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‘GIVE CASH, NOT TAX EXEMPTION, FOR POLL WORK’

5.2 QUAKE STRIKES ABRA ANEW; MORE SHOCKS EXPECTED

NEWS / A4

NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVI • NO. 168 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BBM: PH won’t rejoin ICC

Orders study of gov’t position on ICC resuming probe of drug war By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez, and Marcon Ramos-Araneta

HE Philippines has no intention of rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday.

The decision came after Marcos met ficials of his administration to discuss last week with the top lawyers and of- their strategy on the ICC’s investigation

of alleged human rights violations in the Philippines during his predecessor’s bloody war on drugs. Marcos said that he instructed the administration’s lawyers to study the procedure for responding to the investigation. At the meeting last week were Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce

Enrile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, and former Palace spokesman Harry Roque. “What we discussed during the meeting is what the ICC is saying that they will proceed with an investigation. But what we are saying is it is already being investigated here. The investigation is

ongoing, so why would there be a need for it?” he said. Last month, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the resumption of the investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign after it was put on hold following a deferral request from the Philippine government. Next page

10 days of national mourning, flag at half staff to honor FVR By Vince Lopez, Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared national days of mourning and ordered all government facilities across the country and abroad to fly the flag at halfstaff in honor of former

Economic, biz execs: Ramos social reformer ECONOMIC officials and business leaders paid tribute to former President Fidel V. Ramos, equating his leadership with stability and growth. Socio-economic Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan offered condolences to the Ramos family on behalf of the National Economic and Development Authority. “While in the academe, I saw firsthand and closely followed how his economic and social reform agenda, which centered on opening the economy and people empowerment, paved the way to foundational economic

President Fidel V. Ramos, who helped oust his father 36 years ago. “The death of Fidel V. Ramos, the 12th president of the Philippines is a great loss to our country and the Filipino people,” Marcos said in his proclamation declaring July 31 to Aug. 9 national days of mourning. “It is fitting to devote a period of national mourning to pay tribute to an esteemed leader who has dedicated his life to public service

and has left a lasting mark on our country,” he added. Ramos and Marcoses are distant relatives, Marcos Sr.’s grandfather and Ramos’s grandmother were siblings making Marcos Jr.’ his “distant nephew” and relative. Marcos also offered his condolences to the family of “Steady Eddie” as he was called, who passed away at the age of 94. Next page

HONORS FOR FVR. A military guard stands at attention at Malacanang Palace with the flag at half-mast on Monday, while members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines fire 105mm howitzer cannons at Camp Aguinaldo as a gun salute for former President Fidel V. Ramos, who passed away Sunday at the age of 94. Manny Palmero and Malacanang Photo

Garcia gets Comelec job; Bacarro for AFP, Azurin at PNP, de Lemos at NBI By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez Comelec’s George Garcia

PNP’s Lt. Gen Azurin

NBI’s Medardo de Lemos

AFP’s Lt. Gen. Bacarro

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed new heads of the Commission on Elections, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation. Marcos chose his former election lawyer, George Garcia, as Comelec chairman. Garcia will replace Saidamen Pangarungan and will serve as head of the poll body until Feb. 2, 2029. Pangarungan, Garcia, and Aimee Torre-

franca-Neri were earlier appointed by thenPresident Rodrigo Duterte. Their ad interim appointments, however, were bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments. “Under my watch, the Comelec will aim for meaningful reforms that will resolve issues identified by stakeholders and the voting public. These will include structural reforms that will strengthen good governance founded on accountability, transparency, and integrity,” Garcia said in a statement. “Rest assured that I will remain impartial Next page

Marcos allays monkeypox fears: ‘Not as scary as COVID’ By Vince Lopez and Willie Casas President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday allayed fears of Filipinos on monkeypox, saying it is not as infectious as COVID-19. “I want to be very clear that this is not COVID. This is not like COVID. Monkeypox is not as scary as COVID,” he said on the sidelines of the COVID-19 booster Next page

PBBM RENEWS PUSH FOR BOOSTER VACCINES NEWS / A2 MONDAY VISITS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) visits a vaccination site in Pasig City with Department of Health Officer-inCharge Ma. Rosario Vergeire (right) on Monday. Meanwhile, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte (inset, left) leads the kick-off of the Brigada Eskwela program at Imus Pilot Elementary School in Imus, Cavite. AFP with Danny Pata

QUEENS ALL. The winners of the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 pageant pose together at

the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday. They are (from left) 2nd runner-up Stacey Gabriel, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano, Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Tamondong, and 1st runner-up Nicole Budol. Danny Pata

Price cuts on diesel 60¢, LPG 75¢; Gasoline up 75¢ By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.75 per liter but cut the cost of diesel and kerosene by P0.60 per liter and P0.75 per liter, respectively, ef-

fective 6 a.m. Tuesday. The oil firms also cut the price of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P2.09 per kilo to reflect the lower contract price of LPG in the world market. “Petron will implement the follow-

ing price adjustments effective 6 a.m. on August 2: P0.75 per liter increase for gasoline; P0.60 per liter rollback for diesel, and P0.75 per liter rollback kerosene. These reflect movements in the Next page

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t medium-term fiscal plan OKd By Maricel V. Cruz

HE House of Representatives on Monday adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2, supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2022-2028 Medium-Term Fiscal Framework.

fication of the Marcos administration’s covenant with the Filipino people on key economic and fiscal objectives.” Salceda, who sponsored the measure on the House floor Monday, called it “a good way to set the tone for the upcoming budget discussions.” The framework specifically lays down the near-term socioeconomic agenda which will continue to implement risk¬ managed interventions in areas of food security, transport and logistics, energy, fiscal management, health, education, social protection, and bureaucratic efficiency. This would ensure the unimpeded and adequate delivery of social services, mitigate inflation pressures, accelerate economic recovery, and address economic scarring. It also aims for

medium-term socio-economic agenda which will create more, high-quality, and green jobs for Filipinos. “The recent past and the COVID-19 pandemic have beset the macroeconomic environment with challenges and a series of external shocks. Inflation has accelerated in recent months due largely to significant increases in international prices of oil and key commodities,” the resolution reads. “Still, the economic growth momentum remains firm as demonstrated by the strong 2022 first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 8.3 percent. However, the recovery process from the impact of the pandemic is still ongoing amid elevated uncertainty in the international economic environment,” it said.

The plan aims to attain short-term macro-fiscal stability while remaining supportive of the economic recovery and promoting medium-term fiscal sustainability. Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, and House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan authored the resolution which aims to consolidate the National Government’s resources so that these are mobilized and utilized to gain the maximum benefit and high multiplier effects

for the economy. The fiscal framework shall be subject to review and updating in three years, or in 2025, prior to the 20th Congress, to reflect current economic conditions and developments, according to the resolution. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, hailed the approval of the resolution. He said the proposed MTFF is a “step towards following international best practices on tax policymaking,” and a “codi-

Economic,... From A1

5.2 quake strikes Abra anew; More shocks expected

transformation,” Balisacan said. “He provided the country with much-needed stability against threats from within. He was also a visionary. His foresight and steadfastness enabled the Philippines to weather the 1997 Asian financial crisis and be among the continent’s “Tiger Cub Economies.” The seven chambers of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines remembered how they honored Ramos in 2013 with a Lifetime Achievement Award for “his outstanding contributions and superb leadership over several decades to achieve highly significant and lasting institutional and policy reforms of long-term benefit to the people and economy of the Republic of the Philippines.” “We remember President Ramos for his strong efforts to promote foreign investment into the Philippines, to create jobs for Filipinos, and to reduce poverty in the country as a partner in all our chambers’ advocacy initiatives, from his visits to our capitals in Asia, Europe, and North America, and through reform legislation which he championed through the Philippine Congress.” The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean chambers, and PAMURI (Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.). It represents over 3,000 member companies engaged in around $100 billion worth of trade and some $30 billion worth of investments in the Philippines. “The Philippine Stock Exchange remembered Ramos as the chief architect for the unification of the Manila and Makati stock exchanges. ?The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) and its community of trading participants expressed sorrow on the passing of Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was instrumental in the merger of the Manila Stock Exchange (MSE) and Makati Stock Exchange (MkSE) into PSE,” the group said in a statement. “This is a proud tribute to his administration, now that we stand united as a stronger member of the capital market. He will always be considered a pillar and a vital part of PSE’s history. His demise is a great loss not only to our nation but to the Philippine business community as well,” said PSE Chairman Jose T. Pardo. The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said the Ramos administration was distinguished by impressive reforms on energy, economic liberalization, infrastructure, and social reform, among others, which fueled an engine for national progress built on his twin themes of people empowerment and global competitiveness.

A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake hit Abra at 2:48 a.m. on Monday, five days after it was hit by a deadly 7.0-magnitude quake last Wednesday that damaged structures in the region and killed at least 10 people. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tremor’s epicenter was three kilometers from Villaviciosa town at a depth of 22 km. The following intensities were felt in Abra and nearby provinces: Intensity V Bantay, Ilocos Sur; Intensity IV - Bangued, Abra; and Intensity III - Baguio City. Instrumental Intensities were: Intensity V - Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Intensity IV - Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Intensity III - Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Intensity II - Tabuk, Kalinga;

Claveria and Penablanca, Cagayan; and Intensity I - Baguio City; Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Ilagan, Isabela. Phivolcs said it expects damage and aftershocks from the quake. The number of individuals affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake is now at 381,614, the state disaster response agency said Monday. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, this translated to 100,665 families. Of the tally, some 3,781 individuals or 1,070 families are staying in evacuation camps. In its latest report, the NDRRMC also said the number of fatalities remained at 10 while those injured have

reached 394. Damage to infrastructures such as roads, bridges, health facilities, schools, and cultural heritages in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region was pegged at P704 million. According to the NDRRMC, some 354 houses were destroyed by the major tremor while 24,547 were damaged. Meanwhile, power in 48 cities and municipalities has been restored. Water service is also back in three out of four cities and municipalities. The NDRRMC said 27 cities and municipalities were declared under a state of calamity. So far, assistance worth P25 million has been provided to victims of the earthquake. Willie Casas

BBM:... From A1

that the investigation carried out by the Philippines “does not sufficiently mirror the investigation to be conducted by the prosecution.” Duterte has insisted that the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, specified that the ICC can only prosecute such complaints if the member-nation did not have a working judicial system, or the government refused to prosecute such crimes. Previously, Marcos said he would continue the Duterte administration’s drug war with the same vigor but will focus on the “prevention side” instead of the “enforcement side” carried out by the previous administration. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III disagreed with the President’s decision, but acknowledged that “since he is the President, it is his decision which will be followed.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros acknowledged that it is a presidential prerogative but called Marcos’s decision “regrettable” because the Rome Statute that created the ICC is the collective commitment of the community of nations against state-sponsored impunity. “I hope he will not undermine or block investigations of acts or violations that took place before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.” “They should not be hampered in doing their job. If there is nothing to conceal, why should be they scared of any investigation?” she added. Former senator Leila de Lima, who is detained on drug charges that she has denied, said Marcos’s advisors had failed him. “Wrong advice. Bad for the country,” she said.

try with his years in public service, including as a veteran of significant military campaigns,” the Court said. “He was also a visionary President, who set out important social and economic reforms which Filipinos enjoy even up to this time,” it added. “In addition, we in the Judiciary will always remember President Ramos as a proponent of justice and judicial reform. During his presidency, he consistently pledged his support to the Judiciary’s campaign for modernization and judicial excellence. His commitment to justice helped strengthen the Judiciary. Rest in peace, Mr. President,” the justices noted. Foreign diplomats continued to express their condolences to the Filipino people and to the family and friends of the former president. US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the US “will always remember his contributions to the US-Philippines bilateral relationship.” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said he was deeply saddened to hear about Ramos’ passing. Huang said the former leader was well known in China “for his friendship

and contribution to the bilateral relationship” between the two countries. “He was one of the first to propose the establishment of ‘Asian Forum’ in 1998 which incubated the Boao Forum for Asia in 2001. As former chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia he played an indispensable role in the development of the forum,” he said. “The Chinese Embassy is deeply grieved by the loss of an old friend. He will be missed by all of us,” Huang said, even as he extended his condolences to the Ramos family. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur also conveyed sympathy to the people of the Philippines as well as to Ramos’ loved ones. He said Ramos’ “strong leadership and warm friendship were evident during his visit to Canada in November 1997.” The French Embassy in the Philippines also joined the country in mourning the death of Ramos, who it called “a champion of democracy.” French Ambassador Michèle Boccco also conveyed her heartfelt condolences and said France stands by the people of the Philippines and Ramos’ friends and

Garcia... From A1 and independent as a Comelec chairman. The will of the people will be the supreme law,” he added. Meanwhile, Marcos also named the top brass of the military and police, with Southern Luzon Command chief and Medal of Valor awardee Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro leading the AFP and Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. leading the PNP. He also appointed Medardo de Lemos as NBI director. Bacarro will be the first AFP chief of staff to serve a fixed term of three years after Duterte signed into law in May a measure granting a fixed term for top military posts and changing their age of

The ICC previously said it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the tribunal. Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2018, just weeks after then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that a preliminary examination was underway into his administration’s drug war. The withdrawal took effect on March 17, 2019. In a 53-page document posted on ICC’s website on June 24, Khan asked the Pre-Trial Chamber to resume the investigation into the drug war, noting

10 days... From A1 Ramos served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and handled the Philippine Constabulary under the incumbency of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and later on as chief of staff under the Cory Aquino administration before entering into politics and winning the 1992 presidential elections. The Ramos family has yet to release the dates when the body of the former chief executive will be available for public viewing and when he will be laid to rest. The Supreme Court also ordered that the Philippine flag in all courthouses nationwide be flown at half-staff “to honor the memory and recognize the services” of the former president. In a statement, the SC said Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and all justices, judges, and court personnel mourn the passing of President Ramos. “President Ramos was a true defender of freedom and democracy who had shown courage and loyalty to the coun-

mandatory retirement. Bacarro, who is part of the Philippine Military Academy “Maringal” Class of 1988, also held various positions in the 5th Infantry Division and served as Army and eventually AFP spokesperson. Outgoing AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino, a classmate of Bacarro in the PMA, will be given a new post “befitting a former chief of staff,” according to the Palace. Azurin, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989, succeeds PNP officer-in-charge Vicente Danao. He is presently the chief of the Northern Luzon Police area and has served as head of the Directorate for Comptrollership as well as the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management of the PNP.

