyot, Myesha Cruz, Carla Dayanghirang, Mariel Gapasin, Cio Gonzalez, Colby Braga, Patricia Chua, Julianne Magat, Sofia Barrion, and Mona Bantigue paid homage to the plaza’s mid-century modernist look. They likewise proposed the inclusion of a mural, seating pods, and spaces for greening. The designs of Team Banyuhay, composed of Mark Begaso, Alyssa Belda, Franchezka Jumarang, Nuri Hong, Lhouraine Poncio, Francheska Gonzalez, Zenisa Asuncion, Micah Casugbo, Kelly Abad, Cyrelle Biene, and Angelika Aguilar, were chosen for the RM Hall, Mini Museum and Function Rooms. The group’s design for the RM Hall high-

lighted Filipino materials and craftmanship amid the brutalist structure, while their entry for the museum showcased an open design system that calls for flexibility and versatility ideal for both permanent or rotating exhibitions. On the other hand, their winning proposal for the function rooms focuses on bold graphics, a steady design, and a lengthened function. Elements of all these designs will be incorporated into the final rendition of the renovation plans. “We at the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation choose to focus on inspiring one another and believing in a future full of hope for our young people,” RMAF President Susan Afan stated. “We promise to continue to invest in opportunities that incite dialogue, imagination, and action for a better and kinder Asia for all.”