<![CDATA[https://www.manilatimes.net]]> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:32:54 +0800 hourly 1 https://www.manilatimes.net Historic pact spurs new development in Clark https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/historic-pact-spurs-new-development-in-clark/1938974 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:26:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/historic-pact-spurs-new-development-in-clark/1938974 AIMED at uplifting the communities surrounding the free port operated by Clark Development Corp. (CDC), a new area for development has been unlocked.

This followed a historic agreement, formalized between the Ayta Mag-Antsi indigenous cultural communities/indigenous people (ICCs/IPs) within the free port and the Philippine government.

Led by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera (seated, 3rd from right), the signing of the joint management agreement between the government and the Ayta tribe involved representatives of the CDC, National Commission on Indigenous People, Ayta tribe, City of Mabalacat local government unit (LGU) and Bamban LGU technical working group. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CDC and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) were instrumental in facilitating the signing of the agreement.

After over 16 years, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were finalized, approved and signed, and the Land Utilization and Management Plan component of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan was also approved at Building 2126 of the free port on March 19.

This was an important step in the implementation of the joint management agreement (JMA), which guided development and conservation efforts for the ancestral domain of the Ayta Mag-Antsi ICCs/IPs that covered 10,323 hectares, located within the Clark Special Economic Zone.

The parties to the agreement were Agnes Devanadera, CDC president and chief executive officer; Oscar Rivera, Pinanlupuyan Mamuun ng Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title 025-A Indigenous Peoples Structure chairman; and Atanacio Addog, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Regional Office 3 regional director.

The JMA represented a milestone in empowering the Ayta Mag-Antsi ICCs/IPs in Clark, ensuring sustainable development and respect for their ancestral land.

This agreement was aligned with Republic 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, which aimed to recognize and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs.

]]>
Led by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera (seated, 3rd from right), the signing of the joint management agreement between the government and the Ayta tribe involved representatives of the CDC, National Commission on Indigenous People, Ayta tribe, City of Mabalacat local government unit (LGU) and Bamban LGU technical working group. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Led by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera (seated, 3rd from right), the signing of the joint management agreement between the government and the Ayta tribe involved representatives of the CDC, National Commission on Indigenous People, Ayta tribe, City of Mabalacat local government unit (LGU) and Bamban LGU technical working group. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
New CAMI Member https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/new-cami-member/1938972 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:25:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/new-cami-member/1938972  Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) spokesman and Vice President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga takes his oath of membership in Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) before CAMI Chairman Nonnie Pelayo in the presence of CAMI trustee Willie Capulong, CAMI Treasurer Abel Cruz, former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and current Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs and External Relations Officer Arnel Casanova, and other CAMI members present during the event on March 22, 2024. Zaldarriaga traces his roots on his maternal side to the del Rosario and Abad Santos clans of Angeles City, Pampanga. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
]]>
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) spokesman and Vice President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga takes his oath of membership in Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) before CAMI Chairman Nonnie Pelayo in the presence of CAMI trustee Willie Capulong, CAMI Treasurer Abel Cruz, former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and current Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs and External Relations Officer Arnel Casanova, and other CAMI members present during the event on March 22, 2024. Zaldarriaga traces his roots on his maternal side to the del Rosario and Abad Santos clans of Angeles City, Pampanga. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) spokesman and Vice President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga takes his oath of membership in Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) before CAMI Chairman Nonnie Pelayo in the presence of CAMI trustee Willie Capulong, CAMI Treasurer Abel Cruz, former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and current Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs and External Relations Officer Arnel Casanova, and other CAMI members present during the event on March 22, 2024. Zaldarriaga traces his roots on his maternal side to the del Rosario and Abad Santos clans of Angeles City, Pampanga. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
BBM vows response to Chinese bullying https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/bbm-vows-response-to-chinese-bullying/1938930 Catherine S. Valente,Aric John Sy Cua,Javier Joe Ismael Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:25:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/bbm-vows-response-to-chinese-bullying/1938930 (UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to mount a "proportionate, deliberate and reasonable" response to the "unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attacks" by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement released by the Palace, the President said the relevant government agencies would put together "a response and countermeasure package" in the next few weeks based on the recommendations of National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to address Chinese actions against Filipino vessels and personnel in the WPS.

"We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends, but we will not be cowed into silence, submission or subservience. Filipinos do not yield," he said.

The President also said the Philippines was in "constant communication" with allies, partners and friends in the international community.

"They have offered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," Marcos said.

"I have given them our requirements, and we have been assured that they will be addressed," he added.

Marcos issued the statement after the China Coast Guard used water cannons against a Philippine vessel on a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The attack caused heavy damage to the resupply boat and injured four servicemen.

Earlier, the National Security Council (NSC) said the President would rescind whatever agreement China may have reached on the WPS with his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, because it would be detrimental to the country's interests.

At the same time, Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada said his father, former president Joseph Estrada, had never agreed to tow the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin as China had claimed. He said this was confirmed by Estrada's defense secretary at the time, Orly Mercado.

Meanwhile, journalists denounced as a "barefaced lie" Chinese accusations that they had manipulated videos of encounters in the South China Sea to make it appear that the Philippines was a victim.

Reacting to a statement from Harry Roque Jr., a former Duterte administration spokesman, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the agency was not aware of any "gentleman's agreement" between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"The good former secretary should be the one to explain to the public his statements since such an agreement, if it exists, infringes [on] and violates our sovereignty as a nation," Malaya said.

"Even if such a 'gentleman's agreement' exists, it is not legally binding by its very nature. Therefore, the Marcos administration is not bound by any such agreement because it is detrimental to the national interest," he added.

Malaya said President Marcos had said he would rescind such an agreement if it existed.

"Therefore, China's repeated reference to such 'promises' serves no purpose as there is no legally binding agreement between the two countries under the Marcos administration," he added.

Malaya lamented that China had repeatedly claimed that there was a promise to remove or tow away BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal, which was being contested by Beijing as part of their territory.

"In so far as the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea is concerned, we have not seen any document from the former administration that validates or confirms the existence of this so-called gentleman's agreement and the terms of such an agreement under the previous administration," he said.

Malaya also insisted that the Philippines had not violated the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) as China claimed.

"As has been seen by the world, the Philippines has acted with self-restraint in the conduct of activities and has not acted to complicate or escalate disputes that affect peace and stability," the official said.

China, he said, is the one violating the DOC by intruding into the country's waters.

"It is China that has been continually violating the DOC by interfering with a routine resupply mission to a long-standing Philippine outpost in the WPS by water-cannoning, dangerous maneuvers, and other aggressive actions," Malaya said.

Earlier, Roque said Duterte had a "gentleman's agreement" with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea by limiting resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre to food and water for the soldiers.

The former Palace spokesman said China was upset that the status quo was disrupted under the Marcos administration.

"But China's complaint is that the Philippines' action is opposite to what was agreed — that there would be no more sending of repair equipment. That's why that's China's reaction," Roque said in an interview with Politiko.

BRP Sierra Madre, an active Philippine Navy warship despite its dilapidated condition, was deliberately run aground off Ayungin Shoal in 1997 to serve as a military outpost and to maintain the country's sovereignty over the area amid the expansionist ambitions of China.

Filipino marines and sailors are deployed by the Navy on a rotation basis on board the BRP Sierra Madre. A routine resupply mission is conducted at least twice a month to bring food and other provisions for the troops manning the Navy ship.

But Chinese vessels have started getting aggressive to prevent the resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

This month, China Coast Guard vessels performed dangerous maneuvers and used water cannons during the March 5 and March 23 resupply missions, which damaged civilian supply boats, caused the collision of vessels and injured Filipino military personnel.

China justified its use of force by accusing the Philippine vessels of bringing construction materials to Ayungin Shoal to fix BRP Sierra Madre.

Beijing claims sovereignty over 90 percent of the South China Sea, where the smaller West Philippine Sea is located.

But in 2016, an international court in The Hague ruled that China's claims had no legal basis.

No manipulation

Also on Thursday, journalists took exception to the claims of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Manila that journalists manipulated videos of Chinese actions in the WPS.

In a statement, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) rejected and condemned claims from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying that the Philippine press was a "troublemaker."

"The association strongly rejects and condemns the false, baseless claims by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying and the Chinese Embassy in Manila that journalists 'manipulate the videos they recorded' in the South China Sea to 'project the Philippines as a victim,'" the Focap said.

"Members of Focap include both Filipinos and foreign nationals from around the world, some of whom have [been] embedded in these Philippine missions," they added. "The claim that the Philippines 'had journalists manipulate' their footage is a barefaced lie."

They further stated that Hua's statements are "an insult to the integrity of journalists and an alarming attempt to muzzle an independent press."

The National Union of Journalists (NUJP) also took offense at Beijing's statement.

"The media is not a party to the dispute and should not be demonized by parties for airing contending views on the issue and unflattering reports on incidents in the West Philippine Sea," the group said on Wednesday in a statement.

"Contrary to the ministry's claims on its social media accounts, journalists on these missions provide on-site reports of incidents in the West Philippine Sea, often at their personal risk," they added. "Except for operational and national security considerations, state forces have no say in the production and editorial decisions on these reports."

]]>
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times
NutriAsia, Green Rebel launch plant-based offerings https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/nutriasia-green-rebel-launch-plant-based-offerings/1938970 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:24:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/nutriasia-green-rebel-launch-plant-based-offerings/1938970 NUTRIASIA, the country's biggest manufacturer of condiments and sauces, and Green Rebel, Southeast Asia's leading plant-based food tech start-up, formally announced their partnership with the launch of an exciting and healthy array of plant-based, shelf-stable and frozen products at Apartment 1B, BGC on March 20, 2024.

A ‘li-meat-less’ partneship between NutriAsia and Green Rebel is represented by (from left) Mario Mendoza Jr., NutriAsia New Business Development head; Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, Green Rebel co-founder and chief executive officer; Angie Flaminiano, NutriAsia president and chief operating officer; and Max Mandias, Green Rebel co-founder and Research & Development director. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The launch event, "Dare to be be li-meat-less," was a celebration of innovation, sustainability and culinary excellence, highlighting the dynamic synergy between NutriAsia and Green Rebel and marking the food tech's official entry into the Philippine food market.

Since 2020, Green Rebel has been winning over consumers with Asian-flavored, whole-cut and plant-based meat that was clean-labeled and made with natural ingredients.

Having built an enduring legacy of innovation in the condiments category, NutriAsia welcomed the partnership with Green Rebel as part of its growth strategy.

Green Rebel products came with strong nutrition profiles, high protein and fiber content with up to 50 percent less saturated fat, 30 percent less calories, and 0 cholesterol, compared to traditional meat products.

Theses were especially designed for consumers with a busy lifestyle, as these products were ready-to-cook and took less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Green Rebel plant-based abd shelf-stable products such as Indonesian Rendang Curry, Blackpepper Steak Bites, Korean-style BBQ Slices and Thai Green Curry will first be made available in select Robinsons, Landmark and The Marketplace branches.

Meanwhile, frozen products such as Steak, Beefless Bites, Crispy Fried Chick'n and Rybs would be available through NutriAsia Foodservice Accounts.

Visit the websites and social media pages of Green Rebel and NutriAsia to stay updated.

]]>
A ‘li-meat-less’ partneship between NutriAsia and Green Rebel is represented by (from left) Mario Mendoza Jr., NutriAsia New Business Development head; Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, Green Rebel co-founder and chief executive officer; Angie Flaminiano, NutriAsia president and chief operating officer; and Max Mandias, Green Rebel co-founder and Research & Development director. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A ‘li-meat-less’ partneship between NutriAsia and Green Rebel is represented by (from left) Mario Mendoza Jr., NutriAsia New Business Development head; Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, Green Rebel co-founder and chief executive officer; Angie Flaminiano, NutriAsia president and chief operating officer; and Max Mandias, Green Rebel co-founder and Research & Development director. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
DTI, SEC highlight public-private synergy in empowering SMEs https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/dti-sec-highlight-public-private-synergy-in-empowering-smes/1938967 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:23:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/dti-sec-highlight-public-private-synergy-in-empowering-smes/1938967 AT GrowthX, a business event hosted by financial technology company First Circle, top officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spotlighted the critical role of public-private partnerships in the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

‘GrowthX: Jumpstarting business opportunities through financing and networking’ marks First Circle’s 8th anniversary of providing fast, fair and flexible financial solutions to Philippine small and medium enterprises. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual spoke passionately about DTI's commitment to SME development, recognizing SMEs as the engine of growth and innovation, and the importance of enabling SME access to finance.

The Trade secretary mentioned Rise Up Multipurpose Loan and the P3 Program as some of the financing opportunities that DTI offered through Small Business Corp. (SB Corp).

Pascual brought up SME competitiveness as another focal point of DTI efforts, mentioning the Kapatid Mentor Me Program and the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program for SME knowledge and skills development.

He also emphasized the administration's efforts to equip SMEs for the digital revolution. He further mentioned the importance of strong private-public partnerships — such as the one DTI had with financing partner First Circle — as a way to champion SMEs' entrepreneurial spirit.

At the same event, SEC Commissioner Bryant Fernandez echoed the vital need for support structures for SMEs.

Fernandez also acknowledged the role that private organizations such as First Circle played to enable SME innovation and expansion in a competitive global landscape, and he commended First Circle for its efforts to provide financial resources to SMEs.

]]>
‘GrowthX: Jumpstarting business opportunities through financing and networking’ marks First Circle’s 8th anniversary of providing fast, fair and flexible financial solutions to Philippine small and medium enterprises. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ‘GrowthX: Jumpstarting business opportunities through financing and networking’ marks First Circle’s 8th anniversary of providing fast, fair and flexible financial solutions to Philippine small and medium enterprises. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
Adventure awaits at Hilton Manila's Easter safari carnival https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/adventure-awaits-at-hilton-manilas-easter-safari-carnival/1938965 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:22:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/adventure-awaits-at-hilton-manilas-easter-safari-carnival/1938965 HILTON Manila is delighted to announce its Safari Carnival, an exciting celebration happening on March 31, 2024.

Guests are invited to join the fascinating world of the wild from 1p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom, which has been transformed into a safari wonderland, promising an unforgettable experience for families.

Have your Easter Sunday celebrations at Hilton Manila’s Kusina Sea Kitchens. CONTRIBUTED POSTER

The Safari Carnival at Hilton Manila offers an array of activities that transport guests to an adventure world, showcasing magic and animal shows, an inflatable playground, egg and face painting sessions, a special appearance by a charming bunny mascot, and a thrilling Easter egg hunt that promises to be a highlight for children of all ages.

For a complete Easter Sunday celebration, guests are invited to celebrate the joys of the season and indulge in the culinary delights of Hilton Manila's Easter lunch buffet at Kusina Sea Kitchens from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The buffet presents a delectable selection of Easter-themed treats, including chocolate eggs, carrot cakes, a flowing chocolate fountain and pass around hot cross buns.

Attendees may avail of 25-percent discount when combining the Easter Safari Carnival with the buffet, making it a perfect Easter feast for the whole family.