Marcos... From A1 vaccination campaign launch in Pasig City. The Department of Health likewise said there is no need to close the country’s borders after the first monkeypox case was confirmed in the country. “Just like the direction of our present administration, we want to go to the phase where we can already go back to our work and in schools. Closing borders is not necessary,” DOH officer-incharge Maria Rosario Vergeire said. “Even the World Health Organization classified the risk of monkeypox as low to moderate. There is no need to close borders, no need for our trade to discontinue,” she added. Marcos said the country now has no

active monkeypox cases after the first patient has already recovered. “As of now, the patient has already been released from the hospital. We don’t have any more cases of monkeypox,” he added. Marcos said treatments and vaccines are available for monkeypox. The President, however, called on the public to continue following health protocols to avoid the spread of the disease. “We remain vigilant. We are closely monitoring monkeypox just like we have done with COVID,” he said. The DOH has identified 10 contacts of the country’s first monkeypox patient. Even if the patient has already recovered, Vergeire said the 21-day isolation period must still be completed and all the symptoms must be resolved before the patient could be allowed to go out again.

Marcos renews push for booster jabs vs. COVID By Vince Lopez, Willie Casas, and Rey Requejo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made a renewed push for the COVID-19 vaccine booster as he inspected the rollout in Pasig City on Monday. “My motive for going here this afternoon is very simple. I am looking if the booster rollout of which we are conducting here is smooth flowing and outstanding,” the President said. “We don’t have any means of fighting this but the vaccine. We must not wait for the numbers to grow and be harder for us to go to our work and go out of our own houses,” he added. Marcos was joined by the Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, and other city local government officials. “Stay safe like before, be safe, follow the protocols, wash your hands and wear your facemasks until we can say that the Philippines is now Covidfree,” the President added. As this developed, five provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao have recorded above 20 percent or “very high” COVID-19 positivity rates in the recent week, independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said Monday. OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David, in a tweet, said Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Capiz, and Negros Oriental all logged more than 20% one-week positivity rates from July 23 to July 30. Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested. Capiz posted the highest positivity rate in the Vis-Min regions as of Saturday with 51.2 percent a huge jump from the 30.6 percent on July 23. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has tested positive for COVID, which prevented him from attending his first ever ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) as the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Cambodia this week. “This would have been my first ASEAN engagement in my capacity as Secretary for Foreign Affairs, so it is unfortunate that my absence happens at this important time,” he said. Manalo said he contracted the virus “early this weekend.”

Price... From A1 international oil market,” the country’s biggest oil company said. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel, Caltex Philippines, Total Philippines, Flying V, Seaoil Philippines, and PetroGazz adjusted pump prices. Meanwhile, Solane announced it cut the price of its LPG products by P2.09 per kilo (VAT inclusive), equivalent to P22.99 for every 11-kilo tank. Other oil companies are also expected to cut LPG prices. World oil prices fell last week amid weak US economic data, further fueling recession fears. Tight oil supply concerns failed to temper the decline in prices. However, traders are watching the outcome of the meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies on August 3 and whether the group will increase their production quota. On July 26, the oil companies implemented a price cut in gasoline by P0.40 per liter, diesel by P1.85 per liter, and kerosene by P1.30 per liter.

Health experts said monkeypox is contagious as soon as the symptoms start. There is a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for monkeypox, Vergeire said. “We have already mobilized our surveillance teams as early as May at our airports and docks. We are confident that all cases to enter the country will be detected,” she said. “We’re exploring where we can get or buy vaccines or if we can receive a donation as soon as possible,” she added. Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert said anyone can get infected with monkeypox through close intimate contact. This as a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week found that 98 percent of those infected with monkeypox were gay or bisexual men, and 95 percent of cases were transmitted through sexual activity.

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

New House measure gives more aid to single Filipinos By Maricel V. Cruz A BILL has been filed at the House of Representatives providing benefits and privileges to single persons and their dependents. PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles filed House Bill 1364 saying “many of such single individuals function like a solo parent and bear the most burden in the family.” “The typical Filipino family is, by its nature, extended and closely-knit. It is not unusual in a number of Filipino families that the children who have already graduated from college and have begun working, or even those who stopped attending school to find work due to poverty, would eventually become the breadwinners of their families,” Nograles said in the bill’s explanatory note.

A STATE IN MOURNING. The Philippine flag flies at half-mast at the National Museum of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, and at the Senate Building in Manila (inset photos) to mourn the death of former President Fidel V. Ramos. Danny Pata, Joey O. Razon, Senate PRIB

DSWD releases new list of poor families for government 4Ps plan A

NEW list of poor Filipino families in the country has been released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday.

The DSWD said this list contains “potential” Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. Not all families included in the list—the Listahanan 3” or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction---will be included in the

4Ps program, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said. In a GMA News report, Tulfo said: “I will just clarify that we will choose from this list the replacement for the 1.3 million beneficiaries that were removed from the 4Ps program. We will not include them right away because we have to submit them to 4Ps, so there is a process. Tulfo earlier said some two million Filipino families have been put on the wait list for the 4Ps program. Tulfo said that out of the 4.4 million families, 1.3 million beneficiaries will be removed from 4Ps because they are no longer qualified, or have already

reached the maximum seven years of stay in the program. But he said t these families would not be kicked out of the program immediately, and would be notified weeks before being delisted. National Household Targeting Office (NHTO) Director Andrew Ambubuyog said their office started visitations of potential beneficiaries for Listahanan 3 during the fourth quarter of 2019, GMA News reported. The list was finalized in December 2021. Ambubuyog said the final results of their survey showed that 5,599,091 poor families were listed in the DSWD’s database.

“The result of our Listahanan as of December 2021 showed that we have 5,599,091 poor households in the country currently listed in the DSWD’s database or Listahanan,” Ambubuyog, quoted in the GMA News report, said. The DSWD reported that the regions with the most potential beneficiaries are the Bicol Region with 541,000, Western Visayas with 536,000, and Bangsamoro with 509,000. Ambubuyog said the regions with the most number of poor households without access to clean water are Bangsamoro at 58 percent, Cordillera at 44 percent, and Western Visayas at 43 percent.

Villar files bill placing Philippine Rise management under NIPAS program By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar wants to place the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PMRR) under the government’s National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Villar said under the measure, the PMRR will be institutionalized and provided with funds for its management. The measure will strengthen Philippine sovereignty over its waters and resources. Villar filed Senate Bill 519 or An Act Declaring a portion of Philippine Rise within the exclusive economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippine Sea as a protected area with the category of Marine Resource Reserve under NIPAS. Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Environment Committee, said this would be “referred to as PMRR.” The bill also seeks to establish a mechanism that would ensure measures towards this objective are enforced and implemented. The majority of the Philippine Rise in-

cluding the Benham Bank Seamount, has always been within the Philippines EEZ. The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UN-CLCS) adopted the recommendation of the Philippines on the limits of the country’s continental shelf. “Following the discoveries in the Benham Rise, four more research expeditions were conducted in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022 to further assess its biodiversity and extent of habitats,” Villar said. She noted that the data and information obtained from the past expeditions supported the recognition of the Philippine Rise as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSMA) under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This also refers to the declaration of a portion of the Philippine Rise, namely Benham Bank, and its surrounding waters as a marine resource reserve under NIPAS in 2018 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 489.

LAS PIÑAS City was ranked No. 2 among cities in Metro Manila in compliance with the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Mayor Imelda Aguilar thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development - National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) for recognizing her city in its effort to implement the program

for the welfare of the people, especially poor families. She said the local government got a 98.4 percent compliance in health, education, deworming categories, and family development sessions. The city chief executive said Las Pinas ranked second on the list after members of the city’s Social Welfare and Development Office, CityLinks and the social welfare assistants

HISTORICAL SITE. Teachers of the San Francisco Elementary School in San

Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City conduct a cleaning activity in one of the school’s classrooms. The school has been certified as a historical site for its Gabaldon-type classrooms. Manny Palmero

worked hard in continuing to give better services to residents belonging to 4Ps category. Aguilar said the City Health Office, Department of Education (DepEd), and the Local Development Council also took part in prioritizing programs for 4Ps. Previously, Las Pinas City ranked 13th among other local government units in the National Capital Region in

the said category. Aguilar earlier promised that in her third and final term as city chief executive, she will be focusing more on health and other services intended for poor families. She said the services and programs her administration had previously initiated will continue but needs to double the efforts for more improvement that will benefit residents.

Ancan elected as new Senate Sgt.-at-Arms

PRE-ENROLMENT. Students line up outside the Universidad de Manila for preenrollment on August 1 for the coming school year 2022-2023. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Giant taro can be food source, researchers say INITIAL findings of two ongoing Giant Swamp Taro (GST) projects show GST’s potential as a source of supplemental food in Agusan del Sur. According to Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT), GST is processed as flour or starch used for making chips for snacks, baby food, and other food products. With its abundance not only in Agusan del Sur but throughout the Philippines, the GST can be an alternative or supplemental food source, which can contribute in achieving food security in the country, a PCAARRD news dispatch said. ASSCAT noted that locations of communities with existing GST, processing plants, and produced GST end-products should be discovered and be known to investors and researchers. Fresh GST corms, also called the “crisis food,” should be processed into dried GST chips for further processing into bakery products because they are highly perishable a few days after harvest. These observations led the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) to support the projects, “Development and Use of a GIS-based System for Giant Swamp Taro Production, Processing and Utilization in Agusan Del Sur” and “Development of Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) Chipping Machine.” Both are implemented by ASSCAT in Agusan del Sur. The project leaders reported the projects’ status during the field monitoring visit to the sites. Butch Gunio

Angeles City distributes Vitamin C to district jail

Las Piñas is No. 2 in Pantawid Pamilya compliance in Metro Manila By Joel E. Zurbano

She added that the older children usually support the schooling of their younger siblings while unmarried or single children usually support their parents as they age or are limited by disabilities. Nograles, a lawyer, also acknowledged in the bill’s explanatory note that some single or unmarried individuals also provide financial support to the children of their siblings or serve as guardians in cases where their siblings are abroad or are financially incapable of supporting their own children. “This stark reality behooves us to provide additional benefits and privileges to single or unmarried individuals with dependents through giving them leave privileges and a flexible working schedule, both of which will enable them to have more time to attend to various family matters,” she said.

THE Senate of the Philippines on Monday elected retired military Lieutenant General Roberto Ancan as its new sergeant-at-arms. Ancan will be replacing retired Major General Rene Samonte. Senator Ronald dela Rosa sponsored Ancan’s nomination during the plenary session. In nominating Ancan, Dela Rosa recalled the retired military officer’s bravery against the New People’s Army, saying Ancan literally took a bullet for him. Ancan is the highest-ranking retired military man was elected as the Senate sergeant-at-arms, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said. Ancan, who comes from Victorias, Negros Occidental, headed the Cebu-

based Central Command in 2019. Prior to being assigned as the Cebu commander, Ancan was the commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Zamboanga del Sur in February 2019. He was also designated as commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade and commanding officer of the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center, where he managed the units deployed to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Ancan was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987. He also graduated in Basic Airborne, Scout Ranger, Field Artillery, Explosive Ordnance and Disposal, and Peacekeeping courses.

THE Angeles City government has distributed 1,600 pieces of Vitamin C supplements and 500 facemasks at the Angeles City District Jail. Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. said this is to ensure the health and welfare of Persons Deprived of Liberty, underscoring that even PDLs should not be deprived of proper health. “Tuloy-tuloy po ang ginagawa nating tulong programa sa mga PDLs natin,” Lazatin assured. “Yung mga female PDLs po natin noon may mga hygiene kit, nilapit din po natin ang bakuna kontra Covid-19 sa mga jails natin.” The City Nutrition Office headed by Jermaine Jam Aguila also conducted an information drive to PDLs for proper nutrition. According to Aguila, some of the agenda discussed during the information were 10 Kumainments and Pinggan Pinoy. Aguila explained that the 10 Kumainments is a campaign to promote the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos and to live a healthy lifestyle, aiming to address and prevent malnutrition. This, she said, is being supported by the Lazatin administration. Aside from the initiative to look out for the welfare of PDLs, the city also launched the Pusong Mamon malunggay bread of the city. This healthy bread is being given to malnourished kids with milk supplement. This program is Mayor Lazatin’s way to complement the national government’s feeding program. Butch Gunio

Angeles City named one of ‘most improved’ PH cities ANGELES CITY — The city government here under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. was cited by the Pampanga Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council for its exemplary performance in the 2021 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI). This after the city government was ranked 5th Most Improved Highly Urbanized City nationwide. Lazatin thanked the PMSMEDC for recognizing the city government in its efforts to make doing business easier in the city and promote development of small entrepreneurs. “Just like the objectives of the Council, our administration will continue to uplift the city’s MSMEs,” Lazatin said. Part of Mayor Lazatin’s priority programs is to give local entrepreneurs full support to further introduce their products not just nationwide but worldwide. The resolution was received by the Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office on July 28, 2022. CMCI is an annual ranking of local government units in the Philippines developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. Butch Gunio

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

Makati targets more IT firms with a package of incentives

EX-PRESIDENT CORAZON “CORY” AQUINO’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY. A park

employee spruces up the monument of former President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino on Roxas blvd. corner Padre Burgos Street, in Ermita, Manila preparatory to austere commemoration rites for her 13th death anniversary. She died on Aug. 1, 2009. Norman Cruz

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Monday said her administration will focus on the growing information technology (IT) firms by providing a competitive environment, tax breaks, and business registration assistance to startups. “Considering our investment in infrastructure, I hope e-commerce and software development companies would consider setting up, expanding, or relocating their businesses to Makati since we provide a lot of benefits to companies and startups,” Binay said during the recent members’ meeting of the Makati Business Development Council (MBDC). Binay said Makati’s investments in infrastructure, particularly the Makati Subway, will bring more investors to the city since an efficient mass transit provides better productivity and profitability among workers and businesses. “Makati is at the early stage of becoming a smart city, and we need the help of IT companies in creating a resource pool so that we can create a smarter workforce, which is necessary to keep a city ‘smart’,” she said. The mayor also said she envisions Makati to be the country’s homegrown version of Silicon Valley – a global hub for technological innovation. At present, around 40 IT buildings in Makati are registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Early this year, Makati was chosen as the pilot city for the Resiliency Innovation Sustainability and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Challenge, an incubator program of the government, academe, and the private sector that offers a P500,000 equityfree grant and 12-week entrepreneurship training to eight IT startups. According to Binay, IT startups Digest Ph, Empath, FilPass, Fitscovery, Kwik. insure, Pic-A-Talk, Project Fort, and Synthillate will be given a chance to pitch their ventures to qualified investors this coming August 9.

