US-PHILIPPINES DEFENSE GUIDELINES TO BE RELEASED DURING MARCOS' PENTAGON VISIT

MANILA — The defense guidelines of allies Philippines and the United States will be released this week during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s official working visit to the United States.

“One thing that will come out of this visit and is on track to be made public on Wednesday, when President Marcos visits the Pentagon, is the first ever Bilateral Defense Guidelines [that] will be issued between the United States and the Philippines,” US Embassy in the Philippines Political Counselor Brett Blackshaw said in a forum hosted by the Strtabase ADR Institute.

“My understanding is that it will be released during the visit, there might be a word or two that’s being finalized,” he added.

US and Philippine foreign affairs and defense met in Washington last month and said talks on the guidelines were already being fast tracked.

According to a White House fact sheet released on Tuesday, the guidelines will will “institutionalize key bilateral priorities, mechanisms, and process to deepen alliance cooperation and interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.”

The text will outline details on how the two countries will further work on priorities and interoperability, for example through information-sharing, defense capability development, among others. Blackshaw added that the document will also put into writing the challenges that the alliance faces and what can both countries do to manage them.

MARCOS VOWS ‘MUCH BETTER PH,’ URGES FIL-AMS TO COME HOME

Washington — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday (Philippine time) that his administration is working on measures that will ensure Filipinos who are working and staying abroad could return home and retire in the Philippines.

President Marcos made this announcement during his meet and greet with the Filipino community of Washington in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

The President is in the United States for a five-day official visit that aims to strengthen ties between the two countries.

“It’s my hope that some of you will come home for good and retire in a much better Philippines — a Philippines with better airports, a Philippines with better roads, better internet, better governance. That is my wish,” Mr. Marcos said in his speech. “And that’s why that is what my administration is working for.”

The President said protecting the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers is a priority of his administration.

“We are strongly committed to pursue the third pillar of our foreign policy, which is assistance to Filipino nationals,” Marcos said.

He also encouraged the children and grandchildren of Filipinos who are now residing in America to come home and visit the Philippines.

“Let them see for themselves what the Philippines is about, what is our culture, what is our history. I’m sure the first and second and third generation Filipino-Americans are more than happy to learn about their proud Philippine ancestry,” Marcos said.

“Sooner or later, we will be able to welcome you back home to the Philippines, especially those who have reacquired their Filipino citizenship,” he added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (Tuesday Philippine time) highlighted the importance of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in building the strong foundation of the United States.

In his speech during the dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy for President Marcs, his official delegation, and US Cabinet officials at the Blair House, Blinken said: “Filipinos and Filipino-Americans are a fundamental part of the fabric of the United States.”

PHILIPPINES TAPS US ASSETS TO HELP SEARCH FOR MISSING TUBBATAHA DIVERS

MANILA — The Philippines has tapped United States assets to help in the search for 4 divers who went missing after their boat sank in Tubbataha, Palawan on Sunday, the military said.

Three US air assets stationed in 2 military bases identified as Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites were used in the operations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement Tuesday.

The American assets took off from the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

"The responsive United States-Philippines combined inter-agency operation utilizing EDCA locations was carried out at the request of the Philippine government," the AFP said.

The AFP Western Command (Wescom) had also deployed some of its air and sea assets to assist in the search, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) Sokol Helicopter, a Philippine Navy AW109E Helicopter, and Navy vessel BRP Carlos Albert.

The ill-fated dive yacht, M/Y Dream Keeper, sank off the famed the Tubbataha Reef on Sunday, Apr. 30.

It departed from San Remegio, Cebu at 4 p.m. Thursday and arrived at the famed reef around 10 p.m. Saturday.

The use of the EDCA sites for the search of the missing divers came weeks after the Philippines identified 4 new sites that the US military can access under the said deal.

AFP earlier said the EDCA sites may be used both by Manila and Washington for emergency situations and disaster relief.

