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22 tagged in agri smuggling

Customs chief, DA officials, mayors highlight Senate report’s list SENATE report released Monday has identified Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero and 21 other personalities as alleged protectors and smugglers of agricultural products worth hundreds of millions of pesos.

According to the 63-page report of the Senate Committee of the Whole, the list includes officials of the Bureau of Customs, Department of Agriculture, and several mayors. The report linked 22 persons to the alleged smuggling operations based on an intelligence report received by Senate President Vicente Sotto III on May 17, 2022, con-

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 133 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Oil prices move closer to P100/l with new hikes

taining a “validated list” of persons supposedly involved in illegally importing agricultural products into the country. The Committee of the Whole report was signed by Sotto and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Nancy Binay, Bong Go, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Manny Pacquiao, Bong Revilla Jr., Francis Pangilinan,

By Alena Mae S. Flores, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Maricel V. Cruz PUMP prices moved closer to P100 per liter in Metro Manila, with the latest round of oil price hikes of P1.65 per liter for diesel, P0.50 per liter for gasoline, and P0.10 per liter for kerosene, taking effect at 6 a.m. on June 28. With the latest round of increases, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that gasoline would sell from P79.04 to P97.84 per liter, diesel from P85.16 to P96.26 per liter, and kerosene from P89.72 to P99.12 per liter. In an advisory, Chevron Philippines said Caltex would increase the price of Platinum and Silver gasoline by P0.50 per liter, diesel by P1.65 per liter, and kerosene by P0.10 a liter. Petron Corp., Seaoil Philippines, Flying V, PTT Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, and Petro-

VP’s husband Emhoff leading US delegation to inauguration PRACTICE PARADE. Members of the country’s security forces rehearse their civic and military parade along Maria Orosa Street towards the National Museum in Manila on Monday in preparation for the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 30. Inset shows US Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who will lead American officials to attend the event. Norman Cruz with AFP

COVID tally, serious cases going up By Willie Casas and Othel V. Campos COVID-19 cases have gone up by more than half in the last seven days, while the number of patients with serious conditions has also increased, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. From June 20 to 26, the country recorded 4,634 new COVID-19 cases or

an average of 662 per day, the DOH said in its latest bulletin. This was 53 percent higher than the 3,051 infections logged from June 13 to 19. Out of the latest weekly tally of infections, 14 were severe and critical. As of Sunday, a total of 591 or 10.7 percent of COVID-19 patients in hospitals were in severe and critical condition.

By Rey E. Requejo THE husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, Douglas Emhoff, will lead the American delegation to the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the US embassy said Monday. Others in the delegation are Heather Variava, and interim chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy Manila; Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia; Nani Coloretti, deputy director, Office of Management and Budget; Admiral James Winnefeld, Jr. (Ret.), former vice chairman

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Edgard Kagan, special assistant to the President and senior director for East Asia and Oceania, National Security Council; and Chantale Wong, US director of the Asian Development Bank Marcos will take his oath of office at the National Museum of the Philippines on June 30, with more than 15,000 security personnel assigned to protect the incoming president. The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised spectators not to bring backpacks to the event.

PNP director for operations Police Major General Valeriano de Leon told CNN Philippines they are expecting a huge crowd at the event. “For those who will be coming and personally watch the oath-taking, I am reminding them to avoid using backpacks. And if it is not avoided, bring a plastic bag so we can easily screen the contents of their belongings to be brought inside the area,” he said. De Leon said the PNP has not monitored any serious threat so far to the inauguration.

House planning 100% face-to-face SONA for Marcos, first in two years THE House of Representatives is planning to host a 100-percent face-to-face State of the Nation Address for President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. -- the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out two years ago. House Secretary General Mark Mendoza, however, said they are also ready to host another hybrid SONA, depending on the COVID-19 situation.

TOURISM ‘MOB’. Department of Tourism employees and officials crowd incoming DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco

(center, holding smartphone) at the DOT Central Office on Monday. Frasco will replace Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Danny Pata

MANDATORY ROTC GAINS TRACTION WITH SOLONS

LENI: HONTIVEROS NOW PH OPPOSITION LEADER

NEWS / A4

NEWS / A3

“SONA will be face-to-face but we prepared two scenarios: one that is 100-percent full capacity and another that is hybrid with social distancing,” Mendoza said. “It will depend on the President and at the same time on the COVID situation,” he added. Marcos Jr. last month met with several members of the incominh Congress to discuss

Ople wants OFWs deployed quicker; Hospital workers too despite shortage tration chief Bernard Olalia added the deployment of medical workers will continue until the INCOMING Department of Migrant Workers end of 2022, despite reports of a lack of health Secretary Susan Ople wants to hasten the pro- workers in most hospitals in the country. “That is one of her marching orders. We look cessing of the deployment of overseas Filipino at the efficiency of the delivery of services to workers, a labor official said Monday. Next page Philippine Overseas Employment Adminis-

By Vito Barcelo

Duterte leaving as ‘most popular’ leader—survey OUTGOING President Rodrigo Duterte will step down from office as “the most popular president of the postEdsa 1 era,” according to the latest PUBLiCUS survey. In PUBLiCUS’ PAHAYAG Second Quarter survey conducted from June 16 to 22, some 75 percent of its 1,500 respondents approved or strongly approved of Duterte’s job performance during his six-year term. Only 10 percent of respondents said they disapproved or strongly disapproved of the President’s performance since 2016. As for trust ratings, 69 percent of respondents rated their trust in Duterte as high or very high while 11 percent said they put little or no trust in Duterte.

NEW ZAMBO LEADERS. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (left, first frame) administers the Oath of Office to Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe, 1st District Rep. Kymer Olaso (second frame), and 2nd District Rep. Manuel ‘Mannix’ Dalipe (third frame) during ceremonies at the Palacio del Sur Marcian Garden Hotel on Monday. Ver Noveno

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

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Fear, defiance for kin of drug war dead S By Cecil Morella

IX years after four policemen burst into her Manila slum shack and shot dead her husband and teenage son, Mary Ann Bonifacio fears for her own life as she fights for justice.

tion meant giving up a normal life. Fearing the officers, who are on bail, or their supporters could go after her and her family, Bonifacio has moved house several times and is always looking over her shoulder. “There is that possibility (of being killed),” she said, appearing older than her 48 years. Bonifacio, who washes clothes and cleans houses to make ends meet, added: “I also have to think about my children’s safety.” She filed a criminal complaint for murder in 2017, insisting her husband Luis, an unemployed decorator, and son Gabriel, a waiter, were not involved in drugs and were unarmed when police opened fire. But it took the Ombudsman four

years to bring the lesser charge of homicide against the policemen after finding their actions “went beyond the call of (self-) preservation”. The officers said they acted in “selfdefense” after the men shot at them and have asked the court to dismiss the case for lack of evidence. In court, Bonifacio sits next to the accused killers due to a lack of space. The men are set to give evidence on August 9. “I do not wish them dead. I want to make them understand that what they did was wrong and ensure they will not do it to other people again,” Bonifacio said. But accessing evidence held by the police, the same institution that prosecutes the drug war, is a major stumbling block, Bonifacio’s lawyer Kristina Conti said. AFP

Bonifacio is pursuing the men in court in the hope of proving they unlawfully killed her loved ones -- a rare example of officers tasked with carrying out Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war facing trial. Official data show more than 6,200 people have died in police anti-narcotics operations since Duterte swept to power in 2016 promising to rid the country of drugs. But rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men have been

killed by officers and vigilantes, even without proof they were linked to drugs. While the crackdown has been widely condemned and sparked an international investigation, only three policemen have been convicted for killing a drug suspect. Lawyers say most families are too scared to go after their relatives’ killers or do not have the money or time to pursue a case in the Philippines’ creaky judicial system. For Bonifacio, who has five other children, the decision to take legal ac-

Oil... From A1

Enrile has COVID, will skip Marcos inaugural rites

Gazz also raised pump prices to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. World oil prices declined by $3 last week, but this was not reflected in local pump prices as the peso depreciated versus the US dollar and raised the cost of fuel by about P1 a liter, DOE officials said. The peso sank to P54.985, the worst currency performance since Oct. 27, 2005, when it ended at P55.08 to a dollar. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, described the country’s oil situation last week as “quite dire,” noting that high oil prices may last until the end of the year, or worse, even longer. “I heard from the CEO of Exxon Mobil that is looking for the next five years. Whether it’s at the end of the year or the next five years, we are seeing a $120 per barrel [cost and] elevated prices in the medium term. So… we have to be prepared to shield our transport sector from this elevated pricing,” he said. “I understand that we cannot raise fares right away because it’s a balancing act,” he added, noting that raising fares would fuel inflation. On June 21, the oil companies raised gasoline prices by P0.80 per liter, diesel by P3.10 per liter, and kerosene by P1.70 per liter. This resulted in a net increase of P29.50 per liter for gasoline, P44.25 per liter for diesel, and P39.65 per liter for kerosene from the start of the year. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the government should consider a conditional suspension of the excise tax on fuel to ease the burden of high fuel costs and make up for the lost revenue by removing the value-added tax (VAT) exemption on several products. Lacson said the government should cut the lines of exemptions in the VAT, as the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia with more than 100 lines of exemption. “We could have earned at least P117 billion in additional tax revenues in 2018 alone, even with a reduced VAT rate from 12 percent to 10 percent, by removing 78 lines of exemption from some sectors such as the power sector, cooperatives, housing, and economic zones,” he said. “The VAT exemptions have been there for so long. It’s about time to review these lines of exemptions and reduce the number of exemptions,” he added. Lacson said this would be better than proposals to give subsidies to poor and middle-income households-a measure that may strain the budget. He noted a big chunk of the budget already goes to social welfare programs like 4Ps as well as subsidies for agriculture, micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises.

Ople... From A1 OFWs. So, the ease of doing business is our current focus. How to facilitate the processing, especially the approval of documents, for example,” Olalia said. “In the next few days, especially when the new secretary of DMW enters, expect that there will be changes,” he added. Olalia said the POEA continues to be in operation under a two-year transition period which started in February. “We have finished the implementing rules and regulations, the staffing pattern has been submitted, including the 2023 budget, but for now the POEA is still there because that’s what Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said -- until the DMW is fully constituted,” he said. “This means the status quo is still there and the POEA will remain and

COVID... From A1 The number is higher than the previous week’s 554 severe and critical patients, who comprised 10.2 percent of COVID-19 hospital admissions at the time. Some 391 or 14.9 percent of 2,628 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients were occupied as of Sunday, the DOH said. During the past week, the DOH said there were 51 COVID-related fatalities. Independent researchers said the positivity rate for COVID-19 has increased to almost 6 percent. The OCTA Research Group said the NCR’s positivity rate—or the percentage of those tested for COVID-19 who are found to be positive--rose to 5.9 percent as of June 25 from a positivity rate of 3.9 percent as of June 18. NCR’s positivity rate was recorded at 5.6 percent as of June 22. OCTA fellow Guido David noted that the World Health Organization recommends a positivity rate of under 5 percent. Data also showed that the positivity rate in Rizal jumped to 11.9 percent from 6.3 percent. Laguna rose to 7.5 percent from 3.1 percent, Cavite to 6 percent from 3.6 percent, and South Cotabato to 7.4 percent from 6.3 percent. Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Cebu, Iloilo, and Pampanga also recorded an increase in their COVID-19 positivity rates, OCTA said. The Philippines logged some 848 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, the highest daily tally since March 6, or in over three months, data from the DOH said. As of Sunday, the number of people currently positive for the coronavirus stood at 6,761, the DOH reported. The country’s total confirmed cases climbed to 3,700,876. Of the additional cases reported during the day, 397 are from Metro Manila, the DOH said. The national positivity rate from June 19 to 25 was at 4.9 percent, higher than the 3.1 percent recorded the previous week. DOH data also showed that the total number of COVID-related deaths in the country has reached 60,518 after 11 new deaths were confirmed. Total recoveries, meanwhile, stood at 3,633,597. From June 13 to 19, the country recorded an average of 436 cases per day. The tally was 82 percent higher than infections from June 6 to 12, the agency said. This is the highest number of cases logged in a single week in 13 weeks, or since the week of March 14 to 20 when 3,481 cases were reported. Earlier, the DOH warned that active cases could reach 7,500 by the second half of July if compliance with minimum health protocols declines and booster uptake remains low.

INCOMING presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has tested positive for COVID-19 and will skip the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he said Monday via a Facebook post. Enrile also addressed his “critics and enemies,” saying they should not “clap with glee” because he would survive his condition. The former Senate President and Defense secretary said he has already informed the Marcos camp he would not

attend the oath-taking slated for Thursday at the National Museum in Manila. The 98-year-old is currently being treated at the Makati Medical Center. “Since three days ago after I entered Makati Med. when I was diagnosed ‘positive’ for COVID virus,” Enrile said. “I never had any discomfort. No chills. No fever. No headache. No malaise. My body temperature ranges from 36 [degrees] to 36.8. My body oxygen ranges from 96 to 99. All my physical vital signs and blood chemistry readings were nor-

mal. The only thing I had was a dry intermittent, sometimes intense, coughing. The CT-SCAN showed that I had mild COVID-19 pneumonia,” he said. “I informed the Executive Secretary the Hon. Victor E. Rodriguez, about it and requested him to inform the President and ask him that I be excused from attending the oathtaking ceremonies of the President and the Vice President on June 30th at noon because I will still be in the hospital by then to complete the Anti-viral regimen prescribed by my doctors,” he added.

22 tagged... From A1

Subic, and Batangas, among others; David Tan alias David Bangayan, who allegedly imports in Cebu, the MICP, Port of Manila, and Batangas; Jude Logarta in Cebu; and Leah Cruz alias Luz Cruz and Lilia Matabang Cruz, who was tagged as the “onion queen.” Cruz was allegedly a “DA/Santary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance controller/manipulator” in Subic, MICP, and CDO. Other names on the Senate list were Andy Chua, George Tan, Paul Teves, Tommy Go, and Wilson Chua. According to the report, the amount of technically smuggled agri-fishery commodities from 2019 to 2022 was estimated at P667.5 million. Also, 31 smuggling cases remain pending since May 28, 2021, with an estimated amount of P848.327 million. The Senate panel found that smuggling is “persistent due to the failure to fully digitalize the inspection processes” as well as the “lack of first border inspection.” Among the recommendations of the panel are to strengthen and rationalize inter-agency coordination; allocate more resources to law enforcement agencies tasked to address smuggling; agencies mandated to enforce the law should be subject to a more stringent disciplinary measure; and remove human intervention that provides an avenue for negotiation by fully automating the trade transactions, among others. Guerrero, a retired Army general

whom President Rodrigo Duterte tapped to lead the Customs bureau in 2018, had yet to react to the report as of press time. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said his subordinates named in the report “should be given a chance to face their accusers and defend themselves in the proper forum.” Several officials linked to the smuggling issued denials in a GMA News report. Tiangco said his detractors have involved him in the large-scale agricultural smuggling in the country to prevent him from apprehending the “true” smugglers. “To those linking me to smuggling, including syndicates, if you think ruining my name will make me stop, it won’t. I will not stop chasing agricultural smugglers,” Tiangco said in a report on “24 Oras”. Slamming those behind the allegations, Culaste it was impossible to ask for bribes since transactions are now made online. “I don’t even see the importers, how can I ask for money from them? Why would they give me that if they apply for the SPIC online and I approve it online too? Ever since I was assigned to the BPI, I never asked anything from importers, not even a single centavo,” the Agriculture bureau chief said. Senators had questioned Culaste in one of their hearings after it was found that he green-lighted the release of vegetable shipments of a cooperative despite failing the temperature requirement. Macon Ramos-Araneta

administration on national development was positive. The survey said the second-highest positive impact rating among post-Edsa I administrations was notched by Duterte’s predecessor, the late President Benigno Aquino III. The administrations of former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Corazon Aquino, and Joseph Estrada likewise recorded positive impact ratings of 24 percent, 22 percent, 20 percent, and 14 percent, respectively. Sinsuat said the data suggest that public sentiment on the policy

achievements of the Duterte administration is “exceptionally positive, especially in comparison to previous administrations.” “Based on our numbers, we can expect President Duterte to retain an unprecedented amount of political capital for a former president when he leaves Malacañang on June 30. When private citizen Duterte speaks up on the issues, many will listen. When he endorses a candidate, many will vote for them,” Sinsuat added. Malacañang welcomed the results of the survey, thanking the public for supporting the Duterte administration.

his upcoming first SONA and his administration’s legislative agenda. The Marcos camp said the lawmakers were led by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who are both eyeing the top posts in their respective chambers. “He instructed me and incoming Speaker Romualdez to sit down and discuss possible legislative agenda for the SONA,” Zubiri said. Marcos also ordered his incoming budget chief to ensure that his priority sectors would get backing from the 2023 National Expenditure Program. Incoming Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman said the focus covers agricultural and food security, climate change adaptation, economic recovery, improved healthcare and education and enhanced infrastructure projects, including digital infrastructure.

