Cebu Sun.Star

THE second batch of Yaw-Yam Summer Clinic will begin on Friday, July 14, at the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Gym, which is located on the fourth floor of Coast Pacific Downtown Center, in front of the University of Cebu main campus on Sanciangko Street, Cebu City.

With the theme "Say to life and say no to drugs," the activity will include arnis/eskrima, boxing/fitness, mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and Yaw-Yan fighting self-defense.

Master Benigno "Ekin" Caniga Jr., founder and CEO of Yaw-Yan Ardigma and dubbed as the "Father of Cebu MMA," will serve as the mentor.

Caniga urged everyone, especially the youth, to learn martial arts owing to their many benefits, which include stress reduction, muscular gain, improved cardiovascular health, flexibility, greater balance, and agility and reflexes.

In addition, it can help boost confidence/self-esteem, increase in focus, memory improvement, peace/calmness of mind, building character, improve social skills and self-defense, among others.

Yaw-Yan is a native Filipino martial arts introduced by Grand Master Nap Fernandez in 1972 in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Those who are interested to join may call 0992-8111591. (ESL/TPT)

GLOBE reminds its subscribers that fully verified GCash users have the convenience of registering their SIMs directly through the GCash app, with the added incentive of receiving 1GB of data upon successful registration.

Republic Act 11934, also known as the SIM Registration Act, requires all SIMs to be registered with local telecom providers. It aims to bolster consumer security and protection against malicious activities such as mobile scams, smishing, and fraud.

With the July 25, 2023 deadline for SIM registration fast approaching, Globe encourages its fully-verified GCash users to utilize the streamlined registration process available through the GCash app, among other channels.

"As a leading mobile service provider in the nation, Globe is steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding our customers from potential security threats. By opening registration through the GCash app, we hope to facilitate a seamless process that keeps our users protected, connected, and compliant with the law,” said Globe Group president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu.

Upon opening the GCash app, unregistered fully verified users will receive a prompt to register their SIMs. After following and completing the instructions, they can expect a reward of 1GB of free data. Failure to comply with the SIM Registration Act may result in SIM deactivation, leading to disruption of mobile services, including sending and receiving texts, making calls, internet browsing, video streaming, financial transactions and deliveries among others.

In addition to the GCash app, non-verified GCash customers and other Globe subscribers can register via the GlobeOne app or the Globe microsite https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg. In-person assistance is also available at Globe Stores and EasyHubs across the nation.

"To avoid any service disruptions, we urge all our users to register their SIMs at the earliest. This reminder is part of our broader commitment to customer service and cyber security," said Cu. To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged eight infrastructure projects in the municipality of Consolacion worth a total of P17.648 million for the delays in their completion caused by the Municipal Government’s poor planning for their construction.

These projects were considered “non-procurement and implementation-ready” based on Section 3.2 of the Department of Budget and Management-Department of Finance-Department of the Interior and Local Government Joint Memorandum Circular 1 issued on Nov. 4, 2020.

COA reported that the local government unit (LGU) of Consolacion in northern Cebu failed to make these projects that were funded out of the 20 percent Development Funds “well-planned and procurement-and-implementation-ready,” depriving its constituents of the socio-economic, environmental benefits and immediate use of the facilities.

In its Audit Report 2022, COA identified the eight projects as the construction of the two-story evacuation center at Barangay Lapiga, construction/improvement of the potable water system in Barangay Lanipga and Tolotolo, construction of drainage line in Barangay Tugbongan, fencing of the Consolacion Community College in Barangay Nangka, and road opening and concreting at Garing-Polog, Lanipga and Simborio-Tayud.

Right of way

State auditors said the delays and suspensions of these projects were attributed to right-of-way issues due to revision of project specifications, overlapping of work with the other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai) in December 2021.

The road opening project in Barangay Garing to Polog and road concreting project in Simborio-Tayud have encountered delays due to right-of-way issues that were the result of revisions in the specification in the projects, according to the COA audit report.

The road projects were increased to six meters in width, thus affecting nearby settlements.

The construction of the evacuation center and the rehabilitation of the road leading to it in Barangay Lanipga were suspended due to prioritization on the construction of the DPWH’s multipurpose building project in the area.

On the other hand, the construction or improvement projects of the potable water system, drainage line in Barangay Lanipga, Tolotolo and Tugbongan, as well as the fencing of the community college were interrupted not only by Typhoon Odette, but also by right-of-way issues and claimants of the lot.

However, construction work has resumed on these projects as these issues were resolved.

Failed to plan

COA said the delays in the road opening project in Garing to Polog and road concreting project in Simborio-Tayud resulted from the municipality’s failure to judiciously and meticulously plan the projects during the procurement stage.

Section 7.1 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003) provides that during the procurement planning of the project, the detailed engineering such as preparations of the site or the right-of-way plans including the schedule of the acquisition must be done, the state auditor argued.