PALACE: MODERNA TO SET UP VACCINE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN PHILIPPINES

MANILA — US biotech company Moderna will set up a vaccine making facility in the Philippines that will "serve the entire Asia Pacific Region," Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Moderna Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay and Senior Vice President and General Manager Patrick Bergstedt informed President President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. about the planned "Shared Service Facility for Pharmacovigilance" during a meeting at the Blair House in Washington, the Palace said.

Once operational, it will be Moderna’s only shared service facility in Asia and the third in the world following Poland and Georgia in the US. It is expected to employ around 50 health professionals, with an office located either in Makati or at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Malacañang said.

“We are really excited to have selected the Philippines for the third one primarily because you know the capabilities exist. We have the talent that exists, and we know that the partnership will be one that can be beneficial for both Moderna and the Philippines,” Garay was quoted as having said by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Moderna was among the pharmaceutical firms that pioneered the production of COVID-19 vaccines, which were distributed to the Philippines.

The Philippines is "very, very interested" in the opportunity to build shared services with the company, Marcos said, as quoted by the PCO.

PHILIPPINES TO RECEIVE 390,000 BIVALENT COVID-19 VACCINES BY END OF MAY

MANILA — The Philippines is set to receive 390,000 doses of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines by the end of May, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the health department has already applied for an updated emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for the donated coronavirus jabs.

"Hopefully, by the end of May, we can be able to receive these 390,000 doses," she said in a press briefing.

Bivalent vaccines are modified jabs that target the omicron variant and the original form of the virus.

The state drug regulator has said donated COVID-19 vaccines require FDA authorization in the form of EUA prior to use.

Vergeire said the donor country allowed the deal to push through even without clauses on indemnification and immunity from liability, which are usually required by manufacturers and donors.

IATF: NO NEED TO REIMPOSE MANDATORY FACE MASK

There is no need to reimpose the mandatory use of face masks, Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday.

“We already recommended to the Office of the President, based on agreements coming from IATF discussions, that we don’t need to bring back the mandates,” said Vergeire, who recommends wearing masks even if they are not required.

In a media briefing, Vergerie also told the public to learn to adjust to the presence of the virus.

“Our policies do not need to be back and forth. We all need to help each other so that we can overcome this situation,” she said.

Vergerie related that the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases have already submitted their proposals to the President on the use of face mask.

She noted that cases will increase and decrease in our country because the virus is here.

She said COVID-19 infections, which have been slowing increasing, will not disappear.

“The virus will mutate and produce variants every now and then,” she said.

Nonetheless, she said the public should know how to protect themselves and their family — by choosing to wear a mask when going to high-risk places, especially if they are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, senior citizens, or pregnant.

PHILIPPINES HAS 3,992 NEW LAWYERS

MANILA — Nearly 4,000 Bar passers took their oath yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay, with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo present during the rites.

The Supreme Court said 3,992 out of 9,183 Bar takers took their oath as lawyers.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, 2022 Bar chairman, urged the new lawyers to be “critical thinkers and articulate advocates.”

Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, this year’s Bar chairman, reminded the lawyers to stand by their ideals when faced with bribe offers that may taint their integrity.

Czar Matthew Gerard Torres Dayday, a law graduate from the University of the Philippines, topped the Bar exams with a score of 88.8 percent.

This year’s Bar exams will be held on Sept. 17, 20 and 24.

GLOBE BLOCKS 65,000 CHILD PORN SITES IN FIRST QUARTER 2023

MANILA - Globe Telecom said on Wednesday said it has blocked over 65,000 illegal sites showing child pornography in the first quarter of 2023 as part of its crackdown against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the Philippines.

The number of child pornography-related URLs blocked by Globe jumped 67.3 percent to 64,914 from 38,795 in the same period last year, the company said in a statement.

"We understand that the internet can be a dangerous place, especially for children, and we are committed to using our resources to make it safer for all," said Globe Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio.