VP’s... From A1

Marcos supporters will be allowed at the golf course in front of the National Museum, which can hold around 25,000 to 30,000 people, he said. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, said it has started patrolling Manila Bay and Pasig River as part of security measures for the inauguration. The Supreme Court declared that work would be suspended from June 29, Wednesday to June 30, Thursday. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said this was due to the road closure and traffic plan released by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority as part of security measures for the inauguration. “Whereby all roads leading to the Supreme Court are affected, thereby making it inconvenient for everyone to report for work, in consultation with the Supreme Court En Banc, a work suspension is hereby declared on June 29-

30,” the order read. The Court of Appeals also declared that work would be suspended at the CA Manila Station from June 29 to June 30. “In view of the traffic advisory in the City of Manila in relation to the Presidential inauguration… and in consultation with the Honorable Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines… work is hereby suspended in the Manila Station,” it said. Authorities had started closing several roads as early as Sunday evening. Also on Monday, Marcos’s image consultant said the President-elect’s sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta, was holding a contest among designers to choose the best design for a barong tagalog for the incoming President. The contest also included the barongs that will be worn by his three sons, said Jay Herrera, Marcos’s official image consultant.

Joel Villanueva, Aquilino Pimentel III, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ralph Recto, and Franklin Drilon. Besides Guerrero, other BOC officials identified were Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Raniel Ramiro; Customs Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran of the Customs Revenue Collection Monitoring Group; Director Geofrey Tacio of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service; and lawyer Yasser Abbas of Customs Import and Assessment. Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan was also identified along with Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) Director George Culaste; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona; and Laarni Roxas of BPI Plant Quarantine Services Division Region 3. Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco was tagged as the “smuggling protector” of BFAR products, along with Tuburan, Cebu Mayor Jun Diamante, who was allegedly “playing” in the ports of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Subic. Others on the list included Gerry Teves, who was said to be the “number one smuggler” of meat products “playing in major ports” such as Subic, Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Manila, Batangas, and Cebu; Manuel Tan, who allegedly smuggles agri-fishery products and plays in

Duterte... From A1 “Our numbers indicate that President Rodrigo Duterte will leave office as the most popular president of the post-EDSA I era. No other president who served under the 1987 Constitution has ended his or her term with majority approval and trust ratings, much less a supermajority of public support,” PUBLiCUS Executive Director Aureli Sinsuat said in a statement. Meanwhile, 75 percent of respondents said the overall impact of the Duterte

will continue to provide services to the OFWs,” Olalia added. He assured that the services of the agencies will not be disrupted while they are in the transition period. Ople will replace Abdullah Mama-O as DMW head. Aside from POEA, the other agencies that will be part of the DMW are the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, National Maritime Polytechnic, and the International Labor Affairs Bureau -- all of which are currently under the Department of Labor and Employment -- and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA), currently under the Department of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, Olalia said more than 2,000 healthcare workers have been deployed abroad this year, which is still quite far from reaching the 7,500 yearly deployment cap.

De Leon also discouraged those who have health conditions from attending the event and advised them to just watch the oath-taking on TV. At the same time, the PNP designated three “freedom parks” where protesters can stage a rally without permits. De Leon identif ied these as Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, and Liwasang Bonifacio. “These are the areas where they could hold programs without a permit from the local government,” De Leon said. With the designation of the freedom parks, De Leon is hopeful that protesters will no longer assemble near the venue of the inauguration. Police will keep protesters from leaving the designated areas, De Leon said.

House... From A1

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Leni hands opposition reins to Hontiveros R House in New Manila, Quezon City. The senator was the only opposition candidate to win a national position in EELECTED Senator the elections last May 9. Risa Hontiveros is “You are now our leader,” Robredo told Hontiveros. now the new leader I learned about the result of of the opposition, according the“When election, I texted Senator Risa. I to outgoing Vice President told Senator Risa, ‘You are our leader.’ So please know that we are just at your Leni Robredo. back. We are behind (ready) to help you Hontiveros yesterday took her oath of when you need us,” she said. ofﬁce for her second term in the Senate Hontiveros was accompanied by her before Robredo at the VP’s Reception three daughters to her oath taking.

By Rio N. Araja

“I repeat, Senator Risa, you are now the highest elected ofﬁcial from the opposition, and that we are all happy for you to raise our ﬂag,” Robredo said. The senator vowed to continue her advocacies at the Senate, to help bolster economic growth and to restore healthcare services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hontiveros ran for reelection under the Akbayan party. “We will help spur economic growth and restore healthcare services disrupted by the pandemic. As promised,

we will facilitate an increase of budgets for agencies integral to our recovery initiatives. Our advocacy continues for healthy life and livelihood,” she said. The two-term senator also said would resist false information and ﬁght for constitutionally guaranteed freedoms such as freedoms of expression, assembly, and the press. “We will ﬁght back harder, against rumors, lies, propaganda, and fake news. Let me make this even clearer. This is a stern warning to all the du-

Lacson hopes new senators will scrutinize nat’l budget

IN BRIEF Guevarra hopes he inspired DOJ workers OUTGOING Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday expressed hopes that he was able to inspire employees and officials of the Department of Justice to uphold the law and promote human rights. During a flag-raising ceremony, Guevarra stressed that during his four years and two months stint at the Department of Justice, he hoped to have achieved two things. “In my opinion, collectively all of us have elevated the trust and respect of the people in the DOJ; and second, I and my team have hopefully inspired you to think beyond yourselves and to aspire to fulfill our institutional duty to uphold the law and promote human rights at all times,” Guevarra said. During his term as DOJ chief, Guevarra led the drug panel review that probed the anti-drug police operations that resulted in deaths, which others have branded as extra-judicial killings. The DOJ earlier said at least 150 policemen are already being investigated for their involvement in 52 anti-illegal drug operations where deaths occurred. There are 250 cases that would be forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for further investigation and case buildup. Rey E. Requejo

Troops discover Abu Sayyaf lair in Basilan ZAMBOANGA CITY—Troops tracking down Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits have discovered a lair of the Daesh-inspired elements in the hinterlands of Basilan province, a top military official said Monday. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, said the ASG hideout was found Sunday and cons isted of three houses with foxholes each that can accommodate 10 persons at one time. Troops chanced upon the hideout barely a day after an intense firefight in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Saturday. The encounter resulted in the wounding of six ASG men and a soldier. “The troops did not find any firearms or war matériel inside the lair,” Gobway said in a statement Monday. Saturday’s firefight broke out around 8:30 a.m. after government troops received reports about the bandits’ presence in Barangay Baguindan.

MMDA eyes more men for Timog flyover repair THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is sending more men to supervise and manage traffic in the areas affected by the closure of EDSA’s southbound lane of Timog Flyover in Quezon City. The total closure of the bridge, which commenced last Saturday, is implemented to give way to its one-month repair. “Around 100 additional enforcers have been deployed to better manage traffic along Edsa. We will be assisted by the Police - Highway Patrol Group (HPG) as well as the local government unit of Quezon City at the inner roads,” said MMDA chair Romando Artes. He added his agency is also considering adjusting the traffic lights, “if necessary.” Artes made the statement on Monday after he and HPG officials, as well as representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), inspected the traffic situation in the area. The repairs, spanning 30 meters, include the reconstruction of the damaged bridge diaphragm and the construction of a new bridge deck slab for the flyover. Joel E. Zurbano

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ANTI-G7 PROTEST. Members of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) demand debt cancellation amid the economic, health, and climate crises faced by Asians in a protest near the German Embassy in Makati on Monday—timed with the ongoing G7 Summit hosted by Germany. Jimmy A. Domingo

Marcos taps QC village chief as DILG usec By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has designated the barangay captain of Holy Spirit, Quezon City to serve as undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Press Secretary-designate Trixie CruzAngeles revealed that Barangay Captain Felicito “Chito” Valmocina has been picked to serve as DILG undersecretary. Quoting incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Angeles described Valmocina’s “lengthy experience as a village leader.” While Valmocina’s exact office was not identified, Rodriguez gave a hint, saying the former and incoming Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos “would ensure that all barangay officials nationwide will undergo capacity-building training.” Valmocina, who leads one of QC’s largest villages with a population of over 110,000, acknowledged his appointment in a Facebook post on Monday. “Once again I thank our President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for the trust he gave me.

You can count on me to give all I can to serve our country with dignity and principles for the betterment of every barangay in the Philippines,” the barangay leader said on his Facebook account. Meanwhile, Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) president Arsenio Evangelista issued a statement in support of Executive Secretary-designate Rodriguez, who prematurely drew criticisms from certain social media personalities even as he has yet to formally assume the much-coveted post in Malacañang. “Being the so-called Little President doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be diminutive or small. On the contrary, being an alter-ego of the Chief Executive makes you larger than life,” Evangelista said. “Atty. Victor D. Rodriguez stood by President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and his family during their most trying times of the campaign. He has been described by the Marcos camp as ‘tireless and disciplined,” he added. “Rodriguez stood by BBM no matter the odds. That is loyalty of the highest or-

der, so much unlike fair-weather friends who would abandon you at the ﬁrst sign of danger,” Evangelista noted. As the Executive Secretary of the next President, Rodriquez would implement and guarantee that the administration’s platform of governance is carried out effectively. “Expectedly, some interest groups will lobby for positions and appointments in the new administration. However, the ultimate responsibility on governance rests on the broad shoulders of President BBM, as represented by his Executive Secretary,” Evangelista stressed. “Touted as the second coming of Rafael Salas, due to his vaunted work ethic and integrity, Rodriguez has to navigate the murky waters of various interest groups and politicians as he assists his boss in recruiting honest men and women to government service.” “It is a tightrope act”, said Evangelista, “but knowing Rodriguez as an honest, respectable, and straight man, he will not make compromises—competence is not enough, integrity will be just as important, and will probably be given heavier consideration.”

SEN. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson hopes senators in the 19th Congress will continue his crusade of tenaciously scrutinizing the national budget and keeping it free from dubious congressional insertions or “pork barrel” and useless appropriations. “I hope somebody will take the cudgels and continue the fight because while the Supreme Court has ruled pork barrel as unconstitutional, there are so many ways to go around it,” Lacson, who ends his Senate term on June 30, said Monday. The two-time presidential candidate added that some members of his staff, who have joined other senators’ offices, can be a great help in scrutinizing the budget for dubious insertions. Lacson, who earned a reputation as an eagle-eyed watchman of the budget, pointed out the country cannot afford to have “pork” in the budget, which is the country’s lifeblood. During his 18 years as a senator from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022, Lacson saved the Filipino people at least P300 billion with his scrutiny of the national budget by flagging several irregular and inappropriate entries. Also, he ensured that his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations amounting to P200 million a year from 2001 to 2013 would be returned to the National Treasury. This was before the Supreme Court outlawed the PDAF in late 2013. Lacson advised the new senators in the 19th Congress to be diligent in researching the country’s laws and to be humble in learning the ropes of legislation. “Humility is a virtue. If you are a new senator, be humble, be modest and try to learn the art of legislation,” he said. Meanwhile, Lacson said he is willing to share with the new administration his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE), which provides for the downloading of funds to local government units so they can implement their development projects.

Ping starting ‘next chapter’ with agri-aqua food venture

FAMILY AFFAIR. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman (right) administers the oathtaking of his daughter, reelected Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro (center) on Monday at the Casa Vel’amore. The mayor will serve her third straight and last term until 2025. Norman Cruz

Villar, women leaders mark 75th year of PH-France ties SENATOR Cynthia Villar, French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz, and Senator Samantha Cazebone of the Parliament of France recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP). The women leaders led the unveiling of a sculpture named “Intertwined” to symbolize the inauguration of the Philippines-France Friendship Day. Villar stressed she was happy the events were held at LPPWP, which was declared as “Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.” It is also a wetland protected

bious characters in the fake news universe. This time, we will not let your reckless disregard for truth slander our democracy—our country—ever again,” said Hontiveros. Before Hontiveros was sworn in, Robredo also administered the oath of ofﬁce of re-elected Iloilo Board Member Jason Gonzales, who has been a supporter of the initiatives of the Ofﬁce of the Vice President. Robredo, who steps down on June 30, is set to lead a non-government organization, the Angat Buhay Foundation.

area under the 2018 E-NIPAS Law. “It gives me an opportunity to once again thank the French community here in the Philippines, particularly the ‘Together Ensemble Foundation’ which partnered with us last year to further maintain and preserve this wetland, which as most of you know is listed in the Ramsar Convention as Wetland of International Importance, “ said Villar. “So, truly, this is a joyous day. The relations between France and the Philippines have always been strong. I believe, the French joie de vivre (enjoyment of life) and the Filipinos’ hospitable nature have

a lot to do with our ﬂourishing relations over the centuries,” said Villar. Ambassador Baccoz said: “This is all the most valid as France and the Philippines share the importance they attach to protecting the environment and biodiversity.” The diplomatic ties between the Philippines and France were established on June 26, 1947, after the signing of a Treaty of Amity in Paris by then Philippine Vice President Elpidio Quirino, who was also foreign affairs secretary, and then French foreign minister= Georges Bidault. Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is hoping to start the next chapter of his life story by contributing to food security through a new endeavor. Lacson revealed that he and some friends, including former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, have organized an agri-aqua business venture. “I’m just looking at a closed chapter in my life story. I’m now turning a new page with a new chapter. This is my third career. My first career was in law enforcement, then I became a legislator,” Lacson said Sunday evening to reporters. He said they are seeking to boost Philippine agriculture by planting protein-rich sorghum crops while engaging in smallscale feed mills, hatcheries, and fish cage farming in Mindanao and Luzon. The two-time presidential candidate,

who lost in the May 9 elections and in 2004, hopes this can contribute to making the Philippines “food-sufﬁcient” while providing local farmers with additional income outside the traditional rice planting season. On June 19, Lacson, Pinol, and their business partners spent Father’s Day in Pangasinan to inspect and conduct soil analysis on the site. According to Lacson, these efforts “will help protect our farmers from the effects of unnecessary importation of agricultural products while making sure Filipinos have enough to eat.” In hearings of the Senate Committee of the Whole on agricultural smuggling, Lacson, along with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, took the cudgels for farmers hit hard by the unabated importation of agricultural products. Macon Ramos-Araneta

NEW EQUIPMENT.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco (left) and Rep. John Rey Tiangco (second from left) join visitors from the Department of Health, Navotas City Hospital Director Dr. Christia Padolina, and other NCH staff in the inauguration of a new CT Scan machine to mark the 15th anniversary of its cityhood and the 7th anniversary of the hospital. Andrew Rabulan

Mandatory ROTC gaining traction among solons

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

News

ICE President and incoming Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio’s call to reinstate the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is gaining more support from lawmakers and education officials. Incoming Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde said Monday the proposal is interesting but must be thoroughly reviewed to ensure the best for the learners. On Sunday, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vowed to refile the bill seeking mandatory ROTC which he filed during the 18th Congress. Dela Rosa said he was “willing to author a bill” in line with the vice president’s proposal. The ROTC bill was one of the top 10 priority bills of Dela Rosa in the last Congress. Under Dela Rosa’s proposal, the mandatory ROTC program will be introduced in Grades 11 and 12 in both public and private schools. Earlier, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he supports Duterte’s goal as the program will “provide students with additional skills for disaster and calamities response, and even in accidents.” Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III said last week he was “generally supportive” of having ROTC at the university level.