Section 1 of Annex A of the Revised IRR of RA 9184 also states that the detailed engineering shall only proceed on the availability of the feasibility or the preliminary engineering study. This establishes the technical viability or success of the project and conformance to the land use and zoning guidelines under existing laws.

To prevent or minimize such cases that cause delays or suspension of projects, COA recommended more extensive site investigation during the preparation of the detailed engineering, which the Consolacion LGU, through its municipal engineer, agreed to.

The Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator was also advised to include in the Annual Investment Plan and proposed budget only those projects that are “implementation ready.”

BRANCH 17 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City has dismissed the civil case filed by three former members of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s board of directors (BOD), upholding the late mayor Edgardo Labella’s decision to terminate their services.

Former MCWD BOD members Augustus Pe Jr., Ralph Sevilla and Cecilia Adlawan filed a petition on Nov. 8, 2019, seeking to nullify the decision of then-mayor Edgardo Labella to terminate their services.

They argued that while Labella had the power to appoint BOD members of the water utility, he had no authority to remove them. They also alleged that they were not formally charged and given the opportunity to defend themselves.

The case was filed against Labella and officials of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), including acting administrator Jeci Lapus, and interim MCWD BOD members Roberto Andres, Eileen Vega and Cristina Marcelina.

Labella issued a notice of termination in October 2019, leading LWUA to install an interim board to replace them.

At that time, the MCWD BOD consisted of Joel Mari Yu as chairman, Ralph Sevilla as vice chairman, Cecilia Adlawan as secretary, and Procopio Fernandez and Augustus Pe as members.

Labella said at the time that he terminated their services due to widespread dissatisfaction among consumers of the water utility regarding their performance in the preceding months. Pe, Sevilla and Adlawan were appointees of former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Labella further said that his loss of trust and confidence in them constituted a just cause for their removal.

On July 7, 2022, LWUA submitted a manifestation to the court, informing them of the passing of acting administrator Lapus on July 11, 2021.

The Cebu City Attorney’s Office also submitted a manifestation on July 19, 2022, notifying the court of Labella’s death on Nov. 19, 2021, and the assumption of Vice Mayor Michael Rama as the new mayor. Rama decided to withdraw from the ongoing legal battle involving the former executives of MCWD.

In his decision, RTC Branch 17 Judge Anacleto Debalucos affirmed Labella’s power to remove or discipline the members of the MCWD BOD.

“The late defendant Mayor Labella had the power or authority to terminate the services of the plaintiffs as BOD members of MCWD,” read a portion of the decision dated June 30, 2023.

Regarding LWUA’s power to review Labella’s decision, Debalucos ruled that Section 11 of Presidential Decree 198, as amended, clearly grants LWUA the authority to review Labella’s decision in removing the former BOD members of MCWD.

THERE are plans to extend the runway at Bantayan Island Airport in northern Cebu from its current length of 1.2 kilometers to 1.5 kilometers in order to accommodate larger commercial aircraft.

Once implemented, the airport, located in Santa Fe town in the tourist destination of Bantayan, will be capable of handling bigger planes, which will attract more tourists to the island.

Julius Neri Jr., general manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), discussed the matter with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during a recent meeting.

Neri explained that while the airport’s current runway can accommodate smaller planes, it falls short of the length requirements for larger commercial aircraft operated by airlines like Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

Governor Garcia welcomed the plan and expressed the willingness of the Provincial Government to help by acquiring the surrounding properties to extend the airport’s land area. Bantayan Island Airport is situated on a property owned by the Capitol.

During the meeting with the governor, Neri was accompanied by Andrew Harisson, the former chief executive advisor of GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC).

Last March, the airport’s upgraded runway was inaugurated. However, regular commercial flights to Bantayan have not been launched yet. Currently, the airport only caters to chartered flights.

While the airport has been operational since its launch in April, Neri emphasized the need to extend the runway’s length in order to offer regular flights to Bantayan, a popular white sand beach destination for both locals and foreign tourists.

Neri also mentioned plans to establish firefighting facilities, including a fire station and fire trucks, inside the airport to ensure safety, as the airport is expected to become highly commercialized in the future.

The Capitol, MCIAA and GMCAC are scheduled to sign a tripartite agreement next month for the management of the airport. While the Capitol owns the land, MCIAA manages the airport, and GMCAC is responsible for terminal operations.

Bantayan Island Airport is less than 30 minutes away from Mactan-Cebu International Airport by plane.

THE couple who allegedly abandoned more than 100 starving and ailing dogs in the mountain village of Adlaon, Cebu City have been charged before the prosecutor’s office for allegedly committing cruel acts against animals.

Lorna Oberes and her partner Edwin Casas along with unidentified caretakers have been named respondents in the complaints filed against them by the City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) on July 5, 2023.