For inquiries and reservations, send an email to MNLPH_F&Binquiries@hilton.com, or visit https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mnlphhi-hilton-manila/.

]]>
The Manila Times
Health and Beauty Caravan returns to SM Supermalls https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/health-and-beauty-caravan-returns-to-sm-supermalls/1938963 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:21:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/health-and-beauty-caravan-returns-to-sm-supermalls/1938963 SM Supermalls kicks off the continuation of Women's Month celebrations with the press launch of the third Health and Beauty Caravan by Ricky Reyes at SM Megamall.

Filipino Hairdressers’ Association President Ricky Reyes speaks at the press launch of the 3rd Health and Beauty Caravan at SM Megamall. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Cancer Society and local government units (LGUs), this special project spearheaded by the Filipino Hairdressers' Association (Filhair) for the Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundations Inc. has become a cornerstone event, promoting health, beauty and social responsibility within communities.

Building on the success of the 2023 edition, this year's caravan will take place across SM malls nationwide from April 16 to June 26, 2024.

Speaking during the press launch, Filhair President "Mother" Ricky Reyes shares her vision for the caravan, emphasizing its focus on not just outward beauty, but also inner wellness.

The Health and Beauty Caravan will again be joined by LGUs to provide free medical services for 800 participants, including women, children and senior citizens.

This will include the distribution of medicines and vitamins, training for barangay (village) health workers on emergency preparedness, blood typing, blood sugar checks, feeding programs and more.

The Health and Beauty Caravan aims to help all beauty practitioners, salon owners, hair and makeup artists, and everyone involved in the beauty industry.

It will achieve this through seminars and competitions in different categories such as the Unisex Hair Coloring Styling Competition, the Rebond Plus Category, the Bridal Makeup Category, and the High Fashion, Ganda Ng Lola Category, a competition celebrating style and confidence among senior citizens.

]]>
Filipino Hairdressers’ Association President Ricky Reyes speaks at the press launch of the 3rd Health and Beauty Caravan at SM Megamall. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Filipino Hairdressers’ Association President Ricky Reyes speaks at the press launch of the 3rd Health and Beauty Caravan at SM Megamall. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
KonsultaMD highlights reproductive health this Women's Month https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/konsultamd-highlights-reproductive-health-this-womens-month/1938962 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:20:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/konsultamd-highlights-reproductive-health-this-womens-month/1938962 KONSULTAMD, a leader in the Philippine telehealth industry, puts the spotlight on its array of dedicated services, aimed at empowering millennial women to take proactive steps for their reproductive health this Women's Month.

Aside from celebrating the strength and resilience of women, this move also reinforces KonsultaMD's commitment to making health care accessible to everyone with a particular focus on reproductive well-being.

KonsultaMD empowers women with the knowledge and tools necessary for making enlightened health decisions. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

KonsultaMD's latest initiative offers streamlined access to obstetrician-gynecologist consultations and crucial health screenings such as pap smears and mammograms through its user-friendly super app.

This development responds to the growing need for more accessible and reliable health care options for women, enabling them to consult with specialists and undergo important health screenings with ease and convenience.

Heeding the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), KonsultaMD advocates for pap smears every 3 years for women ages 30 to 65.

At the same time, the telehealth app combats the high incidence of breast cancer through a partnership with the Makati Medical Center, providing mammogram services to promote early detection and timely intervention.

KonsultaMD is keen on raising awareness about its women's health services to break down barriers to health care access and encourage women to prioritize their health.

For further details on how to book consultations or screenings, visit https://konsulta.md or download the app on the App Store or Google Play.

]]>
KonsultaMD empowers women with the knowledge and tools necessary for making enlightened health decisions. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE KonsultaMD empowers women with the knowledge and tools necessary for making enlightened health decisions. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE The Manila Times
Hot money flows turn positive in Feb https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/hot-money-flows-turn-positive-in-feb/1938981 Niña Myka Pauline Arceo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:20:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/hot-money-flows-turn-positive-in-feb/1938981 SHORT-TERM foreign investments rebounded in February after declining at the start of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late on Wednesday.

Foreign investments registered with the central bank via authorized agents — commonly referred to as "hot money" due to the ease by which these can be moved in and out of the country — posted a net inflow of $689 million.

This was a reversal from January's net outflow of $76 million.

Overall inflows for the month totaled $1.5 billion — 25.3 percent up from January's $1.2 billion — while gross outflows narrowed to $859 million — 34.5 percent lower — from $1.3 billion.

The funds were mostly invested in peso government securities (61.4 percent or $951 million) and the rest in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities (38.6 percent or $598 million) — mainly banks, transportation, holding, property and food, beverage and tobacco firms.

Most of the short-term investments came from the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, Luxembourg and Hong Kong, which had a combined share of 89.1 percent.

The US remained the main destination for outflows, accounting for over half at 56.4 percent or $485 million.

Year on year, inflows surged by 127.7 percent from $680 million in February 2023 while outflows dipped by 30.1 percent compared to the year-earlier $1.2 billion.

"The $689 million net inflows in February 2024 are in contrast to the net outflows recorded for the same period a year ago ($549 million)," the central bank noted.

Year-to-date transactions also turned positive at a net $613 million, reversing from the net outflow of $258 million registered in the same period last year.

The BSP tally accounts for funds received by authorized agent banks (AABs). Registration of the investment is only required if the investor or its representative purchases foreign exchange from AABs or their subsidiaries/affiliates for the repatriation of capital and remittance of earnings from the investment.

"Without such registration, the foreign investor can still repatriate capital and remit earnings on its investment, but the FX (foreign exchange) will have to be sourced outside the banking system," the central bank said.

]]>
United States dollar banknotes of various denominations are seen in Washington, D.C. XINHUA FILE PHOTO United States dollar banknotes of various denominations are seen in Washington, D.C. XINHUA FILE PHOTO The Manila Times
40 dead as pertussis cases rise https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/40-dead-as-pertussis-cases-rise/1938957 Claire Bernadette  Mondares,Xinhua News Agency Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:18:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/40-dead-as-pertussis-cases-rise/1938957 THE Department of Health (DoH) said 28 new pertussis cases were reported from March 10-16, bringing the total to 568 since January.

Of the number, 40 deaths have been reported nationwide, the department said.

The new number of cases nationwide is 25.38 percent higher than the 453 from the previous 10 weeks. This number is also more than 20 times last year's 26 cases.

The regions with the most number of case increases so far are Calabarzon (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and Central Visayas.

Quezon City and Pasig City in Metro Manila and Iloilo City in the central Philippines have declared a pertussis outbreak.

Of the total pertussis cases recorded, at least six out of 10 were infants below six months of age, while three out of four of these infants were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history.

Of the cases, regardless of age, close to seven out of 10 were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history.

"The medical field has known pertussis for a long time now. We have antibiotics that can treat it. Vaccines are safe and effective against whooping cough. DoH is also redistributing on-hand doses where they are needed the most. In consultation with President Marcos, I have already ordered to fast-track the arrival of 3 million more doses. Please be assured while also being alert. We can fight this," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.

Health experts say pertussis starts as a mild cough and cold that lasts about two weeks, followed by paroxysms or fits of coughing, which last up to six weeks.

There is a characteristic "whooping" or high-pitched sound between coughs, especially when inhaling. There can also be vomiting immediately after coughing and low-grade fever. Infants may not present with a cough; instead, they may turn cyanotic or bluish when coughing.

Compared to cough found in other diseases, the distinct "whoop" or high-pitched sound of pertussis is unique. Bronchial asthma may also have a similar sound, but only during asthma attacks and often without fever or other symptoms.

Pertussis is caused by bacteria — either Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis.

Antibiotics are available and effective against them, and doctors will prescribe a course of treatment that should start as early as possible. Depending on the antibiotic used and the age and condition of the patient, treatment may run from four to 14 days.

Pertussis is a respiratory disease that can be transmitted from person to person through coughing or sneezing, and this transmission may be prevented by good respiratory hygiene: cover coughs and sneezing — do so into disposable tissues/wipes, or the elbow or upper arm (not hands). Wash hands often or use alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.

Pentavalent vaccines include protection against "DPT" (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) and Hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenza type B.

Infants as young as six weeks may be given this vaccine for free at government health centers, while children from 1 to 6 years of age may get a booster dose.

Older children and adults should consult a doctor or health center for advice on the appropriate vaccine.

]]>
The Manila Times
Fall 'Stupid in Love' with MAX at his Ayala Malls shows this April https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/fall-stupid-in-love-with-max-at-his-ayala-malls-shows-this-april/1938961 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:18:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/fall-stupid-in-love-with-max-at-his-ayala-malls-shows-this-april/1938961 MULTIPLATINUM Warner recording artist MAX is coming to Manila for three mall shows.

MAX returns to the Philippines to perform a string of mall shows. CONTRIBUTED POSTER

MAX has been in the music scene for a while now, but his viral bop "Stupid in Love," featuring Le Sserafim's Huh Yunjin, has gained him a new level of dglobal popularity and critical acclaim.

He has also just released "Love in Stereo," his third album that caps off a series of beautiful singles. "Stupid in Love," which has recently premiered its official music video, is just one of twelve remarkable hits MAX features.

The no-skip album also contains collaborations with renowned artists such as "It's You" featuring Keshi, "Strings" with JVKE and Bazzi, and "Butterflies" with Ali Gatie.

Luckily, Filipino fans now could watch this rising popstar perform these well-loved songs. MAX is returning to the Philippines to perform a string of mall shows, namely at the UP Town Center on April 5, at Ayala Malls Manila Bay on April 6 and at One Ayala on April 7.

]]>
The Manila Times
Fewer Fed rate cuts may be 'appropriate' https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/fewer-fed-rate-cuts-may-be-appropriate/1938980 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:18:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/fewer-fed-rate-cuts-may-be-appropriate/1938980 WASHINGTON, D.C.: The US central bank should either scale back or delay its interest rate cuts in response to "disappointing" inflation data, a senior Federal Reserve (Fed) official said Wednesday.
"In my view, it is appropriate to reduce the overall number of rate cuts or push them further into the future in response to the recent data," Fed Governor Christopher Waller told a conference in New York.
After swiftly hiking interest rates and then holding them at a 23-year high to tackle surging inflation, the Fed recently pivoted to debating when to cut them.
At its most recent rate decision, policymakers reinforced their prediction of three interest rate cuts this year in spite of a recent monthly uptick in inflation, while leaving the Fed's key lending rate unchanged.
"We made a lot of headway in reducing inflation in the past year or so, although the readings in the past two months have been disappointing," Waller said.
Both overall and so-called core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, "rounded to a 0.4 percent increase for the month of February, which is obviously not progress toward our inflation goal," he said, referring to the Fed's long-run target of 2 percent.
"Shorter-term inflation measures are now telling me that progress has slowed and may have stalled. But we will need more data to know that," he added.
At the same time as inflation has crept higher, US growth has remained robust, and the labor market remains strong, indicating that the overall economy is still in pretty good shape.
"I see economic output and the labor market showing continued strength, while progress in reducing inflation has slowed," Waller said.
"Because of these signs, I see no rush in taking the step of beginning to ease monetary policy," he continued.
"It is prudent to hold this rate at its current restrictive stance perhaps for longer than previously thought to help keep inflation on a sustainable trajectory toward two percent," he added.

]]>
This Feb. 5, 2018 file photo shows the seal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on the floor of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, D.C. AP PHOTO This Feb. 5, 2018 file photo shows the seal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on the floor of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, D.C. AP PHOTO The Manila Times
Edcom2 visits Vietnam to study its education sector https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/edcom2-visits-vietnam-to-study-its-education-sector/1938959 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:17:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/public-square/edcom2-visits-vietnam-to-study-its-education-sector/1938959 THE Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom2) conducted a study visit to Vietnam from March 21 to 24, 2024.

Edcom2 sought to learn from Vietnam's education sector in the following key areas: improving access, equity and opportunity; attracting and supporting qualified teachers; strategically using assessments; and effectively governing While Vietnam was in a similar economic phase as the Philippines, it performed better in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Vietnam's average score, 468, was way above the Philippines' 353 despite the former spending roughly the same amount in education as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Edcom2 also hoped that this visit would lead to increased collaboration and exchanges between the Philippines and Vietnam, especially in the realm of education.

The Philippine delegation to Vietnam included Edcom2 co-chairmen Sherwin Gatchalian and Mark Go as well as Commissioner Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez.

Traveling with them were Advisory Council member Alfredo Ayala, and Standing Committee members Jennie Jocson, Marie Therese Angeline Bustos, Elvin Ivan Uy and John Sevilla.

Edcom2 met with key officials on education reform, including Vietnam National Assembly Committee of Culture and Education, and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai.

]]>
Metrobank: Inflation to top target in 2024 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/metrobank-inflation-to-top-target-in-2024/1938978 Niña Myka Pauline Arceo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:17:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/metrobank-inflation-to-top-target-in-2024/1938978 INFLATION will likely average lower this year but remain higher than targeted, Metrobank Research said.

It forecast a full-year result of 4.3 percent, down from 2023's 6.0 percent but slightly over the government's 2.0- to 4.0-percent target.

Inflation, which surged to a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January last year, finally returned to target in December. It slowed further at the start of 2023 but picked up in February to 3.4 percent.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. last week said that inflation could rise further in March to 3.9 percent.

The central bank has also warned that the rate could again top 4.0 percent in the second quarter due to the impact of the El Niño weather pattern on food prices.

Metrobank Research echoed this, saying: "There continues to be strong upward inflation pressure for the year due to the rising rice prices and the impending effects of El Niño on food items and of emerging geopolitical risks on global market prices."

March inflation data will be released Friday next week.

Despite the likelihood of above-target inflation this year, Metrobank Research still expects the BSP to begin lowering key interest rates later this year.

The central bank's benchmark rate currently stands at 6.5 percent, the highest since 2007, following a total of 450 basis points of hikes beginning May 2022.

"Relative to the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate path, the BSP is likely to delay its first cut by up to a full quarter later than that of the Fed," Metrobank Research said.

The BSP will likely cut by up to 100 basis points, it added.

"While the BSP is expected to ease monetary policy, high borrowing costs may keep investment spending and imports tempered," Metrobank Research continued.

The peso-dollar rate could revisit the $56:$1 level in the second and third quarter this year on account of higher imports, while seasonal trends such as higher overseas Filipino worker remittances ahead of the Christmas holidays would support a peso strengthening in the fourth quarter.

The currency will likely end the year at P54 to the dollar, Metrobank Research said.

]]>
Households waste 1B meals a day – UN https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/households-waste-1b-meals-a-day-un/1938956 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:16:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/households-waste-1b-meals-a-day-un/1938956 PARIS: Households around the world threw away 1 billion meals every single day in 2022 in what the United Nations on Wednesday called a "global tragedy" of food waste.

More than $1 trillion worth of food was binned by households and businesses at a time when nearly 800 million people were going hungry, the UN's latest Food Waste Index Report says.

It said that more than 1 billion tonnes of food — almost one-fifth of all the produce available on the market — was wasted in 2022, most of it by households.

"Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions will go hungry today as food is wasted across the world," Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), said in a statement.