However, he said they would have to wait for lawmakers to officially come up with a statement on their version. Duterte said she is hopeful that mandatory ROTC will be part of the legislative agenda of the incoming administration, under President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. She, meanwhile, has secured her first in-person transition meeting with Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, who also agreed to be the next admin’s “consultant” for education. The DepEd said both parties have agreed to move urgently for the budget and guidelines for the reinstatement proposal. CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera meanwhile said he also wants to see a proposed legislation. De Vera, in a report said he is opting to wait for the new administration to begin their official duties before sharing plans of the CHED. With Macon RamosAraneta

Heavy traffic flow is now causing heavy traffic on the southbound of Quezon Blvd, Quiapo, Manila due to the streets closed starting today for the preparation of the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Thursday, June 30. Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

TIMOG FLYOVER INSPECTION. MMDA chair Romando S. Artes inspect the traffic situation at EDSA near Scout Borromeo near Timog Flyover southbound lane that was closed for month-long repairs.

AFP ‘expands’ veep security to include more logistics THE Vice Presidential Security Detail (VPSD) has been “expanded” to have more access to personnel, equipment, and other logistics, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. In a statement, the AFP said the current VPSD has been converted into the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) as approved by the Department of National Defense (DND), GMA News reported. “It is now a separate unit of the AFP with more personnel, is better equipped, and is more capable of providing security in multiple engagements of the Vice President nation-

wide,” the AFP said. VPSPG was activated on June 24, days before Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, will start her six-year term. The VPSD was under the Special Detail Unit (SDU) of the General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command (GHQ and HSC), which also takes care of the management of Camp Aguinaldo, the GMA News report said. “While the VPSD has been performing its mandate of protecting the second-highest elected official of the country, it has some limitations in

Tulfo says he will not support govt aid to middle class families INCOMING senator Raffy Tulfo will not support calls for the government to provide aid to the middle class amid rising fuel prices of oil and other basic commodities. “For the middle class, I think we should study it first. But for those below middle class, the poor, yes,” Tulfo, in an ABS-CBN News report said. He said in the report that the middle class “can still handle the impact of the inflation since their salaries are higher than those in the underprivileged sector.” “They can still afford to buy their needs. They receive at least above minimum wage. So let’’s help those earning minimum wages or lower,” Tulfo said. Tulfo said Filipinos receiving the minimum wage and below number now around 8 million, citing data he received, ABS-CBN reported. Tulfo, the incoming chair of the Senate committee on labor said this is the sector that needs help from government the most. He added that many workers are still being deprived of the required minimum wage and benefits despite existing laws. Tulfo also said he would prioritize talks on the problems of power outages in the country as these directly affect consumers. “As chai of the Energy Committee, we will prioritize the issues that will directly affect the poor such as system loss, the increase in power rates, and the power outages in the country,” Tulfo said, quoted by GMA News.

SPECIAL PERMITS.

Boy Vargas and Libay De Luna of the jeepney transport groups ALTODAP and ACTO show a petition copy filed at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to allow for the resumption of ordinary routes for jeepneys. Manny Palmero

terms of personnel, equipment, and other logistical requirements,” the AFP said, adding that “During official engagements of the Vice President especially in the countryside, units on the ground are normally being tapped to augment the VPSD.” The conversion of VPSD into a separate unit VPSPG “was recommended to prevent the disruption of AFP units performing their tasks in Internal Security Operations,” the AFP said. The military said the expansion underwent a thorough deliberation long before the start of the May 9, 2022 election period.

SC not condoning bigotry against LGBTQIA+ groups By Rey E. Requejo

RADIO INTERVIEW. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep.Martin Romualdez (left) with eldest son Andrew Romualdez (right)

answer questions from Favorite Music Radio (FMR) station manager Michael Aput during a live interview at FMR station 98.3 the newest news and entertainment station in Mambajao, Camiguin. Ver Noveno

‘NTC violated due process for blocking several websites’ THE country’s telecommunications regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), has violated the people’s right to due process for ordering the blocking of websites allegedly linked to “communist-terrorists,” former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Atty. Domingo Cayosa said. Cayosa said the NTC violated its own 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure when it ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block over 20 sites upon request by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., GMA News reported. “If someone requests or complains about a website as Secretary Esperon did,

what the NTC should have done was inform those listed there and give them a chance to respond or oppose the request. That needs to be backed with evidence, and be thought out and reviewed by the NTC as a collegial body. Only after that could they release a decision or an order. But what happened was that within two days from the letter request, NTC suddenly ordered the websites to be blocked immediately,” Cayosa, in the report, said. Cayosa also said that “only one out of the three NTC commissioners signed the order as opposed to Rule 12, Section 1 of NTC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure that “all orders, resolutions, and/or deci-

sions shall be signed by the majority of all the Commissioners.” Reports said the sites blocked by the NTC were those of progressive groups such as Save Our Schools Network, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Pamalakaya Pilipinas, and BAYAN. Other blocked websites included independent news organizations Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) earlier denounced the act, stressing that only seven out of the over 20 NTCblocked websites are affiliated with them and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Lawmaker seeks support for Muslims attending pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia By Maricel V. Cruz A SENIOR member of the House of Representatives on Monday sought a better system for Muslims who are on the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said he would call for a legislative review of the system in the wake of reports of the alleged failure of the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to secure travel visas for many Hajj pilgrims who are now stranded in Metro Manila. “One of the most important life experiences of Muslims is the Hajj. For

those who are fortunate enough to go on pilgrimage at least once in their lives. Reports that many of them fail to go due to the mistakes or omissions of a few is disheartening,” Hataman, who represents Basilan, said. He cited the need for the review to assess the process of coordination being done with the NCMF on Hajj. “The Congress should know why these incidents happen. Funds for this purpose has been provided to the NCMF. Why do these problems keep popping up? We should hold accountable all those responsible for this mess,” Hataman, also the former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said.

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Monday said the Supreme Court (SC) would never condone intolerance and bigotry as the Pride Month nears its end. During the “Judiciary Walks with Pride” event at the SC grounds, Gesmundo stressed that the Philippine Constitution guarantees that no individual shall be deprived of liberty and denied the protection of the law. “The Constitution is a covenant that any person is assured of due process and equal protection, without distinction, without discrimination. I believe that these constitutional provisions arise from the basic premise that we are all human beings, each entitled to respect and a life lived with dignity,” Gesmundo said, in a statement. “The Court will never condone intolerance and bigotry,” the top magistrate added.. Associate Justice Henri Inting expressed hopes the event would be the “first of many” to allow more excellent dialogue between the Judiciary and the LGBTQIA+ community. Gesmundo also led the signing of the “wall of pride,” where participants could write their support for the community.

DoF, DTI urged to study alternative work schemes for BPO companies in PH By Maricel V. Cruz ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said he is looking forward to working with several government agencies to ensure that business process outsourcing (BPO) companies can conduct alternative forms of working arrangements, such as workfrom-home while remaining competitive through tax incentives. Salceda mentioned the Department of Finance and the Department of Trade and Industry, which are the chair and co-chair of the government’s Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) Salceda said he hopes to work with the incoming Secretary of Finance, Benjamin Diokno, and Secretary of Trade and Industry, Alfredo Pascual, to ensure that the work-from-home arrangement and other flexible work arrangements are kept. “Both Secretary Diokno and Secretary Pascual are keen on digitalization of the economy. And a natural consequence of digitalization is working remotely. We should not kill a development that is good for Filipino families, who have now reclaimed part of their time together thanks to flexible work arrangements.”

Opinion The political will of Marcos IF THERE is something that can be seen in the take-over “for now” of President-elect Bongbong Marcos of the Department of Agriculture, it’s his political will to meet the challenge of a looming food security problem. Santa Banana, sure enough as leader, BBM is determined to take full responsibility for the success or failure of the looming food security problem. The young Marcos knows full well that the food crisis affects every Filipino, rich and poor alike. At least with BBM now in charge of the department, everybody in the DA will realize that they must be alert and do their best to keep up with the expectations of the incoming President. The upside of BBM taking over the Department of Agriculture is that its budget will surely be increased, and that a full reorganization is expected.

blue mackerel scad, also a staple food of the poor, my gulay, is even now imported, as are many dairy products. BBM certainly knows the problem and he is willing to take the full responsibility and accountability for making Filipinos confident on food security. I said, at the risk of being repetitious, we can either sink or swim with him. At least we now have a President who has enough political will to confront the problems headlong. *** With the start of the rainy season, it could do well for Bongbong Marcos to realize that agriculture gets a beating with the devastation of crops, together with the livelihood of people. There’s a pending bill in the Senate (SB 250) to create the Department of Disaster Resilience, with the department’s focus on mitigating calamities and disasters. The creation of the DDR was enacted by the House of Representatives, but remains pending in the Senate. The incoming President must realize the critical and urgent need for a permanent agency like the Department of Disaster Resilience to focus itself in preserving whatever gains the country has had on agriculture. While we have the NDRRMC or the National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council, now devolved into regional, provincial and local government, it’s only an ad hoc body which activates only after a calamity or disaster. What we need is a present body with its budget to handle the three Rs (rescue, relief and rehabilitation) as a permanent body to focus itself on saving lives, protect infrastructure and agriculture which are almost always devastated when floods come and those adversely affected won’t have to depend on the private sector and foreign aid. I believe this DDR becomes more crucial now that the incoming President has seen fit to take over the Department of Agriculture and to see to it that the gains we had on agriculture, considering the looming threat of a food crisis, will not be lost to floods, which threaten the country every year. I also hope that the Senate will realize the need for the DDR after BBM made food security as the anchor of his administration. For these reasons I cannot overstress the need for the DDR to not only save the country billions of pesos worth of infrastructure and agriculture, but more to save lives. Full version on www.manilastandard.

If there’s one thing that the incoming President will prove to all and sundry is that he is willing to take the full responsibility for meeting the challenge affecting the country The downside is that he will have to reorganize the department to function as he would like it. And that cannot take overnight. At least, at the start, smuggling of food products will now stop and everybody in the department will be on everybody’s toes. If there’s one thing BBM will prove to all and sundry it is that he is willing to take the full responsibility for meeting the challenge affecting the country. At least for now, we can expect things to move more swiftly in the department which was a real mess for lack of attention. No doubt the problems confronting BBM insofar as food security is concerned are tremendous, to say the least. As with other prices of food, the main staple of the Filipinos -- rice -- is also going up, hitting as high as P40 to P50 a kilo. Just how high will the price of a ganta of rice escalate? And will a kilo of rice ever go bank to P20? That will be a big problem of the young Marcos. Another problem is that fish is now being imported. The lowly “galunggong” or the

Thaksin’s daughter takes Shinawatra brand to new Thai generation By Sophie Deviller SHE has half a million followers on Instagram, leads a glamorous lifestyle and describes herself as the “little girl” of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra—one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern Thai history. The 35-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest of billionaire tycoon Thaksin’s three children, is now launching herself into the country’s deeply divided political scene ahead of a national election due by March 2023. The move brings the Shinawatras’ influence to a new generation and sets the stage for the latest round in the ultra-rich clan’s 20-year tussle with the kingdom’s royalistmilitary elites. For now, Paetongtarn has a low-key role with the main opposition Pheu Thai party but she is widely tipped to be named its candidate for prime minister when an election is called. The 72-year-old Thaksin, ousted as PM in a military coup in 2006, pops up regularly in Paetongtarn’s social media posts hugging her baby or posing with his daughter over a bowl of noodles. Paetongtarn says she draws strength from her father’s “unwavering support” and insists she will always be his “little girl.” It is a sentiment that endears her to the legion of supporters, many of them poor and rural, who swept Thaksin to election victories in 2001 and 2005. “We need you. We miss your father,” a well-wisher told her during campaigning for Bangkok local elections last month. But it will also raise the hackles of the powerful royalist and military elites who despise Thaksin and have long suspected him of manipulating the opposition to their political dominance from abroad. Parties linked to the tycoon have won the most seats at every Thai election since 2001,

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net

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EDITORIAL

Good going to CHED commissioner

ORE than a week back, Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Ronald Adamat formally received the Mahatma MK Gandhi Peace Prize for Non-Violent Peace 2021.

represented the Indigenous People’s sector in the 10th Congress, thanked the Mahatmi Gandhi Foundation for “finally recognizing my advocacy on peace which I have been doing untiringly and (with) undying commitment for decades.”

Not much flourish was given, nor column inches in print journalism—for whatever reason or lack of it. But the award makes him the country’s 1st Gandhi Peace Prize awardee which put him on the same stage as past awardees like Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, former US President Jimmy Carter, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev. We join those who congratulated Adamat, like incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, and lawmakers led by Senator Sherwin Gatchailian. Adamat is thus far the only Filipino to have obtained such distinction, which verily put this Southeast Asian archipelago in the map of those who have produced few great men and women given the same global recognition. Adamat, a Teduray from Upi, Maguindanao and a former congressman who

Good quote going for Dr. Ronald Adamat when he said ‘Investing in education and peace is investing in the future’ Adamat also quoted Gandhi, in a statement attributed to the latter supposedly made in 1913, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. “ The notion of being the change we want to see in the world does three powerful things when we adopt it: It stops us from judging others; It replaces complaining about others with reflection on self; and It stirs us into taking action within the only

thing in the world over which we have any control: ourselves. Good quote going for him when he said “Investing in education and peace is investing in the future.” In the nearly six years Adamat has been with CHEd, he was able to introduce reforms in higher education and helped address the problems and issues confronting the private higher education sector regarding their recognition and program accreditation. For the record, he was the one who initiated and authored the integration of the Peace Studies and Indigenous Peoples Studies into the tertiary education curricula. At present Adamat should be looked up to and encouraged as he continues his work for the establishment of the National Agriculture and Food Security Academy aimed at training and encouraging the country’s agriculture and food security practitioners and experts to become scientists. These experts are seen as those who will use their knowledge in putting the country back in the global map of agriculture and food havens like what President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986) did when he was at the helm of government. Well timed, as the country is on the track of a looming global food crisis.

