PBBM RALLIES FILIPINOS IN US

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rallied members of the Filipino community in the US to do their part—through tourism receipts and investments—in helping the economy recover amid the lingering pandemic, even as he assured them that the “future looks bright” with his administration’s development plan.

“As we continue to search for more solutions to revitalize our beloved country, it is not the time to look back at the past. It is now time to look to the future. And the future looks bright. The economy we expect to grow by six and a half to seven and a half percent this year,” Mr. Marcos said in his speech at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Monday morning (Manila time).

“We must keep the momentum going…To our kababayans here in New York, here in the United States, and to our kababayans all over the world, you will still play a very critical role in the economic transformation of our country. Even if you are very far from the Philippines, your beloved country needs you, especially now.”

“I stand here before you today to invoke the quintessential Filipino spirit, the spirit of bayanihan, and to challenge each and every one of you to contribute meaningful change back home,” the President added.

For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez also hailed the Filipino community in the United States for their warm welcome and support to President Marcos.

Romualdez, along with other members of the Philippine delegation to the UN, accompanied President Marcos during his meeting with the Filipino community.

Mr. Marcos urged members of the Filipino community to invest in agri-business ventures as he cited his administration’s push to attain food security.

The President also appealed to Filipino scientists, engineers, and technical experts to return to the Philippines under the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

There are around 4.3 million Filipinos living and working in the US, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

President Marcos Jr. said he is hoping to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Joseph Biden on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“I am hoping to be able to meet President Joseph Biden and other world leaders on the sides of the UN General Assembly. Aside from President Biden, I think we will be able to meet with some other heads of state and as I said some heads of big companies,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech before members of the Filipino community in New Jersey on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

MARCOS JR RINGS CLOSING BELL AT NYSE; SEEKS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH US FIRMS

MANILA—The Philippines not having the United States as an ally is inconceivable, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said as he wooed American investors for future investments back home.

During his visit to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Business Forum early Tuesday morning (Manila time), Marcos Jr rang the ceremonial closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday and delivered a statement at the NYSE forum, higlighting investment opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in IT-BPM, medical products and devices, electric vehicles and batteries, agribusiness, and telecommunications infrastructure and services.

Marcos said it is clear to him that the ties of both nations are beyond politics and something he cannot "overstate".

"I cannot see the Philippines in the future without having the United States as a partner ... Many of the drivers of our early economy were actually American corporations. Many of the strongest corporate benefactors to government and to the rest of society in the Philippines were coming from the United States," he said during an interview with NYSE vice chair and chief commercial officer John Tuttle.

The President said strengthening the Philippines-US alliance and partnerships is "extremely necessary" amid growing economic and geopolitical crises being experienced globally.

"We still look to the United States as our partner. When we are in crisis, we look to the United States ... I have to say that the reason we have done that, is that for the most part, we can say that the United States has not failed us," he said.

PHILIPPINES SHOOTS FOR HIGHEST INVESTMENT GRADE TERRITORY: MARCOS

MANILA — President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr on Monday said the Philippines is gearing up not only to reduce poverty and become an upper-middle-income country but also to reach the highest investment grade credit rating territory in the next few years.

Moody's Investor Service earlier affirmed the Philippines Baa2 ratings with a "stable" outlook. The Baa2 rating is just a notch lower than the A ratings category.

The Philippines also has investment grade ratings from other credit rating agencies, which it was able to maintain despite accelerated borrowings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having an investment grade rating means access to more funds at lower interest rates. It also means reduced credit risk or that a borrower can pay its debts.

"Our economy’s resilience to crisis is recognized internationally, the Philippines has maintained its investment grade credit rating throughout the pandemic amid the wave of rating downgrade globally," Marcos said during a speech at the New York Stock Exchange on the sideline of his trip to the US to deliver an address at the United Nations General Assembly.

"As we look forward to achieving upper middle income status, we are also gearing up for A territory credit rating in the medium term," he added.

WORLD BIDS FAREWELL TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday (early Tuesday in Manila), after a grand state funeral attended by leaders from around the world, and a historic last ceremonial journey through the packed streets of London.

The longest-serving monarch in British history died aged 96 at Balmoral, her Scottish Highland retreat, on Sept. 8 after a year of declining health.

The last state funeral to be held in Britain was in 1965 for the country’s wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.

Then, the cranes that once unloaded the spoils of Britain’s vast empire that Elizabeth inherited were lowered in respect as his coffin was borne up the River Thames by barge.

Many ordinary people camped out for days to witness the elaborate spectacle of pageantry and to pay their final respects.

After the funeral, the flag-draped coffin of the queen, topped with the majestic Imperial State Crown, was taken west to Windsor Castle.

She was to be buried alongside her father king George VI, her mother queen Elizabeth the queen mother, and sister princess Margaret, reuniting in death the family who once called themselves “us four.”

The coffin of her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, will also be transferred to lie alongside her.

Irene Marcos Araneta represented her brother President Marcos in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London, Malacañang said yesterday.