PNRI exec backs Marcos plan to revive BNPP AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Science and Technology–PhilippinecNuclear Research Institute (DST-PNRI) on Monday rallied behindcPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to build nuclear power plants. “Swak na swak ‘yung sinasabi po ng Presidente natin. Nagpapasalamatcdin ako dahil sinabi niya ‘yun (What our President said perfectlycfits. I am thankful to him for saying that),” PNRI director Carloc Arcilla said at a public briefing. Arcilla said 60 percent of the power supply in the country comes from coal, adding that 70 percent of the power sources were unstable. Most of the coal used for power production in the country came from Indonesia, he added. Arcilla also said nuclear power was cheaper than coal power. For example, the amount of fuel that the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) would need was equivalent to filling a jeepney’s tank, but it would keep the jeep running for 18 months without emissions. Coal plants, in contrast, need 50 Panamax ships of coal or 50,000 to 80,000 tons of coal to operate. Importing this amount of coal would cost around $600 to $800 million, while nuclear fuel for 18 months is around $20 to $25 million. “Ang kagandahan po sa nuclear, maliit lang po siya pero ang energy density niya ay napakataas (What is good about nuclear power is it is a small amount but its energy density is very high),” he said. Arcilla was also confident that earthquakes would not damage nuclear power plants, as these would be built away from fault lines.

PBBM: Give cash, not tax exemption to poll workers By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. prefers to provide cash payments to election workers rather than exempt their honoraria and other financial benefits from taxes. Marcos, during a visit to Pasig City on Monday, said he does not forget the welfare of the poll workers despite his decision to veto a proposed law exempting from taxes the honoraria, allowances and other financial remunerations for poll workers. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it respects the decision of the President to veto the bill seeking to exempt poll workers’ honoraria from taxation. Meanwhile, the Comelec) awaits official communication from the House of Representatives before preparing for the special polls in the seventh district of Cavite to fill the seat

vacated by Jesus Crispin Remulla who was appointed as Justice Secretary. In another development, fire ate up a portion of the office of the Comelec headquarters at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila on Sunday night. “Hindi ibig sabihin nito na kinalimutan natin ‘yung ating mga election workers. Mayroon— babalikan natin sila pagka nagka-eleksyon, eh ‘di titingnan natin sino ba talaga ang nagtrabaho? Ilang oras sila, ilang araw sila nagtrabaho dito? Ano ‘yung kanilang position? Sila ba’y naging—sila ‘yung nag-aano doon sa mga makina? Whatever it is,” Marcos said. (It doesn’t

mean that we forget our election workers. We will check their welfare in the next election. We will determine who really worked, how many hours they had worked, or how many days they had rendered,) Marcos said. “And then, doon tayo magdadagdag ng ayuda and we do not have to put a new section, a new category sa pagbayad ng tax dahil ang sa pagbigay ng ayuda, ‘yung buong makinarya na pagbigay ng ayuda ay nandiyan na. Sasabihin na lang natin okay isama natin doon sa mga magiging beneficiary ang mga election workers, (Then from there, we will add assistance and we do not have to put a new section or category in paying taxes. We will just include them as beneficiaries,)” he added. Marcos vetoed the proposed tax exemption saying that it “runs counter to the objective of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program to correct the inequity in the country’s tax system and negate the progressivity of the reforms introduced under RA 10963 or the TRAIN law.”

FARMERS’ DAY AT SM. SM Foundation, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Trade and Industry, spearheads a Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Market at the SM City in Baliwag, Bulacan, offering fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. Photo taken at the ribbon cutting shows (from left) SM Mall assistant manager Eugene Martin, Baliwag municipal agriculture office chief Clemen Labao, Baliwag councilor Kenneth Cruz, Baliwag municipal DSWD representative Jeffrey De Leon, and SM City Baliwag mall manager Rodora Tolentino. In inset is Virgilio Eugenio, a beneficiary of the KBK program, showing off his goods on sale at the pop-up KBK stalls. Jun David

Ex-lawmaker faces prosecution over 2008 PDAF mess THE trial of the malversation and graft cases against a former legislator will go on full swing as the Sandiganbayan junked for lack of merit the respondent’s bid to quash the charges arising from his alleged irregular transfer of his discretionary fund to a non-government organization (NGO) in 2008. The trial will proceed after the anti-graft court, in a resolution dated July 26, denied former Iloilo congressman Niel Tupas’ petition for demurrer.

A demurrer to evidence is a motion asking the court to decide on the case solely on the basis of the evidence presented by the prosecution while challenging such evidence to prove that it is not enough to merit conviction. “We are not persuaded. Passing through the assertions of the prosecution in their Comment/Opposition [on Tupas’ demurrer to evidence] and the evidence presented, it is ostensible that they were able to build up the case against the ac-

Army kills 3 NPA rebs in S. Kudarat COTABATO CITY—The military here has intensified operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sultan Kudarat province following a clash that left an NPA leader and two of his aides killed over the weekend. In a statement Army 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong identified the slain NPA leader as Ian Dela Rama, head of the regional operations command of the rebels’ Far South Mindanao Region. Dela Rama was a former secretary of the NPA Front 4A, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. He also had an existing warrant of arrest for arson filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 3 in Butuan City. Dela Rama’s two slain aides, identified as

Valerio Lacumbo and Wilmer Dela Cruz, were both operating in the mountain borders of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. “The three were killed in a running gun battle at the peripheries of Barangay Baluan, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, on Saturday afternoon,” Capulong said. Recovered from the rebels were two M16 rifles, a Garand rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, a hand grenade, firearm clips, ammunition, P3,000 cash, bomb-making components, and mobile phones, among others. Capulong reminded his troops of possible retaliatory attacks from the NPA to avenge the death of their three comrades. He assured the public though that the Army will continue to pursue those who persist to fight the government.

cused,” the anti-graft court said. Tupas may have acted in “bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence” when he admitted in his counter-affidavit that he recommended NGO Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. or KKAMFI as project partner of then state-run National Agribusiness Corporation or NABCOR.” “It is quite definite that the public fund supposedly earmarked for the project is now unaccountable,” the Sandiganbayan added. Maricel V. Cruz

THIS VENDOR NEEDS NO STALL. A crab vendor plies his trade along a busy sidewalk in Barangay Buting, Pasig City. Manny Palmero

Allocate P1.5t for 3-year infra projects—solon By Maricel V. Cruz A LEGISLATOR from the Bicol region on Monday urged the Marcos administration to allocate P500 billion annually for the next three years on infrastructure projects to boost the economy and create millions of job opportunities. In a statement, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte asked Congress to support the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stick with, and even expand, the “Build, Build, Build” initiative on infrastructure projects in such priority areas as health, education, agriculture, livelihood, information technology and tourism—or the HEAL IT sectors. Villafuerte said a P1.5-trillion economic stimulus package, which he and three other Bicolano legislators have proposed in a measure dubbed the Bayan Bangon Muli (BBM) bill, will “enable the Marcos administration to hit its target of expanding the economy by 6.5 percent to 8 percent, pulling down the poverty incidence to just 9 percnt, and propelling the Philippines to the status of an upper middle-income country during President Marcos’s term.” Villafuerte sought the speedy approval of House Bill (HB) 271, or the National Economic Stimulus and Recovery Act of 2022, that “will let President BBM sustain and even expand the unmatched high spending on infrastructure development initiated by his predecessor, Mr. Duterte, while focusing such fresh investments on building and improving facilities for the new government’s priority areas that Mr. Marcos had listed in his first SONA, including the HEAL IT sectors.

ES Rodriguez finds another ally in Congress EMBATTLED Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez has found an ally in Congress as a House leader appealed to his critics to “stop nitpicking at every move” of the Malacañang official. Rep. Dan Fernandez of Laguna made the call as he defended Rodriguez from allegations in the media that he is supposed to be on his way out as executive secretary. Fernandez, who was recently elected as chairman of the House public order and security committee, noted that critics have been watching nearly every move of Rodriguez in a bid to sow intrigue calculated at pressuring the official to step down. “At first glance, one will find them amusing because nearly every body language, facial expression of Rodriguez is being reported to the media as sign of the supposed falling out between him and the president. But this must stop for the sake of our country” said Fernandez. Recently, the media also surmised that Rodriguez’s non-inclusion in the Cabinet contingent that accompanied President Marcos in a visit to earthquake-devastated areas in Abra was indicative of the Executive Secretary’s dwindling clout in Malacañang. “This logic is just absurd if not twisted. Like all executive secretaries in the past, Rodriguez has to stay put in Malacañang to take care of important matters needing urgent presidential attention,” Fernandez said. Maricel V. Cruz

Opinion Urgent Need for a DDR THE recent magnitude-7 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon with epicenter in the town of Tayum in Abra emphasizes once again the urgency of the passage of the DDR (Department of Disaster Resilience) by the Senate. This bill has been pending for so long in the Senate, but despite the calamities and disasters hitting the Philippines, a disasterprone country, the Senate did not enact it in the 18th Congress. I have been writing columns urging the creation of this department because I know that in a country like the Philippines, disaster and calamities can hit anytime, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, floods, and storm surges like that of typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban years ago, Santa Banana. President Marcos realizes the need for such a body that will serve to mitigate disaster and calamities but only an “agency” under the Office of the President because he said a “department” would cost a lot of money. Santa Banana, while President Marcos and Senate President Migz Zubiri have the last say whether it will be a department or just an agency under the office of the President, in my opinion, since disasters and calamities can hit the Philippines at any time, I believe a department is necessary. I believe, however, that a separate department is more practical and urgently needed because it will have its own budget. A DDR with its own budget and allocation would be able to have the funds for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the disaster affected areas of the country. Technical staff will consist of experts and it will take over the functions of the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council). A mere agency will not answer the need of the country to effectively mitigate disasters and calamities. The DDR becomes more urgent because it will focus itself on strategizing and meeting the problems of disaster-prone areas of the Philippines, especially the effects of disasters and calamities like the loss of lives, loss of agriculture, loss of livelihood and infrastructure and to build permanent evacuation centers where they are needed. It must be noted that while we have the NDRRMC, it is only an ad hoc body, under the Civil Defense Bureau of the Department of National Defense. What we need, my gulay, is a permanent DDR because disasters and calamities affect everybody. In the case of earthquakes, we must not forget that the Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region around much of the rim of the Pacific Ocean where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Earthquakes in the Philippines can happen anytime and anywhere without warning. As to President Marcos saying a department will cost money, I think it becomes immaterial when we count all the effects of disasters and calamities like devastation of agriculture and infrastructure, loss of livelihood , and especially in the loss of lives. There is now a move in the Senate by Senator Bong Go to enact the DDR bill. I think this must be given priority by President Marcos. I emphasize once again the need for a

By Nonnie Pelayo THE death of former President Fidel V. Ramos on Sunday has brought a flood of remembrance to people whose lives he touched during his more than half a century of service to the country. When three “Vicks” won over three stars It was in February 1982 when then Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, Chief of Constabulary, flew with his party from Manila to Loakan Airport in Baguio City and possibly farther northward and deeper into the Cordilleras in Natonin, Mountain Province, where the Constabulary’s most elevated detachment was at 3,957 feet above sea level. Upon hearing that the Chief, PC, was in the area, the local officials and the residents flocked to the detachment to catch a glimpse of Ramos. Ramos asked why, and was told that low lying clouds had enveloped the mountain and it was dangerous to fly, to which he retorted: “In Vietnam, I flew in thicker soup (clouds) than that.” Prompting the Air Force captain to retort, “Sir, in Vietnam you had a lot of fuel, we only have enough to fly to Baguio.” So Ramos meekly told his group composed of senior Constabulary officers and

DDR in the wake of the recent earthquake in Abra, that affected almost all of Northern Luzon. We see the disastrous effects of the earthquake to infrastructure, to heritage buildings and churches and ultimately to tourism. I know quite well that Vigan is an important tourist destination because of its historical and heritage buildings and houses. I myself and my family have been there many times because we enjoy seeing the churches, heritage homes and sites. Once again, I believe the Senate should now enact the long pending DDR bill and not wait for President Marcos to put up an agency as he said, considering the fact that our country is prone to so many disasters and calamities, and with climate change, these disasters and calamities will happen more frequently, my gulay. There is really a need for such a department, instead of just an agency under the Office of the President.

The DDR becomes more urgent because it will focus itself on strategizing and meeting the problems of disaster-prone areas of the Philippines ••• It is very alarming to know that monkeypox is now in the Philippines. The first case of monkeypox in our country was reported last Friday by the DOH. To answer the question how dangerous it is, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), monkeypox is a virus that typically causes mild symptoms including fever, body aches and pus-filled skin lesions. Recovery time is within two to four weeks. The WHO also said that anyone can spread the virus primarily via intimate skinto-skin contact, usually with someone who has an active rash, as well as via contact with contaminated clothes or bedding. Like with COVID-19, we must protect ourselves by avoiding close personal contact with someone who has an illness presenting with a distinctive rash, or is unwell according to the WHO. I pray that monkeypox will not spread in the country. It might not be as well known as COVID-19, but in my opinion, it is very alarming.