Big and Little Presidents THE executive branch is headed by the President who is the single most powerful public official of the country, either elected or appointed. He is vested with so broad a power that his or her competence, character and integrity may have far reaching implications on the fate of the nation and consequences on so many people. It is a myth that we followed the model of the American Presidency, where the US President is constrained by Congress and the Supreme Court. Instead, our presidency is patterned after the office of the Spanish and American governors general, who had total authority to suppress the local people to allow the plunder of resources for the colonial masters. Independence did not change that and the imperial presidency was established and institutionalized. Given the importance of the position, the Constitution requires of him bare minimum formal requirements to qualify. Hence, he must be a natural born citizen, able to read and write at least 40 years of age and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding the election. The President of the Philippines is elected by direct vote by the people for a term of six years. Under Article VII, Section 4: The President shall not be eligible for any re-election. The President serves as commander-inchief of the Armed Forces with calling out powers, to declare martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Again, because of abuses associated with the Marcos dictatorship experience (September 21, 1972-January 17, 1981 in the time of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. [December 30, 1965-February 25, 1986]), declaration of martial law requires the President to report to Congress, such declaration is likewise subject to judicial review. When the President calls the Armed Forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion, he necessarily exercises a discretionary power solely vested in his wisdom. Because of the martial law experience during Marcos’ presidency, this does not

only to find themselves toppled by coups or court rulings preceded by massive street protests. Thaksin, the former Manchester City owner who built a telecoms empire with a fortune estimated by Forbes at nearly $1.9 billion, now lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid corruption charges he says are politically motivated. His sister Yingluck was elected PM in 2011, but was herself deposed by General Prayut Chan-O-Cha in a 2014 coup. Proud daughter Despite her current placeholder role with Pheu Thai’s inclusion and innovation committee, Paetongtarn makes no secret of her ambitions. “We can transform Thailand from a country that is riddled with debt, filled with misery, with no future in sight, into a country filled with opportunity and hope for us and future generations,” she told AFP at a party conference last month. Prayut--who became PM in a controversial election in 2019--is viewed as a poor economic manager and increasingly unpopular, particularly among the young, thousands of whom took to the streets in 2020 to demand democratic change. In a further sign of his weakening grip, the candidate Prayut backed for Bangkok Paetongtarn says governor was thrashed in last month’s election, won resoundingly by a former Pheu she draws strength Thai minister. from her father’s This was a first taste of campaigning for Paetongtarn, who manages the hotel branch ‘unwavering support’ of her family’s real estate company. and insists she will Thaksin’s five years in power saw an economic upturn and a boost for the rural poor, always be his ‘little but critics say the period was marked by girl’ graft, nepotism and authoritarianism. Paetongtarn insists Thailand improved under his rule, and says that like her father, she feeds off adversity. “Thanks to him, not only am I not afraid “How could I not be proud of my dad after of criticism, but I see it as an opportunity for all he has done for our country?” she says. improvement.”

ManilaStandard

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

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

give the President the untrammeled power to abuse his discretion for the courts may rule on whether or not this is exercised in a manner constituting grave abuse of discretion. The President’s official duties include appointing executive, diplomatic, regulatory and judicial officers and forming international treaties. The President can grant pardons and reprieves and veto congressional bills. Under certain circumstances, the President can convene and adjourn the Congress.

The President serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces with calling out powers, to declare martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus Aside from this, he likewise has the authority to grant pardon, reprieve, or commute a convict’s sentence. He can issue presidential issuances from ordinances and proclamations, executive orders, memorandum circulars. Aside from what are explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the influence of the President reaches far beyond what is provided by law. Thus, he wields influence on Congress, has the authority to build alliances to ensure that his pet bills get to his desk for signing into law. His legislative agenda greatly influences and determines the direction of Congress. Because of the country’s weak political system, a popular President gives him such influence, over Congress. Whoever is the President dictates the flow. Everyone wants to be under the good grace of the President, even those from the opposing side of the political fence. In the exercise of his duties, the president is assisted by the cabinet in Major obstacles Given Prayut’s unpopularity, and the lack of a charismatic alternative in the army-linked Palang Pracharat Party, Pheu Thai believe they can win the election. Paul Chambers, of the Center of ASEAN Community Studies at Naresuan University in Thailand, said the party was hoping to capitalize on the “perfect storm” facing the current government. Victory for Paetongtarn might also mean a way back to Thailand for the 72-year-old Thaksin. Last year he vowed to return to the kingdom “through the front door”. But despite the power of the Shinawatra brand, Pheu Thai and Paetongtarn face for-

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

accordance with the doctrine of qualified political agency whereby department secretaries are alter egos or assistants of the President and their acts are presumed to be those of the latter unless disapproved or reprobated by him. One functionary which is not so visible is the executive secretary. In political circles he is often referred to as the “Little President.” Among the Cabinet, the executive secretary is the first among equals. He sets the agenda for the president and keeps his paperwork in order. He signs many documents for and on behalf of the President. The incoming is Atty Vic Rodriguez, who, if anything, has proven his competence and loyalty during the successful election campaign of Bongbong Marcos. The executive branch extends beyond the national government. He is mandated to supervise local governments all over the country. However, with Republic Act 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, local governments enjoy relative autonomy from the national government. The LGUs also are given a share of the revenue known as Internal Revenue Allotment. While the president has much to do with the IRA, the Supreme Court in the Mandanas 2018 ruling defined the basis for its computation, i.e. what is to be included or excluded. In this sense, our mayors and governors can also be accurately described as themselves little presidents. This Thursday, on June 30, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution, Ferdinand Marcos Jr takes his oath as our 17th President, a line that begins with General Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and following Rodrigo Duterte, the first president from Mindanao and the father of the incoming Vice-President. Marcos will be the third child of a President who has succeeded to his parent’s position, following Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965) and Noynoy Aquino (Corazon Aquino, 1986-1992). It looks like Marcos will not be the last of his kind. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook page: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs midable hurdles to winning power. To become prime minister a candidate must win a majority in the 500-seat lower house and the 250-seat senate. But under the constitution drafted by the junta in 2017, the senate is full of handpicked military loyalists. A similar scenario unfolded in the 2019 election—Pheu Thai won most seats in the lower house but the military-controlled senate allowed Prayut to form a coalition. “Whatever happens following the next election, the pro-military parties will do all they can to take office and try to legitimize why Pheu Thai should not form a coalition,” Chambers says. AFP

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

World

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Zelensky to press G7 for more E help; war rages in east Ukraine

LMAU CASTLE, Germany—President Volodymyr Zelensky will urge world powers to step up their support for Ukraine when he addresses the G7 summit on Monday, as Kyiv reels from the first Russian strikes on the capital in weeks.

IN BRIEF Stampede at Pride parade after ‘shots’

NEW YORK—A stampede occurred at a Pride parade in the US city of New York on Sunday, with hundreds of people attempting to flee after mistaking the sound of fireworks for gunfire, police said. “There were NO shots fired in Washington Square Park. After an investigation, it was determined that the sound was fireworks set off at the location,” the NYPD said in a tweet shortly after the incident. Police told AFP “there were no serious injuries” from the stampede. Terrified people ran or walked briskly along a street adjacent to the square after the scare, videos on social media showed. Tens of thousands of people attended Sunday’s LGBTQIA+ Pride parade, which wound its way through the streets of lower Manhattan under the blazing sun. The atmosphere was largely festive, although the shadow of Friday’s US Supreme Court decision to abolish a constitutional right to abortion -- leaving states to legislate on the matter themselves -loomed over proceedings. New York’s Pride parade is the second-largest in the United States, after San Francisco, and Sunday’s gathering was the first time it had taken place since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Organizers said the US Supreme Court decision on abortion was “devastating.” “This dangerous decision puts millions in harm’s way, gives government control over our individual freedom to choose, and sets a disturbing precedent that puts many other constitutional rights and freedoms in jeopardy,” organizers said. AFP

‘Ukraine war could boost illegal drugs’

VIENNA—The war in Ukraine could allow illegal drug production to flourish, while the opium market’s future hinges on the fate of crisis-wracked Afghanistan, the United Nations warned Monday. Previous experience from the Middle East and Southeast Asia suggests conflict zones can act as a “magnet” for making synthetic drugs, which can be manufactured anywhere, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its annual report. “This effect may be greater when the conflict area is near large consumer markets.” The UNODC said the number of dismantled amphetamine laboratories in Ukraine rose from 17 in 2019 to 79 in 2020, the highest number of seized laboratories reported in any country in 2020. Ukraine’s capacity to produce synthetic drugs could grow as the war continues, it added. “You don’t have police going around and stopping laboratories” in conflict zones, UNODC expert Angela Me told AFP. The report also noted that conflict could shift and disrupt drug trafficking routes, with suggestions that trafficking in Ukraine has fallen since early 2022. The situation in Afghanistan— which produced 86 percent of the world’s opium in 2021—will shape the development of the opiate market, the UN report added. It said the country’s humanitarian crisis could incentivize illegal opium poppy cultivation, even after the Taliban authorities banned the practice in April. “Changes in opium production in Afghanistan will have implications for opiate markets in virtually all regions of the world,” the UN said. AFP

QUENCHING THE FIRE.

An activist with a water gun takes part in an anti-NATO demonstration in downtown Madrid on June 26. NATO leaders convene in Madrid on June 28-30. AFP

Rival camps dig in for fight after US abortion ruling WASHINGTON—Elected leaders across the US political divide rallied Sunday for a long fight ahead on abortion—state by state and in Congress—with total bans in force or expected soon in half of the country. Two days after the US Supreme Court scrapped half-century constitutional protections for the procedure, abortion rights defenders kept up their mobilization, with several hundred gathered outside the high court during a candlelight vigil in Washington Sunday. Dozens of arrests and some instances of vandalism were reported during a weekend of mostly peaceful protests that turned disorderly in places—as the country grapples with a new level of division: between states where abortion is or will soon be illegal, and those that still allow it.

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Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PRESENTACION A. CUSTODIO, who died on October 23, 1989 in Lucena City, Quezon Province and left the following real property pursuant with the: a) Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-12952: b) Tax Declaration No. 02-02007-00028-R; Property Index No. 073-02-007-01-034, located at Casiguran, Aurora has been extrajudicially settled among heirs MANUEL C. LABESTE and LUNINGNING C. LABESTE with waiver of rights , as per Doc. No. 429, Page No. 86, Book No. VII, Series of 2022 before Notary Public Atty. Ryan C. Cortez of Quezon City. (MS-June 21, 28 & July 5, 2022)

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE – LATE NEYSITO B. DOMINGUEZ Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late NEYSITO B. DOMINGUEZ has been extrajudicially settled by among his heirs as per EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER executed on November 11, 2021 and entered as per Doc. No. 55, Page No. 12, Book No. XCIV, Series of 2021 of notarial registry of Atty. Israel Comia Soguilon, a notary public for the City of Quezon.

(MS-JUNE 14/21/28, 2022)

Noem also voiced support for legislation banning “telemedicine abortions” in which a doctor prescribes pills to end a pregnancy—set to become a key resource in many places where abortion is illegal. Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas likewise argued that “forcing someone to carry a child to term” in order to save an unborn baby was an “appropriate” use of government power. States should now focus on helping mothers and newborns by expanding services including adoption, he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” But the Republican also opposed calls to go further with a federal abortion ban —an ultimate goal of many on the religious right—or restrictions on contraception, which he said is “not going to be touched” in Arkansas. AFP

4 dead, lots hurt in Colombia as stands collapse in bullring BOGOTA—At least four people were killed and more than 300 injured on Sunday when the grandstand at a bullring in Colombia collapsed during a popular event at which members of the public face off with small bulls, officials said. “There are four people dead at the moment—two women, a man, and a child,” the governor of Tolima department, Jose Ricardo Orozco, told local radio after the incident in the central city of El Espinal. A full three-story section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground, according to images broadcast on social media. Another video taken by someone at the scene showed people trying to escape from the stands while a bull continues to roam in the arena. Hospitals in the region reported having treated about 322 injured people, four of whom are in intensive care, Tolima Health Secretary Martha Palacios said.

Ailing oceans in spotlight at major UN meet to restore faltering global waters Manila NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT and WAIVER

Conservative-led US state legislatures have moved swiftly, with at least eight imposing immediate bans on abortion— many with exceptions only if a woman’s life is in danger—and a similar number to follow suit within weeks. In a first glimpse of the legal battles ahead, the nation’s largest abortion provider Planned Parenthood filed suit in Utah seeking to block the state’s ban. And Democratic governors in Michigan and Wisconsin have stepped in to try to keep abortion legal in their Midwestern states. Defending the ban now in effect in South Dakota, which makes no exception for victims of rape or incest, Republican Governor Kristi Noem called the Supreme Court’s ruling “wonderful news in the defense of life.” Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,”

US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, meeting in the Bavarian Alps, have stressed their unity in the face of Russia’s aggression —even as the global fallout worsens. Zelensky is set to join the leaders of the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada via video link at 10:00 am (0800 GMT). In his daily address late Sunday, Zelensky renewed his calls for more weapons and air defense systems to be delivered to Ukraine and for fresh sanctions against Russia by G7 nations. “We need a powerful air defense -- modern, fully effective. Which can ensure complete protection against these missiles. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers,” he said. “Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again.” Zelensky’s appeal came after Russia struck a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine said, leaving one person dead and wounding four others including a seven-year-old girl. Biden condemned the strikes, the first on the Ukrainian capital in almost three weeks, as “barbarism”. German Chancellor and G7 host Olaf Scholz said the attack showed again “that it is right to stand together and support Ukrainians”. Russia denied it had hit a civilian target, however, saying its forces had struck the Artyom weapons factory in the neighborhood. The G7 summit, held at the picturesque Elmau Castle, runs until Tuesday. It will be followed by a meeting of NATO countries in Spain, which Zelensky is also expected to dial into. Last week, the European Union showed its support by granting Kyiv candidate status. AFP

LISBON—A long-delayed UN conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicks off in Lisbon Monday, with thousands of policymakers, experts, and advocates on the case. Humanity needs healthy oceans. They generate 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe and provide essential protein and nutrients to billions of people every day. Covering more than two-thirds of Earth’s surface, the seven seas have also softened the impact of climate change on life on land. But at a terrible cost. Absorbing around a quarter of CO2 pollution—even as emissions increased by half over the last 60 years—has turned seawater acidic, threatening aquatic food chains and the ocean’s capacity to pull down carbon. And soaking up more than 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming has spawned massive marine heatwaves that are killing off precious coral reefs and expanding dead zones bereft of oxygen. “We have only begun to understand the extent to which climate change is going to wreak havoc on ocean health,” said Charlotte de Fontaubert, the World Bank’s global lead for the blue economy. Making things worse is an unending torrent of pollution, including a garbage truck’s worth of plastic every minute, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). On current trends, yearly plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes by 2060, according to a recent OECD report. AFP

Local civil defense official Luis Fernando Velez said they did not know how many people were still buried in the debris but noted that the section of stands was full when it collapsed. The event was part of celebrations surrounding the San Pedro festival, the most popular in the region. “We will request an investigation of the facts about what happened,” Colombia’s outgoing President Ivan Duque said on Twitter, expressing his solidarity with the families of those killed and hurt. Orozco said the departmental government would move to ban the so-called “corralejas” in which residents try their luck in the ring, saying they were dangerous and promoted animal abuse. On Saturday, several people were injured in accidents at the corralejas in El Espinal, which is home to about 78,000 people and is located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the capital Bogota. AFP

GRANDSTAND COLLAPSE. An aerial view of the collapsed grandstand in a bullring in the Colombian municipality of El Espinal, southwest of Bogotá, on June 26, where at least four people were killed and another 30 seriously injured. AFP

Ecuador to cut fuel prices that sparked demonstrations QUITO—President Guillermo Lasso announced Sunday that Ecuador will cut fuel prices, which had sparked weeks of demonstrations, though not by as much as protesters have demanded. “I have decided to reduce the price of gasoline by 10 cents per gallon and diesel also by 10 cents per gallon,” he said in a television and radio address. The powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), which since June 13 has been blocking roads and occupying oil wells in different parts of the country, had demanded a reduction in prices by an additional 30 cents and 35 cents, respectively. Earlier on Sunday, the country’s energy ministry warned that oil production had reached a “critical” level and could be halted entirely within 48 hours if the protests and roadblocks continued. The protests, which are also against rising living costs, have crippled transportation in Ecuador, with roadblocks set up in 19 of the oil-rich country’s 24 provinces.

of 2022. Impeachment debate CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Late on Sunday, the country’s parliament suspended seven hours of debate over whether to impeach Lasso, with proceedings set to resume on Tuesday. At least 20 members of parliament are still due to speak. The president’s impeachment would require 92 of the 137 posEcuador President Guillermo Lasso sible votes in the National Assembly, where the opposition holds a fragmented majority. MPs will have “Oil production is at a critical level,” a maximum of 72 hours to vote followthe ministry said in a statement. “If this situation continues, the coun- ing the end of the debate. An estimated 14,000 protesters have try’s oil production will be suspended in less than 48 hours as vandalism, the taken part in the nationwide demonseizure of oil wells and road closures strations, most of them in Quito. Shortages are already being reported have prevented the transport of equipment and diesel needed to keep opera- in the capital, where prices have soared. Violence between police and demtions going.” “Today, the figures show a decrease onstrators has reportedly left five dead, of more than 50 percent” in production, while about 500 people have been inwhich was at roughly 520,000 barrels jured. Earlier in the day, Production Minisper day before the protests, it said. Ecuador’s economy is highly depen- ter Julio Jose Prado said that public-prident on oil revenues, with 65 percent of vate economic losses from the protests output exported in the first four months totaled $500 million. AFP

