Over 10,000 take bar exams

September 8, 2024 | 8:06 pm

THE SUPREME Court (SC) on Sunday said there are 10,483 bar examination takers this year, a notch higher than last year’s 10,387.

Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, the 2024 Bar Chairperson, told reporters in a news briefing there were 5,234 first-time examinees, 4,016 retakers, and 1,189 refreshers, or those who failed thrice in the previous bar exams.

There are 13 testing centers nationwide: 6 in Metro Manila, 2 in Luzon, 3 in Visayas, and 2 in Mindanao.

Mr. Lopez said digitalization is one of the reforms for this year’s exams, specifically the Examplify software and secure testing platforms.

The results are set to be released in early December, while the oath-taking ceremony and signing of the Roll of Attorneys are scheduled on Jan. 24, 2025.

The passing rate last year was 36.77%, with 3,812 passers. This was lower than the 2022 passing rate of 43.37% or 3,992 passers out of 9,183 examinees. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Rights commitment in doubt

September 8, 2024 | 8:06 pm

THE GOVERNMENT’S lack of funding for special human rights laws for next year casts doubts on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s commitment to upholding human rights despite efforts to promote human rights under his administration, according to Human Rights Watch.

“Not providing the needed funds to enact these laws that have to do with human rights is nothing short of egregious,” Carlos H. Conde, a senior researcher at the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, told BusinessWorld in a WhatsApp message.

“It shows that the government is not putting its money where its mouth is…. it raises doubts about the seriousness of its commitment,” he added.

The Commission on Human Rights last week revealed that special human rights laws, including measures addressing human trafficking, violence against women and their children and crimes against humanity, among other laws, did not receive a single centavo under the proposed P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Integrated flood approach needed

September 8, 2024 | 8:06 pm

Flooded area — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE GOVERNMENT would have to undertake an integrated approach with various agencies to solve the country’s chronic flooding woes, a congressman said on Sunday, citing the need to address urbanization, climate change, and lack of proper flood infrastructure.

“We will only be able to do this [solve flooding] if we take an integrated, inter-agency approach that will undertake a comprehensive review and analysis of current flood risks, as well as a multi-disciplinary approach to proposed mechanisms for flood control,” Navotas Rep. Tobias M. Tiangco said in a statement.

“All relevant agencies of government must come together — from national to local — if we hope to protect Filipinos from floods and other hazards,” he added.

The Philippine capital and its surrounding regions often face catastrophic flooding resulting in loss of life and properties after torrential downpour brought about by tropical storms amid the rainy season.

Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan last month said flood control projects are more complex due to the need to coordinate various government units and agencies in planning and actualizing them. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Closure of remaining POGOs urged

September 8, 2024 | 8:04 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) should ramp up its efforts to close Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), a congressman said on Sunday, citing reports that there are still numerous online casinos operating nationwide.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said both the DILG, and the Department of Justice should intensify their drives to shutter online gaming operations as a Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission official last week said there remains about 200 POGOs operating still.

“[DILG] Secretary Abalos should instruct the Philippine National Police to enforce the President’s directive and padlock these POGOs. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla should direct the National Bureau of Investigation to help in the effort,” he said in a statement.

“Coordination with the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and telcos is important because POGOs… are using the internet and mobile phones, which can give clues to the locations of POGO activities,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Palace opens Baguio museum

September 8, 2024 | 8:03 pm

THE Presidential Palace on Sunday opened a museum in a mansion built to be the seat of power of American governors during the Commonwealth era, in a bid to boost tourism in the country’s north.

The Mansion House in Baguio City is open for free from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Palace Social Secretary Bianza Cristina C. Zobel told reporters, based on a transcript from the presidential palace.

“Now it’s a tourist attraction. It always was, but it was behind closed gates. So, we’re opening it up,” she said.

Ms. Zobel said the Palace opened the mansion to the public because there are about 500 tourists taking pictures outside the establishment on weekends.

“It reaches up to 2,000, so we would like to open the doors so that people can come inside and take pictures inside,” she added.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who is leading efforts for the mansion’s rehabilitation, earlier said she wanted to duplicate the Malacañang Palace’s Teus Mansion, which houses the presidential museum, “since it turned out to be a hit.” The museum features presidential memorabilia. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

900 free Wi-Fi spots activated

September 8, 2024 | 8:03 pm

THE UNITED Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have activated 900 Wi-Fi spots across 450 new locations nationwide.