Such wastage was not just a moral but "environmental failure," the report said.

Food waste produces five times the planet-heating emissions of the aviation sector and requires huge tracts of land to be converted for growing crops that are never eaten.

The report, co-authored with nonprofit organization WRAP, is just the second on global food waste compiled by the UN and provides the most complete picture to date.

As data collection has improved, the true scale of the problem has become much clearer, said Clementine O'Connor from UNEP.

"The more food waste you look for, the more that you find," she told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Billion meals binned

The report said that the "billion meals" figure was a "very conservative estimate" and "the real amount could be much higher." "For me, it's just staggering," Richard Swannell from WRAP said.

"You could actually feed all the people that are currently hungry in the world — about 800 million people — over a meal a day just from the food that is wasted every single year." He said bringing together producers and retailers had helped reduce waste and get food to those who need it, and more such action was needed.

Food services like restaurants, canteens and hotels were responsible for 28 percent of all wasted food in 2022, while retail like butchers and greengrocers dumped 12 percent.

But the biggest culprits were households, which accounted for 60 percent — some 631 million tonnes.

Swannell said much of this occurred because people were simply buying more food than they needed, but also misjudging portion sizes and not eating leftovers.

Another issue was expiration dates, he said, with perfectly good produce being trashed because people incorrectly assumed their food had gone off.

A lot of food, particularly in the developing world, was not so frivolously wasted, but instead lost in transportation or spoiling because of a lack of refrigeration, the report said.

Contrary to popular belief, food waste is not just a "rich country" problem and can be observed across the world, the report said.

Hotter countries, too, generated more waste, possibly due to higher consumption of fresh foods with substantial inedible parts.

'Devastating effects'

Businesses also underestimate the cost of wasting food to their bottom line because it was cheap to dump unused produce in landfill.

"It's quicker and easier to throw it away at the moment because the waste fee is either zero or very low," O'Connor said.

Food waste had "devastating effects" on people and the planet, the report said.

Converting natural ecosystems for agriculture is a leading cause of habitat loss yet food waste takes up the equivalent of nearly 30 percent of the world's farming land, the report said.

"If we can reduce food waste across the entire of the supply chain, we can... minimize the need to have land set aside that's growing stuff that's never used," Swannell said.

It is also a key driver of climate change, generating up to 10 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

"If food waste was a country, it would be the third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet behind the US and China," Swannell said.

But people rarely think about it, he said, despite the opportunity to "reduce our carbon footprint, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and save money, simply by making better use of the food that we're already buying."

]]>
The Manila Times
Japan drug firm reports two deaths https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/japan-drug-firm-reports-two-deaths/1938907 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:16:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/japan-drug-firm-reports-two-deaths/1938907 (UPDATE) TOKYO: A Japanese pharmaceutical company, whose dietary supplements are at the center of a growing health scare, reported on Thursday two more deaths potentially related to its tablets.

Last week, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled three supplement brands — "Beni Koji Choleste Help" and two other products — which contain an ingredient called red yeast rice, or "beni koji," supposed to help lower cholesterol.

DEADLY SUPPLEMENT Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical reported two more deaths possibly related to its supplements on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO

Thursday's announcement brought the total number of deaths under investigation by the company and health ministry to four, with more than 100 other people hospitalized.

"We were told yesterday by a bereaved family that a person who had been using Choleste Help had passed away due to kidney disease," the drugmaker said in a statement Thursday.

Another person who had used Choleste Help in recent years was said to have also died.

"We are in the process of confirming the facts and causal relationships in both of these cases. However, we decided to make this report public from the viewpoint of prompt disclosure."

The Osaka-based company said it has also supplied red yeast rice to around 50 other firms in Japan and two in Taiwan.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical sells a wide range of health products marketed through television advertorials in Japan.

Medical studies describe red yeast rice as an alternative to statins for lowering high cholesterol, but also warn of a risk of organ damage depending on its chemical makeup.

Dozens of Japanese firms that used the beni koji provided by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical have also separately announced recalls.

The affected products include various health tablets, as well as a rose-colored sparkling sake, salad dressing, bread and miso paste used in many traditional dishes.

]]>
DEADLY SUPPLEMENT Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical reported two more deaths possibly related to its supplements on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO DEADLY SUPPLEMENT Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical reported two more deaths possibly related to its supplements on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO The Manila Times
The Manila Times Front Page | March 29, 2024 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/print-edition/the-manila-times-front-page-march-29-2024/1938950 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:15:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/print-edition/the-manila-times-front-page-march-29-2024/1938950
]]>
The Manila Times
Iloilo's Santa Maria church a stop for Visita Iglesia https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/iloilos-santa-maria-church-a-stop-for-visita-iglesia/1938954 Bernadette E. Tamayo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:15:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/iloilos-santa-maria-church-a-stop-for-visita-iglesia/1938954 THE Santa Maria Parish Church in Iloilo City, dedicated to Our Lady of China, is likely to be on the list of churches that the faithful, especially Chinese Filipinos, will have for their Visita Iglesia.

Located on Gen. Blanco Street, Maria Clara, in Iloilo City, the Santa Maria Parish is home to Chinese Filipino Catholics in the Archdiocese of Jaro.

According to the parish, the church was established in 1957 by Jesuit missionaries expelled from China with the rise of atheism on the Chinese mainland, including Fr. Miguel Pardenas, a Mexican.

Our Lady of China statue inside the Santa Maria Parish Church in Iloilo City. PHOTO BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO
Our Lady of China statue inside the Santa Maria Parish Church in Iloilo City. PHOTO BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Pardenas was pastor of the newly created parish in Cebu City when he came to Iloilo City in 1953 for an Ignatian retreat.

The Mother Superior, herself Mexican, had told him there was also a need to minister to the big Chinese and Chinese Filipino population in Iloilo, the parish said.

The idea to create a personal parish for the community got strong support from the then-Jaro archbishop, Msgr. Jose Ma. Cuenco.

In that same year, the Jesuit China mission superior, Fr. Paul O'Brien, gave that task to Italian missionary Fr. Guerrino Marsecano, who was 39 years old at that time.

Marsecano was expelled from Mengiuang, China, in December 1952 after four years of hard work in communal farms, the parish said.

He studied the work of Pardenas in Cebu before going to Iloilo, where he had only P30 in his pocket and nothing arranged in advance for his accommodations.

Marsecano arrived on March 1, 1953, to a warm welcome from the leaders of the Iloilo Catholic Chinese Association (ICCA) and a sizable crowd of Chinese Filipino Catholics, the parish said.

On July 5, 1953, during the holy Mass in Assumption Chapel, Cuenco read the decree from Pope Pius 12 authorizing the creation of a personal parish for Chinese and Chinese Filipino Catholics in Iloilo City.

Marsecano became the first priest of the parish dedicated to the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that first appeared in Donglu, China, in the 1900s.

Marsecano held Masses and other church activities at the Assumption Chapel. After a year of services in various churches, Marsecano and the community realized the need for the Santa Maria Parish to have its own church.

When Msgr. Juan Velasco, a Dominican bishop of Amoy and national director of the Chinese mission in the Philippines, came for a pastoral visit in November 1956; he discussed with the parish board and ICCA the need for a bigger and more permanent church, which would cost an estimated P80,000 at that time.

Marsenaco oversaw the initial preparations for a new church, cut short when he was transferred to Formosa, present-day Taiwan, to work among the French Canadian Jesuits in the Kuangshi district in 1956.

A French Jesuit missionary, Fr. Andre Joliet, who was pulled out of the Chinese apostolate in East Malaya, took his place, the parish said.

Work immediately started with the money left over from Marsecano's tenure and a donation of P25,000 from Swiss Catholics.

Santa Maria Parish celebrated its first Mass in the new church on Dec. 25, 1957.

The Santa Maria Parish Church was blessed by Msgr. Teofilo Camomot, D.D., auxiliary bishop of Jaro, on April 27, 1958. The Chinese Filipino community in Iloilo finally had a church to call its own.

The parish said Benjamin Hilado, dean of the College of Architecture of the University of San Agustin, designed the building.

Francisco Ricardo Monti, the University of Santo Tomas' dean of the College of Fine Arts, sculpted the bas-relief of Our Lady of China that dominates the facade of the church, basing his work on Chinese artist John Lu Hungnien's drawing.

On the wall of the altar in the sanctuary is a cross inspired by the miraculous crucifix of Limpias in the Church of St. Peter in Santander, Spain.

Its Chinese inscription in stained glass is the work of sinologist Fr. John Wang Chang Chi.

It reads: "Offering-Sacrifice" (above the cross beam); "The world has been saved by the instrument of torture" (under the cross beam, right side); and "To feed your soul, you must have spiritual food" (under the cross beam, left side).

The statues of the Sacred Heart and the Holy Family are also from Spain. The bell was made by the makers of the American Liberty Bell.

]]>
Our Lady of China statue inside the Santa Maria Parish Church in Iloilo City. PHOTO BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO Our Lady of China statue inside the Santa Maria Parish Church in Iloilo City. PHOTO BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO The Manila Times
CHINA DEFENDERS https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/editorial-cartoon/china-defenders/1938975 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:15:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/editorial-cartoon/china-defenders/1938975
]]>
The Manila Times
FCDU lending drops by 2.2% in Q4 2023 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/fcdu-lending-drops-by-22-in-q4-2023/1938977 Niña Myka Pauline Arceo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:15:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/fcdu-lending-drops-by-22-in-q4-2023/1938977 LOANS extended by banks' foreign currency deposit units (FCDU) fell in the fourth quarter of last year as principal repayments exceeded disbursements, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late Wednesday.

As of end-December, FCDU loans stood at $15.2 billion, down 2.2 percent from $15.5 billion in the third quarter or 3.9 percent from $15.8 billion a year earlier.

The increased repayments, the BSP noted, came amid high interest rates for both short-term and medium- to long-term loans.

The maturity profile of FCDU loans remained predominantly medium to long term at 78.6 percent, higher than the 77.6 percent posted in the previous quarter.

Loans granted to residents totaled $9.2 billion or 60.6 percent of all FCDU loans. These were mostly secured by power generation firms ($2.3 billion or 25.0 percent); merchandise and service exporters ($2.3 billion or 25.0 percent); and towing, tanker, trucking, forwarding, personal and other industries ($1.2 billion or 12.8 percent).

Gross disbursements reached $18.0 billion in October-December, 5.4 percent higher than the $17.1 billion recorded in the previous quarter. This was attributed to an "increase in funding requirements of a foreign bank branch affiliate."

Loan repayments, likewise, rose to $18.4 billion — 8.4-percent up from $17.0 billion in the third quarter and which resulted in an overall net principal repayment.

FCDU deposit liabilities hit a record $54.4 billion, 5.1 percent higher than the end-September 2023 level of $51.8 billion.

"This is mainly due to the surge in FCDU time certificate of deposits owned by resident individuals which aligns with the uptick in the remittances from overseas Filipinos," the central bank said.

The majority of these deposits — $53.0 billion or 97.4 percent — remained under the ownership of residents, effectively serving as a gross international reserves buffer.

Year on year, FCDU deposit liabilities grew by 13.7 percent from the $47.8 billion recorded at the end of December 2022.

]]>
Why worrying isn't all that bad https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/why-worrying-isnt-all-that-bad/1938952 Danton Remoto Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:14:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/why-worrying-isnt-all-that-bad/1938952 "ANXIETY" is a word that often pops up in conversations and social media posts. I see it in emails sent by my students, coupled with the words "mental health" and "emotional well-being."

Today, anxiety is often seen through a negative lens, a burden to be alleviated or even eradicated. However, another perspective shows that anxiety is not necessarily bad. In fact, it can be a catalyst for growth, resilience and self-awareness.

Studies show that anxiety affects more than a third of adults every year in the developed West and is now among the most common mental issues in the world. But experts say that people do not need to get rid of anxiety, but rather, they need to learn how to live with it.

"We have bought into a false perspective on anxiety that you should never have it," said David Rosmarin, the founder of the Center for Anxiety in the United States. "We think that low levels of anxiety are a disease, a disorder."

But Rosmarin looks at anxiety from another angle: "We have to stop getting rid of our anxiety and change our relationship with it instead."

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, danger, or something new, added Rosmarin, who wrote the book "Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You."

Some commentators have said that anxiety is caused by the 24-hour news cycle and the constant barrage of social media posts, where people compare themselves to others. But anxiety's roots go deeper than these surface triggers.

Dr. Justin Kei, the medical director for outpatient behavioral health services at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said, "People's fears are greater than the actual threat."

"You judge yourself for feeling anxious, catastrophize about it, and then your anxiety gets worse. That cycle is creating the anxiety epidemic today," Rosmarin said.

Modernity's curse

Experts think that one of the roots of anxiety is modernity itself. The headlong rush to progress has produced technological tools, but there is also a sharp change in values.

Many countries, especially in the developed West, put a premium on the trappings of external success. This includes fame and fortune, which is worsened by the celebrity culture that worships gloss, glitter and glitz. However, internal successes like self-development, emotional stability and other less publicly seen goals are not rewarded.

"We've lost out on these aspects of our humanity," Rosmarin noted. "We're pursuing happiness, ironically to the detriment of our mental health."

North American data show that young people are more likely than older adults to experience anxiety. Fully 50 percent of people 18 to 24 showed symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023, according to a KFF analysis. Compare this with 29 percent of people 50 to 64 and 20 percent among those 65 and older.

How, then, to deal with this modern malaise? Studies have shown that the best way to deal with anxiety is to learn to live with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy and other treatments can help.

The focus is on telling people to understand that life has peaks and valleys. It involves the need to accept that life is unpredictable. Therefore, it's not "inherently bad" to feel a lack of control and feelings of nervousness when you feel that sometimes, your life is slipping past your fingers like falling sand.

"People want to feel good, and when we don't feel good, that makes us nervous," said Dr. Kia-Rai Prewitt, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Adult Behavioral Health in Ohio. "But just because it feels uncomfortable, it doesn't mean it's wrong."

Other ways to manage anxiety

Anxiety can act as an internal alarm system. It alerts us to potential threats or areas of concern in our lives. Rather than ignoring or suppressing these feelings, we can use them as signals to evaluate our circumstances and make the necessary adjustments. This heightened awareness can help us navigate challenges more effectively and make good choices to protect our well-being.

Often, anxiety comes as a response to uncertainty or change, prompting us to step out of our comfort zones and face new experiences. Instead of avoiding these feelings, we can harness them as motivation for our personal and professional growth. By embracing discomfort and pushing past our perceived limitations, we can boost resilience.

People who experience anxiety may be more attuned to other people's emotions since they understand the impact of stress and worry on mental well-being. This heightened empathy can foster deeper connections and stronger relationships as we try to help those around us who may be facing similar challenges.

Anxiety also often manifests as a racing mind: your brain is filled with thoughts and ideas, all jostling for attention. While this can be overwhelming, it can also spark creativity and innovation. By channeling anxious energy into creative work such as writing, art, or problem-solving, we can turn negative feelings into positive outcomes. It's like the story of a grain of sand inside an oyster, which agitates the oyster and later produces a shiny pearl.