Business PSEi June 27, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 LSC 2 PXP 3 PBC

LAST PRICE CHANGE 0.74 0.19 4.85 0.65 18.46 2.46

% CHANGE 34.55% 15.48% 15.38%

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0.228 7.22 51.4 100 5.87 5.94 0.54

14.00% 11.08% 11.02% 10.50% 8.70% 8.20% 8.00%

RLT IPO RRHI PTC PAL WEB ION

0.028 0.72 5.1 9.5 0.47 0.45 0.04

TOP LOSERS 1 LMG 2 FAF 3 FEU

LAST PRICE CHANGE 3 -0.6 0.6 -0.07 530.5 -59.5

% CHANGE -16.67% -10.45% -10.08%

4 5 6 7

OPM PHR BRN ALHI

0.01 0.77 0.75 6.58

-0.001 -0.06 -0.05 -0.42

-9.09% -7.23% -6.25% -6.00%

8 9

TCB2D MARC

51 1.39

-3 -0.08

-5.56% -5.44%

VITA

0.55

-0.03

-5.17%

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market advances; SPNEC, URC lead gainers

TOCKS rose Monday, the first day of “floorless” trading in the Philippines, following a strong performance on Wall Street as speculation that inflation may have peaked tempered expectations about central bank interest rate hikes.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 21 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 6,238.82. The broader all-share index also picked up 14 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 3.352.47 on a value turnover of P5.24 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 98 to 84, while 54 issues were unchanged. Seven of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. which climbed 7.1 percent to P1.65 and Universal Robina Corp. which advanced 6.5 percent to P101.50. Monday marked the start of PSE’s fully-digital trading operations after closing its trading floor at PSE Tower in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Meanwhile, Asian and European markets rallied on Monday, building on last week’s advances. With prices surging at a pace not seen in a generation, finance chiefs have been forced to lift borrowing costs and wind back their ul-

tra-loose monetary policies in recent months, sending a chill across trading floors. But a string of weak data has led many investors to believe that inflation may have plateaued or is about to, giving room for banks to be less hawkish. The prospect that rates will not go as high as initially expected helped send Wall Street stocks higher Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ending up more than three percent. And Asia continued last week’s rally. Hong Kong led gainers, climbing more than two percent thanks to a strong performance in Chinese tech firms. Indications that China’s crackdown on the sector could be coming to an end added to the upbeat mood in the city. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Mumbai and Wellington were also well up. London, Paris and Frankfurt were all up in early trade. “Market conviction that perhaps the Fed won’t now hike rates as aggressively as previously feared and/or that rate cuts before the end of 2023 are now an even more realistic prospect if recession-like conditions lay ahead, have had a big hand in last week’s improvement in risk sentiment,” said National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill. He added that the rally had helped pare about two-thirds of the losses suffered in a painful sell-off from June 9 to 16. With AFP

VOLUME

VALUE (PHP)

1 2

ALI CNVRG

19,054,600 22,102,500

523,570,965 430,439,132

3 4 5

UBP ICT BPI

5,259,910 1,529,950 3,093,250

384,020,767 287,679,021 264,692,489

AEV

4,705,290

240,337,346

7 8 9

URC BDO SPNEC

2,312,730 231,165,148 1,692,900 200,273,276 101,359,000 165,468,740

185,480

TODAY

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING Dear Stockholders, Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Malolos Doctors, Inc. (“ACE Malolos Doctors”) will be held on July 18, 2022 (Monday) at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, hybrid, via face to face at the 10th Floor, ACE Malolos Doctors Multi-Purpose Hall, Capitol View Park, Barangay Bulihan, Malolos, Bulacan, and via Zoom. For those who will be attending via Zoom, please register on or before July 16, 2022 5pm, through the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 87647661170?pwd=8baVko1eQ4WVPySJUxvU8q5YrmDDH_.1 The link will provide you the process for the registration. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered in the online platform, including the details and procedures for the conduct of the meeting. Voting will be done via the online tool which you can access once you have logged in to the meeting; voting in the election of directors may also be done in absentia through the above link. The Agenda: I. Call to Order II. Invocation III. Determination of Quorum IV. Welcome Message from the Chairman of the Board V. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Y2021 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting VI. Audited Financial Report for Y2021 VII. President’s Report VIII. Ratification of the Acts and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Officers, and Management of the Corporation IX. Election of the Board of Directors 2022-2023 X. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2022 XI. Other Matters XII. Adjournment Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 28, 2022, Tuesday, shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. If you cannot personally attend the meeting, you may opt to send your proxy to attend in your behalf. Kindly submit your proxy form with the undersigned, via email, at ace.malolos.doctors@gmail.com not later than 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2022, but preferably, before July 16, 2022, to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar. Attached is a sample proxy form for your reference. [NOTE: Management is not soliciting proxies.]

MOST ACTIVE

Manila

Standard

The meeting shall be recorded (visual and audio) for future reference. Manila

The Information Statement and Management Report and SEC Form

17-A are available at the Corporation’s website www.acemalolosdoctors.org. Standard

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You may contact the undersigned via email at ace.malolos.doctors@ gmail.com or call 044-8167698 if you have inquiries/concerns regarding the meeting. Very truly yours

ARLENE NG LIM-VITUG, MD Corporate Secretary (MS-JUNE 27 & 28, 2022)

148,284,745

Central bank chiefs meet to discuss inflation SINTRA, Portugal—Central bank chiefs and economists will gather Monday evening at their annual forum in southern Portugal to discuss the best approach to the inflationary challenges exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some 200 delegates will attend the ECB Forum on Central Banking at a luxury hotel in Sintra, west of Lisbon, after two years of Covidimposed virtual gatherings. When ECB President Christine Lagarde last attended this event, it was in her previous role as director general of the International Monetary Fund back in 2014. Also attending will be Jerome Powell, head of the US Federal Reserve, and Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England. They will be joined by Agustin Carstens, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements and all four are set to discuss the issues at a seminar on Wednesday, the last day of the forum. In its annual report released on Sunday, the BIS warned that central banks must not let inflation become entrenched, with the threat of stagflation looming over the global economy. “The key for central banks is to act quickly and decisively before inflation becomes entrenched,” said Carstens in the report. Tuesday morning’s speech by Lagarde will be closely followed by the markets. The European Central Bank is preparing to raise its interest rates in July—for the first time in 11 years—in response to rising inflation. That has increased concern about the risk of a debt crisis in the eurozone, with a growing difference in the interest rates being required in the northern and southern European states for borrowing and financing their deficits. The ECB has recently had to work to reassure investors on this issue, and any fresh details of what it plans to do will be closely followed. AFP

G7 LEADERS. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and spouses Britta Ernst and Brigitte Macron walk after a welcoming ceremony at Elmau Castle, southern Germany on June 26 prior to the start of the G7 Summit. Germany hosts the 48th G7 Summit from June 26 to June 28. AFP

Elmau Castle: Fairytale venue with dark past for G7 summit in southern Germany ELMAU CASTLE, Germany—G7 leaders convened Sunday in a quintessentially German venue handpicked by former chancellor Angela Merkel and recycled by her successor Olaf Scholz—a luxury hotel with a fairy-tale setting and a tumultuous past. Elmau Castle, nestled in the Bavarian Alps, is a five-star resort that has been transformed into a fortress for the three-day meeting of the club of rich nations. The opening day served up radiant sunshine bathing the region’s spectacular verdant peaks in golden light. US President Joe Biden pronounced the setting “just beautiful”. But storm clouds were gathering on the horizon—a fitting backdrop for the meeting with the Ukraine war, global food shortages and the health of the world’s democracies and the planet on the agenda. “This club for conversation began as the G6 with six countries (in the 1970s) to discuss how to deal with the oil crisis at that time,” Scholz said on the eve of the event. “Now it’s important that we talk about today’s situation and ensure that we stop man-made climate change.” At the last summit here in 2015, US president Barack Obama agreed to a village walkabout with

Merkel among the feather-capped farmers and dirndl-clad women who make Bavaria famous, complete with a stop for a soft pretzel and a tall glass of beer. The current chancellor, nicknamed Scholzomat for his often robotic style, was sticking to a tighter schedule given the crisis-packed program. Arson, derailment G7 presidents typically choose picture-postcard spots when planning their annual summit, ideally in a remote location that is easier for police to seal off than an urban center. Elmau Castle is no exception. The sumptuous accommodation comes complete with 115 rooms and suites, swimming pools and spas. To maintain security, high-level guests were being whisked by helicopter to the castle, while a ring of steel kept around 800 anti-G7 protesters at bay in the ski resort town of GarmischPartenkirchen, 15 kilometers (nine miles) down the road. Some 18,000 police officers have been mobilized from across Germany, some housed for days in mountain huts near the venue. Local media put the price tag of the gathering at some 177 million euros ($187 million). AFP

PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION 7th Floor, The Columbia Tower Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City Tel. Nos. 8724-44-41 to 53 Fax No. 8705-52-09 TO THE STOCKHOLDERS: Notice is hereby given that the annual stockholders’ meeting of PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION (the “Corporation’’), will be conducted virtually and livestreamed through the link which can be accessed at the Corporation’s website at https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/2022-asm/ on Thursday, 28 July 2022 at 2:00 P.M. for the purpose of taking up the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Certification of Notice of Meeting & Quorum and Call to Order Approval of Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 15 July 2021 a. Chairman’s Message b. President’s Report Approval of 2021 Audited Financial Statements contained in the Corporation’s 2021 Annual Report and in the Information Statement accompanying this Notice and Agenda Ratification of Actions Taken by the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Board Committees and Management since the last annual stockholders’ meeting Election of the Board of Directors including the Independent Directors for 2022 Appointment of External Auditor Other Matters Adjournment

For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of June 22, 2022 are entitled to vote in the said meeting. In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting will be streamed live and stockholders may attend and participate via remote communication by registering on or before 5:00 PM on July 22, 2022 using the registration form found in the https://www.7-eleven.com. ph/2022-asm/. Stockholders may send in questions or remarks to asmpsc@7-eleven.com.ph. To cast your votes as a stockholder, you may vote through remote communication or in absentia, or through a proxy. Voting by remote communication or in absentia shall be done by completing the online voting form or submitting a scanned copy of the downloadable voting form found in https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/2022-asm/. The requirements and procedure for registration and voting are set forth in Annex “D” of the Information Statement and shall be published in the Company’s website at www.7-eleven.com.ph. Pursuant to SEC Notice dated February 16, 2022 a copy of the Notice and Agenda of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Information Statement (SEC Form 20-IS), Proxy Form, Management Report/ Annual Report (SEC Form 17-A) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Sustainability Report, and 1st Quarterly Report with Management’s Discussion and Analysis and unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2022 (SEC Form 17-Q) will be posted on the Company’s website at www.7-eleven.com.ph on or before July 07, 2022. The Information Statement (SEC Form 20-IS), Annual Report (SEC Form 17-A) and 1st Quarterly Report (SEC Form 17-Q) are available at PSE Edge. The Corporation will provide, without charge, a printed copy of SEC Form 17-A and SEC Form 17-Q, upon the written request of a stockholder addressed to the Corporate Secretary. We are not soliciting your proxy. However, you may attend by submitting a duly-accomplished proxy form which must be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, 7th Floor, The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City on or before July 19, 2022. Soft copies of the proxies can be emailed in advance to asm-psc@7-eleven.com.ph. The proxies shall be validated on July 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM at 14th Floor, BDO Towers Valero, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. (signed) ATTY. EVELYN S. ENRIQUEZ Corporate Secretary

The venue of the G7 Summit, Elmau Castle, is pictured on June 26, 2022. AFP

(MS-JUNE 27 & 28, 2022)

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

Foodpanda PH changes name to Delivery Hero By Othel V. Campos ONLINE quick-commerce platform foodpanda Philippines announced Monday the change in its legal corporate name to Delivery Hero Philippines Inc., reflecting the company’s role as part of the Delivery Hero Group, while continuing to use the “foodpanda” brand name. “With the change in our corporate name, we are proudly representing our parent company in Berlin and regional headquarters in Singapore, while continuing to proudly fly the foodpanda flag along with our colleagues across Asia,” said foodpanda Philippines managing director Daniel Marogy in a statement. Berlin-based online food delivery giant Delivery Hero acquired foodpanda in 2016, shortly before the former went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and a few years before the whole global online food delivery sector went into hypergrowth due to increased demand during the pandemic. Delivery Hero in 2019 acquired a $4-billion majority stake in South Korea-based Woowa, which operates the country’s largest online food delivery service, and in the process creating a Singapore-based joint venture that will oversee all Delivery Hero’s operations in Asia, including foodpanda. “The formation of Delivery Hero Asia is an exciting one as it opens the door for many synergies and collaborations between Woowa and other foodpanda markets, not to mention the dynamic relationship we already have with Berlin,” Marogy said. He said the company already notified its partners that all invoicing, relevant marketing materials and other related legal and commercial documents were rebranded following February 2022, when the corporate name change to Delivery Hero Philippines Inc. became official.

Business Metro Pacific announces acquisition of Carmen’s Best By Jenniffer B. Austria

NFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is diversifying into agribusiness sector with the acquisition of a controlling stake in premium ice cream maker Carmen’s Best Group from the Magsaysay family.