••• President Marcos had all his legal team headed by former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to decide what measure to take following the decision of the ICC (International Criminal Court) to prove the alleged crimes against humanity committed by the former President Rodrigo Duterte in his war against illegal drugs. It is interesting to note that the legal team of President Marcos also has Duterte’s former spokesman Harry Roque because of his expertise on international law. Inside reports tell me, however, my gulay, that the legal team may decide against the return of the Philippines to the fold of the ICC . The legal team is most likely to deny the alleged investigation of the crimes against humanity committed by Duterte, considering the fact that the judicial system of the Philippines is working. In my opinion, it’s just as well.

defense reporters: “Okay guys, let’s stay here for the night.” Thus, an officer with three “Vicks” – slang for the junior officer’s shoulder buttons – won an argument with somebody wearing three stars (lieutenant general).” Note: The rank insignia of lieutenants and captains in the military is a triangle with an “H” in the middle, thus the troops fondly call it “Vicks” after the triangle-shaped sore throat relievers. When ‘Vicks’ became replacement for ice In a trip to Samar, Ramos flew to a detachment, again based on top of a hill. Upon reaching the detachment, Ramos was pleased to note that the commander, a grizzly sarge, was wearing stiffly starched fatigues and his accouterments and combat boots were shined. As sarge was briefing the visiting officers led by Ramos on the peace and order situation in his AOR, or area of responsibility, a soldier served nilagang kamoteng kahoy with niyog. After the visitors had their fill, the soldier returned and served water and Vicks candies. As the visitors looked askance, sarge said: Dito po sa bundok walang yelo. Pero kung may Vicks ka sa bibig paginom ng tubig, malamig na rin ang dating. You should have seen Ramos’ look of amusement.

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Vignettes on FVR Everyman

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022

Let’s continue to be vigilant

ITH razor-sharp lookout, Filipinos should be sensitive to monkeypox, an illness caused by the monkeypox virus which is a viral zoonotic infection, confirmed by health authorities to have been detected in the Philippines. And only the other day the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed that a Filipino in Singapore has tested positive for monkeypox, four years older than the 31-year-old Filipino now in isolation in the country after flying in from abroad on July 19. If there is a silver lining, it was the statement of the Department of Health that stressed it was wrong to discriminate against patients infected with monkeypox. The detected case, announced only the other day, is of a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from abroad on July 19 – with no other details like gender, what country the case has come from, except that the case and traced close contacts are now in isolation. Officials have said the government’s surveillance systems immediately detected the monkeypox, a zoonotic infection which means it can spread from animals to human

or from person to person. Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “We immediately took care of and isolated the patient to keep the disease from spreading (and) fast contact tracing has identified the close contacts to halt transmission.

The most common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes Health OIC Undersecretary Beverly Ho also said the unnamed case remains under strict isolation and monitoring. Monkeypox, according to medical authorities, can cause a range of signs and symptoms.

While some people have mild symptoms, others may develop more serious symptoms and need care in a health facility. Those at higher risk for severe disease or complications include people who are pregnant, children and persons that are immunocompromised. The most common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. This is followed or accompanied by the development of a rash which can last for two to three weeks. The rash can be found on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, eyes, mouth, throat, groin, and genital and/or anal regions of the body. The number of lesions can range from one to several thousand. Lesions begin flat, then fill with liquid before they crust over, dry up and fall off, with a fresh layer of skin forming underneath. Symptoms typically last two to three weeks and usually go away on their own or with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever. As DOH officer-in-charge Vergeire said: “Let us continue to be vigilant and follow our health protocols.”

Sickness unto death I AM once again being surrounded by sickness and death, the latest of which is my former boss, Fidel V. Ramos, the best president our country has had in the last 60 years. This is why I am writing this column – to make sense of sickness and death and the suffering that comes with them. I borrow its title from a book written in the late 19th Century by the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. This sickness unto death is what Kierkegaard calls despair which happens when a person does not align himself or herself with God’s plan for that person. The opposite of despair is faith. To not be in despair for this founder of modern existentialism is “to have reconciled the finite with the infinite, to exist in awareness of one’s own self and of love’s power”. Faith leads to hope which gives us the courage to love. It is however difficult, almost impossible to talk about faith when people you love get sick and die. Aside from Ramos, I know of colleagues and classmates who died recently. Three of those deaths – Jojo Nad, a good friend from our time in Washington DC and married to Manette, our fellow Jesuit Volunteer, Leah Vidal who was our classmate in college and close colleague in social development and academe, and Gilbert Son, our brother in the Neocatechumenal Way – have peen particularly sad and has pushed me to ask, not for the first time, what the meaning of suffering is. To answer this, as suggested by our catechist, I read the catechesis on Job that Pope Francis recently proclaimed. I share some excerpts below: “The parable of the Book of Job dramatically represents in an exemplary way what truly happens in life – that is – that trials that are too heavy fall on a person, on a family, on a people, trials that are disproportionate in relation to human lowliness and frailty. It

‘When I withdrew support for the government in February 1986, I did not wear a uniform and I did not carry governmentissued firearms’ ‘Mushrooms’ at headquarters In a visit to a regional command as the command conference was winding up, Ramos told the members of his general staff to announce

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often happens in life that “when it rains it pours,” as the saying goes. And some people are overcome by an accumulation of evil that truly seems excessive and unjust. It is like this for many people.” What do we do in front of suffering, sickness, and death? We pray. And prayer can include protest. Pope Francis continues: “God will listen to you. God is a Father. God is not afraid of our prayer of protest, no! . . . God does not shy away from the confrontation, but, from the beginning, allows Job to give vent to his protest, and God listens. At times, perhaps we need to learn this respect and tenderness from God.

I protest the suffering and deaths of my friends but I am also surprised by the beauty of their lives and the certainty of their resurrection “And God does not like that encyclopedia – let’s call it this – of explanations, of reflections that Job’s friends make. These are things that come off the tip of their tongues which are not right: it is that type of religiosity that explains everything, but the heart remains cold. God does not like this. He likes Job’s protest and silence more.” Recently, I received news about my health that made me protest like Job. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and, although this is a form of cancer that can be treated, it was still a shock. I certainly do not want to die. I always thought I would have another good 20 years. I feel like I am now climbing another peak professionally as a teacher and human rights and climate justice lawyer, and personally, including in my relationships with my family and old and new friends,

their activities regarding the region. After the chiefs of personnel, intelligence, operations and logistics have delivered their pieces, the chief of plans prefaced his announcement, saying: “Sir, I observed that units in the field are not sending reports on time, and – suddenly and in a loud voice menacingly turned to the deputy regional commander who was his PMA classmate — said, ‘What do you think of us at headquarters? Mushrooms? You keep us in the dark, you feed at sh—t and you want us to grow’?” Ramos quickly defused the situation by saying, “Okay, mushrooms from Manila let’s have our lunch.” Government-supplied ‘rebels’ One time, a group of brash young officers went to Ramos’s office and told him: Sir, we are withdrawing our support for the

and more recently the team we are putting together for the Mindanao dream project on climate justice and Lumad schools. I am also excited for the work on disinformation I am helping lead. At the same time, there is something that attracts me to a life knowing when you will die. I could prepare for that moment. I could plan my funeral wake. I could say goodbye properly. I could wind up my affairs systematically. But don’t make me suffer too much is what I would like to ask the Lord. In my philosophy classes, I used to teach death as the Jesuit Roger Troisfontaines conceived of it — that we are beings-towardsdeath and every day brings us nearer to that event which completes us. My favorite philosophical concept is still French philosopher and dramatist Gabriel Marcel’s disponibilite — that we are what we have (to) make/made available ourselves to; we are the sum of our yesses, our missions, the calls to love and build that we heard and responded to. I look at the life of FVR, Jojo, Leah, and Gilbert and definitely they live such lives. I protest the suffering and deaths of my friends but I am also surprised by the beauty of their lives and the certainty of their resurrection. I protest at what is happening to me. But I am also grateful for this cancer. I always thought that eventually some big health crisis would hit me, given the excesses of my lifestyle. It was just a matter of time, although I did plan to address the danger. I always thought I would have a stroke or a heart attack. Instead, God gave me this sickness, that is not my fault that allows me to recalibrate my life and do better. In other words, I have been given a new opportunity to live better, among others to see which and who are the necessities in my world. Things are so clear now. I can see God’s plan. I need to be faithful to that.

government.” Ramos told them in a voice more like a father scolding a wayward son: “What did you say? You are withdrawing support for the government? Look at yourselves, you are wearing government-issued uniforms, you are carrying government-issued firearms and are eating government-issued rations. “When I withdrew support for the government in February 1986, I did not wear a uniform and I did not carry government-issued firearms.” The young officers left Ramos’s office with downcast eyes. (Nonnie Pelayo covered the military and defense beats during the most tumultuous period in the history of the armed services. He covered FVR as chief, PC/DG, INP; CSAFP and SND from the early 1980s to the early 1990s.)

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BURNING HILLS.

A firefighter watches the progression of a wildfire at the village of Asseiceira Pequena in Mafra, Portugal on July 31. AFP

First grain shipment leaves Ukraine as Mykolaiv shelled K YIV—The first shipment of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa on Monday morning, Turkey announced, as Kyiv said the “brutal” shelling by Moscow of the southern city Mykolaiv had killed an agriculture tycoon.

The blockage of deliveries from warring Russia and Ukraine—two of the world’s biggest grain exporters— has contributed to soaring food prices, hitting the world’s poorestManila nations especially hard. Standard TODAY

Last month both sides signed a landmark deal with Turkey and the United Nations aimed at relieving the global food crisis. “The ship Razoni has left the port of Odessa bound for Tripoli in Lebanon,” the Turkish ministry said in a statement. “It is expected in Istanbul on August 2. It will then continue its journey after it has been inspected in Istanbul,” the statement added. Other convoys would follow, respecting the maritime corridor and the agreed formalities, it said. The Joint Coordination Centre, the organisation overseeing the grain exports, said the Razoni is carrying “over 26,000 metric tonnes” of maize.

Tycoon killed While the much needed grain exports will be welcomed, the war in Ukraine rages on. AFP journalists witnessed intense Russian bombardment of the eastern town of Bakhmut after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for civilians to leave the frontline Donetsk region bearing the brunt of the Kremlin’s offensive. Authorities in Mykolaiv said Sunday that widespread Russian bombardments overnight killed at least two civilians. “Today, one of the most brutal shellings of Mykolaiv and the region over the entire period of the full-scale war took place. Dozens of missiles and rockets,” Zelensky said in an address. AFP

SENEGAL VOTES. A woman chooses her voting card in the popular neighborhood of Yoff in Dakar on July 31. Senegalese voters head to the polls Sunday for parliamentary elections the opposition hopes will force a coalition with President Macky Sall and curb any ambitions he may hold for a third term. AFP

IN BRIEF UN admits deadly DR Congo shooting

BENI, DR Congo—United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he was “outraged” after two people were killed and several others injured when UN peacekeepers opened fire during an incident in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on the Uganda border on Sunday. The UN force MONUSCO admitted that some of its peacekeepers had opened fire “for unexplained reasons”, adding that arrests had already been made. Guterres was “saddened and dismayed” to learn of the shooting, a UN statement said. “The Secretary-General stresses in the strongest terms the need to establish accountability for these events. “He welcomes the decision of his special representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to detain the MONUSCO personnel involved in the incident and to immediately open an investigation,” it added. Video of the incident, shared on social media showed men, at least one in police uniform and another in army uniform, advancing towards the immobilized UN convoy behind a closed barrier in Kasindi. The town is in eastern DR Congo’s Beni territory on the border with Uganda. After a verbal exchange, the peacekeepers appeared to open fire before opening the barrier and driving through while people scattered or hid. AFP

Kentucky flood death toll rises to 28

JACKSON—Kentucky’s governor predicted bodies will continue to be found “for weeks” as the death toll from devastating flooding rose Sunday to 28 and rescuers embarked on a long and grueling effort to locate victims. Some areas in the mountainous region are still inaccessible following the flooding in the state’s east that turned roads into rivers, washed out bridges, and swept away houses. Off-and-on rain plus poor cell phone service are also complicating rescue efforts. “This is one of the most devastating, deadly floods that we have seen in our history... And at a time that we’re trying to dig out, it’s raining,” Governor Andy Beshear told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We’re going to work to go door to door, work to find, again, as many people as we can. We’re even going to work through the rain. But the weather is complicating it.” The number of dead in the flooding, caused by torrential rain that began on Wednesday, is expected to rise even further. “We’re going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them swept hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter mile-plus from where they were lost,” Beshear said on “Meet the Press.” AFP

Myanmar extends state of emergency

YANGON—Myanmar’s military government has extended a state of emergency by six months, state media said Monday, with the junta chief saying elections could only take place when the conflict-wracked country was “stable and peaceful”. Min Aung Hlaing, who led last year’s coup, requested the military government to “allow him to serve for an additional 6 months”, according to a report in the Global New Light of Myanmar. Members of the junta’s National Defence and Security Council “unanimously supported the proposal”, it said. The junta declared a state of emergency after ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February last year and plunged the country into turmoil. It has previously said elections would be held and the state of emergency lifted by August 2023— extending the initial one-year timeline it announced days after the coup. The army has justified its power grab by alleging massive fraud during the 2020 elections in which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) trounced a military-backed party. Last year, it cancelled the results of the polls, saying it had uncovered more than 11 million instances of voter fraud. AFP