The respondents were accused of violating Sections 16 and 17 of City Ordinance (CO) 2526, which penalizes individuals who harm animals, and Section 6 of Republic Act (RA) 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

Section 16 of CO 2526 prohibits “any person to torture any animal or neglect to provide adequate care sustenance,” while Section 17 states that “acts of cruelty to animals shall be absolutely prohibited in Cebu City.”

Cruelty to animals refers to acts or omissions towards animals that cause them to suffer from unnecessary pain, suffering and distress, according to the ordinance.

Section 6 of RA 8485 declares torturing, neglecting to provide adequate care, sustenance, or shelter, or maltreating any animal to be an offense.

Report

DVMF head Dr. Jessica Maribojoc said in a sworn judicial affidavit that the DVMF conducted animal health services in Adlaon on May 15.

They later received a report from Barangay Councilor Loedilto Gabud regarding Oberes, who allegedly abandoned the dogs in her residence, risking the safety of other residents.

During the initial inspection on the same day, the DVMF personnel discovered more than 100 malnourished dogs exhibiting cannibalistic behaviors in Oberes’ abandoned residence.

In an earlier report, Maribojoc said she was surprised upon learning about the existence of a dog shelter in the barangay.

She learned that some of the neglected dogs had escaped from the shelter, and attacked and killed animals belonging to Roland and Marivic Tan. The harmed animals included turkeys and sheep, resulting in damage amounting to almost P500,000.

In a press conference on May 31, Oberes said her partner, Casas, allowed her to stay in Adlaon, and promised her that he would provide financial assistance for the dogs.

She initially had 30 dogs, but their number increased to 40 due to the lack of birth control and interventions.

Non-registration of dogs

Oberes admitted that she did not register her dogs because she was unaware of the law requiring their registration.

Oberes further confessed that she had not been living in Adlaon since February 2023, and she had not conducted any monitoring of the dogs she left behind, leaving their care solely to the caretakers.

Maribojoc said from May 17 to 19, the DVMF conducted a rescue operation in coordination with Barangay Adlaon, Cebu City Government, the Philippine National Police, and the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

A total of 101 malnourished dogs were rescued from Oberes’ uninhabited house.

In the last week of May, around 32 dogs were scheduled for euthanasia or mercy killing because of their frail state. But the DVMF postponed it as there were people who promised to adopt some of them.

While waiting for their adoption, nine of the dogs died.

FREE public Wi-Fi has been installed in 50 of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, enabling city residents to access government services and information.

This, after the Cebu City Goverment partnered with private telecommunications company PLDT to roll out free public Wi-Fi services in the 80 barangays across the city.

Such a program is part of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s vision of turning Cebu City into a smart city.

Cebu City Management Information and Computer Services head Dax Arcilla told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, that each barangay will have a connection point which will be installed in strategic locations around the city.

The free public Wi-Fi has been installed in strategic, high foot traffic locations, including barangay halls, barangay gyms, sports complexes and other key areas in 50 barangays.

In a press statement, PLDT said cloud-managed access points will also be in place to enable the monitoring of real-time alerts in case of connectivity issues. The public can access the Wi-Fi through an online portal.

Arcilla said the City’s role is the implementation of the Wi-Fi services and monitoring of the network, while PLDT’s responsibility is to provide the equipment and platform.

Arcilla said the City has no capital expenditures but only operational expenses and is spending around P2,000 a month per barangay.

Work on implementing the service for the 50 barangays started last year and was completed around February this year.

Infrastructure lacking

The City is now working on the remaining 30 barangays which are located in mountain areas that lack existing infrastructure such as fiber connections.

The City is looking at a few options in implementing the services in mountain barangays.

Arcilla said there are proponents who have intentions to set up a fiber connection, while another is interested in point-to-point connections.

Arcilla also said he is working with network providers and cell tower contractors to see if they can expand their coverage and that he will evaluate the proposals to see if these are resilient and reliable.

Over the phone, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he is thankful to PLDT and that digitalization is important in reaching his goal of having the city become a smart city. Rama is hoping that in less than three months’ time all barangays will be provided with the service.

“Connectivity, because that is part of the ingredients of a Singapore-like Cebu City,” said Rama when asked for his comment on the program.

PLDT said its support through the program emphasizes the company’s efforts in powering cities and providing them with platforms in achieving digital transformation through their networks. And this is also part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG No. 9 being Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

“We are fully supportive of the local government of Cebu City’s digital aspirations, and we are happy to be their trusted partner in helping improve the experience of their constituents, especially in maximizing the city’s digitally enabled services,” said Kent de la Calzada, assistant vice president and head of customer relationship management in Visayas and Mindanao.

THE Cebu City Council Committee of Three-South has imposed a two-month suspension against Apas Barangay Captain Virgil Cabigon and officials Allan Ybañez, Elizabeth Maña and Rebecca Flordeliz of Barangay Apas, Cebu City who were found guilty of simple misconduct over the purchase of two trucks whose brands they specified for the bidding.