HOUSE OKAYS SIM CARD LISTUP BILL

Voting 250-6-1, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Monday passed third and final reading a bill requiring the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identify module (SIM) cards to lessen mobile phone-enabled illegal activities.

House Bill 14, or the proposed SIM Card Registration Act, aims at preventing the proliferation of mobile phone scams, data breaches, and assist law enforcement agencies in resolving crimes involving the use of mobile phone units.

Speaker Romualdez is the principal author of the approved bill. A similar measure was first introduced more than 12 years ago in the 15th Congress.

Lawmakers pushing for stricter SIM card registration and regulation hope their efforts will bear fruition this time because recent spam text messages have contained even the private information of mobile phone users such as their names.

They said the leaking of such information violates the Data Privacy Act. At present, only SIM cards for postpaid mobile subscriptions are required to be registered.

In passing the proposed law on SIM card registration on second reading, the House approved the recommendation of its committee on information and communications technology chaired by Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco to adopt Speaker Romualdez’s House Bill (HB) 14 “without amendments” as the mother bill, in consolidation with 15 other related measures.

GOVERNMENT READIES AID FOR OFWS IN QUAKE-HIT TAIWAN

MANILA — The Marcos administration is readying assistance for Filipino workers affected by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan on Sunday.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said she has ordered the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Taiwan to provide her regular updates as aftershocks were recorded yesterday.

There are over 147,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there were no Filipino casualties during the earthquake.

The DFA also reported that no Filipinos were affected by the storm in Osaka.

COMELEC TO PICK NEW MAGUINDANAO OFFICIALS

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to release within the week its legal opinion on who should govern Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur after a plebiscite supported a division of the entire province into two, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Monday.

In a radio interview, Garcia said they were refraining from giving their opinion on the “very sensitive” matter as they wanted to focus first on the Maguindanao plebiscite held on Saturday.

“What I can assure you is that the current governor is still the governor of one province. People in Maguindanao should await who will be the governor of the other province,” he said in Filipino.

Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu is the current governor of unified Maguindanao, having beaten former governor and congressman Esmael Mangudadatu in the May 9 elections.

“Expect that we will release it in the next few days. We were asked for a legal opinion or explanation about who will sit as government officials in the newly created province and in the other province,” Garcia said.

Now that Maguindanao has been split into two, Garcia explained that Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur will have their own legal personalities, which will then require the appointment of government officials.

Garcia said residents of the two provinces will later on get a chance to vote for new local government officials during the 2025 midterm elections.

VHONG NAVARRO SURRENDERS TO NBI

MANILA — Actor and television host Vhong Navarro surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday after a Taguig court issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the complaint for rape filed against him by model Deniece Cornejo in 2014.

Navarro turned himself in to the NBI National Capital Region office in Quezon City.

A warrant of arrest for rape issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 was served on Navarro yesterday afternoon.

Rape is supposed to be a non-bailable offense but bail is allowed if the defendant is able to convince the court that the evidence of the prosecution is weak.

In an order dated Sept. 15, Judge Angela Din of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Taguig Branch 116 found probable cause to hold Navarro for trial for acts of lasciviousness.

Navarro posted P36,000 bail for the acts of lasciviousness charge.

He was ordered by the court to submit photographs showing his front, right and left profiles within five days before the scheduled arraignment.

Alma Mallonga, lawyer for Navarro, said they would file a motion for reconsideration

Mallonga reiterated that her client is the “victim of illegal detention and grave coercion,” contrary to the claim of Cornejo.

She said Navarro would continue fighting to prove his innocence, which she said is supported by closed-circuit television footage in an elevator on the day the alleged crime was committed.

Navarro said he is open to a dialogue with Cornejo’s camp to drop the cases filed against him.

The actor said he has forgiven Cornejo over their legal tussle. But he said he would never issue a public apology in exchange for a settlement.

Cornejo accused Navarro of raping her on Jan. 17 and 22, 2014.

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29 VICTIMS OF ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE RESCUED

MANILA — Police rescued 29 children who were victims of online sexual exploitation in five separate operations last week.

At a press briefing yesterday, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin said the operations were conducted from Sept. 11 to 17.

Three suspects were arrested by police, according to Azurin.

He said two Filipino facilitators of online sexual exploitation of children were the subject of investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security as well as police agencies in Australia, Germany, Norway and Sweden.

Last month, the Philippine government declared a war against online sexual offenders.

ACTIVE HABAGAT TO DUMP RAINS OVER LUZON FOR 2 DAYS: PAGASA; #WALANGPASOK: SEPTEMBER 20

MANILA — Time to pack an umbrella, Kapamilya. Monsoon rains may persist over parts of Luzon for the next 2 days, weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday.

Weather specialist Chris Perez said the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to prevail over Central and Southern Luzon. Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bataan and Zambales may experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

"Kaya napakadalas ng thunderstorm activity ngayon ay napaka-active po talaga ng habagat," Perez said in a TeleRadyo interview.

