Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passes on, 95 F
ORMER pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced Saturday, almost a decade after he became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries.
His death brought to an end an unprecedented situation in which two “men in white” – Benedict and his
successor Pope Francis – had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city state. “With sorrow I inform you that the
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. He later told journalists the funeral would take place on Thursday, January 5 at St Peter’s Square, presided over by Pope Francis. CONTINUED ON 3A
CBCP pays tribute to ‘Pope of Charity’ THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines paid tribute to the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away yesterday, saying he will always be remembered as “the Pope of Charity.”
"If Pope Francis is known as the Pope of Mercy and Joy, Pope Benedict will be remembered as the Pope of Charity. He began his episcopacy with a profoundly theological encyclical entitled Deus
Caritas Est (God is Love)," CBCP president Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said in a statement. “Among the many charisms God had bestowed on him, he will be specially remembered as a great
theologian, catechist, and musician. He spent the last years of his life as an emeritus pope in solitude and contemplation, supporting the universal Church and Pope Francis CONTINUED ON 3A
Vol. 36 No. 319
January 1, 2023
2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES
20 .00
IN MET R MANILAO
Happy New Year! ‘Let’s welcome new year with hope, optimism’ I JOIN the entire Filipino nation with hope and optimism in welcoming the New Year. As we reflect on the events that transpired in the previous year, I hope that we will draw strength and inspiration from what truly binds us together – our genuine love for our fellow Filipinos and our country. This is the essence of our call for unity and the impetus for our continued invitation to work together for the realization of our shared aspirations as a people. It is in this understanding that we need, now more than ever, to embody the true meaning of solidarity. The innate Bayanihan spirit in all of us is what will keep us going amidst all adversities that will continue to test our fortitude as a nation.
FESTIVE LIGHTS.
The iconic ‘Pampanga Eye’ Ferris Wheel at SM City Pampanga is transformed into a ‘Lantern of Hope’ with lights, sounds, and fireworks display.
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‘Libreng Sakay’ ended despite addt’l budget n By DARWIN G. AMOJELAR THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has issued a fare box matrix for the EDSA busway effective 5 a.m. today (Jan. 1, 2023) after the Department of Transportation stood firm on its decision not to extend the “Libreng Sakay” program despite an allocated
Gallup poll: PH happiest country in ‘22
THE Philippines was the happiest country in the world in 2022, a survey of 34 countries by the Gallup International Association showed. In GIA’s 2022 End of Year Survey, the Philippines took the top spot with a net score of 75 percent, followed by Mexico, Malaysia, Afghanistan, and Ecuador. Some 39 percent of Filipinos were hopeful that 2023 will be better than 2022, while a majority of 52 percent said it will just be the same. At least 5 percent said it will be worse. Nigeria and Pakistan were the top 2 most hopeful nations in the world, followed by Kazakhstan, Philippines, and India. Global average of optimism stood at -2 percent, which means most of the world continues to doubt progress in 2023. European countries are the least 1CONTINUED ON 3A
budget of P1.2 billion. In an interview with Manila Standard, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that even if Congress allocated a P1.2 billion budget for the service contracting scheme, it will only last for about 3 months as the program costs about P12 million a day or P4.38 billion a year. “The P1.2-billion budget is not enough Francisco Rodriguez III
to sustain the ‘Libreng Sakay at Edsa Busway.’ We need P12 million a day to subsidize the operation of Edsa Busway,” Bautista said. Asked if they are allowed to use the programmed fund for another item, Bautista said: “The LTFRB will study CONTINUED ON 3A
Cherbett Karen Maralit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
All ports of entry poised to restart testing travelers n By JOEL E. ZURBANO ALL airport and seaport terminals have been alerted for a possible reestablishment of testing requirements for arriving travelers from China and other countries tagged as “high-alert” for COVID-19. “All bureau personnel are hereby directed to continuously intensify the quarantine protocols,” Bureau of Quarantine director Ferdinand Salcedo said in a memorandum. Among the protocols, Salcedo said, was to “coordinate with airport and
seaport terminal authorities for possible reestablishment of testing of inbound travelers from high-alert countries.” Aside from testing, quarantine personnel were also instructed to 1) Heighten surveillance on all respiratory symptoms in all travelers and conveyances coming from China including a thorough review of the submitted Maritime Declaration of Health and health part of Aircraft General Declaration; 2) Report intercepted symptomatic passengers during arrival CONTINUED ON 3A
President appoints Maralit, TV news anchor Barbara Walters, 93 Rodriguez as OPS officials n By VINCE LOPEZ PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos has appointed two new officials of the Office of the Press Secretary. Malacanang said Cherbett Karen Maralit and Francisco Rodriguez III will serve as OPS Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively.
Maralit was the former chief of staff of then Senate Minority Leader and now Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and of Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is a communications professional with extensive experience in both media and public relations. CONTINUED ON 3A
PIONEERING television journalist Barbara Walters, who upended a male-dominated industry as the first woman to anchor an evening news show in the United States, died on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) at the age of 93, her long-time employer ABC said. Walters interviewed a host of US presidents, foreign leaders such as Anwar Sadat and Fidel Castro, and A-list celebrities in a hugely successful career that spanned five decades – becoming a touchstone of American culture in the process. She died at her home in New York, tweeted Bob Barbara Iger, CEO of Disney, ABC’s parent company. Walters CONTINUED ON 3A