This came after Mathan Jechoniah Serena filed a complaint on April 27, 2020 against the barangay officials of Apas for an administrative offense. He said they violated Section 18 of Republic Act (RA) 9184 and Section 3(e) of RA 3019 by buying one garbage compactor and one forward dump 1.5 truck for P1.5 million each.

The case report said Serena discovered that the Invitation to Bid on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGeps) had the specific brand name, engine and chassis numbers of the trucks.

Serena claimed that this violated Section 18 of RA 9184, which prohibits reference to brand names in the specifications for the procurement of goods.

Section 18 states that “specifications for the procurement of goods shall be based on relevant characteristics and/or performance requirements. Reference to brand names shall not be allowed.”

He also said the Technical Working Group and Bids and Awards Committee violated Section 3(e) of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, by negotiating and awarding the two units to Nader Ichi Corp.

Section 3(e) constitutes as corrupt and unlawful “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

The provision applies to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.

Harmless mistake

The case report stated that the barangay officials said they had made a simple and harmless mistake by including the specific brand name, engine and chassis number of the trucks they bought from Nader Ichi Corp.

The case report said Cabigon asked Eddie Villa Jr., the Barangay Apas secretary, to look for a garbage truck for the bidding.

They first requested to buy a garbage truck for P3 million on Aug. 19, 2019 with purchase request No. 19-08-45.

However, after they posted the Invitation to Bid (ITB) with the help of engineer Mark Anthony Ybañez for the P3 million garbage truck on the PhilGeps website, a supplier called Cabigon and told him that the price was too high and that he could buy two trucks for that amount.

So Cabigon opted to modify the bidding for the garbage truck, justifying that the barangay can purchase two trucks--a dump truck and a compactor--for the same budget of P3 million.

They also claimed that they acted in good faith and did not cause any harm or unfairness because the barangay got two garbage trucks instead of one for the same P3 million budget.

SunStar Cebu reached out to Apas Barangay Captain Cabigon on Wednesday, July 12, 2023; however, Cabigon declined to comment on the matter.

PhilGeps account

Ybañez said in his June 22, 2021 affidavit that the barangay members asked him to help them post their procurement on the PhilGeps website because they did not have a PhilGeps account.

He said Villa told him to cancel the procurement later because they had changed the items they wanted to buy from one garbage truck to two trucks, one compactor and one forward dump 1.5.

He stressed that the information in the ITB was just taken from the purchase request that Barangay Apas made and gave to them, and they gave it back to the barangay after they posted it on the PhilGeps.

Findings

The committee, however, found that the actions of the respondents violated Section 18 of RA 9184, but held them administratively liable only for simple misconduct.

It cited G.R No. 213502 (Miranda vs. the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Health), which states that simple misconduct is a transgression of some established rule of action, an unlawful behavior, or negligence committed by a public officer. To constitute misconduct, the act or acts must have a direct relation to, and be connected with, the performance of one’s official duties.

The committee further found the procedure for the procurement process as not willful, gross and flagrant disregard that showed substantial evidence of corruption.

The committee said the complainant did not show that the respondents broke Section 3(e) of RA 3019, which means they used their positions for their own gain or acted with obvious bad faith.

The committee also said the complainant did not show that the respondents deliberately ignored the legal rules of conduct.

Cabigon told SunStar Cebu in a text message on July 12 that he would still run for barangay captain of Barangay Apas in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this October, despite the development.

Committee of Three-South

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday that the three-south committee has two south district councilors and one minority councilor if the case being settled involves an official who is from the north district.

Barangay Apas is in the north district.

Archival, who represents the north district, said he is the minority member, Phillip Zafra is the chairman, and Renato Osmeña Jr. is the other south district member.

The road was never paved in gold for the budding and young entrepreneur, Arvin Jay Pasaporte.

As he celebrated his birthday last May 4, 2023, Pasaporte has come far as he relishes in the success that he is currently enjoying.

At the young age of 31 years, Pasaporte has displayed and proved his entrepreneurial prowess as he recently launched his own entertainment company, Better Bound Entertainment.

However, the road towards success wasn’t paved with glitter and gold for Pasaporte as he had to endure countless obstacles before he was able to enjoy the fruits of his labor. His love for family and determination to get them out of the gutters of poverty fueled him to push through all the hardships that he endured.

“My family is my topmost priority in life, and that is the reason why I’m striving hard. Before, I wanted to fulfill my dreams, but as the years went on, I realized that it’s better to fulfill my family’s dream first,” he said.

Pasaporte’s life was riddled with endless trials and tribulations. After the death of both his stepfather and biological father, he was left with an astronomical responsibility of taking care of and looking after his big family.

“As the eldest, I had to take over the role as the provider. After the death of my two fathers, my stepfather and biological father, things started to get rocky from there,” he said.