"We are expecting na magiging maulap pa rin, may pag-ulan pa rin, hindi lamang sa Metro Manila, kundi sa ilang bahagi ng Central Luzon at Southern Luzon within the next 2 days," he added.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country may have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Nagsuspinde na ng klase ang ilang mga lokal na pamahalaan ngayong Martes, Setyembre 20, dahil sa sama ng panahon dulot ng southwest monsoon o habagat.

COMELEC DISQUALIFIES NEW ALBAY GOVERNOR OVER SPENDING BAN VIOLATION

MANILA – A body of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Albay Governor Noel Rosal from the 2022 provincial race he had already won for violating an election code provision on the public spending ban.

The Comelec’s 1st Division granted the petition of defeated Legazpi City council candidate Joseph Armogila, who asked for the disqualification of Rosal for approving, in his capacity as Legazpi City mayor, cash assistance for tricycle drivers and senior citizens in March and April.

In its ruling, the poll body said Rosal committed an election offense under Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code, when he disbursed public funds within 45 days before a regular election.

“Undoubtedly, the payout of cash assistance to the tricycle drivers and senior citizens [is a] social welfare and development activity that is covered by this prohibition,” states the ruling, signed by commissioners Socorro Inting and Aimee Ferolino, on Monday, September 19.

“The commission (1st Division) cannot assent to the respondent’s assertion that the cash assistance is exempted from the prohibition since the activity is just a continuation of what has already been started since 2021. Nowhere in the law does it state that the continuing social welfare and development project is excluded from the prohibition nor exempted thereof.”

Rosal urged his constituents to stay calm, saying he would continue in his post and file a motion for reconsideration. The governor said he has until September 24 to file his motion.

“I will continue to function as your governor until the court orders with finality…to vacate the position. Please, stay calm. Thank you all for your support,” Rosal said.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco earlier said, “Until a certificate of finality is issued, together with the writ of execution and an entry of judgment is made, the matter has yet to become final and executory.”

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'SOBRA KAYO': DENNIS PADILLA REACTS TO JULIA BARRETTO'S KAREN DAVILA INTERVIEW

MANILA — Comedian Dennis Padilla reacted over daughter Julia Barretto's interview with Karen Davila.

In a now deleted Instagram post, Dennis said he worked hard for his family back then.

“Nung malakas pa ako kumita at maliit pa kyo... Kanino ba naubos lahat? Sa inyo... Kasi gusto ko maginhawa ang buhay nyo,” he said.

“14 times kami lumipat ng bahay... Tama julia... Sino ba nagbabayad ng paglipat... Ako yun!!!!” he added.

Dennis took offense when Julia said she couldn't turn to her own father when things get tough.

“Ako ang dapat takbuhan mo julia.... I defended you pero nagalit pa kayo sa akin... Sobra kayo... Ano etong mga kwento mo kay karen??” he said.

Dennis said he already apologized for his shortcomings, but it was still not enough for his children.

“Ang buong bahay ko... Ang halaga katumbas lang ng isang kotse mo julia. Ano pang revenge ang gusto niyong gawin? Lahat ng blessings nasa inyo na... Humingi ako ng apology sa mga pagkukulang ko.. Ano pa gusto nyo?... .. Pati kay gerard (Gerald Anderson) humingi ako ng apology... Ano pa?” he said.

Julia sat down with news anchor Karen Davila for the latter's YouTube channel. She said that she's scared to open up her feelings to her dad.

“I’ll be very honest. We have not spoken and it's because there’s just so much fear inside me now if I’m being open. I’m just really scared,” Julia said.

“Because over the years, it’s a cycle of making up and getting hurt. I want to huminga muna from that cycle. I don’t know. Maybe in God’s time, may ways mag-meet kami in the middle without getting hurt again," she added.

SPORTS

PBA: GINEBRA ACQUIRES JAMIE MALONZO IN TRADE WITH NORTHPORT

MANILA -- Barangay Ginebra has officially acquired high-flying swingman Jamie Malonzo in a trade with the NorthPort Batang Pier.

The PBA approved the trade on Tuesday morning.

In exchange for Malonzo, Ginebra will send Arvin Tolentino, Prince Caperal, and its 2022 first-round draft pick to the NorthPort Batang Pier.

BARANGAY GINEBRA acquires the rights to Jamie Malonzo.

Malonzo emerged as a two-way force for the Batang Pier in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup, averaging 17.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.

He earned a call-up to the Philippine national basketball team in the recent FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, playing for Gilas Pilipinas as a local.

Ginebra has also acquired Von Pessumal in a three-team trade involving San Miguel Beer and NorthPort.

SMB first sent Pessumal to the Batang Pier in exchange for their second-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 PBA Rookie Drafts. NorthPort then sent Pessumal to Ginebra in exchange for Jeff Chan and Kent Salado.

The trade has already been approved by the PBA.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 57.40

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Serving God is doing good to man, but praying is thought an easier service and therefore more generally chosen. - Benjamin Franklin