Moreover, anxiety has a way of pulling us into the present moment, forcing us to confront our thoughts and emotions head-on. Rather than getting lost in worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, we can use this opportunity for mindfulness and self-reflection. Through meditation, journaling or therapy, we can know ourselves deeper and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Some people take a walk, drink warm water, pray or reflect. Others watch feel-good movies on Netflix or comedies on YouTube. You do anything that floats your boat that makes you go past this gray moment or that blue funk.

Embracing anxiety also requires being honest with one's self. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable and accept our fears and insecurities without judgment. In doing so, we discover a reservoir of inner strength that empowers us to face life's challenges with courage. By embracing our vulnerabilities, we can forge deeper connections with ourselves and others. Experts say this leads to a sense of belonging and acceptance.

Thus, don't feel bad when the bird of worry sits on your shoulders. Anxiety is not inherently wrong; rather, it is a natural and normal part of life. By reframing our relationship with it and embracing it as a source of insight and growth, we can unlock its potential and lead us to a more fulfilled life.


Danton Remoto is a member of the Editorial Board at The Mania Times. He was the head of communications at the United Nations Development Program in the Philippines.

]]>
Approved building permits down in Jan https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/approved-building-permits-down-in-jan/1938976 Janine Alexis Miguel Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:14:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/approved-building-permits-down-in-jan/1938976 THE number and value of construction projects from approved building permits declined in the first month of 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday.

Approved construction projects in January totaled 11,433 or 17.3 percent lower from 13,824 projects in the same month last year. In a monthly comparison, it was higher by 3.3 percent from 11,060 recorded in December 2023.
The amount of approved projects totaled P29.8 billion, down from last year's P32.2 billion.
Among the total projects, residential buildings reported the majority of approved constructions at 7,390.
"This indicates an annual decrease of 22.3 percent from the same month of the previous year's level of 9,507 constructions," said the PSA.
Majority of the total residential construction work were single-type houses with 6,506 valued at P13.6 billion. On the other hand, nonresidential type of constructions totaled 2,876 during the month with a corresponding amount of P13.1 billion.
The number of nonresidential constructions in January, meanwhile, showed an increase of 0.6 percent in comparison to last year's 2,436.
In terms of types of structures, the PSA said that residential buildings had the highest average cost of P12,220.80 per square meter (sqm) during the month.
This was followed by nonresidential constructions with P10,713.27 per sqm in addition to existing constructions with P9,704.64 per sqm.
In terms of the total floor area, the agency said that it decreased by 27.5 percent to 2.34 million sqm in January from 3.23 million sqm a year earlier.
Nonresidential constructions posted 1.16 million sqm or 49.5 percent of the total floor area of constructions, while residential constructions recorded 1.11 million sqm or 47.6 percent of the total floor area of constructions in January 2024.
The PSA said that Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) remained the top region with the most construction projects with 2,752 amounting to P9.2 billion.
Central Visayas is second with 1,579 constructions valued at P3.1 billion and Central Luzon comes third with 1,418 worth P4.5 billion.
]]>
Fiji ex-PM avoids jail for obstructing justice https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/fiji-ex-pm-avoids-jail-for-obstructing-justice/1938929 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:14:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/fiji-ex-pm-avoids-jail-for-obstructing-justice/1938929 SYDNEY, Australia: Fiji's ex-prime minister Frank Bainimarama avoided jail time on Thursday despite being found guilty of obstruction of justice while leading the South Pacific island nation.

Earlier this month, Bainimarama was found guilty of quashing a police investigation into alleged corruption at Fiji's University of the South Pacific in July 2020, when he was prime minister.

NO JAIL TERM Fiji’s former prime minister Frank Bainimarama meets supporters as he leaves the Magistrates Court in Suva on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO

At a sentencing hearing in Suva on Thursday, magistrate Seini Puamau said the former military commander-turned-elected leader would avoid time behind bars, citing his medical history.

Puamau said the offense had been a less severe one, and there was no suggestion Bainimarama had acted for personal or financial gain.

Bainimarama had been found guilty of perverting the course of justice in ordering police to halt an investigation into a web of reportedly suspicious bonus payments, promotions and pay rises within the university.

Bainimarama's police chief and top ally Sitiveni Qiliho was found guilty of abuse of office in the case.

The court heard on Thursday that Qiliho would also avoid time behind bars, but would be required to pay a fine of $1,500 within 30 days.

Bainimarama, a 69-year-old former naval commodore, seized power in a bloodless coup in 2006, leading the Pacific archipelago until he was voted out in December 2022.

The former leader's legal woes have mounted since he was succeeded by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

In February 2023, parliament suspended him until 2026 after a speech in which he criticized Rabuka.

A year later, he was hit with two separate abuse-of-office charges.

One count related to the allegedly unlawful firing of two police officers in 2021.

The other was over his alleged waiving of a tender bid "without lawful justification" when he was finance minister in 2011.

]]>
NO JAIL TERM Fiji’s former prime minister Frank Bainimarama meets supporters as he leaves the Magistrates Court in Suva on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO NO JAIL TERM Fiji’s former prime minister Frank Bainimarama meets supporters as he leaves the Magistrates Court in Suva on Thursday, March 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO The Manila Times
'Voters, not surveys, will decide Cha-Cha' https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/voters-not-surveys-will-decide-cha-cha/1938951 Red Mendoza,Javier Joe Ismael Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:13:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/voters-not-surveys-will-decide-cha-cha/1938951 A LEADING advocate for Charter Change said it would be the voters, not surveys, who will decide the fate of the proposed changes to the Constitution.

"Citizens will have the time to have their say during their public consultations and when they vote during the plebiscite, not through a survey," Ako Bicol Executive Director Alfredo Garbin Jr. said in a statement Thursday.

"Our point is to allow voters to vote on the issues. Voters, at the very least, deserve that," Garbin said.

He was reacting to Pulse Asia's March survey, which showed that 88 percent of respondents do not want the Constitution amended.

Only 8 percent of respondents said they were open to amending the Charter.

Garbin, a former lawmaker, said the survey proves that the approach adopted in the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7 is "appropriate."

RBH 7, which the House of Representatives passed on third reading on March 20, sought to amend economic provisions that ban foreign ownership of educational institutions, telecommunications utilities and media assets.

Garbin said that in the "coming weeks and months," Ako Bicol will launch an information program on the need for Charter change.

He said it would be "irresponsible" to pass on the "economic problem" to succeeding administrations.

"The responsible thing to do is solve this problem now. Voters know that they elected members of Congress to work on the details of laws and provisions of the Constitution, including how to properly open ownership of public utilities, sectors of education and media," Garbin said.

Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, who is against the proposed economic provisions, emphasized that 88 percent of the respondents in the Pulse Asia survey expressing opposition to Charter change indicates no compelling reason to expedite the amending of the Constitution.

"Our bosses have spoken. It is crystal clear that the PI (people's initiative) they pushed forward is spurious, and what the people truly need from the government at this time is not Charter change," said Villanueva.

The survey showed that 14 percent said that while the Constitution could not be amended, it could be amended sometime in the future. A little more than half said the charter could be amended during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while 8 percent said that it could be done in the next administration.

Asked if he had decided to vote against the RBH 6, Villanueva said he was leaning in that direction.

He said he was "still more than willing to learn and further study these economic provisions in amending the Constitution as we continue conducting public hearings."

Earlier, opposition Senator Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros said that "the ball is very much in play" in garnering at least seven votes in the Senate to thwart the Charter change proposal.

"Let us remember that they require three-fourths of the Senate to approve Resolution of Both Houses 6. This means they must muster 18 votes. Conversely, we only need seven votes to block it," Hontiveros said.

"I feel like we have colleagues in the majority, based on their body language, who do not fully support RBH 6," she said.

Hontiveros revealed that she and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd were against amending the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Senators Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos and Cynthia Villar have also said they would reject the proposed amendments.

]]>
The Manila Times
SKorea bus drivers stage strike https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/skorea-bus-drivers-stage-strike/1938920 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:13:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/asia-oceania/skorea-bus-drivers-stage-strike/1938920 SEOUL: Thousands of bus drivers in Seoul went on strike Thursday over a wage dispute, with 97 percent of bus routes in the South Korean capital affected, their union said, causing chaos for commuters during rush hour.

It was the first general strike by drivers since 2012 and came after negotiations on pay collapsed early Thursday, with the drivers requesting a 12.7-percent hourly wage increase.

A man sits at a bus stop in Seoul on March 28, 2023, as unionised Seoul Bus drivers went on strike, bringing over 7,200 buses to a full stop and disrupting commute hours in the South Korean capital over a wage hike dispute. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

Talks will resume later in the day, a union spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that "we cannot say at this point whether the strike will continue into tomorrow pending the outcome of the negotiations."

The strike has left many bus stations empty as commuters flocked to the subway to get to work, with some caught off guard by the news.

"I wasn't aware of the bus strike because I don't follow the news closely," Cho Min-sang told the Yonhap news agency. "I was puzzled because there were no bus schedules on the bus station screens."

Yoo Jae-yeon, a 37-year-old artificial intelligence industry researcher, told AFP she had switched to work from home Thursday after learning of the strike, but said she supported it.

"I am willing to take some inconvenience that could incur from the labor-management negotiations," she said.

To mitigate the fallout, the Seoul city government has extended subway operating hours to 2 a.m. and added more trains during peak commuting hours. It is also putting 480 nonunion buses on the road.

"We will deploy every transportation means at our disposal to minimize the inconvenience to the people," said Yoon Jong-jang, deputy director of the transportation office.

]]>
A man sits at a bus stop in Seoul on March 28, 2023, as unionised Seoul Bus drivers went on strike, bringing over 7,200 buses to a full stop and disrupting commute hours in the South Korean capital over a wage hike dispute. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) A man sits at a bus stop in Seoul on March 28, 2023, as unionised Seoul Bus drivers went on strike, bringing over 7,200 buses to a full stop and disrupting commute hours in the South Korean capital over a wage hike dispute. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) The Manila Times
IP filings surge in 2023 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/ip-filings-surge-in-2023/1938973 Janine Alexis Miguel Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:12:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/ip-filings-surge-in-2023/1938973 THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhl) reported record-high IP filings in 2023 as more universities and colleges joined the program.

The Innovation and Technology Support Program of the IPOPhl said on Wednesday that the aggregate IP filings reached 1,535 last year, a 47.6 percent rise compared to 2022's record of 1,040 filings.

The filings covered higher education institutions, state universities and colleges, and other institutions in the innovation program.

IPOPhl Director General Rowel Barba said Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSO) members increased to 87 from 77 in 2022.

"ITSO member institutions serve as frontliners to our IP stakeholders in universities and colleges, committed to accelerating the use of the IP system in their communities," said Barba.

"The record-high filings are proof of the outcomes of the ITSO 2.0 Program in helping build our innovation capabilities to power our nation's socioeconomic growth and development," he added.

According to IPOPhl, innovation-related IPs, including patents, utility models (UM) and industrial designs (ID), took up almost 90 percent of all filings received in all ITSOs last year, while the rest were trademarks.

Patents filed last year totaled 427, higher by 77 percent from 241 in 2022. UM increased by 28 percent to 736, and ID filing jumped by 57 percent to 200.

Trademarks, meanwhile, rose by 76 percent to 172 from 98. Copyright deposits also saw a 119.8 percent growth to 521 from 237.

Barba also noted that more ITSOs engaged in activities toward commercialization last year.

Data showed that 39 ITSOs engaged in commercialization, up by 50 percent from 26 ITSOs in 2022.

IPOPhl said that resulted in 74 reported commercialization activities last year, an increase of 51 percent from the previous year.

"IP commercialization continued to move at full throttle last year as more ITSOs were driven to make an impact in society through their IPs," said Barba.

]]>
US-Israel rift over Rafah at breaking point https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/us-israel-rift-over-rafah-at-breaking-point/1938919 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:12:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/us-israel-rift-over-rafah-at-breaking-point/1938919 WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States has taken a public distance from Israel as never before over the Gaza war, but the decisive test will be Rafah and whether Israel heeds US warnings against an offensive in the packed city.

The United States on Monday abstained at the Security Council, allowing a resolution to pass for the first time that called for an immediate ceasefire, infuriating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who delayed a delegation to Washington to discuss US concerns on Rafah.

NONSTOP BOMBARDMENT Smoke billows over buildings following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. AFP PHOTO

In a stance noted by Netanyahu, President Joe Biden has made clear he will not use his key point of leverage — cutting US military assistance to Israel.

Annelle Sheline, who recently resigned in protest from the State Department, where she had been on a fellowship working on human rights, said the Biden administration may be shifting but that its actions so far — including the resolution and plans for an emergency pier to bring in aid — amounted to "PR stunts."

"I can only hope that things are starting to change. Unfortunately, I don't yet see the US actually using its leverage as far as ending or withdrawing support for Israeli military operations, turning off the tap of weapons," she told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Michael Singh, managing director of the Washington Institute who was a top White House aide on the Middle East under former president George W. Bush, said Biden was responding at the United Nations not just to domestic politics but to calls from US allies to compromise and not keep vetoing resolutions.

A resolution "is a signal, but it doesn't in any tangible way impact Israel's ability to prosecute the conflict," Singh said, while arms restrictions would "come at a much higher cost" strategically and politically.

Israel has been waging a relentless military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas' surprise attack on October 7 that was the deadliest in Israel in its history.

The United States has repeatedly warned Israel not to attack Rafah, the southern city where more than 1.4 million Palestinians have taken shelter, but Netanyahu last week vowed to press ahead after a direct appeal from visiting Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

US officials say they will present alternatives to the Israeli delegation on Rafah that will focus on striking Hamas targets while limiting civilian casualties.

Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that US officials' presentation of alternatives "indicates to me that they believe some sort of military [operation] will occur, and they're trying to limit the damage of that operation."

Singh said the holding pattern on Rafah hurt the United States and Israel as international pressure builds.

"I would say that probably there's a desire in Washington for them to get on with whatever they're going to do one way or the other — absolutely protect civilians from harm, but this kind of perpetual indecision, I think, is itself harmful," Singh said.

US criticism has been mounting against Netanyahu with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a staunch backer of Israel and the highest-level elected American Jew, in a bombshell speech criticizing the conduct of the war and urging new elections.

Biden is a lifelong supporter of Israel who, facing a tough reelection fight in November, is feeling the wrath of the left in his Democratic Party on Gaza, where the United Nations is predicting famine.

Netanyahu, also battling for his political life at the helm of a far-right coalition, is a veteran fighter in Washington who has aligned himself with much of the Republican Party and clashed with three Democratic presidents.

"Both Biden and Netanyahu benefit from having some degree of friction between them," Wertheim said.

"Possibly the one thing that could save [the] Netanyahu government once a new election occurs is for Netanyahu to be able to say to the public, I'm the one figure who was able to stand up to the Americans and also preserve America's support for us," he said.

Biden, in turn, is eager to show he is pushing back against Israeli "brutality" without imposing costs by restricting weapons.

"What we're seeing is a lot of theater that serves the political interests of the leaders," Wertheim said.