Business PSEi August 1, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

MFIN VUL

2.4 0.87

0.25 0.08

11.63% 10.13%

APVI

14.48

1.1

8.22%

WIN

0.27

0.02

8.00%

5 6

URC CEU

117.7 6.89

6.7 0.39

6.04% 6.00%

MWP2A

99.8

5.6

5.94%

ALLHC

3.27

0.17

5.48%

BALAI

0.69

0.03

4.55%

PXP

0.25

4.35%

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

PNX4 T

600 0.66

-194 -0.05

-24.43% -7.04%

CHP

0.67

-0.04

-5.63%

TECHW

0.67

-0.04

-5.63%

5 6

ICT FOOD

183.9 0.55

-10.3 -0.03

-5.30% -5.17%

BDO

113.8

-5.7

-4.77%

CSB

-0.39

-4.65%

ION

0.67

-0.03

-4.29%

CNPF

22.5

-1

-4.26%

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market ends nearly flat; ICTSI and Meralco lead decliners

TOCKS closed virtually flat Monday to herald the ghost month of August, with many investors adopting a wait-and-see attitude on the next move of monetary authorities to contain inflation.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 3.90 points, or 0.06 percent, to 6.312.03 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Losers edged gainers, 92 to 85, with 55 issues unchanged. International Container Terminal Ser-

vices Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the biggest port operator, tumbled 5.3 percent to P183.90, while BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the largest lender in terms of assets, dropped 4.8 percent to P113.80. Manila Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, fell 3.8 percent to P327.20, but Universal Robina Corp. of the Gokongwei Group, the largest snack food maker, surged 6 percent to 117.70 . The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Monday and oil fell as investors brushed off both weak data from China and comments indicating the Federal Reserve is wedded to its anti-inflation rate hike campaign. Asian markets opened the day cautiously as investors struggled to extend

Wall Street’s lead, but they picked up in the afternoon. Hong Kong and Shanghai recovered after sinking in reaction to another disappointing reading on the Chinese economy. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta and Wellington edged up, though Taipei edged slightly lower. Strong earnings from Wall Street titans Amazon and Apple had helped US markets end last week with healthy gains and eased concerns about the imManila pact on consumers of surging inflation Standard TODAY and rising borrowing costs. That came after investors took Fed chief Jerome Powell’s comments Wednesday after a policy meeting to in-

FIRST GEN MERIDIAN HOLDINGS, INC. NOTICE OF DECREASE IN AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

TO ALL CONCERNED: Please take notice that FIRST GEN MERIDIAN HOLDINGS, INC. will apply and get approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to decrease its authorized capital stock from Php1,050,000,000.00 to Php697,780,000 to reflect the cancellation and retirement of the preferred shares that have been redeemed by the company. The decrease in authorized capital stock requires an amendment of Article SEVENTH of the Amended Articles of Incorporation, to read as follows:

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME

VALUE (PHP)

SCC

14,485,100

585,285,025

ICT

1,756,350

321,008,361

SMPH

8,577,900

311,958,960

BDO

2,616,370

299,471,502

MER

781,110

257,295,526

319,680

247,823,035

CNVRG

13,258,600

246,515,736

ALI

8,392,800

214,066,210

URC

1,749,440

202,939,675

314,800

199,597,545

dicate the central bank could start slowing down monetary tightening, providing a much-needed boost to stocks. However, analysts warned that inflation would take time to come down from its four-decade highs and that there were undoubtedly more rate hikes to come. Officials backed that up at the weekend, with Minneapolis Fed chief Neel Kashkari telling The New York Times that he was “surprised by markets’ interpretation” of the latest Fed meeting statement. “I think we’re going to continue to do what we need to do until we are convinced that inflation is well on its way back down to two percent,” he said. “We are a long way away from that.” With AFP

SEVENTH: That the authorized capital stock of the Corporation is Six Hundred Ninety Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Pesos (Php697,780,000), in lawful money of the Philippines, divided into: 1. Fifty Million (50,000,000) common shares (“Common Shares”) with par value of One Peso (P1.00) per share or Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00); and 2. Six Million Four Hundred Seventy Seven Thousand Eight Hundred (6,477,800) preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”) with par value of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) per share or Six Hundred Forty Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Pesos (Php647,780,000);

UKRAINE SUPPORTERS. Manila Participants carry branches of wheat covered in red paint as they

Standard march in central Athens during a rally in support of Ukraine on July 31, 202. The first shipment of TODAY Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa on Monday under a deal aimed at relieving a global food crisis following Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, the Turkish defense ministry said. AFP

OPEC+ walks ‘fine line’ between US and Russia LONDON, United Kingdom—The OPEC+ group of oil exporters are set to hammer out a new strategy at their meeting Wednesday, with all eyes on how they will react to soaring crude prices. The 13 core members of OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and the 10 further states in OPEC+—chief among them Russia—find themselves at a crossroads. After the drastic output cuts they agreed to in spring 2020 in reaction to the plunge in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the member states of the alliance are once again producing at pre-virus levels—at least on paper. In normal times they would perhaps have stopped at that but faced with runaway prices and pressure from Washington, this scenario is viewed as unlikely. US President Joe Biden travelled to Saudi Arabia in mid-July despite his promise to make the country a “pariah” in the wake of the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Part of the reason for the controversial trip was to convince Riyadh to continue loosening the production taps to stabilize the market and curb rampant inflation. Wednesday’s meeting will reveal whether his efforts were successful. “The US administration appears to be anticipating some good news but it’s hard to know whether that’s based on assurances during Biden’s trip or not,” Craig Erlam, analyst at Oanda, told AFP. “It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Saudis announce something that Biden could tout as a win to voters at home,” according to Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management. According to the London-based research institute Energy Aspects, OPEC+ could adjust its current agreement in order to keep raising crude production volumes. AFP

Macau to reopen after revenues sank HONG KONG, China—Macau was set to remove most coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday after the casino hub’s gaming revenue hit its lowest level on record. The former Portuguese colony is the only territory in China where casinos are allowed, and its multi-billion-dollar gaming industry was until recently bigger than Las Vegas. But the sector has taken a kicking in recent years, not only from the coronavirus pandemic but also from a Beijing-directed anti-corruption crackdown. Gross gaming revenue fell to 398 million patacas (US$49 million) in July, the lowest since records began in 2009, according to the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. It was slightly better than analyst expectations, according to Bloomberg, but was still down 98 percent from pre-pandemic levels. Macau’s casinos were ordered to shut down for 10 days in July as the city was placed under three weeks of “static management” modeled after the COVID-19 lockdowns in mainland China. Public services and commercial activities were suspended, and residents were not allowed to leave home except to take a mandatory COVID test or to buy essentials. Most restrictions will be removed on Tuesday, with the city having recorded no new infection for nine days, the government announced on Monday. Official departments will resume full operations, as will commercial activities—on the condition that customers present a negative COVID test from the previous 72 hours. Though the casinos reopened more than a week ahead of other businesses, getting out of the slump will depend on Macau resuming quarantine-free travel from mainland China—its largest source of revenue. AFP

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Amendments underscored)

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING OF ALLIED CARE EXPERTS (ACE) MEDICAL CENTER-BUTUAN INC.

The said decrease in authorized capital stock and amendment of Article SEVENTH of the Articles of Incorporation were both approved by the Board of Directors and ratified by the stockholders on December 15, 2021. Manila

Standard

TODAY (SGD.) JULIE ANN S. TERRADO-ACOSTA Corporate Secretary

DEAR STOCKHOLDERS: Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center – Butuan Inc. will be held on August 22, 2022, Monday at 8:00 in the morning; the meeting will be conducted via Zoom Webinar. Kindly register thru the following link, on or before August 15, 2022, to enable you to participate in the meeting:

(MS-AUG. 2, 2022)

PRIME MERIDIAN POWERGEN CORPORATION NOTICE OF DECREASE IN AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

bit.ly/acebutuan2022 The link will take you through the process of registration. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered in the platform, including the details and procedures in the conduct of the meeting. The confirmation email will also contain a link and instructions for the online voting which will be conducted via an online platform. The meeting shall be recorded (visual and audio) for future reference. The Agenda: I. II. III. IV. V.

Call to Order Invocation Determination of Quorum Welcome Message from the Chairman of the Board Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Y2021 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting VI. Annual Financial Report 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 X. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2022 XI. Adjournment

TO ALL CONCERNED: Please take notice that PRIME MERIDIAN POWERGEN CORPORATION will apply and get approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to decrease its authorized capital stock from Php1,050,000,000.00 to Php697,780,000 to reflect the cancellation and retirement of the preferred shares that have been redeemed by the company. The decrease in authorized capital stock requires an amendment of Article SEVENTH of the Amended Articles of Incorporation, to read as follows: SEVENTH: That the authorized capital stock of the Corporation is Six Hundred Ninety Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Pesos (Php697,780,000), in lawful money of the Philippines, divided into: 1. Fifty Million (50,000,000) common shares (“Common Shares”) with par value of One Peso (P1.00) per share or Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00); and

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2022 (Record Date) 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 duly executed proxy form with the undersigned, via email, at acebutuanasm2022@gmail. com not later than August 19, 2022, but preferably before August 15, 2022, to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar. The sample proxy form is available at the Corporation’s website, for your reference. [NOTE: Management is not soliciting proxies]

2. Six Million Four Hundred Seventy Seven Thousand Eight Hundred (6,477,800) preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”) with par value of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) per share or Six Hundred Forty Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Pesos (Php647,780,000);

The Information Statement with the Management Report and SEC Form 17-A are posted at the Corporation’s website at www.acebutuan. com.ph. You may contact the undersigned via email at asmbutuan2022@ gmail.com, or through telephone/mobile numbers: 0915 735 5076 if you have inquiries or concerns regarding the meeting.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Amendments underscored)

Very truly yours,

DR. MARIETTA T. SAMOY Corporate Secretary

(SGD.) JULIE ANN S. TERRADO-ACOSTA Corporate Secretary (MS-AUG. 1 & 2, 2022)

(MS-AUG. 2, 2022)

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

2 SMC power plants register P15-b losses on high coal prices By Alena Mae S. Flores SAN Miguel Corp. power unit SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. said Monday two of its power plants suffered combined losses of P15 billion since 2021 amid skyrocketing global coal prices and supply restrictions from the Malampaya natural gas field. SMC said it sought a temporary and partial cost recovery relief from the Energy Regulatory Commission for the losses it incurred from January to May this year amounting to P5.2 billion. This will be in the form of a rate increase on its contract capacity under power supply agreements with Manila Electric Co., which will be amortized over six months. The losses were incurred by SMC’s 1,200-megawatt Sual coal plant in Pangasinan and the 1,200-MW Ilijan combined cycle natural gas plant in Batangas. SMC president and chief executive Ramon Ang said the company decided to absorb more than P10 billion in losses last year, which it did not file a claim for, considering the difficulties the country was experiencing from the pandemic. “Unfortunately, those prices have increased by over 500 percent since then. We are not asking to recover all our losses, and neither are we asking for a permanent increase. We want to continue supplying Meralco with baseload power. What we are asking for is just a temporary and equitable relief to allow the power facilities to survive this difficult period and continue supplying power to Meralco,” Ang said. SMC asked the ERC for a rate increase from January to May of P0.80 per kWh, or from P4.30 per kWh to P5.1 per kWh, for 670 MW of its contracted baseload capacity from the Ilijan plant and an average of P4 per kWh, from P4.30 to P8.30 per kWh, for 330 MW of its contracted baseload capacity from the Sual plant.

Business SM Prime, BDO booked st strong profits in 1 half T By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE property development and banking units of the SM Group posted doubledigit growth in net income in the first half on the back of strong revenues amid the reopening of the economy.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. said Monday net income climbed 21 percent in the first six months to P14.1 billion from P11.6 billion in the same period last year, while BDO Unibank Inc. said profit rose 12 percent to P23.9 billion from P21.4 billion on strong results across core businesses. SM Prime said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half revenues climbed 13 percent to P46.3 billion from P41.1 billion a year earlier. Consolidated operating income increased 33 percent to P21.4 billion from P16.1 billion.

“The growing domestic demand over the past period kept SM Prime’s financial growth steady as reported in our first half of 2022 results,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said, “We are optimistic that despite the global economic slowdown, the local economy will continue to benefit from the sustained growth in remittances from overseas Filipino workers, the business process outsourcing industry as well as the increase in local travel and tours activities,” Lim said. It said the Philippine mall business’ revenues, which accounted for 44 percent of consolidated revenues, surged 92 percent to P20.6 billion in the first six months as the more relaxed community quarantine in major key areas boosted rental revenues and cinema and event ticket sales. Residential sales declined by 25 percent in the first half to P18.2 billion from P24.5 billion in the same period last year. Reservation sales grew 8 percent to P59.4 billion, or equivalent to 12,327 units. SM Prime’s other key businesses, which include offices, hotels and conven-

tion centers, recorded a 49-percent growth in revenues to P4.5 billion in the first half from P3.0 billion in the first half of 2021. Meanwhile, BDO said its established business franchise, healthy capital position and sustainable earnings performance reinforced the bank’s resilience against prevailing macro headwinds and put it in a good position to capitalize on the country’s structural opportunities for long-term sustainable growth. Customer loan portfolio went up by 9 percent in the first half, funded by an 11-percent rise in CASA (current and savings account) deposits which now comprise 85 percent of total deposits. Non-interest income expanded to P34.3 billion, lifted by the strong expansion in fees and insurance premiums. “Pre-provision operating profit was up to P39.2 billion reflective of the strength of core income sources amid tempered rise in OPEX [operating expenses],” it said. Asset quality sustained its improvement as the non-performing loan ratio went down to 2.39 percent in the second quarter from 2.72 percent in the first quarter and 3.12 percent a year-ago.