Under the strategic partnership, Metro Pacific will acquire a 51-percent stake in The Laguna Creamery Inc., which will buy the assets and operations of the Carmen’s Best Group for P198 million. The Magsaysay family will retain the 49-percent ownership. Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the initial investment is a

part of the group’s plan to diversify its investment portfolio to include the agriculture sector. “The agricultural sector presents a wide range of possibilities that can help us achieve several goals—to strengthen the food supply chain and augment the accessibility of resources for all Filipinos as well as provide more opportunities for growth in an otherwise underserved business,” Pangilinan said. “Ultimately, the country should aim for substantial independence in food. And we must feed our people first,” Pangilinan said. Pangilinan said the company is on the lookout for more investment opportunities in the agriculture sector via joint ventures or greenfield development. Carmen’s Best Group chief executive Francisco Magsaysay said the partnership would enable to group to further develop and expand the operations of its

dairy farm and manufacturing facilities. Carmen’s Best, named after Francisco’s daughter, started in 2007 when former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Francisco’s father, together with his friends, bought a farm in Bay, Laguna to offer fresh milk. The family registered Carmen’s Best Dairy Products in October 2009 and offered ice cream products a year later. “This union makes us appreciative that MPIC sees the value of what we already built, while also elevating Carmen’s Best to a level beyond what we envisioned,” Francisco Magsaysay said. Aside from premium artisanal ice cream brand, Carmen’s Best Ice Cream, the group also produces yogurt and artisanal cheeses under the Carmen’s Best Natural Cheese and Holly’s brands. MPIC has investments in power generation, toll roads, hospitality sector, real estate and water utility services.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, June 27, 2022

21.26 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

6,238.82

682,606,280 63,577 5,240,157,315.65 98

DECLINES UNCHANGED

84 54

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

54.8390

Japan

Yen

0.007398

0.4057

Pound

1.227000

67.2875

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127402

6.9866

Switzerland

Franc

1.043515

57.2253

Canada

Dollar

0.775675

42.5372

Singapore

Dollar

0.721293

39.5550

Australia

Dollar

0.693800

38.0473

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

145.4615

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266475

14.6132

Brunei

Dollar

0.718701

39.4128

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028181

1.5454

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

14.9327

Euro

1.055500

57.8826

Korea

Won

0.000776

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.149481

8.1974

India

Rupee

0.012783

0.7010

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227273

12.4634

New Zealand

Dollar

0.631500

34.6308

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033664

1.8461 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Peso rises to end eight-day slump

THE peso briefly breached the 55-perdollar level on Monday, but closed stronger to snap an eight-day depreciation since the US Federal Reserve raised the interest rate on June 16. The peso touched 55.15 against the dollar, before settling at 54.78 at the close, stronger than the 54.985 level on Friday, but still the weakest in more than 16 years. Total volume turnover reached $1.179 billion Monday, down from $1.401 billion on Friday. “The peso exchange rate strengthened [after depreciating for eight straight days], considered a healthy correction, by 0.205 or 0.4 percent to close at 54.78 [after the peso reached as low as 55.15 earlier in the day], as global oil prices recently lingered among 1-month lows and the 10-year US Treasury yield lingered among two-week lows,” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told Manila Standard in an email. The peso retreated last week since the aggressive 0.75-basis point hike in the policy rate by the Fed, the biggest adjustment since 1994. Economists earlier said this would lead to a stronger US dollar against global currencies. Julito G. Rada

Next tourism chief seeks LGU participation

INCOMING Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco underscored the importance of national and local government cooperation to stimulate the growth and recovery of the sector and the whole of economy. Frasco, speaking during her welcome ceremonies Monday organized the Department of Tourism staff, said the inAMLC MEETING. The Anti-Money Laundering Council, composed of (from left) Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa, Bangko clusivity of all local government units to Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Emilio Aquino, holds its last the overall tourism plan would help uplift monthly meeting prior to Diokno’s exit from the BSP. Diokno is set to assume his new post as secretary of Finance on July 1. Under the economic status of all municipalities, the chairmanship of Diokno, the AMLC initiated much-needed reforms especially those covering the country’s compliance with cities and provinces and the nation as a international standards. The longest member of the AMLC is Funa who has been with the council since the time of BSP Governor whole. Amando Tetangco and Gov. Nestor Espenilla. “It is this inclusive, sustainable, innovative and collaborative tourism governance that I intend to bring to the Department of Tourism,” she said. “From our experience CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACKin Cebu, there is a theoretical notion of the importance of national and local government coophawkish stance in our view,” Fitch SoluIt said supply-side problems and ris- the interest rates on the overnight deposit eration. There is the mandated importions said in a report. ing commodity prices led to elevated and lending facilities were also raised to tance by the local government code re“The Monetary Board has highlight- inflation. “We are raising our average 2.0 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. quiring prior coordination between the national and the local government,” she ed that it is prepared to take necessary 2022 inflation forecast for the PhilipDiokno said that in deciding to raise said. policy action to bring inflation towards pines from 4.5 percent to 5.0 percent, the policy interest rate, the Monetary Frasco is bringing with her the pera target-consistent path over the medium which is in line with the BSP revised Board noted that upside risks continued spective of valuing the input of local govterm and deliver on its primary mandate forecast,” it said. to dominate the inflation outlook up to ernment units in the crafting of national of price stability, and that upside risk The Monetary Board of the BSP on 2023, with pressures emanating from policy, “considering that the policies that continue to dominate the inflation out- Thursday raised for the second time this the potential impact of higher global are crafted nationally will be implemented by the local government units on the look up to 2023,” it said. year the benchmark policy interest rate non-oil prices, the continued shortage in ground.” Othel V. Campos Fitch Solutions said the ongoing ro- by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent to rein domestic fish supply and pending peti-

Fitch Solutions sees BSP raising borrowing rate to 3.25% by end-2022 Manila

Standard By Julito G. Rada TODAY

FITCH Solutions, a unit of Fitch Group, said Monday it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise the overnight borrowing rate to 3.25 percent by end2022, up from its previous forecast of 2.75 percent amid accelerating inflation that may average 5 percent this year. “This comes after the BSP raised its policy rate by an additional 25 bps [basis points] to 2.50 percent at its monetary policy meeting on June 23. Over the coming months, mounting inflationary pressure and rising global interest rates will prompt the BSP to adopt a more

bust economic recovery as shown in the first-quarter gross domestic product growth of 8.3 percent would give the BSP more room to tighten its monetary policy stance.

in the rising inflation rate. Outgoing BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, in his last policy meeting before taking the helm of the Department of Finance in the Marcos administration, said

tions for transport fare hikes. The board raised the average inflation forecast this year to 5 percent from 4.6 percent. It said inflation may average 4.2 percent in 2023.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO:

ALL STOCKHOLDERS

Notice is hereby given that CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION (formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation) (the “Corporation”) will conduct its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting virtually via Zoom (https://us02web. zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 868 3809 1736) on July 20, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., at which meeting the following matters shall be taken up: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Call to Order; Certification of Existence of Quorum; Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on July 14, 2021; Report of the Chairman; Approval of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021; Election of Directors; Appointment of External Auditors Ratification of All Actions taken by the Board and Management; Other Matters; and Adjournment.

The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the said meeting is fixed at the close of business hours on June 20, 2022. To ensure the health and well-being of our stockholders during this COVID-19 pandemic, stockholders may only attend the meeting by remote communication and/or vote in absentia or through the Chairman of the meeting as proxy. Stockholders who wish to participate by remote communication or vote in absentia or by proxy should notify the Corporate Secretary by email to cic.secretary@romulo.com from June 29, 2022 to July 8, 2022. Successful registrants will receive an electronic invitation via email with a complete guide on how to join the meeting. For any registration concerns, please get in touch with the Corporation through cic.secretary@romulo. com. All stockholders who wish to vote through a proxy or in absentia shall submit the duly signed proxies or ballots, as the case may be, to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 21st Floor, Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City and/or by email to cic.secretary@romulo.com not later than July 8, 2022. The proxies and ballots submitted shall be validated on July 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. We are not soliciting proxies. The Information Statement which contains a brief explanation of each item on the agenda and procedures for attending the meeting via remote communication and for casting votes in absentia, Management Report, and Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2021 in SEC Form 17-A are posted on the Corporation’s website at https://cic.ph/investor-relations/#annual-stockholders and PSE EDGE. The meeting shall be recorded in audio and video format and copies thereof shall be retained by the Corporation.

(SGD) JAYSON L. FERNANDEZ Corporate Secretary (MS-JUNE 28 & 29, 2022)

PCPPI’S AWARDS. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc.—the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country—wins in the Golden Globe Tiger Awards held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for its exemplary human resource management. Receiving the Golden Tiger awards are PCPPI chief human resources and corporate affairs and communications officer Maria Vivian Cheong (second from left) and PCPPI organization development and talent strategy of HR department Mary Raymund Camahalan (third from left).

Transpacific proposes micro-satellite project

TRANSPACIFIC Broadband Group Int’l Inc. said Monday it plans to submit a proposal to the government to build a microsatellite project. The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it is developing a five-year program for a private public partnership with the government in a micro-satellite project that may reduce government cost of satellite connectivity by 50 percent. TGBI said the Micro-SAT technology could provide 10 gigabits of Ka or Ku bands that could easily connect 10,000 sites with speeds of 50 mbps per site. “With the PPP project, the Philippine government can own, control and operate its own satellite for both civilian and military purposes, digitally transforming the rural community with various applications of government service, while Transpacific can distribute Internet bandwidths to private entities,” the company said. TGBI also said its board approved a P100-million investment to jumpstart the Philippine market Internet of Things solutions for various industries. Darwin G. Amojelar

ERC affirms NGCP’s compliance with ownership rules By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines complied with the dispersal of ownership requirement under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9511, which grants the company a franchise to operate the country’s transmission network. Synergy Grid & Development Phils. Inc. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received the Ener-

gy Regulatory Commission order on NGCP’s listing compliance on June 24, but dated May 26. The ERC said in the order that the acquisition by SGP of 40.20 percent of the outstanding capital stock of NGCP satisfied Section 8 of RA 9511. SGP is a company listed in the PSE which met the minimum public ownership requirement under the rules of the Securities and Exchange

Commission and the PSE when it conducted a follow-on public offering to disperse at least 20 percent of its capital stock to the public in November 2021. “When SGP acquired indirect ownership of 40.20 percent of the outstanding capital stock of NGCP, the ERC declared NGCP compliant with the requirement under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 9511,” SGP said.

Sports

EASL member leagues arrive for inaugural drawing of lots REPRESENTATIVES of the five leagues seeing action in the 202223 East Asia Super League will be in attendance for the inaugural draw of lots Tuesday at the ShangriLa Fort Manila. The PBA Board, led by chairman Ricky Vargas, along with commissioner Willie Marcial join their counterparts from the Japan B League, Korean Basketball League, PLeague+, and the Bay Area Dragons of Greater China in the first major activity of the regional league set for an early October launch. Seoul SK Knights and Anyang KGC earn the rights to represent the KBL in the EASL, the B. League will have Utsonomiya Brex and Ryukyu Golden Kings, the Dragons will carry the fight for Greater China, while still to be determined are teams from the PBA and the PLeague+. The champion team and runner up in the ongoing Philippine Cup are going to represent the PBA in the home-and-away tournament, while it’s either the Taipei Fubon Braves and Hsinchu JKO Lioneers for the PLeague+, whose best-ofseven title series is ongoing. The process of the draw will have each domestic league to be given the right to choose the side during the coin flip, and the winner being placed in Group A and the other in Group B. The PBA and PLeague+ will be given their respective designations during the draw. Prior to the draw, the EASL is going to hold its first ever Advisory Board meeting, with Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua representing the PBA. The EASL format will have the eight teams being divided into two groups of four, and will play homeand-away games within its group or a total of six matches per team. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semis, and the two surviving clubs fighting for the championship and the $1 million prize money at stake.

Gilas under-16 sweeps group stage, enters FIBA semis THE Gilas Pilipinas girls posted a three-game sweep of their Group A assignments, capped by a 94-65 mauling of Samoa, on Sunday in Division B action of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Under-16 Asian Championship at Prince Hamza Sports Hall in Amman, Jordan. “The team is keeping it together and we have celebrated the wins. But we still have to focus and stay focused when we need to,” said Kristen Yumul, one of the team’s leaders, in a Zoom huddle with scribes on Monday. Yumul, a 5’7” recruit from Oxnard High School in California, finished with 22 points on five treys for Gilas, which assured itself of a semifinal slot in the tournament. Samoa is not out yet as it can still reach the semis if it gets past Kazakhstan during Tuesday’s semis qualification match. Gabby Ramos credits the coaching staff, led by Brian Rosario, for helping them get through the difficulties of their three matches. And she believes that it’s not over yet for them. “There’s still a road ahead. Still has work to be done. We are enjoying it. But we know it’s not done,” said Ramos, a Clovis Eastern High School standout who, like Yumul, has been called up for Gilas through the FilAm Nation Select. The Fil-Am Nation Select is a group of coaches in the United States, which gathers the best and brightest Fil-Am cagers and offers them opportunities to play and join in tournaments for the national team and with collegiate, club and professional squads in the Philippines. The players’ stint with Gilas was made possible through coach Chris Gopez, who provided a bridge for for the girls. Peter Atencio

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

CIGNAL PLAY BEST PLAYER. Japeth Aguilar is rediscovering his old, fiery form and Barangay Ginebra is quick to reap the fruits as it shares the top spot in the PBA Philippine Cup. With the 6’9” veteran finally recovered from a left calf injury, the Gin Kings notched two big wins last week for a 4-1 record and a share of the No. 1 spot with San Miguel Beer. Aguilar, shown here being fouled by a defender, imposed his will in Ginebra’s comeback win against NLEX (83-75), and then pulled off a gritty 75-72 triumph over the Beermen behind Aguilar’s double-double average of 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to clinch the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period June 22-26.

Cambodia may lift COVID-19 protocols at 32nd SEA Games By Peter Atencio

AMBODIAN authorities are expected to lift healthy and safety protocols for the coming 32nd Southeast Asian Games and Para Games 2023.

National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro said this as he joins the Philippine delegation that will take part of the SEA Games Federation Council meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia next month. The removal of COVID-19 restrictions will be among the topics that will be taken up when the Council meets from July 11 to 13 in Phnom Penh. Restrictions are now easing over the last two weeks as the Cambodian government began providing a fifth dose of vaccines to priority groups across the country. And so far, the Cambodian Minis-

try of Health on Wednesday reported no new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths. Floro will be part of the Philippine Olympic Committee delegation, headed by POC chief Abraham Tolentino, that is heading for Phnom Penh in the second week of July. So far, Cambodia is opening up to visitors because of the low cases. Cambodian authorities are upbeat of their hosting of the Games next year because of the reported success in controlling the pandemic and the effectiveness of the vaccines. The games, to be organized under the motto “Sport: Live in Peace”, are

set from May 5 to 17, 2023, while the Para Games are slated from June 1 to 10, 2023. About 10,000 people, including 7,000

athletes, coaches and technical sport officers, are expected to arrive, 40 sports disciplines calendared. Five cities and provinces are being readied as venues, including the capital city of Phnom Penh and the provinces of Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kep and Kampot, as satellite locations. Phnom Penh is seen as the main hub of the Games, with organizers making plans to hold many popular sports disciplines. Preparations are starting, with the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee already announcing the call for design concept for medal and mascots for the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2023 in Cambodia. The application acceptance will be opened from July 1 to 30 at the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.

Bohol course spruced up for Sun Life 5150 TRIATHLETES raring to make a comeback after a two-year hiatus, along with those wanting to immerse themselves into the multi-sport brace for a test of endurance and mental limits over a world-class course in the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon firing off July 10 in Bohol. Held under an Olympic-style setup, the event kicks off with the open-water 1.5 km-swim at 6:30 a.m. on the island’s white sand beach, going clockwise before heading back to the Bellevue Hotel beach. The 40-km rolling bike leg, which unwraps at the Doljo beach, features two loops and three turnarounds at the Dauis-Panglao road, making its first

turn at KM 11, then at KM 20 and back at KM 29 all the way to the finish line back at Doljo. The closing 10-KM flat run course, on the other hand, is a single loop challenge, also from the Doljo beach and back with run aids at KMs 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and KM 5 for the turnaround. For details, visit www.ironman. com/5150-bohol with social media accounts at Sun Life 5150 Bohol (facebook) and 5150bohol (Instagram). For the Sunrise Sprint, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint.com. Over 500 entries are all geared up for the event sponsored by Sun Life marking the return of the tri-sport to the mainstream after the pandemic

with at least 20 nations represented in various age-group categories to Bohol, an ideal triathlon hub for those looking for new challenges. They include bets from Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, South Africa, Vietnam, Singapore, France, India, Malaysia, Denmark, Hong Kong, the US, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Korea, Guatemala and Japan and host the Philippines. The local entries make up the bulk of the bidders, including those from top triathlon teams and clubs, in various age groupings, including the 15-19 age division, the 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 4044, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65-69 Organized by the IRONMAN

Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by venue host The Bellevue Resort, the event also features the men’s and women’s relay competitions and the Sunrise Sprint race. Other event’s supporters are the Province of Bohol, the Municipality of Panglao, Finis, the official swim cap partner, Rudy Project, Sante, Active, the official registration partner, and media partners Manila Bulletin, Crosstrain.PH, MBody. PH and Tempo with Amorita and Bluewater the other official hotels. Meanwhile, the swim cut-off is one hour based on the rolling start while the bike cut-off is 3 hours and 30 minutes. The run part will have a cut-off time of five hours and 30 minutes.