]]>
NONSTOP BOMBARDMENT Smoke billows over buildings following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. AFP PHOTO NONSTOP BOMBARDMENT Smoke billows over buildings following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. AFP PHOTO The Manila Times
Marcos asks Filipinos to emulate Christ https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/marcos-asks-filipinos-to-emulate-christ/1938949 Kristina Maralit Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:11:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/marcos-asks-filipinos-to-emulate-christ/1938949 PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enjoined all Filipinos to emulate Jesus Christ by serving others "with the same compassion and grace."

"As we reflect on the love and selflessness of Jesus Christ, may we also find ways to serve others with the same compassion and grace, spreading love and understanding in our communities," Marcos said in his message to the nation on Maundy Thursday posted on his official Facebook page.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"We pray for a safe and meaningful Holy Week for all," he added.

The President earlier called on the citizenry to show kindness and selflessness, especially toward the less fortunate during Holy Week, and to use "this hallowed time of contemplative silence" to better oneself.

]]>
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Manila Times
DoE issues new reserve market rules https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/doe-issues-new-reserve-market-rules/1938971 Ed Paolo Salting Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:11:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/doe-issues-new-reserve-market-rules/1938971 THE Department of Energy (DoE) on Wednesday released new guidelines regarding the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) decision to temporarily suspend the billing and settlement of the reserves market.

In an advisory, the agency said that in light of the suspension, the reserves market will temporarily revert back to trial operations and will be subjected to several guidelines.
The first of these guidelines is the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) ― the market operator ― and the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), in charge of the wholesale electricity arm, will continue to implement the rules of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and applicable DoE issuances on the reserves market.
The DoE said that the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) ― the system operator ― and Iemop shall implement the optimal dispatch of capacities providing energy and ancillary services in accordance with the WESM rules and relevant manuals to ensure that demand and ancillary services are met at all times.
Lastly, the DoE said that the NGCP shall consider the nomination of its non-firm Ancillary Services Power Agreements to allow them to provide ancillary services in the reserves market for now.
The formulation of these guidelines stemmed from the ERC's decision to temporarily suspend the billing and settling of amounts of the reserves market because the PEMC and Iemop have yet to submit the results of the software audit used for the running of the co-optimized market, coupled with electricity prices rising in the month of March.
]]>
Nigerian schoolchildren reunite with families https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/nigerian-schoolchildren-reunite-with-families/1938918 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:11:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/nigerian-schoolchildren-reunite-with-families/1938918 ABUJA: More than 130 Nigerian schoolchildren freed following a mass kidnapping have reunited with their families and were expected to return home on Thursday, a state governor's spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

A general view of a classroom at Kuriga school in Kuririga on March 8, 2024, where more than 250 pupils kidnapped by gunmen. AFP PHOTO

Gunmen abducted the children from their school in northwestern Kuriga village on March 7, prompting national outcry about insecurity in the country.

Officials said 137 students were released unharmed on Sunday and taken to Kaduna city for health checks.

They met their relatives at an event hosted by state governor Uba Sani on Wednesday, his spokesman said.

"Emotions were very high," spokesman Muhammad Shehu said in a statement.

He told AFP all the released children in Kaduna had met relatives.

He confirmed they were set to return home with their families later on Thursday.

The authorities have said an adult abducted with the children died in captivity, and six of the pupils were treated in hospital earlier this week for injuries received while held for ransom by the gunmen.

Teachers and locals previously said around 280 pupils were kidnapped, but the army said the 137 released represented "all the captives."

Discrepancies between the number of people kidnapped and released are common in Nigeria due to unclear early reports and the return of those who go missing while fleeing attacks.

It was still not clear why there was such a large difference between the figures.

Gangs of armed criminals routinely attack communities, loot villages and carry out mass kidnappings in northwest and north-central Nigeria.

Troops had been searching forests for the pupils, and relatives said the kidnappers demanded a large ransom, but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted he ordered security forces not to pay up.

Kidnap victims in Nigeria are often freed following negotiations with the authorities, though a 2022 law banned handing over money to kidnappers and officials deny ransom payments are made.

]]>
A general view of a classroom at Kuriga school in Kuririga on March 8, 2024, where more than 250 pupils kidnapped by gunmen. AFP PHOTO A general view of a classroom at Kuriga school in Kuririga on March 8, 2024, where more than 250 pupils kidnapped by gunmen. AFP PHOTO The Manila Times
Universal Robina seen posting modest growth https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/corporate-news/universal-robina-seen-posting-modest-growth/1938969 Brix Lelis Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:10:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/corporate-news/universal-robina-seen-posting-modest-growth/1938969 UNIVERSAL Robina Corp. (URC) is expected to deliver a slight increase in earnings this year amid weak consumer sentiment that continues to dampen domestic business, Maybank Investment Banking Group said.

The Gokongwei-led food and beverage company is forecast to post a 7.6-percent growth in net income and a 13.7-percent rise in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), Maybank said in a recent report.

URC's preliminary guidance is that of mid-to-high single-digit blended volume-driven revenue growth. The gains are expected to be used for promotional expenses and logistics costs.

The expected increase in earnings is "achievable given forecast topline growth of 5 percent year on year," Maybank said.

URC saw its net income drop by 13 percent to P12.2 billion last year, from P14.5 billion in 2022, despite a 6-percent growth in revenues to P158.4 billion from P149.9 billion a year earlier.

"Consumers continue to grapple with a smaller household budget and are switching to larger pack sizes and multicategory bundling to save money," Maybank said.

URC's EBIT margin is also expected to slightly improve to 11.8 percent and 12.6 percent for this year and the next, respectively.

"[W]e expect URC to maintain market leadership for snacks, candies, chocolates, cup noodles and RTD (ready-to-drink) tea," Maybank noted, adding that cash flows could support up to P11.7 billion for capital expenditures in 2024 and 2025.

Given that the majority of domestic operations use imported materials, a sharp peso fall could hamper growth, the bank added.

Price wars in the coffee and noodles segments as well as geopolitical tensions were also seen as potential risks.

URC shares dropped by 1.45 percent to P105.30 apiece on Wednesday. Philippine financial markets are currently on a break in observance of Holy Week.

]]>
Collins, Alexandrova clash in Miami Open semis https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/collins-alexandrova-clash-in-miami-open-semis/1938915 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:10:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/collins-alexandrova-clash-in-miami-open-semis/1938915 MIAMI: Danielle Collins and Ekaterina Alexandrova will meet in the semi-finals of the WTA Miami Open after victories in the last eight on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Collins powered into the last four with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over France's Caroline Garcia before Alexandrova emerged triumphant from a nearly two-hour three-set battle with American fifth seed Jessica Pegula.

Danielle Collins of the United States returns a shot to Caroline Garcia of France during her women’s singles match during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. AFP PHOTO

Thursday will see the opening semi-final with three-time Miami winner Victoria Azarenka up against fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, the highest-ranked player left in the tournament.

Garcia went into the match against Collins on the back of an upset win over third-seeded American Coco Gauff but was unable to get a foothold against the Floridian.

Garcia still appeared to be troubled by an injury to her right shoulder and received some treatment early in the second set.

Collins broke to go 5-3 up in the first set and then held serve for the set; then, in the second set, broke in the third game and never looked back as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 19 minutes.

Collins reached the semi-finals of Miami six years ago as a qualifier and, at 53rd, is the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in the tournament.

The 30-year-old American is now 4-0 against Garcia and has yet to lose a set to the Frenchwoman but said the numbers didn't tell the true story.

"I think against someone like Caro, it forces me to be more concentrated. I know I don't want to give her an inch, or she can get in there," Collins said.

Garcia said she had felt the pace of back-to-back tournaments.

"It's been a long two weeks for the body for me, between the back at the beginning and the shoulder which came back," she told reporters, adding that the shoulder issue was a recurrence of a previous injury.

"I think it's nothing too serious, but (shoulder) is always quite problematic for a tennis player," she said before adding that Collins had played "an amazing match."

Collins intends to retire at the end of the year, but while she agreed she had a relaxed look to her play, she rejected the idea that it was a result of her impending departure from the sport.

"I think I feel pretty relaxed, but that could be due to a number of things. I've got a new hobby. I'm playing some more golf, running more, Pilates, all of these different things," she said.

"My dog is here. I'm feeling relaxed because I get to be with him at night. I don't know," she said with a smile.

Alexandrova beat home favorite Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, showing plenty of grit in a third set where both players showed signs of fatigue.

Pegula broke to go 4-3 up in the first and broke again to clinch the set, but the Russian fought back, breaking in the first game of the second set.

Again, 14th seed Alexandrova broke early in the third, but she let Pegula back into the set when she double-faulted on break point to leave the set balanced at 3-3.

The pair produced a fantastic rally in the subsequent game, which Pegula was able to hold, but at 4-4, Alexandrova struck the decisive blow, with Pegula going long on a backhand return at the second break point.

The Russian held to grab the win and fell to her knees in joy at the result.

Alexandrova, who upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the previous round, said it was tough to break down Pegula's gritty defense.

"I couldn't understand how it was possible to return that ball; it was always back. She was everywhere, so I needed to do something," she said. "I tried to wait and use any opportunities that I got."

The win was Alexandrova's third against a top-five player this year, and she said her success was the result of developing patience.

"You have to wait and wait, and something is going to come — and then you have to use it," she said.

]]>
Danielle Collins of the United States returns a shot to Caroline Garcia of France during her women’s singles match during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. AFP PHOTO Danielle Collins of the United States returns a shot to Caroline Garcia of France during her women’s singles match during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. AFP PHOTO The Manila Times
US orders energy firms to reduce natural gas waste https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/us-orders-energy-firms-to-reduce-natural-gas-waste/1938917 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:10:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/world/americas-emea/us-orders-energy-firms-to-reduce-natural-gas-waste/1938917 WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States updated rules Wednesday, which it said would reduce the waste of natural gas, citing economic and environmental reasons for the move.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said modernizing the more than 40-year-old regulations would hold gas and oil companies accountable to avoid wasteful practices.

Natural gas is mainly composed of methane, which is responsible for about one-third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.

"For decades, natural gas lost to venting and flaring on public lands has harmed our atmosphere and wasted taxpayer resources," wrote US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland on X.

"Today, [we] released our waste prevention rule: common sense climate action we can all be proud of."

Under the rules, oil and gas companies will be held accountable to avoid wasteful practices and reduce natural gas leaks, the BLM said in a press release, adding that conserved gas would power American homes and industries.

It said the reduction in waste was expected to generate more than $50 million in additional natural gas royalty payments to federal taxpayers and landowners.

Instances of venting and flaring — practices of releasing or burning excess natural gas — have more than doubled since the 1980s alongside a rise in energy production, the BLM said.

The agency added that, between 2010 and 2020, total venting and flaring reported on federal and tribal onshore land represented enough natural gas to serve more than 675,000 homes.

"This rule represents a common sense, fair and equitable solution to preventing waste that provides a level playing field for all of our energy-producing communities," said the bureau's director, Tracy Stone-Manning.

]]>
Shielding PH elections against foreign intervention https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/editorial/shielding-ph-elections-against-foreign-intervention/1938937 The Editorial Board Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:10:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/editorial/shielding-ph-elections-against-foreign-intervention/1938937

THE National Security Council has warned that a foreign power is trying to influence the outcome of the 2025 elections through cyber hacking and spreading misinformation in social media.

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the tactics "could be as subtle as troll farms or disinformation... to sway the public to a certain political thought. Or it could be as serious as hacking the electoral database. Or interfering with the transmission of votes."

Malaya may not have identified the interloper, but his warning comes on the heels of reports that the United States, Britain and New Zealand have accused China of stepping up cyberattacks against their lawmakers and key democratic institutions.

The US Justice Department has charged seven Chinese it accused of running a "prolific global hacking operation" designed to aid China's "economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives."

The attacks were masterminded by APT31, a cyberespionage unit under China's Ministry of State Security, the department said.

For the past 14 years, APT31 has gained access to "email accounts, cloud storage accounts and telephone call records," it added.

London said the same group had infiltrated the accounts of key British lawmakers. British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden added to the seriousness of the threat by announcing that Chinese state-affiliated hackers had likely "compromised" the country's Electoral Commission, a month before British parliamentary elections.

New Zealand said a data breach by another Chinese state-sponsored group, APT40, had compromised its Parliamentary Counsel Office.

Beijing may be the prime cyberhacking suspect at the moment, but it definitely is not the first country to resort to election intervention in expanding its sphere of influence or protecting its interests abroad.

Dov H. Levin, an author and assistant professor of international relations, said that of the 938 national elections held around the world between 1946 and 2000, the US meddled in 81 of them, with the Soviet Union coming in a far second with 36.

The United Kingdom, too, used covert tactics to ensure victory for its candidates in elections in former British territories like India.

The US was a major behind-the-scenes player in the Philippine presidential elections of 1953. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) practically managed and bankrolled the campaign of Ramon Magsaysay, who was challenging the incumbent Elpidio Quirino.

Quirino had fallen from grace with Washington, which considered him ineffective in quelling the growing communist movement in Central Luzon.

Magsaysay, who was Quirino's defense secretary, was built up as more decisive in dealing with the communist guerrillas, a public image nurtured by his friend and close adviser, Col. Edward Lansdale, who happened to be the CIA's chief operative in the Philippines at the time.

Magsaysay won the presidency handily. Critics may attribute his victory to being "America's boy," but he proved himself to be a charismatic leader who championed the peasants' cause.

Manipulating elections has since become a more sophisticated enterprise, as digitalization has transformed the electoral process.

China has fended off the allegations of interference, claiming it "never encouraged, supported or condoned cyberattacks." But it is not the first time it has been accused of trying to rig the polls in the Philippines.

Secret hand in 2016 vote?

In 2021, former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said a "most reliable international entity" had informed him that senior Chinese officials were "bragging that they had been able to influence the 2016 Philippine elections" to assure the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte.

The Duterte administration was quick to deny del Rosario's claim as "nonsense," but the rumors of China's secret hand in the 2016 polls persisted following Duterte's eventual "pivot" to China.

The question begs: Why would China be interested in a midterm election, where the presidency is not at stake?

Political analysts see the midterm poll as a time when the building blocks for the bigger contest in 2028 are assembled. It is when alliances are cemented and when a clearer profile of the protagonists emerges.

Beijing apparently is planning way ahead in trying to have a say in choosing the Philippines' next set of leaders.

All the more reason we should double our efforts to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

]]>
The Manila Times
8 Davao cops tagged in killings relieved https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/8-davao-cops-tagged-in-killings-relieved/1938948 Ruth Palo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:09:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/8-davao-cops-tagged-in-killings-relieved/1938948 DAVAO CITY: Eight police officers who were relieved for their role in the killing of seven drug suspects are under investigation, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said Thursday.

The police officers were relieved on orders of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. Wednesday afternoon, after a spate of killings of drug suspects following Mayor Sebastian Duterte's call for a war on illegal drugs.



PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. Photo from Philippine National Police FB Page
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. Photo from Philippine National Police FB Page

DCPO spokesman Capt. Hazel Tuazon said the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) took charge of the probe against the eight policemen.