Pasaporte shared that things got so difficult that his family was evicted from their rented homes twice because they were unable to pay on time.

“Right after my two dads passed away, I immediately took over the role and responsibility as the breadwinner. I had no choice but to take over the responsibility as the father of the family and there was a time that we were kicked out from our rented house because we didn’t have anything to pay,” Arvin recounted.

Things took a turn when Pasaporte decided to become an entrepreneur and invested the last of his thousands into a business that eventually turned into a huge success.

“It was a huge risk because I was already struggling to help my family, and I took the risk of investing the little thousands that I had left into something that could possibly fail but, thankfully, it didn’t,” Pasaporte shared.

Despite the success that he has achieved at a very young age, Pasaporte has always made sure to be a beacon of hope to those who are going through a rough patch in life and encourages them that all of their hardships are going to bear fruit in the end.

He said, “I want to hopefully inspire others to persevere and that whatever they are going through right now is temporary.”

Arvin Jay Pasaporte is a shining example of how one can show utmost hope and determination in the face of adversity. May his story serve as an inspiration to those who are battling wars of their own. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and Arvin Jay’s story is a testament to that. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

Steps Dance studio director Sofia Elizalde is a valued friend and supporter of Balletcenter Cebu. She fondly recalls the time of Balletcenter’s Nicolas Pacaña’s marvelous tricks and turns as an internationally recognized premiere dancer.

She recently collaborated with American Ballet Theater (ABT) studio company, the junior company of the famous American Ballet Theater that boasts talented dancers as young as 16, to tour around Asia. Sofia reached out to Balletcenter Cebu to invite their students to a master class conducted by ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, school artistic director Stella Abrera-Radetsky and ABT studio company artistic director Sascha Radetsky.

What is so amazingly special is that Stella is the first Filipina promoted to principal dancer of ABT!

One Friday evening, with the entire Ayala Center Cebu viewing them, students of Balletcenter Cebu marched in wearing classic leotards and pink skirts. With their legs extended to the heavens, they turned and jumped effortlessly! Truly, dancers don’t need wings to fly!

Sofia then invited the dancers to watch the warm-up rehearsal of the ABT Studio Company in the morning, to prepare for their evening show. With dazzling eyes, Ayala Center gave the performers, ABT studio company and world-renowned Filipina chamber pianist Cecile Licad a deafening applause! The performance and the gala reception that followed at Seda Hotel hosted by Sofia had Balletcenter’s Gregory Aaron and Nicolas as special guests.

***

To my knowledge, the Russian Vaganova Syllabus (ballet) has always remained in Russia, until now, when two professional dancers jetted into Cebu! Balletcenter warmly welcomed Olga Mikhailova and Oleg Ignatev, who have decided to spread the gift of dance and teach the Russian Vaganova Syllabus to countries in Asia.

Balletcenter has had the immense gift and rare opportunity to have three days of classes with Olga and Oleg. While the Center has taught a mix of different ballet syllabi, never was there a pure Vaganova class.

Students were influenced on how to “dance like a Russian.” After the giving of certificates to participants at dinner, students eagerly asked more questions, tips, etc. on how life was like in Russian academies.

Artistic director Gregory, proudly recounted artistic director Nicolas’ brilliant career during his prime. He famously danced with Russian superstars Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Barysh-Nikov and even had to substitute for the latter in “Don Quixote” with barely a four hour notice! Thus was born Nicolas’ nickname, “The Filipino Baryshnikov.” He was well known not only for technical prowess, but also for captivating the audience with his artistry.

This is really a great time for Cebuano dancers. Aaron continues: “In the 70 years that the school has been founded, it’s the first time American Ballet Theater and Russian Vaganova teachers come and give class.”

In closing, Balletcenter expresses its sincere gratitude to the ever-supportive business corporations and Balletcenter Cebu parents for their generous and unselfish contributions for the continuity of developing future Cebuano dancers.

In a world often defined by obstacles and limitations, the remarkable journey of a 10-year-old stands as a beacon of inspiration. At a young age, he discovered his passion for fashion and modeling, defying societal norms and overcoming adversities.

Xian Hinoguin, from San Antonio, Binabag, Bogo City, Cebu, is set to steal the spotlight at the upcoming Young Faces to Watch Cycle 2 (Manila Grand International Fashion Week) on July 27, 2023, at Carousel City, Manila. With dreams of becoming a model and the unwavering support of his parents, Lyn Mae and Raymond, Xian’s path to the fashion world began at the age of five, when he joined a local modeling competition and enrolled in RM Modeling agency. This decision marked a turning point in his life, as modeling became a transformative outlet for him.

While some fashion stars rely on designer labels and extravagant wardrobes, Xian’s style is a testament to his creativity and resourcefulness. With his mother as his dedicated stylist, Xian’s looks are curated from finds at thrift stores. His ability to transform pre-loved pieces into stylish ensembles showcases his unique fashion sensibility, proving that style knows no price tag.