Aung La N Sang gives take on De Ridder-Bigdash clash FORMER two-division ONE World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang is predicting a close battle when reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion Reiner “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder defends his strap against Vitaly Bigdash. The two top-notch grapplers will duke it out in the main event of ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash on 22 July at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Aung La N Sang knows these guys all too well, having shared the Circle with De Ridder twice and Bigdash three times. For “The Burmese Python,” what makes the current two-division ONE World Champion in De Ridder dangerous is his ability to close the distance and utilize his jiu-jitsu. “[What makes him challenging is] his range, how long he is, and his grappling,” Aung La N Sang said. “When you fight taller opponents, you have to close the distance, but he wants to close the distance as well because he’s a better grappler than he is a striker. And so it’s interesting, he has interesting attributes.” The 37-year-old also had great things to say about Bigdash, noting the Russian’s striking and fight IQ, which gives him the impeccable ability to take advantage of his opponent’s mistakes.

Aung La N Sang

“Physically, he’s very strong. Skill set-wise he has good striking, but he has great wrestling and submissions as well. If you’re off a little bit, he will take advantage of you,” he said. “You know, if you’re not on point, if your defense is not on point, or something’s not on point, he will take

advantage of that. He’s very sharp in terms of MMA fight IQ. He has a very high fight IQ, and he’s always in tremendous shape.” Asked to give his take on who he thinks will win, the Sanford MMA star couldn’t make up his mind, saying that it depends on whose game plan will be more effective. Looking at the styles of both fighters and their respective abilities, it’s hard to disagree with Aung La N Sang. “This is a very, very close toss-up fight. To me, this is a coin toss. It’s a coin toss because if RDR is on point, and if he’s able to close the distance real quick, then I don’t think Bigdash will give him [an advantage],” he said. “If he’s on top, I don’t think Bigdash would be able to fight him off, because he will stick to [him] like glue, and vice-versa. If Bigdash is on top, I don’t see RDR sweeping him or submitting him from the bottom. “It really depends on who’s able to impose their game plan. But I give a striking edge to Bigdash, for sure, and the grappling edge to Reinier. So, it really depends on who’s able to better use the takedowns.” Catch all the ONE Championship action by downloading the ONE Super App.

Sports

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

Tsitsipas: Nadal must feel immortal after French win

ONDON—Stefanos Tsitsipas believes Rafael Nadal must feel “immortal” after winning the French Open and moving halfway to the ﬁrst men’s calendar Grand Slam in more than half a century.

The great Spaniard captured a 14th title at Roland Garros earlier this month to add to the Australian Open he secured in January. His win in Paris, which also extended his Grand Slam record to 22 titles, came despite him needing his injured left foot to be anaesthetised. “I have a lot of respect for what he did at the French Open, playing with that foot. It was a broken foot in a way. It kind of makes him feel like he’s immortal with the things he’s able to pull off,” said Tsitsipas. “The matches, the level of intensity he’s able to reach in times where it’s very uncomfortable, it would be uncomfortable for most players to compete under these conditions physically.” Nadal goes into Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, claiming he is painfree for the first time in a year and a half after undergoing treatment to cure nerve pain in his troublesome foot. Tsitsipas believes that Nadal, the champion at the All England in 2008 and 2010, has a psychological edge if rivals believe the Spanish star is often just one injury away from retirement. “We’re used to seeing Rafa not being able to play and win multiple Grand Slams or tournaments,” added the 23-year-old. “That’s where I think the opponents need to be more careful. When he says he can’t play and has foot problems, that’s where I feel he’s the most threatening in terms of his performance. “It’s actually reverse psychology in a way.” World number six Tsitsipas arrives at Wimbledon with a first grass-court title under his belt having triumphed in Mal-

Spain’s Rafael Nadal eyes the ball as he returns it during a training session during the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP

lorca on Saturday. Now he needs to translate that form to the All England Club where he has fallen at the first round three times in four visits. That included 2021 when he was knocked out in straight sets by Frances Tiafoe. “Last year was difficult for me. I didn’t play a single match before Wimbledon on grass. I was trying to play on grass like I did on clay, which was a huge mistake,” he admitted on Sunday. “Technique-wise, tactic-wise, it all fell apart. Looking back last year, I watched a few videos, highlights. You want to analyse as much as possible, get to see your weak points. None of it made sense.” Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic begins his bid to match Pete Sampras as a seventime Wimbledon champion on Monday with British Grand Slam title winners

Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu also on the Centre Court agenda. In the absence of the banned Daniil Medvedev and injured Alexander Zverev, 20-time major winner Djokovic takes top seeding. The 35-year-old defending champion starts his title bid against South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo, the world number 75. Djokovic has extra motivation this year as Wimbledon will be his last Slam of 2022. His continued refusal to get vaccinated means he will remain banned from entering the United States for the US Open later this summer. Also adding fuel to the Djokovic fire is the chance to win a fourth successive Wimbledon title and join a select group. In the Open era, only Bjorn Borg, Sampras and Roger Federer have managed to complete such a streak of dominance at

the All England Club. “As a seven, eight-year-old boy I’ve dreamt of winning Wimbledon and becoming number one,” said Djokovic. “Pete Sampras winning his first Wimbledon was the first tennis match I ever saw on the TV.” Murray, the Wimbledon champion in 2013 and 2016, is unseeded this year but remains a dangerous floater in the draw. He made the Stuttgart grass-court final earlier this month before an abdominal injury forced him out of Queen’s. “I think he’s one of the most dangerous players on grass still,” said Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. “I definitely think the way he can handle speed, return, compete, slice, volley, as long as his body is feeling well, I don’t want to see him on the grass at all.” AFP

Avalanche win Stanley Cup for 3rd NHL crown WASHINGTON—The Colorado Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup Final in 21 years on Sunday when Nathan MacKinnon scored one goal and set up another to spark a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay. The Avalanche captured the National Hockey League’s best-of-seven championship series four games to two for Colorado’s third NHL crown after 1996 and 2001. “It feels like disbelief,” MacKinnon said. “It’s hard to describe. To see all these warriors battle, it’s unbelievable. Words can’t describe what I feel right now.” With the emotional road triumph, the Avalanche denied the Lightning a third consecutive title and fourth overall. Colorado defenseman Cale Makar was named winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Makar, a 23-year-old Canadian, scored eight goals and added 21 assists in 19 playoff games. “All the work these guys have put in, it’s just so awesome to be part of them getting rewarded,” Makar said. “I’m just so proud of the boys.” He smiled as he looked at the Stanley Cup. “You see that thing as a kid, grow up with pictures of it on the wall,” Makar

said. “It’s surreal. It’s amazing.” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos opened the scoring 3:48 into the first period off an assist from Czech left wing Ondrej Palat. It was the Canadian center’s careerbest 11th goal of the playoff run. MacKinnon netted the equalizer 1:54 into the second period, an angled shot just inside the near post for his 13th goal of the playoffs. The Avalanche seized the lead by the final margin with 7:32 remaining in the second period on a goal from Finnish left wing Artturi Lehkonen, his eighth of the post-season, off a pass from Canadian center MacKinnon. The Lightning pulled goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy in the dying seconds for an extra attacker to try and score an equalizer, but could not stop the Avalanche from hoisting the Stanley Cup. Colorado players dropped their sticks to the ice and hurled their gloves into the air to begin their celebration after the final second ticked off the clock. In a trophy ceremony minutes later, Colorado players took turns lifting the trophy over their heads and passing it to teammates, many pausing to kiss the hardware as they skated around the ice. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog thought of those who helped nurture his

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

What if WHAT if peak Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls battle peak Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors? What if prime Shaquille O’Neal is playing basketball in the era of the small ball? What if they still allow the kind of fouls made in the era of the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys? What if there is a team comprised of players all 7 feet tall and with adequate, NBAlevel athleticism, speed, muscle mass, shooting accuracy, basketball IQ, and ball-handling finesse? Every great fiction starts with a “what if”. And people dabbling with the imag-

Darcy Kuemper of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after his team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. AFP

championship dreams as he skated with the Cup, his dream made real. “That’s 20-plus years of dreaming and wanting it and working for it,” the Swedish left wing said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of years and working for it. It’s incredible. I still can’t believe it.”

ined should be mindful not to stray. It is fiction. It is imagined. And if it involves the past, there is a 100% certainty it will never happen, ever. That’s why a “what if” is a great takeoff point for an interesting conversation – over beers, over boredom, over a quiet off-season. More than the fact that the possibilities are limited only by what you know and how wild you can imagine, there is no right or wrong answer. It is fun, until it is not, because there is always someone, who can ruin even something as low-stakes (zero-stakes even) as talking about what-ifs and ruin what should have been an exciting journey throughout the imagined multiverse. There is someone hell-bent on forcefeeding a truth in a world, where it does not exist, only imagined. It is one thing to excitedly banter about what-ifs, but it becomes truly annoying when someone takes it too seriously. No one wants a chest-thumping Alpha Male of Hypotheticals and said person’s unyielding opinion reeking with conceit. Things that will never happen are

immaterial and useless in our reality. The persistence in asserting a claim that will never be validated does not elevate your status as a “student of the game” it just makes you an insufferable person involved in a conversation that is not meant to distill a fact or truth. These imagined realities that exist in collective discussions are meant to excite the imagination, so that it is pleasant when we retreat there. I say it is harmless because it is a balm that heals our wounded hearts when we see our favorite teams or players fail. I always imagine how things could’ve turned out for the Chicago Bulls in the 2021-22 season if they’ve been healthy and injury-free; if Patrick Williams became less of a gentle forward and more of an aggressive young player with a chip on his shoulder with something to prove; if they’ve become more consistent in shooting from behind the arc; if Billy Donovan got a little more creative and made the offense more difficult for the defenders to predict. I always imagine the Chicago

‘It all adds up’ Landeskog smiled as he watched his teammates celebrate. “They just want to win so bad and do whatever it takes, and it all adds up and makes us a hard team to play against,” he said. AFP Bulls going deep into the Playoffs, upsetting every East favorite using their vaunted defense and open-court offense capitalizing on forced turnovers. I imagine all of these what-ifs and it makes me smile, despite how the season ended for the Windy City squad. I am not removed from reality. This is a coping mechanism that helps me remain hopeful. And it could be easily ruined by someone, who rejects what you can imagine. It can be easily ruined by someone, who does not know how the game of “what if” is played. It can be ruined by someone, who only accepts his or her own perspective on things; I can stand people open to arguing, what I can’t stand are those, who won’t even listen to others, convinced that he or she is the infallible authority on the matter who has the final say. So blessed is the sports fan, who can share a healthy what-if banter with friends, who are like Frodo when asked by Galadriel to look into the mirror: just plain curious.

8 ejected after Mariners, Angels stage MLB brawl LOS ANGELES—A Major League Baseball melee between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners delayed Sunday’s game and ended with the ejection of the manager and three players from each club. Tensions regarding inside pitches thrown over the past two days boiled over when Seattle batter Jesse Winker was struck on the right hip by a 91.1-mph fastball from Angels pitcher Andrew Wantz in the top of the second inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. Players cleared both benches and relief pitchers emptied the bullpens to join the ugly brawl in front of the Angels dugout down the thirdbase line. The first skirmish lasted more than six minutes; the next resumed on the field and play was halted for about 17 minutes in all. Issues swelled Saturday when Angels star Mike Trout dodged a 95-mph fastball from Seattle relief pitcher Erik Swanson, and then rose again Sunday when Wantz hurled a 92.9-mph fastball behind Seattle rookie Julio Rodriguez in the first inning, sparking warnings for both teams. After outfielder Winker was struck by the ball, he held up his left hand and exchanged words with Wantz, and then took a few steps toward first base before running to the Angels dugout. Home plate umpire John Bacon and third-base umpire Adrian Johnson tried to restrain Winker, who escaped them and ran to Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon. They threw their hands to each other’s faces as players from both teams raced onto the field to join the fray. The shoving and pushing saw multiple players dragged to the turf and once the fracas finally ended, players exchanged verbal taunts while the punishments were being determined. AFP

Coming PVL to be tackled at face-to-face PSA Forum THE upcoming Invitational Conference of the Premier Volleyball League will be tackled face-to-face in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Century Park Hotel. PVL president Ricky Palou and tournament director Tonyboy Liao are on hand in the 10:00 a.m. session to discuss the mid-season tournament set to start on July 9. Cignal TV Inc. VP Channels and Content Sienna Olaso and representatives of participating teams will likewise grace the weekly sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Unilever, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The Forum is being livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also shares it on its official Facebook page.

And if you ask me where my mind wanders every time I traverse this world of NBA what-ifs, I’d shamelessly quote the Lady of Lórien: “Even the wisest cannot tell, for the mirror shows many things...things that were... things that are... and some things that have not yet come to pass.” With a lot of moving parts set to affect how my Chicago Bulls will turn out this season, it is exciting to run all these whatif scenarios in my head and discover the different exciting possibilities if all the good things align perfectly. Somewhere, the Chicago Bulls will become 2022-23 champions. I just hope it happens in this universe where I, stuck in this long wait for the Bulls to finally make that longawaited return to the summit, live. Some people will easily dismiss me as foolish, so most of the time, I keep my multiverse scenarios to myself. It’s a longshot, sure. But to hope is not madness. The world is a very noisy place right now. Don’t let toxic people infringe on your God-given right to imagine.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

‘Elvis’ puts the King back in spotlight BAZ Luhrmann’s rock’n’roll biopic Elvis hip-swiveled to the top of the box office on its opening weekend in North America, taking in an estimated $30.5 million in a rare tie with Top Gun: Maverick, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. The nearly three-hour-long extravaganza by director Luhrmann, known for glitzy films like Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, brought in nearly double the average for the musical biography genre, said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. Despite being a “risky proposition,” in part for casting relative newcomer Austin Butler as Elvis Presley alongside Tom Hanks as his

A scene from Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ starring Austin Butler

exploitative manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the film has impressed audiences and critics, Gross said. Elvis was locked in a dead heat with Top Gun: Maverick – the crowd-pleasing sequel to the original 1986 film that once again features Tom Cruise as cocky Navy test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. It also earned an estimated $30.5 million in its fifth weekend of release. It is now the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide, breaking the $1 billion mark with nearly $522 million in ticket sales in North America and $484 million overseas. In third place was Jurassic World

Dominion, Universal’s sixth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, at $26.4 million. Fourth spot went to horror film The Black Phone starring Ethan Hawke as a serial killer, which earned $23.4 million on its opening weekend. Lightyear, Pixar and Disney’s latest computer-animated offering from the Toy Story empire, took the fifth position with $17.7 million in its second week. The spinoff from the wildly successful animation series stars Chris Evans and has taken $88.8 million domestically and $63 million overseas, after a lackluster opening. AFP

A music artist’s playground Is Sarah Geronimo moving to GMA? T H E R E have been speculations about Pop Q u e e n S a r a h Geronimo m o v i n g to Kapuso Network. According to reports, GMA has acquired the Sarah Geronimo is rumored to t e l e v i s i o n transfer to GMA following the rights to network’s acquisition of the the popular television rights of ‘The Voice singing tilt Kids Philippines’ for kids The Voice Kids Philippines, which originally aired on the Kapamilya from 2014 to 2019 although the former has yet to make an official announcement about it. It is public knowledge that Sarah was one of the major coaches in the said program. Due to this, speculations began to spread that she will join the show’s new installment over at the Kapuso network which if remembered, became her home when she was a guest performer in the defunct Sunday musical-variety show SOP in 2003. However, someone close to the singeractress’s camp clarified that there’s no truth to the rumor as Sarah will still stay with ABS-CBN. In fact, she is scheduled to appear again in ASAP Natin ‘To this coming July. It would not be regular participation though since Sarah currently enjoys her role as homemaker and is busy preparing materials for her new album. ••• Kim Chiu and Xian Lim will reunite on the silver screen via the Viva Films project titled Always. This is a welcome development for their fans who last saw them together in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry All You Need is Pag-ibig way back in 2015. The lock-in shooting for the new potboiler started last week under the helm of Dado Lumibao. In his social media post, Xian expressed his excitement by saying, “I missed sharing the big screen with you!” with reference to his beloved girlfriend. It was learned that the name of Kim’s character in the film is Anna while Xian’s is Lino. Some of the stars who are reportedly part of the cast are Yayo Aguila, Joko Diaz, Gab Lagman, Ivan Padilla, Vincent Soberano, Carlene Aguilar, Ali Khatibi, and Lander Vera-Perez. ••• According to reliable sources, everything’s fine now between Nora Aunor and Lotlot de Leon, which is a positive development. Everybody knows that the original Superstar and her eldest child have a misunderstanding for quite some time now. In the recent awarding of the year’s National Artists where Ate Guy is one of the honorees, she wasn’t able to attend the rites and instead, was represented by children Ian, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth. It was learned that the veteran acting stalwart is sick and her doctor didn’t allow her to grace the prestigious ceremonies. The sources confirmed that it was Lotlot who was personally taking care of her mom, the reason why she didn’t join her siblings in accepting the award at the Malacañang Palace. Isn’t this happy news? Anyway, many are hoping that the Superstar will get better in time for the scheduled tribute to the year’s National Artists to be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines tomorrow, June 29. As originally planned, she was to render the special message on behalf of the eight awardees on said occasion. Let’s keep our fingers crossed…