In a phone interview, Tuazon said the eight policemen assigned to different police stations had been disarmed and were at the DCPO's holding center while the investigation was ongoing.



She said, however, there would be no let-up in the PNP's anti-drug campaign.

Seven drug suspects were shot dead over a 48-hour period — all for allegedly resisting arrest and all said to be armed with.38 revolvers.

On March 22, Duterte warned drug dealers and users to leave town, or he would kill them.

During a briefing on Wednesday, Tuazon said killing drug suspects during operations was not easy for them.


"We are not happy that there are suspects who chose to fight the police and get killed," she said.



She said families of these killed drug suspects could file a complaint against the police should there be foul play.

She said, however, that DCPO had not received any complaints from the suspects' families.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesman Maj. Catherine de la Rey, in the same briefing, said the regional director, Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo had always reminded them to follow the police operational procedures and stay within the bounds of the law during operations.


When asked to comment on the investigation being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), de la Rey said PRO had yet to receive any queries regarding the reported drug-related killings.



Since the war on drugs was declared, DCPO has already launched 34 anti-illegal drug operations and arrested 34 persons.



DCPO data showed about 281.5559 grams of shabu with a price of over P1.9 million and 125.4824 grams of marijuana were seized from March 22 to March 28.

The police filed 27 cases in court.


The regional office of PDEA Plans and Operation Division chief Hazel Mandanao, meanwhile, expressed support for the mayor's war on drugs but emphasized it should be carried out lawfully.


]]>
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. Photo from Philippine National Police FB Page PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. Photo from Philippine National Police FB Page The Manila Times
Ginebra braces for tough stretch without Scottie https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/ginebra-braces-for-tough-stretch-without-scottie/1938914 Richard Dy Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:09:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/ginebra-braces-for-tough-stretch-without-scottie/1938914 WITH the hoopla of the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend now behind them, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone said the Gin Kings are bracing for a tough stretch as the team plays three games in seven days starting this Easter Sunday versus longtime rival Magnolia Hotshots.

The most difficult part, he said, is going to battle in the Philippine Cup without ace playmaker Scottie Thompson, who is still out due to a back problem.

Cone admitted there is no definite timeline for the 30-year-old guard's return.

Ginebra’s ace playmaker Scottie Thompson (left) is still reeling from an injury and will miss the team’s coming games. There is no timeline for his return. PBA PHOTO

"I'm afraid the players aren't getting much of a break. It's a tough stretch for us, with Meralco, Magnolia and San Miguel in a row and no Scottie," Cone told The Manila Times.

Ginebra got off to a 2-0 start after beating Rain or Shine and Phoenix before getting hammered by Meralco, 91-73, heading into the All-Star break.

Cone admitted the team is missing the presence of Thompson, whose overall impact goes beyond the statistical sheet.

Still, Cone has a vast array of backcourt men he can call upon, especially against the Hotshots, a guard-stacked squad led by Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon and Paul Lee.

Magnolia debuted the conference by tearing Converge to shreds, 106-75.

After the Hotshots, the Gin Kings take on the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen (2-0) on April 5 before clashing with the Juami Tiongson-led Terrafirma Dyip on April 7.

Thompson averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.3 rebounds for Ginebra in the Commissioner's Cup, where the team got swept by sister team San Miguel in the semifinal series.

]]>
Ginebra’s ace playmaker Scottie Thompson (left) is still reeling from an injury and will miss the team’s coming games. There is no timeline for his return. PBA PHOTO Ginebra’s ace playmaker Scottie Thompson (left) is still reeling from an injury and will miss the team’s coming games. There is no timeline for his return. PBA PHOTO The Manila Times
Debunking the Christ myth https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/debunking-the-christ-myth/1938943 Rigoberto D. Tiglao Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:09:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/debunking-the-christ-myth/1938943 THIS week is the time of the year when even the state, by declaring three "holy" days related to the Christ myth as official holidays, strengthens superstitious beliefs created centuries ago when superstition and baseless dogmas, rather than science and rationality, dominated the human mind.

As an analogy, we believed in ghosts, Santa Claus, angels in our childhood. These beliefs — except for a few and for a certain kind of mind — vanished unnoticed in our adulthood, as we imbibed civilization's greatest tools of the science and rationality

A Filipino woman this time pretending to be the Messiah. AFP PHOTO
A Filipino woman this time pretending to be the Messiah. AFP PHOTO

To start getting out of one's mindset built since childhood, you have to recognize that in this modern age, science has been the singularly powerful tool for us to understand reality, to separate what's false and mythical, and what's true and factual (or historical). Science just in a brief span of 100 years of the modern human's 200,000 years of existence has unlocked the mysteries of the atom and of the human genome, so we understand now that the world is not composed of "earth, air, water and fire," nor are we just a more sophisticated form of dust.

But science has been employed not only to understand matter and life but also human society itself through such disciplines as archaeology, philology, psychology, literary and textual criticism and sociology. So, it is not surprising at all that the social sciences have been used to study that aspect of human society that is so significant to humans: religion.

The social sciences have been employed to study the world's largest religion, Christianity and its central figure, Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection purportedly saved trillions of humans past, present and future from living forever in hell. In the past several decades indeed, there has been an explosion of scholarly studies debunking the dogmas of the former Roman imperial religion, Christianity.

Elite

Most of these studies were known and discussed before only by a small elite in the academe. In the past decade, however, they have published hundreds of these studies, writing them in layman's terms — thanks to capitalist book publishing that makes academics millionaires. Many of these were even clerics who would announce that they have become atheists, or at least their belief in Christianity, saying that they cannot ignore, as one professional theologian said sarcastically, "What my God-given faculties of mind has proven false."

Three modern narratives of ‘Jesus Christ.’
Three modern narratives of 'Jesus Christ.'

In the past five years, there has been a flood of vloggers and short documentaries that explain these studies, primarily on YouTube. Stop wasting your time on Netflix or Apple TV, and learn truths you would not have known about. These are presented without straining your mind — in the comfort of your couch. Start with these two amazing documentaries: "Creating Christ" and "Caesar's Messiah." These will blow your mind. Watch on YouTube the rock star of scholarship on early Christian history, the boyish-looking Dr. Richard Carrier, who wrote "On the Historicity of Jesus," who even used advanced mathematical logic to estimate the probability of Jesus Christ's existence.

The crux of these studies is the question whether Jesus Christ is half-god, half-human or just a myth. These questions had been asked by scholars starting in the 18th century, as academic freedom was unshackled from clerical dictatorship. In recent years, interest in the question has intensified with probably a thousand doctoral and master's theses, books, as well as articles, both from Christian and secular universities, being churned out on the issue.

The result of these studies will trouble the Christian faithful.

Preacher

Some 40 percent, by one reckoning, have concluded that a preacher Yeshua (a very common Jewish name) did exist, but he was just one of scores of similar Jewish apocalyptic preachers who proliferated in the Middle East after the traumatic destruction by the Romans of the Jews' Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE, an unbelievable event for a people who believed for centuries that they were the Chosen People of the one true God.

They claimed they were the Messiahs (from the Hebrew "Mashiach," the one anointed by oil, i.e., God-appointed) with Divine superpowers to defeat the most powerful military machine of that era, the Romans.

A leading authority on the bible, Bart D. Ehrman, in his book "Did Jesus Exist?" claimed that Jesus was one of the many "repent-the-end-is-near" millenarians in that age and society when Jews believed that since they were God's Chosen People, God would overthrow their Roman conquerors, led by a Messiah, a Prophet-King. The best-selling book "The Zealot" by Reza Aslan explained that Jesus was a leader of the Zealots, a political movement in Judea inciting people to overthrow the Roman yoke.

Ehrman, however, pointed out that when Jesus said the "Kingdom of God is near," he was not referring to an afterlife-Heaven, where good souls supposedly go after death. Instead, he was alluding to the establishment of God's anointed Kingdom of Israel, which would rule over all other nations.

Jesus, in fact, even claimed when this cosmic cataclysm would happen: Before his disciples "taste death" (Mark 9:1) or in Mark 13:30, before "this generation" passes away.

Jesus, however, was not the revolutionary leader rousing and organizing the masses, as idealized by Catholic liberation theology priests. Jesus believed that the Romans would be overthrown by God with his cosmic forces: "The sun will grow dark, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will be falling ... and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory." (Mark 13:24-27).

Pontius Pilate, of course, saw him as another of the many troublemakers rousing the masses to overthrow the Roman yoke. The Romans ruled by fear; they killed people they conquered when they were bored. Ehrman says the trial of Jesus probably lasted no more than a couple of minutes, and the order of death was carried out immediately. "Before anyone knew it, the apocalyptic preacher was on a cross and dead within six hours," Ehrman wrote somewhat sarcastically.

A myth

Another 40 percent of scholars who have studied Christianity without the blinkers of religious dogma have concluded that Jesus Christ never existed. It is merely the invention of the proselytizer Greek-Jewish Paul, in practically the same way the ancient Egyptians concocted the god-man Osiris, or the Greeks, the demigod Hercules.

These "mythicists" claim that Jesus Christ is a legendary figure invented in the first and second centuries to become the core of a new religion, just as Greek gods, Santa Claus, Robin Hood, King Arthur were not real historical people but amalgams of persons mythicized over the centuries.

As evidence, mythicists claim that elements of the Jesus story were prevalent in myths during that era and in that part of the world. The theme of a dying-rising god was common in ancient religions: Osiris, Attis, Heracles and Baal. The Persian god Mithra (who was popular among Roman soldiers) was also born to a virgin.

Furthermore, the mythicists point out, there are no non-Christian accounts reporting that Jesus existed and was crucified. The often-cited reference to Jesus by the first-century Roman-Jewish historian Josephus — "the doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth" — has been conclusively established to have been clumsily inserted into the text a century after Jesus' supposed life, obviously by a Jesus believer.

Roman invention

The following thesis has been developed only in recent years to be the most shocking claim about Jesus Christ: Jesus was invented by the Romans as a means of pacifying the Jews, who were one of the most rebellious nations it conquered. The Romans feared they could engulf Rome from its periphery, since after their Temple's destruction, they spread out to and built communities all over the Mediterranean coasts.

This thesis has been propounded in detail in "Caesar's Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus," by Joseph Atwill, a respected scholar on biblical studies and by James Valliant and Warren Fahy in their "Creating Christ: How Roman Emperors Invented Christianity."

That thesis very well explains one episode in the New Testament that I have found puzzling since my youth. Why were the Jews depicted as a mob demanding the execution of one of their own, Jesus, while their hated rulers, the Romans, i.e., Pontius Pilate, is portrayed as a righteous man pressured to give in to the mob's demand? (Indeed Roman records portrayed him as so ruthless a governor that he was recalled and never given such a post again.)

This biblical episode is not trivial, as most scholars have traced the anti-Semitic ideology among many Christians, which eventually led to the Nazis' Holocaust of 6 million Jews during World War 2, to this account in the New Testament. In my youth, I heard of it: "The Jews are bad; they killed Jesus."

If the Romans indeed invented the Jesus myth, they would have certainly portrayed themselves as just, even respecting the Jews so much that Pilate gave in to the Jewish priests' and mob's demands. And they are indeed portrayed so in the New Testament, with Jesus himself directing his followers: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." In the Roman Empire, taxes were ubiquitous as "Cesar's," the most important thing from being part of the Roman Empire. Render these to the Romans.

State religions

But why did the "Jesus movement" grow to become one of the world's largest organized religions?

The quite obvious answer is that it became the state religion of the Roman Empire, the most powerful empire at that time. It was the wily Roman Emperor Constantine the Great who used it masterfully as a way of consolidating his rule over an empire of varied cultures and peoples. Just as Islam became the second-biggest religion when it was made the state religion of the Muslim empire.

The rest, to use the cliché, is history, as the successors of the Roman Empire, the medieval kingdoms of Europe, and then the modern superpowers that included the United States, made Christianity also their state religion, even on a de facto basis. European monarchies more easily ruled by brainwashing their subjects (as well as colonized peoples like us) that they were Jesus Christ's representatives on earth.

While Christianity did give millions of humans some consolation that they can expect a life after death free from their sufferings on earth as slaves or serfs, and the art and churches to make it easy for them to believe so, that religion gave a tiny political and economic elite the brainwashing mechanism to rule over them, extracting their labor.

It was also the propaganda tool that ordered millions of people to kill other millions of peoples, as evident in the Crusades ordered by the pope against Muslim nations. That trick has been used to this day: US President George W. Bush said in a BBC interview in 2005, "God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq." That war resulted in the death of a million people, from bullets, bombs, wounds, sickness and starvation.


Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao

X: @bobitiglao

My website: www.rigobertotiglao.com

]]>
Rigoberto Tiglao Rigoberto Tiglao The Manila Times
Megawide to pay P53M in dividends  https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/corporate-news/megawide-to-pay-p53m-in-dividends/1938966 Brix Lelis Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:08:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/corporate-news/megawide-to-pay-p53m-in-dividends/1938966 MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. will grant eligible holders of its Series 4 preferred shares with regular cash dividends totaling P53 million, payable next month.
The Megawide board last week declared a cash dividend of P1.325 per share to all stockholders on record as of April 12, to be paid on April 29 out of the firm's unrestricted retained earnings as of end-December 2022.
"As provided in ... the prospectus for the Series 4 preferred shares ... dated October 8, 2021, cash dividends shall be payable on January 29, April 29, July 29 and October 29 of each year," the listed builder said in a disclosure.
The Saavedra-led infrastructure firm is currently involved in the development of the Malolos-Clark Railway and Metro Manila Subway.
It is the government's private partner in some major public infrastructure projects, including the multiyear development of Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
The company reported a net income of P332.5 million in the first nine months of 2023, a turnaround from the P970.4-million net loss recorded a year earlier, as revenues surged by close to 50 percent.
Megawide's share price inched up by 0.32 percent to close at P3.18 on Wednesday.

]]>
LeBron has triple-double as Lakers beat Grizzlies https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/lebron-has-triple-double-as-lakers-beat-grizzlies/1938895 Agence France-Presse Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:08:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/lebron-has-triple-double-as-lakers-beat-grizzlies/1938895 (UPDATE) MEMPHIS: LeBron James had a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists; Rui Hachimura scored 32 points; and the Los Angeles Lakers built a big lead in the third quarter and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 136-124 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Lamar Stevens #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at FedExForum on March 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO BY JUSTIN FORD/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Coming off a 128-124 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee without James on Tuesday night, the Lakers won their fifth straight to pull within 2 1/2 games of idle Dallas for the sixth spot in the Western Conference, a spot that would avoid a play-in game.

Anthony Davis sat out against Memphis after having 34 points and 23 rebounds in a career-high 52 minutes against Milwaukee. He hyperextended his left knee late against the Bucks.

D'Angelo Russell added 23 points for Los Angeles, and Taurean Prince had 15.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points and 16 assists. Jake LaRavia scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Jaren Jackson added 17. The Grizzlies have lost six of seven.

Despite the extended game a night earlier, the Lakers seemed fine with their shooting legs in the first half and led 69-61 at the break.