"Our partnerships with various organizations, investment in advanced filtering systems, and educational and awareness campaigns are essential steps in creating a safer online environment. We firmly believe that everyone has a role to play in protecting children's innocence, and we are dedicated to doing our part,” he added.

Globa said it has invested $2.7 million in systems that filter content about child pornography, illegal gambling and online piracy.

In 2022, Globe said it blocked 399,540 URLs and almost 1,947 domains hosting child pornography.

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MARCOS TO NGCP: SOLVE VISAYAS POWER CRISIS

MANILA — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has been asked to immediately address the power crisis in parts of the Visayas.

President Marcos, who is in the United States for a five-day official visit, issued the directive in response to reports of 12-hour daily power outages in Panay, Guimaras and Negros since last week.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Presidential Communications Office said the President instructed the NGCP to review the reliability of each Visayas sub-grid and ”synchronize the protection relays of transmission, generation and distribution in the next two weeks to prevent blackouts.”

The NGCP was tasked to finish the Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project and fasttrack the signing of an ancillary service procurement agreement to manage power fluctuations.

The project involves linking Negros and Cebu by laying an overhead line from the cities of Bacolod to San Carlos and Toledo through a submarine cable.

Marcos asked the NGCP to regularly update concerned government officials, distribution utilities and power generators on the status of the Visayas grid.

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices and provincial civil defense cluster convened yesterday in response to the directives of the President.

METRO MANILA'S COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE SPIKES TO 18.8 PCT - OCTA

MANILA — The weekly COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila further rose to 18.8 percent as of May 1, according to pandemic monitor OCTA Research.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said late Tuesday night the capital region's positivity rate jumped by 7.1 points from the 11.7 percent tallied on April 24.

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of COVID-19 tests that come out positive.

The World Health Organization recommends a 5-percent threshold for COVID-19 positivity rate.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, acting health chief Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country's healthcare utilization rate remained "low risk" despite an increase in coronavirus infections.

"Itong pagtaas ng mga kaso na nakikita natin sa ngayon, hindi po siya nagta-translate sa mas maraming hospital admissions... sa mas maraming severe critical cases and even deaths," she told reporters.

The Philippines on Tuesday recorded 843 new COVID-19 cases, raising its tally to 4,095,468. The current nationwide positivity rate stood at 15.9 percent.

BRYAN CO NAMED MIAA OFFICER-IN-CHARGE AFTER CHIEF CHIONG'S SUSPENSION

MANILA — Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Senior Assistant General Manager Bryan Co has been named as the agency's officer-in-charge following the preventive suspension of its General Manager Cesar Chiong, the transportation department said on Wednesday.

"Sa ngayon ang ipapalit namin ay yung next in line muna, ang Senior Assistant General Manager ay si Mr. Bryan Co," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo when asked who would head MIAA while Chiong was suspended.

Chiong on Tuesday said the preventive suspension stemmed from his move to reassign "certain MIAA employees", which he asserted was part of efforts to improve airport operations.

The suspension order "was based on an anonymous complaint alleging grave abuse of authority," he said in a statement.

Chiong's suspension followed a power outage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, which cancelled several flights on Labor Day, Monday.

A separate glitch on New Year's Day also grounded hundreds of flights and affected some 65,000 travelers.

The Philippine airspace will be closed for 6 hours on May 17 to allow authorities to replace an equipment that faltered and caused the Jan. 1 travel chaos.

TORNADO DESTROYS HOUSES, BOATS IN MAGUINDANAO TOWN

COTABATO CITY — A tornado flattened shanties, felled dozens of palm trees and destroyed six fishing boats in Datu Blah Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday.

Mayor Marshall Sinsuat said responders were deployed to attend to the needs of affected villagers in Barangay Nalkan.

Sinsuat said two cattle died after being hit by felled coconut trees.

There was no reported casualty among villagers.