Behind Xian’s unwavering passion for fashion lies the influence of his beloved grandmother. Her stories of elegance and grace have left an indelible mark on Xian’s aspirations. Through fashion, Xian pays homage to his grandmother’s timeless style while forging his own path in the industry.

“I’m determined to make up for my parents’ sacrifices and eagerly anticipate the day when I can take care of my cherished grandmother,” he said.

By embracing his unique journey, Xian inspires others to embrace their own individuality and chase their dreams relentlessly. His journey from a victim of bullying to a rising star in the fashion industry is a testament to the power of resilience and self-belief.

Xian’s journey wouldn’t have been possible without the support and guidance of RM Modelling agency. His career was significantly shaped by the agency, which provided him with the resources, instruction and guidance he needed to succeed as a young model.

As he prepares to grace the runway at the Runway Manila International Fashion Week, Xian’s triumph serves as an inspiration for individuals facing similar challenges and reminds us that embracing our dreams and nurturing our talents can lead us to extraordinary heights.

THE F2 Logistics Cargo Movers seek to book its ticket to the semifinal round in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, as the team battles the Petro Gazz Angels on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Philsports Arena.

F2 Logistics, physically and emotionally exhausted following a steal of a classic five-set win over Choco Mucho late Tuesday, looks to find its second wind in time to battle a tough Angels squad at 12 noon.

“We have to recover more because our next game is on Thursday,” said F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego after steering her wards to a 21-25, 25-17, 17-25, 25-21, 18-16 decision over the Flying Titans that saw them fight back from 11-14 deficit in the decider to nab the win.

With a 3-0 card in the six-team Pool B, F2 Logistics needs one more victory to formalize its semis stint although the Cargo Movers are keen on sweeping their last two games to firm up their bid in the carry-over phase that will have two foreign guest squads from Vietnam and Japan.

Chery Tiggo and Gerflor kick off another four-game bill at 9:30 a.m. with Creamline (2-0) also going all-out to nail the first semis spot in Pool A against PLDT at 4 p.m., and Cignal likewise out to enhance its semis bid against ousted Farm Fresh in Pool B in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap. (JNP)

THE second batch of Yaw-Yan Summer Clinic will begin on Friday, July 14, 2023 at the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Gym, which is located on the fourth floor of Coast Pacific Downtown Center, in front of the University of Cebu main campus on Sanciangko Street, Cebu City.

With the theme “Say to life and say no to drugs,” the activity will include arnis/eskrima, boxing/fitness, mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and Yaw-Yan fighting self defense.

Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga Jr., the founder and chief executive officer of Yaw-Yan Ardigma and dubbed as the “Father of Cebu MMA,” will serve as the mentor.

Caniga urged everyone, especially the youth, to learn martial arts owing to their many benefits, which include stress reduction, muscular gain, improved cardiovascular health, flexibility, greater balance, and agility and reflexes.

In addition, it can help boost confidence/self esteem, increase in focus, memory improvement, peace/calmness of mind, building character, improve social skills and self defense, among others.

Yaw-Yan is a native Filipino martial art introduced by Grand Master Nap Fernandez in 1972 in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Those who are interested in joining may call 0992-8111591. (ESL)

ALL listed banking brands in the Philippines saw their brand values grow by at least four percent, thanks to the nation’s upbeat economic growth driven by strong domestic demand, brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance said.

The economy of the Philippines is projected to grow faster than expected this year as strong domestic demand propels the nation forward despite high inflation and tight fiscal conditions.

“With the rise of a young and tech-savvy consumer base and an underutilisation of digital technologies, there is a growing need to adopt digital financial services. As such, a digital revolution has swept through the nation’s banking sector with brands increasingly investing in digital banking platforms to upgrade customer experience,” Brand Finance said in its Philippines 20 2023, report ranking the nation’s top 20 brands in terms of brand value.

Consequently, banking brands in the Philippines saw their brand values head northwards, according to the report.

BDO led the charge as the most valuable banking brand (brand value up 49 percent to US$2.2 billion), followed by Bank of the Philippine Islands (brand value up eight percent to $1.3 billion) and Metrobank (brand value up by four percent to $1.1 billion).

New entrants

The sector also saw five new entrants that made the rankings this year – Union Bank of the Philippines (brand value at $557.28 million), Security Bank (brand value at $331.44 million), Chinabank (brand value at $278.29 million), RCBC (brand value at $246.02 million) and Philippine National Bank (brand value at $234.69 million).

PLDT is the most valuable brand in the Philippines in Brand Finance’s rankings this year, powered by a two percent increase in brand value to $2.6 billion. PLDT’s brand performance contributed to the brand capturing a higher market share of the fiber industry, which led to a 45 percent improvement in year-on-year revenue.