PLDT Inc. said Monday it completed the sale of 1,013 more cell sites to two international tower operators for P13.2 billion. PLDT said the deal was part of the sale and purchase agreements with ISOC edotco Towers Inc. and Conworks Infratech Corp., a subsidiary of EdgePoint, involving 5,907 towers for P77 billion. PLDT units Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. signed the deals in April. The company sold 3,012 towers

BPI ANNIVERSARY. Bank of the Philippine Islands holds a mass in celebration of its 171st founding anniversary with the theme of ‘MOVE—Make Obsession Visible in all Experiences’ that reflects the bank’s determination to better serve the evolving needs of clients with a focus on digitalization, customer obsession and sustainability. Attending the anniversary mass are (from left) Ayala Corp. and BPI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Most Rev. Honesto Ongtioco, Rev. Keith Buenaventura, BPI president and chief executive Jose Teodoro Limcaoco and BPI advisory council member Oscar Reyes.

amounting to P39.2 billion in June. With the latest transaction, PLDT completed the sale of 4,025 telecom towers representing 68 percent of the towers portfolio. The final closing of the transaction is expected by the fourth quarter of 2022. It said that of the 5,907 towers being monetized, ISOC edotco, a subsidiary of the edotco Group would acquire 2,973 towers nationwide, while Comworks Infratech would get 2,934 towers in Luzon. PLDT said the sale and leaseback would be complemented by a new tower build commitment of 1,500 towers

UnionBank completes P72-b acquisition of Citi’s consumer banking business in PH By Julito G. Rada UNION Bank of the Philippines said Monday it completed the acquisition of Citi’s consumer banking business in the Philippines for P72 billion. The total cash consideration was based on the net assets of the Citi Philippines consumer banking business, plus a premium of P45.3 billion. Based on the closing statement as of June 30, 2022, the net asset value of the business was P26.7 billion. UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said in a statement that with the acquisition, the bank added a consumer portfolio that is well-run and very profitable. “I cannot overemphasize how this is a game changer for UnionBank, its customers and its employees. We are now a much larger consumer bank. This will provide us better margins and allow us to maintain our industry-leading ROE [return on equity] moving forward,” Bautista said. Bautista said more than 1,500 top talents from Citi, including senior management team, would join UnionBank. “This further deepens our leadership bench. I am confident that, together, we

Monday, August 1, 2022

-3.9 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

6,312.03

434,446,629 76,170 5,157,603,450.29 85

DECLINES

UNCHANGED

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

56.3270

Japan

Yen

0.007348

0.4139

Pound

1.201000

67.6487

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127413

7.1768

Switzerland

Franc

1.039717

58.5641

Canada

Dollar

0.774114

43.6035

Singapore

Dollar

0.720357

40.5755

Australia

Dollar

0.691900

38.9727

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653224

149.4481

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266134

14.9905

Brunei

Dollar

0.717772

40.4299

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.027248

1.5348

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

15.3358

Euro

1.022000

57.5662

Korea

Won

0.000764

0.0430

China

Yuan

0.148109

8.3425

India

Rupee

0.012527

0.7056

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224719

12.6577

New Zealand

Dollar

0.625600

35.2382

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033547

1.8896 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Petron’s profit hit P7.7b in first half

OIL refiner Petron Corp. said Monday consolidated net income doubled to P7.7 billion in the first half from P3.87 billion a year ago on double-digit growth in sales. “Our post-pandemic transition has so far been marked by steady growth, particularly in segments where we suffered major setbacks earlier during this crisis. We move forward with hope and optimism as we roll out projects that will not only yield optimal returns for the company but, more importantly, lead towards greater sustainability and create economic opportunities for more sectors,” said Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang. The country’s largest oil company and the remaining refiner continued to emerge stronger from the pandemic as Petron’s sales volumes increased due to recovering demand and waning pandemic concerns. The company’s Philippine and Malaysian operations, including its trading subsidiary in Singapore, sold 51.4 million barrels in the first half, up 34 percent from 38.5 million barrels last year. Sales volume improved across all trades, with Petron’s commercial sales posting the highest increase as more industries, including aviation travel, rebounded from the pandemic’s impact. Alena Mae S. Flores

AUB earned P2.9b in first six months

PLDT sells 1,013 cell towers to two international companies for P13.2b By Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX CLOSING

will be able to bring the best customer experience and serve many more market segments and communities through innovation and collaboration,” Bautista said. UnionBank chief customer experience officer and chief digital channel officer Ana Delgado said the acquisition accelerated the bank’s goal of becoming the top consumer bank in the Philippines with one of the most diversified consumer banking portfolios among the listed banks. “With the acquisition of the Citi consumer business, we are now strong across three consumer businesses, namely: credit cards, salary / personal loans and mortgage loans,” Delgado said. She said the synergies across both organizations would allow the bank to unlock tremendous value by enriching customer proposition and elevating customer engagement. “As we work to bring new and exciting products and services to our customers, we are committed to ensuring that the same level of experience will continue for the one million customers that are moving to UnionBank. To deliver on this commitment, we have set up a dedicated integration team and are working closely with Citi to ensure a smooth transition,” Delgado said.

over the coming years. PLDT earlier said it would use the proceeds from the transaction to invest in the network and return cash to shareholders via special dividend. The company revised its 2022 capital expenditure guidance to P85 billion from the original capex guidance of P76 billion to P80 billion. PLDT said over the weekend it would invest about $100 million to build two additional submarine cable systems to boost its international data capacity. It recently fired up the US-Transpacific Jupiter Cable system, the Philippines’ fastest, direct data cable link to

the US and Japan. PLDT invested $136 million for the project. The 14,000-kilometer Jupiter Cable system is the newest international gateway connecting the Philippines directly from PLDT’s cable landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte to Japan and the US West Coast. “Our investment in Jupiter will exponentially boost the Philippines’ international capacity, ramp up the global trade of digital services and propel the nation’s digital economy, while increasing internet speed and reliability for Filipinos,” PLDT president and chief executive Al Panlilio said.

ASIA United Bank, the lending arm of the Rebisco Group, said Monday net income jumped 50 percent in the first half to P2.9 billion from P1.9 billion a year ago, driven by higher operating income and lower provision for credit and impairment losses. AUB president Manuel Gomez said in a statement AUB remained “on track with our target to return to our pre-pandemic net income performance of P4.4 billion, especially as the economy gradually reopens.” Return on assets stood at 1.8 percent and return on equity was at 15.8 percent, better than 1.2 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively, in 2021. “We are pleased to note that these profitability ratios are among the highest, if not the best, in the industry, as far as published reports of other publicly listed banks go,” Gomez said. Total operating income grew 12 percent to P6.9 billion as of June 30 from P6.1 billion a year ago, boosted by higher net interest income and other operating income. Julito G. Rada

MCWM expands landfill facility

METRO Clark Waste Management said Monday it completed a P350 million, seven-hectare expansion project at its landfill facility in Kalangitan, Clark, Pampanga. The firm said it expanded the country’s first engineered sanitary landfill to deliver worldclass waste disposal services to more cities, municipalities and industrial clients in Central Luzon. Local and foreign experts predicted that Philippine waste would continue to increase, exceeding the total capacity of landfills in the country. “It is our job to monitor these studies and projections and proactively plan accordingly. The yearly increase in solid waste in the Philippines, while sobering, was expected. While recycling and other trash reduction measures do help and must be done, there’s just so much waste that the only solution is to expand,” said MCWM executive vice president and general manager Vicky Gaetos. The Philippines ranks as the top contributor to plastic pollution in the oceans, putting the country among the five largest producers of plastic waste worldwide, as indicated by a global study recently released by the Stockholm Resilience Center. Othel V. Campos

Most retail investors plan to increase stock market exposure—COL RETAIL investors plan to increase their stock market exposure over the next three to six months despite the less bullish outlook on the equities market, according to the latest investor sentiment survey conducted by online brokerage firm COL Financial. COL Financial Investment Management president Marvin Fausto said in a news briefing 71 percent of investors surveyed were more likely to increase their stock market exposure, while 29 percent said are they would decrease their exposure. Fausto said investor sentiments shifted to neutral from bullish outlook at the start of the year and cited high inflation rate and global recession as the major risks for the market. “The investor sentiments have actually shifted to neutral from bullish. They think the market will move sideways from where were are now,” Fausto said. COL Financial chief equity strategist April Lynn Tan said local investors should prefer bonds and real estate investment trust firms over stocks over the next six months to ride the “difficult” second half of the year. “Among different asset classes, we think bonds and REITs will perform best

in the short term because of their steady interest income/dividends, which are more valuable in a falling interest rate environment,” Tan said. She said that the worst might be over as commodity prices began to fall, while a possible recession in the United States would increase the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve would stop raising rates

soon. Tan said interest rates and the peso may have peaked, but the weaker economic growth outlook would hurt corporate earnings and sentiment for stocks. COL Financial’s stock picks include defensive stocks from the power and telecom sectors and consumer staples. Jenniffer B. Austria

MOTORIST-FRIENDLY. MPCALA Holdings Inc., concessionaire of the CaviteLaguna Expressway, employs green and highly advanced features on its toll road to elevate customer experience. CALAX promotes road safety through various channels and extends roadside assistance services, shaping it to become the most ‘motoristfriendly’ expressway in the country. Since it opened in October 2019, CALAX recorded zero fatality from road crash. Roy Tomandao

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

PH para bets bag 3 early golds at ASEAN Para Games

Led by Cendy Asusano, who bagged a gold medal in the women’s javelin throw, (third from left), track and field medalists are shown with the national flag after seeing action in the athletic competition of the 11th ASEAN Para Games at the Manahan Stadium Monday. With Asusano are bronze medalists led by sprinter Arman Dino (left), discus thrower Jessebel Tordecilla (second from left), shot put thrower Joel Balatucan(right) and 5,000-meter runner Daniel Enderes Jr. (standing, right).

Coo bats for longer physical education hours in schools By Randy Caluag

F she can have her way, newly appointed sports commissioner Olivia “Bong’ Coo would like to increase the number of hours allotted for Physical Education in elementary and high school. The 74-year-old bowling icon has yet to take his oath before President Bongbong Marcos, but she has been doing her function as the first appointed commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission. Marcos has yet to announce the three other board members and the chairmanship previously held by Butch Ramirez, who is leaving a big shoe to fill following a successful six-year stint marked by an overall championship in the 2019 Philippine Southeast Asian Games and a gold-medal conquest in

Verstappen wins Hungarian Grand Prix to stretch title lead BUDAPEST—Max Verstappen produced a calculated and blemish-free performance to win the Hungarian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid on Sunday and tighten his grip on the Formula One world championship. The Red Bull world champion registered his eighth win of the season and 28th of his career ahead of Mercedes duo, Lewis Hamilton and pole-sitter George Russell. With Charles Leclerc hampered by another bout of questionable pit lane strategy to come in sixth, Verstappen extended his lead over the Ferrari driver Max Verstappen to 80 points going into the summer break. “What a race. I think we stayed calm and we won it,” said the elated Dutchman. While Russell will have been disappointed not to notch up his first win from pole it was still another good result for Mercedes, who after their early season struggles had their second successive double podium finish. “Great work guys, what a result for the team. So happy for you all, so grateful for you all. This is super positive” said Hamilton. For Ferrari it was another case of what might have been, starting second and third on the grid but only finishing fourth for Carlos Sainz and with Leclerc in sixth. The season returns for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 28 with Verstappen in pole position to win back to back world titles.

the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Coo wants to continue the country’s global excellence in sports and more responsible citizens by building more potential at the grassroots. “Sports builds character. Kaya sa mga kabataan, dapat dito tayo mag focus. Sana madagdagan ang hours ng Physical Education sa mga schools kasi sa sports matututunan mo on how to respect the rules, respect others, how to take both defeat and victory,’ said Coo. She recalled that in her younger years, she used to play baseball and volleyball

in her PE subject, scheduled daily. Then, she found her true love and passion in bowling, earning her three titles in the World Championship and a World Cup trophy. As of now, Coo said she continues to learn the ropes in government service. “It’s a big task really but I’m learning a lot, especially from Atty. Iron ( PSC Executive Director and OIC),” she said. Coo has started attending events that need the presence of a PSC official even on weekends or holidays. On Sunday, she attended the launch of the official mascot for the FIBA World Basketball Cup at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The Philippines will host the FIBA World Cup from Aug. 25 to Sept. 2023.

Olivia “Bong” Coo

SURAKARTA—Swimming delivered the country’s first pair of gold medals in the 11th ASEAN Para Games Monday as Ernie Gawilan and Roland Sabido splashed their way to the top of their respective events at the Jatadiri Sports Complex pool in the neighboring city of Semarang. Comely thrower Cendy Asusano added the third gold in early morning action in ruling the women’s javelin throw F54 at the Manahan Stadium here for a promising start for the PH para-athletes, a majority of them competing for the first time since the 2017 edition of the meet held in Malaysia. A triple gold medalist in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games, Gawilan kicked off the Philippine campaign in ruling the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 in a time of four minutes and 54.87 seconds in the outing sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission. Then, Sabido and Arnel Aba led a 1-2 finish in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S9 in clocking 5:09.40 and 5:14.13, respectively, much to the delight of the small Pinoy crowd at the pool led by Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo. “Naging maganda po ang swim ko sa unang event. Sana magtuloy-tuloypo ito,” said Gawilan, 31, who won a pair of golds and silvers in the regional meet for para athletes held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur five years ago. The Davao City pride was aiming for another mint as he was scheduled to compete in the 4x100 meter freestyle relays 34 points in the afternoon with Sabido, Aba and Edwin Villanueva, who copped a bronze medal in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S8. “Masaya po ako kasi hindi ko aakalain na makukuha ko yung ginto sa unang bato pa lang,” said Asusano, who settled the issue with her heave of 13.72 meters on the first attempt. Also contributing a bronze medal each for athletics were Joel Balatucan, Daniel Enderes Jr., Armand Dino and Jesebel Tordecilla in the men’s shot put F55, men’s 5,00-meter T20 race, men’s 100-meter T47 race, and women’s discus throw F55, respectively. Overnight, table tennis also made its modest medal contribution with two bronze medals in the men’s team Class 4 through Billy Cartera, Racleo Martinez and Darwin Salvacion and men’s class 8 doubles courtesy of Jobert Lumanta and Jayson Ocampo.