Barangay officials and municipal disaster risk reduction and management council workers are conducting clearing operations.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'BUKAS NA BUKAS DIN!': DANIEL PADILLA TEASES ABOUT MARRYING KATHRYN BERNARDO

“Bukas na bukas din!”

These were the words of Daniel Padilla as he teased about marrying Kathryn Bernardo after she caught the bridal bouquet during the wedding of filmmaker Cathy Garcia to cinematographer Louie Sampana.

One of Garcia and Sampana’s guests caught this on video and was reposted by KathNiel fans on social media.

Although it was only said in jest, supporters of the two were so thrilled about how Padilla and Bernardo are so certain about their relationship.

Meanwhile, actor Janus del Prado, who was also at Garcia’s wedding, shared a clip of Padilla putting on the wedding garter on Bernardo.

“Ayan na! Kayo na next, 'tol!” del Prado said as he made fun of the couple.

Padilla and Bernardo have been a couple for 11 years now although they were first paired onscreen in the 2011 teen series “Growing Up.”

Last year, Bernardo said they had originally intended to get married at their age now, but opted to take further steps to get ready for settling down together.

Padilla, nevertheless, has been adamant about being “ready now,” saying he hopes to exchange vows with Bernardo before or once either of them turns 30.

ONE MORE CHANCE: DIRECTOR CATHY GARCIA MARRIES AGAIN

Film and TV director Cathy Garcia has tied the knot with cinematographer Louie Sampana on May 2 in Zambales.

The intimate beach wedding was attended by their family, and closest friends in and out of show business.

In attendance were Kapamilya couple Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, who caught the bride's bouquet.

Also present were Joross Gamboa, Alden Richards, Ian Veneracion, Janus del Prado, Jeffrey Tam.

Below are some of the photos and clips taken from the wedding of Garcia and Sampana as shared on social media by their guests.

Garcia was previously married to Philip Molina, who died in 2009 in a vehicular accident in Baguio City. They have two children.

Garcia is the director behind the blockbuster movies "A Very Special Love," "You Changed My Life" "One More Chance," "Hello, Love, Goodbye," "Seven Sundays," "Four Sisters and a Wedding," She’s Dating the Gangster," and many more.

She also directed hit TV shows including "Pangako Sa ‘Yo" (2015), "Dolce Amore," and "La Luna Sangre."

SPORTS

PACQUIAO LOSES CASE VS PARADIGM, ORDERED TO PAY $5.1M

MANILA – Manny Pacquiao has been ordered by a US jury to pay $5.1 million (approximately P282 million) to Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) as the civil lawsuit filed by the latter against the former reached its conclusion.

In a report by Los Angeles-based journalist Steve Angeles of ABS-CBN News, PSM won its lawsuit against Pacquiao with a 9-3 jury verdict, entitling them to monetary damages from the Filipino boxing icon.

The lawsuit stemmed from PSM’s claim that Pacquiao committed a breach of contract when he concealed his preexisting agreement with another promotional company, TGB Promotions, which hindered PSM’s efforts in arranging a fight for him.

The $5.1 million amount that Pacquiao has been ordered to pay PSM reportedly includes $1.8 million in damages and the $3.3 million advance PSM gave to the boxing legend.

Pacquiao entered into an agreement with PSM, which has in its stable Conor McGregor, with an initial plan to arrange a lucrative fight with the UFC star. The bout, however, did not materialize.

Instead, the eight-division world champion ended up signing a different deal to face Errol Spence Jr., who was then replaced by Yordenis Ugas due to injury. Pacquiao lost to Ugas in 2021 in what turned out to be his last pro fight.

In the trial, Pacquiao’s defense attorney Bruce Cleeland claimed PSM failed to live up to their commitments to the boxing star. But PSM countered by questioning Pacquiao’s credibility.

Pacquiao has not fought professionally since losing to Ugas, but instead figured in an exhibition fight with Korean video blogger DK Yoo in December last year.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending. - Lazurus Long