Globe Telecom held onto its stellar AAA brand strength rating, clinching the honor of being the Philippines’ strongest brand in its rankings. However, the telecoms brand recorded a two percent decrease in brand value to $2 billion and slipped one position to third place.

Jollibee is the fastest growing brand in its rankings, recording a meteoric rise in brand value by 53 percent to $1.6 billion.

“This year, we would like to congratulate PLDT, Globe Telecom and Jollibee for topping Brand Finance’s Top 20 Philippines brands rankings as our most valuable, strongest and fastest growing brand, respectively. We also see success in the nation’s banking sector, as banking brands’ investments to digitalise and improve customer experience have resulted in brand value growth across all brands in the sector,” said Alex Haigh, managing director for Asia Pacific at Brand Finance. (CSL with PR)

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has greenlighted 102 ecozone projects across the country worth about P80.58 billion for the first semester of 2023, on track to achieving its investment targets for the year.

This total investment is 2.5 times bigger than the investment pledges approved for the same period last year under the Duterte administration.

“We remain optimistic that we will sustain our positive growth trajectory for the second half of the year, given the notable increase in our key performance indicators on investments, jobs and exports from a more aggressive whole-of-government approach in investment promotion,” Peza director general Tereso Panga said in a statement.

206 projects

He said Peza has generated P198.796 billion worth of investments from 206 projects from July 2022 to June 2023 under the new administration, actual direct jobs of 1,805,770 (cumulative), and actual direct exports of US$58.494 billion.

Among the 206 projects, 11 big-ticket projects with minimum P1 billion capital investment have also been approved and registered by Peza during this time. These big-ticket projects with total capital investments of P154.966 billion came from the following sectors: ecozone development (P119.259 billion), export manufacturing (P33.946 billion), and ecozone facilities (P1.761 billion).

Panga noted, “We continue to contribute to the overall positive performance of the administration and serve as a tool to constantly attract investments in the country and promote the Philippines as an investment haven in Asia.”

Foreign delegations

With this, Peza is ramping up its investment promotion and facilitation initiatives to bring in much-needed foreign direct investments to the country. This is ahead of the anticipated influx of investors to the country as Peza conducts follow-through on the outbound missions done by the administration.

“This June, Peza welcomed several French, Czech and Dongguan delegations to the Philippines and facilitated the learning visit and study tour of the Ugandan and Papua New Guinean delegation. Peza likewise received delegations from China, Taiwan and Japan in the first semester of the year,” Panga said. (CSL)

SALES of alcoholic beverages tend to increase every Father’s Day celebration in the Philippines, a new study suggests.

Data analytics platform Packworks, in collaboration with socio-cultural research firm Fourth Wall, analyzed grassroots sales volume data from over 200,000 sari-sari stores in the Philippines through its business intelligence tool Sari IQ and discovered that alcoholic beverages experienced a notable increase in sales during Father’s Day in both 2022 and 2023.

Packworks’ data show that in 2022, products related to comfort food preparations and alcohol saw the highest one-day rise in demand on Father’s Day. Aluminum foil enjoyed the biggest surge, with a whopping 772 percent, followed by rice with 216 percent. Powder soup mix had a 215 percent increase in sales, while flour was at 157 percent. Meanwhile, the demand for vodka doubled during the festivity.

This year, however, Filipino consumers didn’t shy away from celebrating the special day, with Chinese wine posting the highest growth in sales with 84 percent.

The Sari IQ data further revealed a more diverse range of products gaining traction. Food items like peanut butter spread and bread rolls experienced growth rates of 55 percent and 51 percent, while non-food products such as candles and razors grew substantially, at 75 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

“The Sari IQ data suggests that while food is becoming less prominent among ordinary customers’ demand, alcoholic beverages remain on top in their market baskets on Father’s Day. Furthermore, the findings shed light on the evolving nature of consumer preferences during Father’s Day, implying Filipinos are exploring and embracing a wider variety of products to enhance their celebrations,” said Arch Tesorero, advanced analytics and insights manager at Packworks.

Food inflation

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the inflation rate for food products in June 2022 is lower than at the same time in 2023. However, it remains high at 5.4 percent despite the steady decline in recent months.

“The inflationary difference could have adversely affected the demand for comfort food, as it discouraged people from purchasing them. This could explain the fragmentation of the top demanded product on Father’s Day,” Fourth Wall’s research director John Brylle Bae explained.

Bae also pointed out that beyond the effects brought by inflation, Filipino fathers’ ties to alcohol are rooted in cultural upbringing.

“In our culture, drinking is strongly associated with macho culture, and in the Filipino context, it is seen as a measure of one’s manliness. Therefore, regardless of economic changes, one can expect that any Filipino festivity that ‘celebrates’ a man will likely include ‘inuman,’ and, thus, alcoholic beverages.”