PH men’s chessers bounce back in Olympiad THE Philippines downed Cyprus, 3-1, to storm back into contention in the men’s side, even as its women’s team suffered a heartbreaking 2.5-1.5 defeat to higher-ranked Serbia after three rounds of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India Monday night. Grandmasters Banjo Barcenilla, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo delivered the wins on the second to last boards that cautioned the impact of GM Mark Paragua’s shock defeat to FIDE Master Konstantinos Michaelides on top board. The win sent the Filipinos, seeded 52nd, into a

63-country logjam at 26th place with four match points apiece and they could improve even further if they hurdle 89th pick Monaco in the fourth round being played at press time. The loss by the Filipinas, whose participation is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, sent them spiralling from a share of the lead to a 53-team tie at 22nd place also with four match points and were battling Angola in the fourth round. WFM Shania Mae Mendoza suffered the lone defeat for the squad to WIM Adela Velikic on board

three while WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Kylen Joy Mordido all drew their games. Mendoza, a former UAAP MVP and Far Eastern University standout, blew her drawing chances that could have forced a 2-2 upset draw with the 18thseeded Serbians. Mordido also had her chances for a win, but couldn’t cash in on it and settled for a truce. Instead, it sent the GM Jayson Gonzales-mentored Filipinas to their first defeat after dumping Oman and Nicaragua in their first two assignments.

High Speed Hitters seek repeat vs Lady Troopers Game today (Tuesday) 4 p.m. – PLDT vs Army

PLDT has the momentum but Army boasts of the experience so key in a crucial Premier Volleyball League stretch, guaranteeing a slam-bang clash of teams out to assert themselves in a talent-laden pack of bidders in the semifinal round of the Invitational Conference. The lone match kicking off what promises to a wild semis phase fires off at 4 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan today (Tuesday) with the High Speed Hitters setting out exuding confidence after hurdling the Cignal HD Spikers in four to close out their impressive elims campaign. In contrast, the Lady Troopers dropped their final elims assignment to the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers and needed some “outside” help to get through the next round. Army got a free ride to the semis after also-ran Petro Gazz spoiled Choco Mucho’s own bid with a shock sweep of the crowd favorites. But the Lady Troopers are more than ready to prove their worth behind a crew so tested in this kind of battles, led by

PLDT players celebrate a point.

skipper and top-hitter Jovelyn Gonzaga, Esguerra, Joanne Bunag, Jem Gonzales, ace playmaker Ivy Perez, Honey Royse Angela Nunag, MJ Balse-Pabayo and Tubino, Jeanette Villareal, Mary Anne Nene Bautista.

The last two have been in the volley wars since the organizing Sports Vision revived the once dormant league in 2004, steering Army to a couple of championships—in the 2011 and 2014 Open Conference. But the young guns of PLDT are all geared up to deliver another title to the top telecommunications company, which has also annexed two championships in the Open and Reinforced conferences in 2015 on a team built around a mix of aces in Alyssa Valdez, Grethcel Soltones, Sue Roces, Sasa Devanadera and Rubie de Leon, among others. But the current PLDT batch are raring to take the spotlight with coach George Pascua expressing so much confidence in his wards, spearheaded by Mika Reyes, Fiola Ceballos, Jules Samonte, Rhea Dimaculangan, Chin Basas and Dell Palomata along with Joy Soyud, Kath Arado, Wendy Semana and Jessey de Leon. “The team’s mindset has been to pounce on every opportunity, to beat all our opponents,” said Pascua. “And it has been a collective effort, everybody is contributing. Unlike in the Open Conference, they are now playing with great chemistry, with character.”

Sports

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

Meralco’s Hodge is Cignal Best Player THROUGH the years, Cliff Hodge developed a reputation of someone who always poured everything on the floor for Meralco, literally and figuratively, as the team’s immovable anchor and tireless motor. And while his contributions may not be reflected on the stat sheet at times, the bruising forward has provided unparalleled impact for the Bolts. In the do-or-die Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, Hodge was at it again and rose to the occasion as Meralco finally got over the hump and exorcised its agonizing ghost in Barangay Ginebra. Hodge dropped 13 points, 18 rebounds, and two assists including the crucial offensive foul he drew on reigning MVP Scottie Thompson in the end game, allowing the Bolts to hang on for a dramatic 106-104 victory and barge in the best-of-seven semifinals series. The numbers and huge role the 6’4” forward played in the highly-emotional best-of-three series earned him the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period July 27-31 to end the quarterfinals. In a two-game span, the 10-year veteran averaged a double-double of 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds, laced with 3.5 assists to serve as the Bolts’ unheralded spark plug in the Bolts’ first ever playoffs series win over their archrivals. Until the breakthrough win, Meralco is 0-5 against Ginebra in the playoffs, including 0-4 in the finals. Though the Bolts dropped a close 94-87 loss in Game 2, Hodge also left an imprint in the match behind a conference-high 25 points, two boards, five assists, and two steals. “I’m just so proud of everybody in our team. We stuck together,” said acting coach Luigi Trillo in lieu of Norman Black, crediting the entire Bolts following a historic victory that set-up their semis date against No. 1 seed San Miguel. Hodge’s teammates in Chris Newsome, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, and Alvin Pasaol were also nominated for the weekly citation being handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat.

PBA AND COINS.PH INKS HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP. The Philippine Basketball Association and Coins.ph formally sealed their partnership for the league’s 47th season last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Coliseum. Present at the contract signing were PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial (second from left) Coins.ph CEO Wei Zhou (third from left) and country head Eprom Galang (far right) and PBA marketing head Jo Francisco (far left).The partnership aims to help increase people’s awareness of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and the web3 ecosystem.

NBA mourns Celtics legend, civil rights champion Bill Russell, 88 N EW YORK— Bill Russell, the cornerstone of a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA titles and a powerful voice for social justice, died Sunday at the age of 88, his family said.

“Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side,” said a statement posted on Russell’s Twitter page. US President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama—who awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011—were among those who paid tribute to Russell’s contributions on and off the court. “The promise of America is that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Biden said in a statement. “We’ve never fully lived up to that promise, but Bill Russell made sure we never walked away from it.”

Russell’s 11 titles with the Celtics included eight in a row from 1959-1966. Today’s NBA Finals MVP award is named for him. He averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game for his career, building a famed rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s. He became the first Black coach in the NBA when he served as playercoach of the Celtics in 1966 and the first Black player inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. His skills revolutionized the NBA game, but Biden noted that throughout his stellar career Russell “faced the hostility and hate of racism embedded in every part of American life. Yet, he never gave up. Throughout his life, he forced us to confront hard truths. And on this day, there are generations of Americans who are reflecting on what he meant to them as someone who played for the essential truth that every person is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.” Russell’s family said his “understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life.” “Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with

In this file photo taken on May 18, 2011, former Boston Celtics basketball player Bill Russell speaks during a DNC fundraiser attended by US President Barack Obama at the Boston Center for the Arts. NBA great Bill Russell, the cornerstone of a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles and a powerful voice for social justice, has died at the age of 88, a statement posted on social media said July 31, 2022. AFP

FESSAP Team PH kicks off ASEAN U Games campaign

PBA unfazed by PH players’ departure to foreign leagues

By Graham C. Lim AN upbeat FESSAP Team Philippines took part in the 20th ASEAN University Games, that opened hostilities on July 28, at the Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University in Thailand. FESSAP Working Committee Chairman Robert Milton Calo led the opening parade for the Philippine Delegation as flag-bearer together with karate bronze medalist Roi Vergara, Head of Delegation Cecille Sarmiento.

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Basketball Association is not worried of the exodus of young Filipino players signing contracts to play for professional leagues in other countries. Commissioner Willie Marcial said this after three-time champion AnyangKorean Ginseng Corporation recently signed up Gilas Pilipinas national men’s team standout Rhenz Abando for a two-year stint in the Korean Basketball League. “Hindi ako nababahala. Kung ano ang maganda, kung ano ang makakatulong sa kanilang kinabukasan, okay lang,” said Marcial on the weekly program, “Power and Play,” Abando, who is skipping his final year with Letran in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, however, can still sign for a PBA team in the future. The PBA has rules in place for players, who play abroad if they seek contracts in the pro league when they return home. “Sa collegiate, sa college at sa universities, wala na sila. Pero in the long run, sa PBA ay makakapaglaro pa rin sila,” added Marcial. Marcial explained that players like Abando have a three-year grace period to join clubs in the PBA. And for those who have previously been drafted, they have a two-year timetable to be able to rejoin and sign up with a club. If not, they will have to wait for three years before hooking up with a PBA squad. Abando is the sixth Filipino player tapped to play for clubs in the KBL. The others who have signed up with KBL club teams include former Far Eastern University standout RJ Abarrientos, who is now with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis and Ateneo’s SJ Belangel, who joined Daegu KOGAS Pegasus.

a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change.” Obama said the world had “lost a giant.” “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher—both as a player and as a person,” Obama said in a statement posted on Twitter. “Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead. On the court, he was the greatest champion in basketball history. Off of it, he was a civil rights trailblazer, marching with Dr. King and standing with Muhammad Ali. “For decades, Bill endured insults and vandalism, but never let it stop him from speaking up for what’s right. I learned so much from the way he played, the way he coached, and the way he lived his life.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Russell “the greatest champion in all of team sports,” but added that his accolades “only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and broader society. “Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league,” Silver said. AFP

Members of the FESSAP Team PH prior to the opening ceremonies

FESSAP, in cooperation with the FESSAP State Universities and Colleges members, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, TUP, BPSU, PAGCOR, BESTANK, Henn Sports, PUBL, PUVL, BAP, PISCUAA, SCUAA, People’s Tonight, Manila Standard, TBL, MIKASA sports, and the Orienteering Philippines. The FESSAP Basketball Team, represented by the Technological University of the Philippines, will play its first game tonight at 6 p.m. against Singapore.

Alsons Power-Hidilyn Diaz Scholars win 7 golds at Asian Youth/Junior Weightlifting Championship TWO sisters from Zamboanga City garnered nine medals including seven golds at the 2022 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from July15 to 25. Rosegie Ramos, 19, bagged three gold medals in the 49 kg. Junior division winning gold for the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall. She lifted 80 kg. in the snatch, 96 kg. in the clean and jerk, and 176 kg. overall. 2022 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Quadruple Gold Medalist Rose Jean Ramos In the 45-kg division, Rosegie’s younger sister 17-year-old Rose Jean Ramos competed in both the Youth and Junior categories. Rose Jean swept the Youth category—winning gold for the Philippines in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall. Rose Jean lifted 70 kg, in the snatch, 83 kg. in the clean and jerk, and 153 kg. overall. In the Junior category Rose Jean won

gold for the snatch, bronze for the clean and jerk, and silver overall. The Ramos sisters are among 15 “power scholars” from Zamboanga City under the Alsons Power-Hidilyn Diaz scholarship program spearheaded by the Mindanao-based power firm and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. Alsons Power partnered with Diaz in

2016 to spearhead this scholarship program as part of the power company’s commitment to help provide more educational opportunities for young people in Mindanao. The partnership aims to produce world-class Filipino weightlifters and support the country’s efforts to continue winning gold in the Olym-

Rose Jean Ramos displays her winning form

pics and in other international sports competitions. Speaking of the program Diaz, said: “I’m happy to see that more girls are going into weightlifting and aiming to become Olympic medalists as well. I am hopeful that weightlifting will grow with more kids getting into the sport not just from Zamboanga City but all over the Philippines.” Alsons Power Group executive vice president Tirso G. Santillan, Jr. added: “We remaxin fully committed in helping our Alsons Power-Hidilyn Diaz scholars achieve their hopes and dreams. It has always been our mission to empower the young people of Mindanao through our scholarship programs.” Alsons Power is Mindanao’s first private sector power generator with a portfolio of four power facilities serving over eight million people in 14 cities and 11 provinces in the Philippines’ second largest island.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

BTS’ J-Hope makes history at Lollapalooza fest K-POP superstar J-Hope of BTS made history on Sunday as the closer at Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza weekend, becoming the first South Korean act to headline a major US music festival. The star appeared to dramatically pop out of a box as he took the stage in Chicago’s Grant Park, and was greeted by a sea of screaming fans. The crowd rapped and sang along to songs from J-Hope’s new solo album and

K-pop superstar J-Hope

to BTS classics such as “Dynamite.” J-Hope, who also presented a special message to viewers in Korean, was joined at the end of his set by singer Becky G for a rendition of their collaboration “Chicken Noodle Soup.” This year’s edition of Lollapalooza, which was streamed live on the Hulu platform, also featured the US festival debut of Tomorrow X Together, another South Korean boy band that is under the same label as BTS. J-Hope’s main-stage performance comes more than

a month after the seven members of BTS – one of the world’s most popular acts – said they were taking a break from the group to focus on solo pursuits. In an emotional video clip posted to the septet’s official YouTube channel, they told fans they were “exhausted” and needed time apart. At the time, J-Hope said the move could help BTS “become a stronger group.” The 28-year-old performer’s debut solo mixtape “Hope World” peaked at number 38 on the Billboard top albums chart in 2018. AFP

BamBam gets a taste of the Philippines The Thai musician (left) during the Manila leg of his fan meeting

BamBam hopes to return to the Philippines to hold a concert for his Filipino fans

BamBam shares his experiences in the Philippines, including the food he ate and getting stuck in traffic

BamBam loves the energy his fans, also known as AhGaSes, give him

By Patricia Taculao

OT7 member BamBam returned to the Philippines after three years—and he made the most of it.