OUR years ago, musician and occasional actor Kean Cipriano had a vision of launching his own record label that would serve as a haven Kean Cipriano and Chynna Ortaleza (center) and the young talents of O/C Records during the label’s anniversary celebration for music artists who wanted to own their career growth and have creative control over their material and professional pursuit. Thus, he as the chairman and chief executive officer, with wife Chynna Ortaleza as vice president for production and talent development, Cipriano established O/C Records. “It’s worth the gamble,” Cipriano said during the label’s anniversary celebration held on June 15 at Take Over Lounge in Xavierville, Quezon City. The former Callalily frontman was referring to the statement he told Manila Standard Entertainment four years ago on the business risk that he had to take just to give artists full creative control. “I want them to experience that once in their careers as professional musicians they got to do what they want and showcase their art. I grew up in an era where you get to know the Kean Cipriano, a musician and occasional actor, is the chairman and chief executive officer of O/C Records

Adie has fully creative Unique Salonga unleashes his creativity control over his music as as a musician under O/C he writes his own songs Records

artists based on their albums. And that’s what I would like to do… introduce these great and talented artists,” Cipriano said. “And now, we’re able to produce more than 300 titles and launched the careers of some exciting names in the music industry. I guess, the gamble we made when we launched the label four years ago was all worth it,” he carried on. As home to artists carrying odd and eminent flair, O/C Records, celebrates its fourth anniversary in the industry. Established in 2018 as the home of “odd creatures” O/C Records has made strides —

mrld’s uses her music to express every detail of scenery that her mind creates

Kenaniah is an upcoming Sean Oquendo is ready OPM artist under O/C to make his mark in the Records OPM industry under the record label

delivering remarkable artistic stories in their odd fashion way through a musical force brought about varying creatives in the music scene. Since its inception, O/C Records has come to be the fastest-rising music company in the Philippines. “We are fortunate to be surrounded by amazing pioneer artists. We want to discover more talents and expand our business,” Cipriano said. Evincing a fervor to transport notable artistic stories through the power of music, O/C Records has been a cradle to breakthrough OPM stars such as singer-songwriters Unique, Adie, and mrld — new creatives who came to prominence as they auspiciously produce music of our time. By the same token, the artist house has also become the home of digital creatives and content creators like Mimiyuuuh, Dora, and Gwy Saludes — artists who have proven the glaring outturn of peculiar art.

O/C Records gave birth to a couple of remarkable top artists in the music industry today, such as Arthur Nery and Rice Lucido — OPM talents who have crafted laudable music and are indeed worthy of a spotlight in today’s various hit playlists. On top of such achievements, O/C Records blissfully presents upcoming stars who are set to make their unique mark in the OPM industry, such as Kenaniah and Sean Oquendo. The record label also evolved into managing the careers of actors and directors such as Gold Aceron and Kris Cazin — creatives who amplify and bring color to the wide range of memoirs that O/C Records has been offering to people from all walks of life. In its four-year run, O/C Records has set the roots of a music label that nourishes the creative freedom of artists — presenting an unorthodox style of delivering prolific stories.

‘A Family Affair’ star Ivana Alawi rocks a pixie do in her first Metro cover IVANA Alawi, one of the country’s top YouTube content creators appearing in videos with views up to 30 million, is Metro’s latest digital cover star. The online personality and actress is making her star turn as Cherry Red in A Family Affair, ABS-CBN’s newest series. The series also stars Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Jake Ejercito, and Jameson Blake. In a Metro editorial inspired by a look from one of her many viral vlogs, Ivana is stunning and smoldering as she channels that one-of-the-boys vibe in gorgeous, disarming photographs by Dookie Ducay. From her earliest role in Precious Hearts Romances Presents to capturing the attention of talent managers everywhere after appearing in FPJ’s

Ang Probinsyano, Ivana is only getting started, a star about to shine brighter. Her exclusive interview on Metro. Style tracks her early years as a child of two worlds: a Moroccan father and Filipino mother, and growing up in a close-knit family. Ivana talks about her beginnings in vlogging, becoming a digital star, launching her own beauty brand, and her similarities to—and deep connection with—Cherry Red. This cover, which kicks off the #MetroxStarMagic30 content series, was photographed by Dookie Ducay, under the creative direction of Eldzs Mejia and supervision of Metro Editor-in-Chief Geolette Esguerra. The glam team was composed of makeup artist Mickey See, hairstylist Brent Sales, and fashion

stylist Adrianne Concepcion, with associates Vince Abarra and Dodley Gallardo, and tattoos by Tattumundo. The production design was by Rocket Design Studio. The video outputs were by Fold Canela. The cover story was written by Metro staff writer Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso. The shoot was also made possible with coordination by Metro People section editor Grace Libero-Cruz and Managing Editor Red Dimaandal, with assistance by Metro writer Carla Buyo. Shot in Studio LAJ, this shoot is also thanks to Star Creatives, Mico del Rosario, Des de Guzman, Keia Inciong, Star Magic, and Lauren Dyogi. Ivana Alawi looks stunning in a pixie cut for her first Metro cover

GMA Network gets highest trust score anew among PH news brands

The Philippines’ leading broadcast firm GMA Network

THE Philippines’ leading broadcast firm GMA Network continues to be at the top among 15 news brands after getting the highest trust score for another year in the latest Reuters study. In the Digital News Report 2022 released by the University of Oxford’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 70 percent of the respondents who have heard of GMA Network find the brand trustworthy. In turn, GMA’s flagship AM radio

station, Super Radyo DZBB climbed to the third spot this year with 65 percent in the said ranking, beating other radio stations included in the report. The said report likewise ranked the weekly reach of the brands’ TV, radio, and print as well as online platforms with GMA still emerging as the number one in both categories. The network topped the “TV, Radio, and Print” category, recording a weekly usage of 57 percent for its newscasts bannered by 24 Oras and Saksi.

For online, GMA News Online got the highest weekly usage with 51 percent. The Digital News Report 2022 was based on a poll of 93,432 people, where 2,023 are Filipino adults. Respondents are from 46 media markets in six continents polled online between January 18 and February 2. It noted that overall trust in news rose as Filipinos turned to media amid a surge of COVID-19 cases around the time the survey was conducted.

Life

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

Peddlers of fun

Cycling advocacy group Firefly Brigade’s Trustee and lead ride marshal, Jack Yabut, during the UN World Bicycle Day Fun Bike Ride

Celebrating World Bicycle Day

THE United Nations (UN) Philippines, in partnership with SM, recently celebrated World Bicycle Day with a Fun Bike Ride around the SM Mall of Asia Complex. The event also marked the UN Philippines’ first time to officially celebrate the UN day in the country. Around 250 cyclists, led by UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez, joined the Fun Bike Ride. These included officials from UN Philippines; the embassies of the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Netherlands, and Poland; and cycling advocacy groups including the Firefly Brigade. World Bicycle Day draws attention to the benefits of using the bicycle — a simple, affordable, clean, and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. The UN General Assembly declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day in 2018 to acknowledge the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle which has been in use for two centuries. In the Philippines, the UN values World Bicycle Day for the opportunity it offers to advocate its important climate goals, including: the promotion of inclusive and green mobility; reducing

(From left) Embassy of Poland Vice Consul Tomasz Danel and Counsellor-Minister Anna Krzak-Danel, Czech Republic Embassy Charge d’Affaires Dalibor Micka, and the Netherlands Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Pieter Terpstra

carbon emissions; helping advocate for the transition to green cities; and mobilizing Filipinos to use their bicycles for trips as much as possible, with a view to adopting healthy lifestyles. “With all of these crucial advocacies

(From left) Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano’s Chief of Staff Atty. Peter Pardo, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez, UN Populations Fund country representative Leila Joudane, and SM Mall of Asia Senior Assistant Vice President Perkin So

carried by World Bicycle Day, riding our bicycles is a small act with great impact on achieving national and global goals,” Gonzalez said. As part of its ongoing advocacy to promote a cycling culture and enable

healthy, sustainable, and inclusive mobility, SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, launched the Bike-Friendly SM initiative at the Mall of Asia in September 2020.

SM has since installed 1,155 bike parking facilities nationwide which can accommodate more than 8,400 bicycles; installed 86 bike repair stations across all malls, and has established a total of 19.75 kilometers of shared and dedicated bike lanes at the SM Mall of Asia and SM Seaside in Cebu; bike trail parks; and bike-and-dine facilities at many of its malls. Highlights under the initiative include: the production of the country’s very first Biker’s Manual, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the MMDA. There were also bike safety clinics together with cycling advocacy groups like the Firefly Brigade and the Bikers United Movement. More recently, a SM employee outreach project, Bike Ride for A Cause in SM Masinag, SM Pampanga, SM Bacolod and SM Lanang Premier served more than 700 beneficiaries. The Bike-Friendly SM initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to make communities where SM malls are located, more inclusive, livable, and sustainable.

Breaking barriers between people and technology

Acer x Adidas’ back-to-school pep rally at the SM Mall Of Asia Central Atrium

By Patricia Taculao

SB19 graces the Acer x Adidas event to sing some of their hits and Acer’s song ‘Live It Up’

OING to school in the digital age requires more than having pens, papers, and notebooks. Today, people also invest in technology like tablets and laptops to assist their learning or finish their schoolwork efficiently. Online classes and hybrid learning setups emphasized this demand as students and teachers alike relied on their gadgets to attend classes. Now that face-to-face classes are slowly underway, Acer and Adidas joined forces to bring back-to-school deals where Filipino students can show off their style with new pieces from Adidas’ collection and get work done with Acer’s laptops. “Behind our preparation for this back-to-school program, we thought

of going back to Acer’s core mission, which is making sure that we break the barrier between people and technology,” said Acer Philippines General Manager Sue Ong-Lim during the Acer x Adidas promotional launch at the SM Mall Of Asia Central Atrium on June 18, Saturday. Ong-Lim shared that Adidas shares

the same persona as the tech brand, thus making them ideal partners in welcoming students back to school. During the promotional launch between Acer and Adidas, Acer brand ambassadors SB19 also appeared to delight their fans at the venue. The Kings of P-pop performed their hits “Bazinga,” “Mapa,” and Acer’s song, “Live it Up.” The collaboration between Acer and Adidas aims to bring back every student’s excitement for the upcoming school year, especially since the past two years took their toll on some students and their families. These deals are Acer’s way of giving back to the students and encouraging them to pursue

SM scholar alumni pass CPA exams FOUR SM scholar alumni are now Certified Public Accountants and are looking forward to better career opportunities. Sherwin I. Bautista, Glenn Paul A. Embodo, Dakila T. Lasuden, and Ma. Cecilia F. Cabacoy passed the CPA Licensure Examinations recently and join the list of SM scholar alumni who are now full-fledged CPAs. Twenty-three-year-old Lasuden from Baguio City is the daughter of government workers and has three siblings. She finished high school at the Baguio City National High School. For college, she enrolled at Saint Louis University. Quezon City resident Cabacoy finished her high school education at the San Francisco High School located in the same city. The third among five children, she took up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of the East – Caloocan. She is

Ma. Cecilia F. Cabacoy

Dakila T. Lasuden

currently employed by Romano Mendez & Company, an auditing firm. Bautista, 23, hails from Antique. For high school, he attended the Regional Science High School for Region VI. He graduated from the University of the Philippines Visayas – Iloilo with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. The young CPA is now working with SGV in Makati. “I once became a tutor,” he said when asked what his first job was. As for his future plans, he wants to help promote financial literacy among Filipinos. “In addition, I want to be one with promoting the values of transparency and accountability. Lastly, if given the chance, I want to start a business.” Embodo, one of SM Foundation’s ‘Yolanda scholars’ graduated cum laude from the Saint Paul School of Professional Studies in Palo, Leyte with a double degree in Accountancy and Accounting Technology.

Sherwin I. Bautista

Glenn Paul A. Embodo

Models showing Adidas’ new collection while holding Acer’s sleek laptops

their studies. Customers can also up to a P20,000 discount or a gift certificate for Adidas merchandise at participating The SM Stores for every purchase of any qualifying Acer product until August 15, 2022. Acer recognizes that students don’t just need laptops that could increase their productivity. The brand knows that each user has different requirements for their units, whether it’s for gaming or studying. As a result, the brand developed deals with specific laptop units to meet every user’s needs. For instance, customers who will buy the Acer Aspire 3, Acer Aspire 5, and Acer Aspire 7 can get up to a P1,000

Golden Haven Memorial Parks celebrates its sixth anniversary as a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange

discount and/or P3,000 worth of Adidas vouchers. Meanwhile, those who prefer the Acer Swift 3 and Swift 5 models can receive around a P1,000 discount or P5,000 worth of Adidas vouchers. Other participating Acer laptops include its Vero models, Acer Nitro 5 and Nitro 7, and Predator Helios 300. On the other hand, its participating consumer and gaming desktops include Acer Aspire All-In-One, Acer Aspire XC, and Acer Aspire TC models. The promo, which runs until August 15, extends to the consumer, gaming, and AOpen monitors as well. Acer’s line of air coolers and purifiers, known as acerpure, also has exciting deals for consumers.

Golden Haven combines elegant architecture with verdant greenery, creating tranquil resting places for Filipino families’ dearly departed

Golden growth for Golden Haven GOLDEN Haven Memorial Parks celebrates another banner year on June 29 as it marks its sixth anniversary as a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange. Golden Haven set its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2016 at P10.50 but stock value has since risen to P675 as of June 17, 2022, registering an increase of 6,000 percent. Golden Haven’s impressive achievement puts it right on track with sister company BRIA Homes, now a top-tier housing developer in the Philippine real estate industry. With fifty-plus residential developments nationwide, BRIA was recognized as Affordable Housing Developer of the Year and Open Space Developer of the Year at the last Real Estate Asia Awards. Meanwhile, Golden Haven’s re-

markable growth affirms the company’s continued upward trajectory, the result of its persistent focus on building the most beautiful memorial parks in the Philippines. Now with over 30 projects across the country and more in the pipeline, Golden Haven is a sought-after name in the deathcare industry. Each impeccably designed park combines elegant architecture with verdant greenery, creating tranquil resting places for Filipino families’ dearly departed. Along with Golden Haven’s continuous development and expansion, its care and attention to detail extends to customer service as well. Now offering online services through its website, Golden Haven has made transactions smooth and convenient for potential buyers and

investors. For one, reservations may be done with just a click from their computer or mobile device. Customers can also choose from different payment options and plans that include long-lasting maintenance, wherein funds are used for the property and the overall maintenance of the park. Once a buyer has fully paid for their plan, they’re guaranteed ownership in perpetuity. Sellers also benefit from Golden Haven’s push toward new digital platforms. The continuous training they undergo helps increase their reach and expand their territories, which in turn grows the company’s business. By providing robust value appreciation, Golden Haven memorial lots assure investors of secure, lucrative, and no-fuss assets.