The Sari IQ tool utilizes data analytics to understand and predict consumer behavior across product categories and locations nationwide, enabling retailers and multinational brands to make data-driven decisions that boost sales for sari-sari store owners and expand their product offerings to a larger customer base. (CSL with PR)

THE Gilas Women Under-16 basketball squad asserted their dominance over an overmatched Maldives team, demolishing the latter by an incredible 122 points, 144-22, in the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship Division B on Tuesday in Amman, Jordan.

The Gilas Women scored 19 unanswered points to set the tone for the lopsided match. When the first period ended, the Gilas Women were already ahead, 41-5.

Sophia Canindo almost matched the entire output of Maldives, tallying 21 points to go with four boards, six assists, and an astounding 12 steals. Navaeh Smith and Christina Lapasaran added 16 markers apiece.

So dominant was the Philippines that they led by as much as 125. The Gilas Women also took advantage of Maldives’ loose ball handling by forcing them into a whopping 73 turnovers.

The Gilas will try to book their spot in the next round when they battle Jordan in their next game. (JNP)

AROUND 1,910 job vacancies will be available in the upcoming job fair to be conducted by the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) on July 15, 2023 for nearby barangays in Cebu City.

DMDP has coordinated with Barangay Tejero for the one-day job fair, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Barangay Tejero Sports Complex.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 11, DMDP said that 12 employers will be participating in the event.

The top listed positions to be offered are service crew, health care associates, travel specialists, and retail associates, all of which have 200 vacant positions, as well as call center agents with 300 vacancies.

The job fair is not only exclusive to residents of Barangay Tejero but is also open for those living in nearby barangays in Cebu City.

Rialyn P. Abilay-Apas, Barangay Tejero secretary and one of the coordinators, said: “So si DMDP jud ang nag initiate ani and then gipili lang ang barangay (Tejero) as venue sa mao nga job fair kay gi clustered mani siya with the nearby barangays such as sa Carreta, Tinago, San Roque, Lorega and then included pud siguro ang Day-as.”

(DMDP initiated this and chose the barangay (Tejero) as the venue for the job fair because the villages were clustered into Carreta, Tinago, San Roque, Lorega, and Day-as.)

She said on-the-spot hiring is possible on Saturday, July 15, so applicants were advised to bring all the necessary documents.

The barangay also provides other services like free printing of required documents such as resumes or biodata.

Tejero Barangay Captain Hermogenes Galang Jr. is hoping there will be more jobseekers on Saturday, stressing that Barangay Tejero is closer, making it more convenient and accessible for them. (Kimberly Goc-ong, CNU Intern)

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, together with the governors of the different local government units (LGUs) of the Visayan Region, declare our full and unwavering support to the Department of Tourism’s (DOT’s) rebranding of the Philippine tourism campaign.

It is our firm belief that the DOT, under the leadership of Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, poses no other interest than to bolster the tourism framework of the country despite the setbacks and adjustments that we, as a nation, unfortunately had to encounter during the pandemic. We are confident that as soon as this matter fades into insignificance, the superior intentions of the good Secretary and her commitment to developing and promoting the Philippines to the world will prevail.

The tourism industry has been one of the pillars of the Philippine economy. Our setbacks and impediments may have hindered our growth, however, the DOT’s agenda has been nothing more than to augment and elevate the losses in order to aid in the re-construction of our country’s tourism industry’s economy. We encourage everyone to be one in the mission and vision of the DOT—to be our beloved country’s envoy of goodwill, our country’s ambassadors of showing many integral ways of how and why we love the Philippines!

THE dentist who sustained eye injuries after being attacked by two men inside his clinic on Queens Road in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City last Thursday, July 6, 2023, is now making a recovery.

Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), stated that although the victim, Dr. Charles Pactol Sia, 41, can see with both eyes, one of them needs to be monitored owing to blurry vision.

Dalogdog said the CCPO will continue to coordinate with Sia and give him security as he is recovering in the hospital.

Dr. Sia was struck with a gun and had a blunt object thrust into his eyes by the assailants.

"Ang iyang physical condition is stable na, ang iyang duha ka mata makakita na pero dili pa gyud niya mabuka as in buka at least malipay ta nga makakita na sya ug ok na gyud ang iyang sitwasyon," according to Dalogdog.

(His physical condition is now stable, his two eyes can see but he can't open them yet, at least we are happy that he can see and his situation is okay).

The two men whom Sia identified as responsible for the incident are now under close observation by the CCPO so they can't flee and can be quickly apprehended once an arrest warrant will be issued against them.

Last Friday, July 7, the culprits were charged with serious physical injury and grave threats.

Dalogdog said they have a strong evidence to pin down the perpetrators.

The first information that surfaced claimed that one of the suspects was the supposed lover of the woman who Dr. Sia had sued for failing to repay the large sum of money that she had borrowed from the victim.

The woman's partner, who was reported to be working in a hospital as a nurse, became enraged after learning about the lawsuit.(AYB, TPT)