Los Angeles converted eight of its first 10 long-range shots in the third to stretch the advantage to 27. Memphis closed the third on a 21-4 run to pull to 102-92 entering the fourth.

The Lakers would maintain the double-digit lead through the bulk of the fourth.

The Grizzlies, limping to the finish after a season filled with injuries, got an emotional boost with the return of Brandon Clarke. The 6-foot-8 forward had not played since March 5, 2023 healing from a left Achilles injury. He finished with six points in almost 21 minutes.

]]>
Lamar Stevens #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at FedExForum on March 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO BY JUSTIN FORD/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP Lamar Stevens #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at FedExForum on March 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO BY JUSTIN FORD/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP The Manila Times
In the shadow of the Cross https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/entertainment-lifestyle/life-times/in-the-shadow-of-the-cross/1938906 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:08:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/entertainment-lifestyle/life-times/in-the-shadow-of-the-cross/1938906 Good Friday, a somber day in the Christian calendar, holds profound significance for Catholics worldwide. While the term "Good" might seem paradoxical given Jesus Christ's crucifixion, it encapsulates the ultimate sacrifice and the promise of redemption.

While the term ‘Good’ might seem paradoxical given Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, it encapsulates the ultimate sacrifice and the promise of redemption. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

On this pivotal day in the liturgical year, here's a guide to understanding and reflecting on the themes that make Good Friday truly "good" with information adapted by The Manila Times Lifestyle from the website YoungCatholics.com.

Finding the 'good' in Good Friday

The name "Good Friday" might initially seem contradictory, given the events it commemorates. However, this day is one of the most climactic in the liturgical year, second only to Easter Sunday.

Good Friday represents the day the "New Adam rectified the wrongs of the old Adam." It marks the moment when the temple veil was torn, symbolizing the gates of heaven flung open, welcoming the waiting righteous to their eternal home.

Furthermore, the Catholic Church's birth through baptism originates on this sacred day.

Good Friday embodies what some describe as a "Bright Sadness," a profound blend of sorrow for Jesus' suffering and the anticipation of His victory over death and sin.

The liturgies of this day, notably the Veneration of the Cross and the Reception of the Eucharist (friarworks.org/march-4-2/) from reserved Hosts, draw believers deeply into the mystery of Christ's Passion. Good Friday creates a contemplative space for all through solemnity and the promise of resurrection, making it truly "good."

Key reflections

Central to Good Friday is the remembrance of Jesus Christ's death by crucifixion. It is a day of solemn fasting and abstinence, where traditional Mass is not celebrated. Instead, a profound service is held, encompassing the reading of Jesus' Passion, the veneration of the Cross, and the distribution of communion consecrated on Holy Thursday.

The liturgy of Good Friday (see sidebar) is a tapestry rich in themes that resonate with the core of Christian faith.

Suffering and sacrifice: The First Reading from Isaiah portrays the suffering servant who bears the sins of many, aligning with Jesus' immense sacrifice on the cross for humanity's salvation.

Redemption and salvation: The readings emphasize redemption, presenting Jesus' sacrifice as the avenue through which humanity finds salvation. The Second Reading from Hebrews underscores Jesus as the high priest offering a perfect sacrifice.

Unwavering faith and trust in God: Psalm 31 reflects Jesus' profound trust in God, even in the face of impending death, encouraging believers to uphold their faith and trust in God's plan during trials and tribulations.

Human weakness and Divine Mercy: The Letter to the Hebrews highlights Jesus' empathy for human frailty, urging believers to confidently approach God's throne of grace. This theme illuminates God's boundless mercy and compassion towards humanity.

Fulfillment of Scripture: The events of Good Friday, as depicted in the Gospel according to John, fulfill Old Testament prophecies, especially the suffering servant in Isaiah, highlighting the continuity between the Old and New Testaments and God's redemptive plan.

Love and forgiveness: Even amid excruciating suffering, Jesus' actions and words epitomize divine love and the imperative to forgive. This serves as a potent reminder for believers to embody these virtues in their lives.

On Good Friday, traditional Mass is not celebrated. Instead, a profound service is held, encompassing the reading of Jesus’ Passion. PHOTO BY RENATO DILAN

The Mystery of the Cross: Good Friday beckons Christians to contemplate the enigmatic and paradoxical nature of the cross: through death emerges life, and through suffering, redemption. It's an invitation to discover hope in despair and life in death.

These themes not only form the core of Good Friday's commemoration but also offer profound insights for reflection, prayer, and the embodiment of faith in daily life.

As we commemorate Good Friday today, let us immerse ourselves in these profound themes, allowing them to deepen our understanding of Christ's sacrifice and renew our commitment to living out the teachings of love, forgiveness, and redemption in our lives.

* * *

Glimpse into Good Friday's Mass Readings

First reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

This passage from Isaiah is a profound prophecy often called the "Suffering Servant" passage. It speaks of a servant who will suffer greatly, bearing the sins of many, but in the end, God will exalt and vindicate him.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31

Psalm 31 is a heartfelt prayer for deliverance and trust in God's unfailing love and protection. It expresses the psalmist's confidence in God's goodness, asking for God's mercy and refuge in times of distress.

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

The reading from Hebrews emphasizes the compassionate and understanding nature of Jesus Christ, our high priest. Jesus is portrayed as the one who can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tested in every way, yet without sin. Through his suffering and obedience, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

This Gospel passage recounts the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. It includes the events leading up to Jesus' arrest, his trials before Pilate and Herod, his crucifixion, and, ultimately, his death and burial. The narrative highlights Jesus' willingness to undergo suffering and death for the redemption of humanity, fulfilling the Scriptures and demonstrating God's love and sacrifice for us.

]]>
While the term ‘Good’ might seem paradoxical given Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, it encapsulates the ultimate sacrifice and the promise of redemption. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA While the term ‘Good’ might seem paradoxical given Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, it encapsulates the ultimate sacrifice and the promise of redemption. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA The Manila Times
Shutting down SMNI https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/shutting-down-smni/1938942 Francisco S. Tatad Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:08:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/shutting-down-smni/1938942 THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill revoking the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), the broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church led by televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who calls himself the "adopted son of God" and has broken ties with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom he had supported openly in the last elections. He has since made common cause with disgruntled Marcos supporters who are calling for his resignation.

Quiboloy is facing allegations of sexual abuse before the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. But he has refused to be investigated by the committee, saying it is not a court of law that has the power to conduct criminal investigations. Many neutral observers, including Catholics who are not at all Quiboloy fans or followers, support this position, which is based on the Constitution and the rules of parliamentary procedure.

SMNI has been accused of violating the terms of its franchise, of spreading false news in particular, as when its two commentators, Eric Celis and Lorraine Badoy, discussed on the air Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's alleged traveling expenses of over a billion pesos. This figure turned out to be highly inflated, and the broadcasters/commentators were compelled to say they were not making an accusation but simply asking a question. Apparently, this failed to undo the damage and placate the Speaker.

An overwhelming House majority voted for the SMNI bill, and it now goes up to the Senate for bicameral action. If it passes the Senate, then SMNI's goose is cooked; it will lose its 25-yearlong franchise, which is otherwise set to expire in 2044. SMNI and its supporters all over Mindanao have denounced this as a brutal suppression of press freedom, and this has fueled widespread protest, including a "Marcos resign campaign" in Mindanao and beyond.

I was talking to former presidential legal counsel Salvador "Sal" Panelo at the wake of a departed friend, and he said that the proposed revocation of the SMNI franchise would only affect the airing of "free TV" but not YouTube or Sky Cable. It would therefore have little impact on the punishing effect of social media, which has become the most effective means of propaganda against the government. Since the government has no regulatory control over social media, it would be at the mercy of its freewheeling practitioners who are all over YouTube.

Without the proposed House punitive action, SMNI would remain bound by the canons of responsible broadcasting, not necessarily according to the standards of BBC or American television, but at least as practiced by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas, when it embarked on "self-regulation" as an alternative to government-imposed rules and regulations.

There is a fair chance for social media practitioners and government spokesmen to sit down and agree on certain norms that would allow a fair amount of professional broadcasting free from the personal abuse, vituperation and swear words that have come to dominate the language of social media vloggers.

This means that if the government is looking forward to ending the propaganda war that the followers of former president Rodrigo Duterte and Quiboloy are waging against it in Mindanao, it had better review its assumptions. The situation could be more dangerous than the one that followed the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the nation's leading network in 2020.

When the Duterte administration decided not to renew the ABS-CBN legislative franchise after 25 years, the TV network simply bowed to the government decision without continuing its protests. Its professional staff just migrated to other organizations and professions. This may not happen in the case of SMNI, which is but a broadcasting arm of the KOJC, whose head is allied with Duterte in opposing the administration it previously supported and is fighting a constitutionally infirm Senate committee investigation.

Because Quiboloy represents not only SMNI but above all his church, his protest will not simply be about the suppression of press freedom but above all about religious persecution. This is a much larger issue, capable of challenging passionate individuals to sacrifice everything for their cause. This makes Quiboloy and his church and SMNI a dangerous element in the propaganda war against the government.

US authorities are reported to have filed sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy and are set to extradite him on the basis of these charges. These could have a decisive effect on the pastor's future. But until we see it happen, we won't know its impact on his reputed 6 million church members, which is not a negligible number. The political situation in the country is not at a standstill, and various political crises could expose the KOJC to new challenges and opportunities; we cannot predict what is yet to come.

The KOJC is not nearly half as large and powerful as the most numerous Roman Catholic Church, which has figured in the removal of two presidents in 38 years; it may not be able to create a tectonic rupture in society, but it could still cause a lot of unnecessary problems for the administration.


fstatad@gmail.com

]]>
Francisco Tatad Francisco Tatad The Manila Times
QC to prosecute erring official https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/qc-to-prosecute-erring-official/1938946 Arlie O. Calalo Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/qc-to-prosecute-erring-official/1938946 QUEZON City Mayor Maria Josefina "Joy" Belmonte on Thursday said the city engineering official accused of extortion would face charges despite the withdrawal of complaints against him.

Belmonte said the complainant, a 47-year-old Filipino Chinese businessman who sought the help of the Quezon City Police District for the arrest of Quezon City Engineering Department supervisor Joel Avila, has decided to withdraw his charges against the city official.

Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte
Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina "Joy" Belmonte

"Sadly, the complainant withdrew his complaint and decided to settle. He may have decided to withdraw and settle the case instead because, under the law, he would still be held liable if the complaint against Avila is pursued," Belmonte said.

However, the mayor said this does not mean Avila will no longer face prosecution.

"We are exhausting all legal means available to us to ensure his misdemeanors do not go unpunished," Belmonte said.

"It is also against the law to solicit the services of fixers and to bribe government employees," she added.

Initial probe said that Avila alegedly asked money from the complainant amounting to millions of pesos for the processing of building and zoning permits, as well as a certificate of exemption, for a pet food warehouse.

]]>
Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte The Manila Times
LTO to proceed with driver's license printing https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/lto-to-proceed-with-drivers-license-printing/1938947 Franco Jose C. Baroña Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/lto-to-proceed-with-drivers-license-printing/1938947 THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will secure delivery of 2.2 million plastic cards by May to expedite the production of driver's licenses, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.

"Forty-five days after the delivery of the 1 million, there will be around 2.2 million more plastic cards that will be delivered. So, this will be enough to address the backlog on driver's licenses," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Experts from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) will inspect the materials.

"There are added security features that the LTO knows. And at the same time, we also want the DoST to check if these plastic cards would last up to 10 years because, as you all know, 10 years is the maximum validity of our driver's license," said Bautista.

A case filed by a losing bidder has exacerbated the delay in the production of driver's licenses.

The Court of Appeals said in its ruling that the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, which issued the injunction order against the delivery of materials from Banner Plastic Inc., should not have entertained the case filed by the losing bidder in the first place because the administrative process was ignored.

"The decision of the Court of Appeals only vindicated the decision of our Bids and Awards Committee. And we in the DoTr are elated that the associate justices of the Court of Appeals agreed with the arguments we raised," Bautista said.

]]>
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA The Manila Times
How ESG impacts M&As and dealmaking https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/how-esg-impacts-mas-and-dealmaking/1938964 Kristine Torres Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/top-business/how-esg-impacts-mas-and-dealmaking/1938964 IN the era of sustainability and growing concerns over climate change, environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have gained more significance in the context of mergers and acquisition (M&As) and dealmaking. Companies, investors and stakeholders are faced with increasing pressure to integrate ESG factors in business and investment decisions including M&As transactions.

Why ESG matters in M&As

From the perspective of acquirers and investors, those who stand out with ESG compliance are perceived to be more attractive as M&A targets that not just create value for investors, but also help enhance reputational impact. Beyond showing profitability and scalability, in modern M&A deals, being environmentally and socially responsible and having good corporate governance as key investment criteria make an organization more desirable since they help acquirers enhance their reputation post-acquisition.

ESG reporting and issuances

The increased interest in ESG considerations can also be seen in the accelerated push for ESG or sustainability reporting and disclosures among publicly listed companies (PLCs). Aside from the growing stakeholder and investor awareness, there have been a number of regulatory developments in the Philippines on ESG reporting, since the earlier Code of Corporate Governance for Publicly Listed Companies, that introduced sustainability reporting and was released back in 2016 by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In 2019, the SEC released Memorandum Circular 4, Series of 2019, entitled "Sustainability Reporting Guidelines for Publicly-Listed Companies," which requires PLCs on a "comply or explain approach" to submit a sustainability report as part of their annual report. In 2023, the SEC stepped it up by announcing that it is revising the said guidelines where PLCs will be required to submit narrative and sustainability reports that elevate the quality of sustainability reporting aligned with the latest developments in global sustainability frameworks.

As ESG continues to gain traction and our Philippine regulators continue to steadily adopt policies and reporting frameworks on sustainability, there will be an increased demand for transparency in ESG disclosures, which should be addressed as well by private companies involved in M&A transactions.

ESG due diligence

This great attention to ESG and the government initiatives to step up the sustainability reporting framework also put more emphasis on the importance of ESG due diligence that continues to reshape M&A transactions. While review of the different facets of ESG such as labor, human rights, environmental compliance and corporate governance has long been part of a customary diligence investigation, it has only been relatively recently that specific focus on ESG considerations ― both as value driver, and brand and reputation enhancer ― is being made and weighed heavily in M&A decision-making processes.

Legal and technical advisors play a crucial role in identifying risks and in helping companies prepare a remediation plan or mitigants.

For example, for the buy-side, ESG due diligence covering the "E" component would focus on the compliance by the target company with national or local environmental regulations, checking environment-related risks, waste disposal, carbon dioxide emissions and climate policy, among others.

For the "S" component, this will cover investigation of the social aspects such as human right law, labor standards, code of conduct, health and safety, data privacy, cybersecurity, diversity and equal opportunities for employees.

Lastly, for the "G" component, this constitutes evaluating the corporate governance framework, risk management systems, internal policies for anti-bribery, anti-corruption and whistleblowing, and the oversight function of the board, among others.