He first went to Cebu for a press conference and fan meeting last July 26, Wednesday. Aside from encountering new people on his trip, he also had the chance to sample local Filipino delicacies. “I went to try bangus. Last night, I saw the city with a couple of friends, and they bought me sisig,” he shared. The Thai singer and rapper said he loved bangus the best but also tried lechon and the Filipino staple, rice. However, BamBam admitted to having trouble adjusting to the spiciness of sisig. For his TMI (too much information) during the Manila leg of his fan

meeting, held last July 27, Thursday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, BamBam opened up about excusing himself more than once. “I already went to the restroom three times today. It was [really] spicy, so you know, I just keep letting go,” he said, making the audience laugh at how relatable he is. Although BamBam was in the Philippines to perform in the K-pop Masterz concert, he hopes to return to tick off some experiences from his bucket list. Among them is going to a beach and night market in Manila and the country. Sandara Park, a K-pop sensation

and former local actress, even traveled from South Korea to the Philippines to give BamBam a taste of Philippine brews at Gerry’s Grill. She also performed at the K-pop Masterz concert. Despite BamBam’s eagerness to meet his fans in Manila, K-pop idol or not, he wasn’t an exception from the metro’s dreaded traffic. “Manila!! I’m on my way!! So much traffic,” he tweeted. Still, he felt happy with the warm welcome from Filipino fans, or AhGaSes as he calls them. “I feel really good. I’ve been waiting to perform, and I’ve been waiting to

Iconic songbird admits to being a has-been IN A recent vlog interview, Regine Velasquez admitted that her heydays as a premiere songstress are over. Still, she remains grateful for all her accomplishments in her chosen field in the last three decades. “At least, I was able to experience how it is to become popular at one point in time. Now, I realize where I am now in the industry. Obviously, it’s no longer my time and I accept it wholeheartedly,” she averred. The Asia’s Songbird sees her being “still in the scene” and is offered with work a big blessing for an artist her age. “At this stage, I still do concerts and all that. But I’m very much aware that it’s no longer my time. I guess, every one of us is given his or her shining moment. That applies not only in the industry but life in general,” she related. The 52-year-old songstress considers it a bonus to act as a mentor Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez

to young aspiring singers and share her knowledge and experience with them. “It just feels good that I’m here now as a coach. At this point in my life, more than fame, I love mentoring because these wannabes listen to everything that I say. And they believe they are truly learning from me and I hope they really do.” With her stature in the industry, Regine said that teaching young and aspiring singers is her responsibility. “I’ve been in the business for 35 years already so I’ve gained lots of experiences along the way. Considering this, I feel like it’s my duty to pass it on to the next generation otherwise, it will die with me. What is it there for?” The talented singeractress-TV host also stressed that at this point, she’s not so keen on competing anymore. “I realized that it’s no longer my cup of tea. Let’s give it to the younger breed of singers,” ended

Regine. ••• Bianca Umali is happy and proud that she’s still with GMA Network after all these years. For the record, she entered the ‘biz in 2009 and became part of Tropang Potchi then, Darna where she played as one of the orphans. “I’m really a Kapuso through and through,” she states. “I’m happy with my career’s present stature. I love my home network. GMA has been a huge part of my life and I’m grateful to them. “If not for their love, support, and faith in me, I won’t be able to reach this far. I wouldn’t be where I am at present. Rest assured that I have been, I am, and will always be a proud Kapuso!” Proof of GMA’s trust in her is that she’s one of the prized artists of Sparkle, the network’s talent management arm. “I would like to believe that it is because of how much I love what I do in the industry and how dedicated I am in doing everything!” In a recent video, she was seen doing some martial arts practice and many were impressed. Has it something to do with her next big project for GMA? “Yes, but I can’t divulge the details as of now. Please watch out for it!” says Bianca.

Billy Crawford returns to GMA-7 via ‘The Wall Philippines’ THE surprises never stop as the hit and thrilling game show The Wall Philippines finds a new home on GMA Network. The program, which is a coproduction between GMA-7 and Viva Entertainment, Inc., is hosted by no less than world-class performer and reality game show host Billy Crawford. The Wall Philippines is a pachinko game with a twist. It offers players the opportunity to win a life-changing prize worth millions of pesos. Part knowledge

and part luck, the program delivers a roller coaster of emotions as the contestants may be ahead with a huge amount of banked money in one instance and may lose it all in the next. The game’s main goal is to bank as much money as possible by answering trivia questions and landing the balls on high-value bins. The mechanics are simple – get a correct answer to get a green ball, miss a question and get a red ball. Green adds, red subtracts. The Wall Philippines is an

exciting game show format created by LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Andrew Glassman and is distributed by Banijay Rights Limited. Catch The Wall Philippines this August on GMA-7. World-class performer and reality game show host Billy Crawford makes a comeback in ‘The Wall Philippines’

meet up with you guys like this. I don’t know how I spent the last two years without meeting everyone and just being home with my cats. I’m really happy that everything came back to normal, almost,” he said. The Thai musician debuted as a solo artist in 2021. He released his first mini album with the title track “riBBon” and followed it with another titled B, featuring the song “Who Are You,” which is a collaboration with Red Velvet’s SEULGI. Filipino AhGaSes, however, hope to see BamBam collaborating with a local artist, the first being James Reid, who is frequently present on the Thai

musician’s social media accounts. “James? Oh yeah, I can do that. [Actually,] We’ve been talking about, ‘Oh, we should make a song.’ If I have the chance, I would be happy to [collaborate] with James,” he said. At the moment, BamBam wants to focus on his solo career. He remains good friends with his band members from GOT7 but is continuously working on a new album with a distinct concept to give his fans something different. “I hope I can have a concert in the Philippines again. I would bring a new album and songs to sing. I want to perform it for you guys,” he said.

A new streaming platform to delight OFWs Juanetworx is the first Filipino entertainment hub equipped with a helpline

By Patricia Taculao OVERSEAS mundo,” Filipino Workers she said. (OFWs) sacrifice much when S o m e traveling to foreign lands in of the shows search of greener pastures. that will be available While the government, on the platform are organizations, and private movies produced by individuals already Saranggola Media recognize their efforts, it and directed by Tan, sometimes doesn’t make up including Yorme: The for the longing and hardships Isko Domagoso Story, they had to overcome alone. Suarez: The Healing Priest, Luckily, OFWs have several and Ayuda Babes. outlets in their countries to pass More media the time and keep themselves Edith R. Fider during the personalities will also entertained. OFWs also launch of Juanetworx at grace the Juanetworx turn to Philippine teleseryes Club Filipino space as it’ll offer genres and movies to curb their homesickness since they can watch their from comedy to children’s shows to horror. YouTuber Bernie Batin will star in The favorite artists and stay updated with the Sari-Sari Show, while renowned paranormal latest trends. Now, they have an option to watch expert Ed Caluag will host the series Mga Filipino movies and series through a new Kuwento Sa Dilim. Documentaries like homegrown streaming platform called The Rey Valera Story: Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko and Doc Willie Ong: Ang Juanetworx. As another Philippines-based streaming Inyong Lingkod will soon be available on the platform, Juanetworx is the “first all- platform. Juanetworx will also stream concerts and around entertainment and emergency app” envisioned by the late healing priest Fr. K-drama series to cater to its users’ various preferences and give them options. Fernando Suarez. The newest entertainment hub will also Film producer Edith R. Fider of Saranggola Media is among the primary feature sexy content, starting with the sexy authorities behind Juanetworx, launched on drama Erotixa starring Christian Bables and July 21 at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Ali Forbes and another sexy suspense titled Ang Huling Burlesk Queen. Juan City. Besides entertainment, Juanetworx also She said during the launch that Suarez guided her and her close friends, Joven Tan offers a helpline that services Filipinos inside and Gregorio Serrano, when they started and outside the country. Tan explained that a small production. Looking back, she feels users only need to press a button on the fulfilled as their humble beginnings led them platform to access the helpline. Once in contact, users only need to convey their emergency to to open a digital network. “Mula noong ginabayan kami ni Fr. the agents, and Juanetworx will connect them Suarez, lahat ng mga prophecies niya sa to the appropriate authorities or professionals. “Ang ibibigay namin sa mga tao ay amin, nagkatotoo,” Fider said. Juanetworx serves as their legacy and hindi lamang kaligayahan, hindi lamang aims to give back to the people who helped entertainment, kung hindi proteksiyon para sa bawa’t isa, lalo na yung wala rito sa bansa her get to where she is now. “Kaming mga nagsama-sama rito, hindi (mga OFW),” Fider said. For only the P100 membership fee, users lang basta nagsama-sama. Kami’y pinag-isa ng iisang layunin, ng iisang damdamin na can access all of Juanetworx’s content. kami’y makapaghatid ng saya at makatulong Visit www.juanetworx.com for more sa mga mamamayang Pilipino sa buong information.

Life

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

OYCE Pring-Triviño’s message about healing and recovery from traumatic experiences was very clear – healing is not achievable alone. Healing cannot happen on our own, we have to be present with other people, and we have to be present for other people as well. She underscored the value of finding meaningful relationships that will help us in our journey to healing. “We are not designed to be alone. We are designed to be in healthy relationships,” she emphasized. Further in her talk, the TV personality and content creator discussed that “the need to heal when you experienced something traumatic is absolutely human and a normal thing.” She pointed out that even if someone has not been confronted by

Francesca Fugen and Melissa Profeta, cofounders of Sagip Babae Foundation, at the organization’s official launch event

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From left: Angel Dei, Melissa Profeta, Cheris Faustino, Cassie Uyoco, founder Francesca Fugen, and Joyce Pring-Triviño, all came out to show support for Sagip Babae’s cause of helping the survivors of abuse.

TV personality and content creator Joyce Pring-Triviño

Creating safe spaces for women anything traumatic, at one point, there’s a need to recount experiences that have affected the way we deal with relationships or even with ourselves. Joyce was one of the speakers at the launch of Sagip Babae Foundation, a newly created organization dedicated to offering safe spaces for women who have suffered from – and survived – domestic violence, sexual harassment, and abuse in its myriad forms. Because such experiences can have severe short- or long-term effects on victims’ mental health, Sagip Babae will stress on granting aid and relief to these women in the aftermath of their ordeal. “A lot of people know my story. My family was a very chaotic and unstable home to grow up in and it was really difficult that I had to go through a lot of traumatic experiences growing up. That affected me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually,” she admitted during her brief talk. She also said that in 2016, she got diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety and medication did very little to deal with the condition. What did work for her was a change in lifestyle, help from professionals, and her “spiritual relationship with God.” “If you are here today, it means that you don’t just believe in the power of healing, in the power of community, it also means that you believe in the power of being present for others,” Joyce stated. The foundation officially launches its op-

erations on July 29 at Bondi&Bourke tal healthcare through its partnership in Makati. The occasion will mark with experts in the field such as AJ the start of Sagip Babae FoundaSunglao, a licensed psychologist and tion’s online Facebook community mental health advocate, and Charlene for women survivors of abuse, giving R. Lucas, a registered psychologist and them access to various activities and international clinical traumatologist. For resources that may prove beneficial a more extensive approach, Sagip Bain their journey towards healing and bae has also consulted with Third Eye recovery. Wellness, a provider of holistic healing The foundation’s launch couldn’t services, and Jenny Umali, a life coach have come at a better time. The and Reiki practitioner. overall socioeconomic effects of the To show their support for Sagip Bapandemic have created situations bae’s cause, a slew of mental health that render women more vulnerable Guests were allowed to post personal pledges to support professionals, officials from relevant to abuse. A recent study by the Com- the cause of Sagip Babae Foundation government agencies and organizamission of Population and Developtions, and influencers attended the ment (POPCOM) found that 25 perlaunch. These include Carmen Reyes well as more information on meditation cent of surveyed Filipino adults consider and holistic healing. It will seek the best Zubiaga, an advocate for gender equalviolence against women one of the more possible path of recovery and healing ity and chairperson at Angat Persons with critical issues during the current health cri- for beneficiaries by carefully matching Disabilities United 2030; Angel Dei, a sis. them to the appropriate partner experts social media content creator and women’s The deleterious effects of abuse likewise and practitioners. The foundation will advocate; Cassie Uyoco, an influencer resonate with Sagip Babae founders Fran- shoulder all expenses for therapy and who advocates for destigmatizing mencesca Fugen and Melissa Rina Profeta’s medication within their first month of tal health; and Cheris Faustino, a social own life experiences. They cite their per- participation, as well as half of the costs media content creator, and mental health sonal trauma, as well as those of women in the second and third months. advocate. A recorded video message from they have helped, as their inspiration for The foundation will have a dedicated Senator Bong Go was shown at the event. starting Sagip Babae. Fugen and Profeta counselor for the initial session with benefiSagip Babae hopes to forge lasting hope to provide – from the get-go – com- ciaries. Core team members, along with vol- partnerships with these attendees movforting assistance to women victims, aged unteers for the foundation, have undergone ing forward in order to better serve 18 and above, from all over the country. mental health first responder and psycholog- their future beneficiaries. The foundaSagip Babae Foundation’s Facebook ical support training to ensure that each ben- tion will endeavor to reach out to these community will hold webinars and bi- eficiary receives competent treatment during women and offer them vital resources monthly group sessions, and offer self- their time with the foundation. for safeguarding their mental health in care strategies, wellbeing education, as Sagip Babae commits to providing men- the days ahead.

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Representatives from BRIA Homes Ormoc attend the groundbreaking of the property. From left to right: Jesyl Lou Dialde (Sales and Marketing Team Leader), Engineer Philliph Jenson Concon (Production Engineer), Engineer Jazer John Fortu (Production Engineer Team Leader), Engineer Bobby Jake Azur (Technical Services Team Leader).

BRIA Homes Ormoc holds festive groundbreaking rites THE much-coveted BRIA Homes lifestyle goes to Eastern Visayas following the groundbreaking rites of its new residential project in Ormoc, Leyte. Held on July 13, the milestone event featured a spectacular line-up of activities highlighted by a motorcade that started in the city proper and proceeded to the development site in Brgy. Mabini. Members of the XRM Bikers Club Ormoc and Suzuki Riders Club C-59 joined the parade in full regalia, lending more fun and color to it. Realtors and brokers, together with existing and potential clients, were among the guests and attendees at BRIA Ormoc’s groundbreaking event, during which they were treated to tribal music performances by the Frontpage Ormoc Band.

BRIA Homes VisMin Division Head Ivy Provido explains that the launch of BRIA Homes Ormoc warranted a festive celebration because it ushered in a significant new phase in their operations. “As BRIA continues to expand, we are happy to offer once again our trademark quality homes, this time to the warm and hospitable residents of Ormoc City,” Provido says. According to its government website, “Ormoc is a highly urbanized coastal port city that serves as the economic, cultural, commercial, and transportation hub of western Leyte. The city’s location, vast agricultural land, and coastal site endow it with natural resources, marine biodiversity, and unique tourist draws.”