M&A documentation

Closely linked with ESG due diligence, it is not uncommon to see ESG representations and warranties, as well as tailored-fit ESG covenants and indemnities in the definitive agreements, as risk-allocation tools. For impact investor-led deals, standard ESG representations and warranties are typically included.

In some cases, and depending on the parties' negotiating strength, material adverse effect or material adverse change clauses would also capture scenarios on ESG risks, which, if present, will allow the buyer or investor to walk-away.

Overall, the approach to ESG as it impacts M&A deals would vary depending on the industry of the target company, heavily influenced by the parties involved, their profiles and culture.

One size does not fit all, but the approach should ultimately be risk-appropriate.


Kristine T. Torres (kttorres@gorricetalaw.com) is a partner and head of project finance and ESG practice groups of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra (www.gorricetalaw.com). She is also a member of the firm's corporate/M&A and TMT Practice groups. She specializes in corporate and M&A, technology, media and telecommunications, banking, finance and securities law, capital markets, project finance and ESG.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as legal, financial or investment advice. The statements made are personal opinions of the writer. If you have questions about the topics discussed, it is strongly recommended that you consult your own legal, financial or investment advisors.

]]>
Eala advances in doubles event in France https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/eala-advances-in-doubles-event-in-france/1938894 Aric John Sy Cua Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/sports/eala-advances-in-doubles-event-in-france/1938894 (UPDATE) AFTER an early exit in women's singles, Alex Eala of the Philippines bounced back with a win in women's doubles on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Open 3C Seine-et-Marne in the French town of Croissy-Beaubour.

Alex Eala CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In the doubles round-of-16, Eala and French partner Estelle Cascino defeated the pair of India's Prarthana Thombare and Switzerland's Céline Naef in a 3-set thriller, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6, to clinch a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Eala and Cascino are set to face the second-seeded tandem of Britain's Emily Appleton and the Netherlands' Isabelle Haverlag on Friday.

Eala, ranked 171st by the Women's Tennis Association women's doubles, exited the singles event on Wednesday following a loss to Germany's Mona Barthel in three sets in the round of 16.

]]>
Alex Eala CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Alex Eala CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Manila Times
'Wonka' is now on HBO Go https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/entertainment-lifestyle/show-times/wonka-is-now-on-hbo-go/1938905 The Manila Times Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/entertainment-lifestyle/show-times/wonka-is-now-on-hbo-go/1938905 Roald Dahl's enchanting tale of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory is now available for streaming. The latest adaptation, "Wonka," directed by Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet, can be accessed through HBO GO powered by PLDT Home.

Timothée Chalamet portrays the iconic chocolatier.

he film delves into the origin story of the iconic chocolate maker. Chalamet portrays the aspiring inventor and chocolatier who, after seven years of global travel, arrives in Europe to begin his confectionery journey.

Besides Chalamet, the star-studded cast includes Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant, among others.

Key life lessons emerge from Wonka's adventures which are very timely for this season of reflection: Much like the conundrum faced by Wonka in needing a shop to sell chocolate and vice versa, entrepreneurs should persevere and find unique ways to stand out. Wonka's inventive chocolates underscore the value of imaginative thinking and innovation. For Wonka, his mother's love and advice to "hold on to your dreams" became his guiding light, emphasizing the importance of finding personal inspiration to drive passion and dedication.

Enjoy this vibrant and inventive spectacle with family and friends this Good Friday.

]]>
Timothée Chalamet portrays the iconic chocolatier. Timothée Chalamet portrays the iconic chocolatier. The Manila Times
BJMP Facebook page hacked https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/bjmp-facebook-page-hacked/1938945 Aric John Sy Cua Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:06:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/news/national/bjmp-facebook-page-hacked/1938945 A FACEBOOK page belonging to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was reported to have been hacked.
"The Facebook page titled 'BJMP Center For Jail Excellence And Strategy Management' has been compromised and is currently not under the control or management of the CJESM (Center For Jail Excellence And Strategy Management)," the BJMP said Thursday.

The Facebook page titled "BJMP Center For Jail Excellence And Strategy Management - CJESM" (https://www.facebook.com/CJESM2022) has been compromised and is currently not under the control or management of the Center for Jail Excellence and Strategy Management (CJESM).


Now featuring unusual contents, the page was renamed "24 hours left, we require additional details, See Why."
The BJMP urged the public to report the issue to Facebook to prevent the page from being used to spread fake news.
"We urgently request the immediate takedown or mass reporting of the said page to prevent any misinformation, scams, or malicious activities that may arise from its unauthorized use," the BJMP said.

]]>
The Manila Times
Whistleblower survives ambush in Bicol https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/regions/whistleblower-survives-ambush-in-bicol/1938992 Rhaydz B. Barcia Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:06:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/regions/whistleblower-survives-ambush-in-bicol/1938992 LEGAZPI CITY: Confessed jueteng bagman and whistleblower Alwin Nimo survived an attempt on his life on Wednesday at Barangay Mariawa in this city.

AMBUSH SURVIVOR Confessed jueteng bagman and whistleblower, former village chief Alwin Nimo of Anislag in Daraga, Albay, talks to media after surviving an ambush on Wednesday evening, March 27, 2024, while on his way back home after a dinner with friends in Legazpi. Photo by RHAYDZ B BARCIA

Nimo, a former barangay captain, told The Manila Times that he was on his way home when he was ambushed."At 9 p.m., I came from Legazpi City; [I just] had dinner with friends and was heading home to Anislag, Daraga when we were ambushed around 9:15," he said.

Nimo, with his driver and one bodyguard, was on board a Chevrolet Suburban with plate number ZWK 111 when the unidentified suspects ambushed them at Mariawa village.

Nimo said they were all unharmed as his car was bulletproof.

When asked who could possible be behind the attack, Nimo said he had one in mind.

Without naming names, he said, "One person is facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman."

"Wala po ako kalaban dito. One lang naiisip ko; 'yon may case po (I have no opponent here. The only thing I can think of is that someone who is facing charges)," he said.

"That's why I need to follow up with the Office of the Ombudsman kasi parang 'di gumagalaw (the case is not moving)," he added.

Based on the police report, Nimo, 48, a contractor and a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Anislag, and his companions were shot by four unidentified armed men.

Lt. Col. Maria Luiza Calubaquib, spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol, said the Daraga municipal police station received a report on the incident at 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

Police said the assailants fired at the victims' car upon reaching the junction road of Purok 3 in Barangay Mariawa.

The victims managed to drive away, going to Barangay Talahib, Daraga. PNP Legazpi is handling Nimo's case.

Personnel of Daraga police coordinated with Legazpi police, which has the jurisdiction, for the turnover of the case and further investigation. Personnel of Legazpi PNP are now conducting a follow-up investigation relative to the incident.

Earlier, Nimo admitted that he was receiving death threats.

He filed administrative and criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman, whom he accused of receiving P8.16 million in payola (payoff) from jueteng operations when he was the vice governor.

Nimo accused Lagman of graft, bribery and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act 9287 (an Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Game).

Nimo claimed he served as a bagman for jueteng operators and he delivered P60,000 weekly to Lagman from August 2019 to June 2022.

He said Lagman demanded "protection money" from jueteng operators when the illegal numbers game increased after the small town lottery (STL) was halted in Albay in 2017.

Lagman told TMT the accusations against him by Nimo were baseless and politically motivated because the former village chieftain plans to run for governor in 2025.

Lagman stressed Nimo's accusation against him was directly connected to the 2025 election.

He said his conscience was clean.

Lagman was a political ally of former Albay governor Al Francis Bichara.

]]>
AMBUSH SURVIVOR Confessed jueteng bagman and whistleblower, former village chief Alwin Nimo of Anislag in Daraga, Albay, talks to media after surviving an ambush on Wednesday evening, March 27, 2024, while on his way back home after a dinner with friends in Legazpi. Photo by RHAYDZ B BARCIA AMBUSH SURVIVOR Confessed jueteng bagman and whistleblower, former village chief Alwin Nimo of Anislag in Daraga, Albay, talks to media after surviving an ambush on Wednesday evening, March 27, 2024, while on his way back home after a dinner with friends in Legazpi. Photo by RHAYDZ B BARCIA The Manila Times
China's Xi calls for closer US trade ties https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/foreign-business/chinas-xi-calls-for-closer-us-trade-ties/1938928 Associated Press Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:06:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/business/foreign-business/chinas-xi-calls-for-closer-us-trade-ties/1938928 BEIJING: China's leader Xi Jinping called for closer trade ties with the United States during a meeting on Wednesday with top American business leaders in Beijing that came amid a steady improvement in relations that had sunk to the lowest level in years.

Xi emphasized the mutually beneficial economic ties between the world's two largest economies despite heavy US tariffs on Chinese imports and Washington's accusations of undue Communist Party influence, unfair trade barriers and theft of intellectual property.

China's economy has struggled to recover from severe self-imposed restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic that it lifted only at the end of 2022. But Xi said that China was again contributing to world economic growth in the double-digits percentage-wise.

"Sino-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. Whether China and the United States cooperate or confront each other has a bearing on the well-being of the two peoples and the future and destiny of mankind," Xi was cited as saying by China's official Xinhua News Agency.

Participants at the meeting included Stephen Schwarzman, the billionaire head of investment firm Blackstone.

Trade and tariffs have increasingly drawn attention in the run-up to the US presidential election, and the Biden administration has shown little sign of moderating punitive measures against Chinese imports imposed by his predecessor and assumed rival in the November polls, Donald Trump.

US officials have renewed concerns over Chinese industrial policy practices and overcapacity, and the resulting impact on US workers and companies that they blame in part on China's massive trade surplus that amounted to more than $279 billion last year, its lowest level in about a decade.

Following the meeting, the US-China Business Council said in a statement that it was honored to have a dialogue with the country's top leader to "discuss our concerns over the decline in trade, investment and business confidence, as well as our desire to help improve engagement and commercial exchange between our two countries."

"We stressed the importance of rebalancing China's economy by increasing consumption there and encouraged the government to further address long-standing concerns with cross-border data flows, government procurement, better protection of intellectual property rights and improved regulatory transparency and predictability," the Washington-based council said. Its president, Craig Allen, was among the guests that met Xi.

China's economy has been bogged down by a crisis in its property market in which builders are struggling under mountains of debt, and buyers are paying off loans on apartments that may never be completed. Other issues, such as an aging population and high youth unemployment, are prompting China's leaders to lean more heavily on boosting export manufacturing to make up for weak demand at home.

At the same time, scores of foreign firms, including Apple, rely on China-based manufacturers as key links in their supply chains, along with the country's 1.3 billion consumers for a high percentage of their global sales.

But Xi's administration has maintained a hard line on issues it considers its "core interests." Those include its claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan and its heavy-handed rule of outlying regions such as Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang.

An ardent nationalist and son of one of the founders of the People's Republic, Xi appears determined to maintain strict party control while drawing in foreign investment to shore up the economy.

"The respective successes of China and the United States create opportunities for each other," Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua. "As long as both sides regard the other as partners, respect each other, peacefully coexist and join together for win-win results, China-US relations will improve."

]]>
Good Friday thoughts https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/good-friday-thoughts/1938936 Ma. Isabel Ongpin Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:06:00 +0800 https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/29/opinion/columns/good-friday-thoughts/1938936 WHETHER it is Good Friday or not, it behooves all of us to stop and think about ourselves and our circumstances regularly.

Today is an appropriate moment to meditate on ourselves as persons, as citizens, as human beings in a world that is both permanent and changing. Meditation should turn to action if it results in enlightenment. It is to be hoped.

The permanence in our world is we are human beings subject to self-preservation, ambitions, compulsions as social animals in a world where we have to live with others, contend with them and in general get along as best we can in order to fulfill ourselves according to our ideals and standards, the latter of which we acquire through religion, social norms, everyday experience.

These ideals and standards also stand outside ourselves as institutions which represent us. The church, the judiciary, the legislature, government agencies and social organizations represent and operationalize what we want instituted as a people.

Simultaneously, we are living in a world that is larger than our everyday circumstances, a universe of modernization which means constant change, different ideas from our traditional ones reflecting evolved circumstances. All of these, we also have to contend with by understanding what they are, what they mean not just to ourselves but to others.

What do we keep and what should we discard? The universe is other people, and we have to fit in with each other. It is also us singularly, and how we keep our identity and our ideals while we understand our surroundings and those who inhabit them.

As citizens of this country and with the coming political exercise of choosing our leaders, it is even more critical that we use our higher faculties and defined ideals rather than our worldly instincts of material comfort and personal satisfaction to think of larger issues beyond ourselves.

We have to think above our individual selves as well as our collective selves and what we have established over time to hold our society true to its ideals and standards, our man-made institutions. These must be defended if they are under attack, in danger of dilution or being changed in character that is contrary to what they are meant to be. Or, they must be redone and strengthened if in a state of decay and debility.

We are a Third World country, which means too many of us are stuck in a poverty rut that is repeating itself over many generations of our people. Yet it is an accepted premise that we have a country with the natural and now man-made resources to be less poor, less unequal, more just and more fulfilling for the majority of the population. We have the ideals and the talent to be better if we put our minds and our resources to it.

When we view the unequal and many times unjust society that we are in, we blame history and the predatory world order that we think has been inflicted on us. There may be a grain of truth in this attitude, but it is not the whole truth. For that we have to look into ourselves, too, and how we have comported ourselves in the light of the past and the present. How are we to face the future in these times of destruction and conflict, of polarization and incivility? Do we just wait or do we act?

We have the awareness and knowledge of what is going on in the world. We have participated in it and have our own experience of it. As well, we know and understand the experience of other peoples and our own citizens. In other words, we know what is out of sync with what should be, how we should act. There are examples we can follow just as there are examples we should not follow in order to get to a better place. We need that better place and only we can give it to ourselves.

As a society that has chosen a democratic way of governance and space, and equal opportunity for all, elections are one of the primary and fundamental institutions we have to express our choice.

Here is where our ideals must be demonstrated and asserted even at the sacrifice of comfort and our inclination to be hail-fellow-well-met in this utterly personalistic society where families are put before God and country. In other words, most of us prefer to be popular, well-regarded, accepted by the powers-that-be and enjoy the perquisites of social status and the lethargy of the uncontroversial.

We care only for our clans, not the larger number of our fellow citizens. All of which exhibits a denial of what is the truth and reflects a cowardice that evades facing the issues that should be faced and rectified, and a self-absorption that fails to do its duty for one's neighbor and ultimately, oneself.

We will all come to the electoral rite of passage in a few weeks, a choice to be better or to remain the same, to defend our institutions as we defined them or shrug as they decay because of our indifference. It will be a battle within us, all of us, no matter where we stand in this society which by our own constitutional adoption, and traditional and historical choice has originated and been defined with ideals of equality, the rule of the majority, of opportunities open to all. And the institutions that make them real.

This is the political and moral equation that as citizens we must engage in with courage and perspicacity, not just today but over and over again as the present and future come upon us. This country needs to be in a better place, and we need to make better choices. And they come at a cost that we must be willing to pay.

]]>
Ma. Isabel Ongpin Ma. Isabel Ongpin The Manila Times