The Wi-Fi spots were placed in 150 public health facilities, 150 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and 150 indigenous peoples communities, the UNDP said in a Sept. 5 statement.

These were activated in two separate events, July 4 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and Aug. 15 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Implemented under the Connectivity, Capability, and Resiliency through Free Wi-Fi for All Project, the new Wi-Fi spots are expected to enhance internet and healthcare access in underserved areas, UNDP said.

“By introducing free Wi-Fi to public health facilities, we are taking decisive steps toward realizing the unified patient referral system envisioned under the Universal Healthcare Act,” DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy said during the July launch. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Public Wi-Fi expansion sought

September 8, 2024 | 8:03 pm

LRT-Commuters-mobile phones — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A CONGRESSMAN on Sunday urged the government to fast-track its expansion of public Wi-FI infrastructure nationwide to help boost digital connectivity, supporting economic growth.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) should build at least 50,000 free public Wi-Fi stations nationwide to help spur economic growth, Makati Rep. Luis N. Campos, Jr. said, citing a study that increasing the country’s internet penetration rate could lead to an economic boom.

“Our target is at least 50,000 Wi-Fi hotspots where the public can freely access the internet,” he said in a statement. “This means the DICT must put up 36,538 new hotspots on top of the 13,462 already built as of June 2024.”

A 2022 report by the World Bank showed that only 33% of Philippine households have access to fixed broadband, while 70% of the population have an active mobile broadband subscription.

Broadband internet remains costlier in the Philippines than in neighboring countries, with the annual charge for fixed broadband equivalent to 11% of per capita gross national income. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Rubilen Amit rules WPA World 9-Ball Women’s Championship

September 8, 2024 | 7:31 pm

THERE are so many reasons the Philippines is called the billiards epicenter of the planet.

And one of those is an iron-willed Filipina named Rubilen Amit.

Taking a page out of her idol and living legend Efren “Bata” Reyes’ shot-making magnificence, Ms. Amit outlasted former champion Chen Siming of China, 3-1 (1-4, 4-2, 4-2, 4-3), on Sunday to rule the WPA World 9-Ball Women’s Championship in Hamilton, New Zealand.

It came six months after countryman Carlo Biado ruled the World 10-Ball tilt in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ms. Amit also joined Filipino pool luminaries who conquered the world before her including Mr. Reyes, whom she had patterned her game from.

It was a special moment that reverberated back home as Ms. Amit ended her long, protracted search by becoming the first Filipina to ever win the event after coming so close in 2007 before falling to Chinese Pan Xiaoting in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

On this one, Ms. Amit, a two-time world 10-Ball titlist, made sure it didn’t escape her firm grasp.

But it almost slipped away after Ms. Chen took the opening set and, when trailing 2-3, in the second, appeared to have gained the momentum when she hid the 1-ball behind the 7-ball in an apparently devious safety shot.

Amit though borrowed a book from Mr. Reyes’ library of miraculous and magical shots by safely grazing the one-ball and sending the cue ball slowly rolling back and bumping the 9-ball straight down the right center pocket to save the point and the set that knotted it at one apiece.

After Ms. Amit quickly took a 2-1 set lead, Ms. Chen got another opportunity to stay alive when, leading 3-2, she came two balls away from taking the fourth set, forcing a 2-2 set tie and sending it to a fifth and deciding set.

Until disaster struck as the Chinese shockingly missed an easy 8-ball that allowed Ms. Amit to steal the point and tied it at 3-3 before cleaning up the final rack in sealing the deal.

When it was over, Ms. Amit held off her tears, hugged the referee, Ms. Chen and buddy and countrywoman Chezka Centeno — a world champion herself having won 10-Ball a year ago — screamed in jubilation and raised her stick before finally acknowledging the crowd that included a small but a loud flag-waving Filipino crowd.

For her feat, Amit pocketed $50,000, or a cool P2.7 million.

But more than that, she will go home a heroine that she always is and back into the arms of sports-hungry Filipinos constantly searching for champions. — Joey Villar

Quizon eyes breaching 2500 rating to claim GM title

September 8, 2024 | 7:30 pm

daniel-quizon-pcap-chess — DANIEL QUIZON — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

DANIEL QUIZON eyes to finally seal the Grandmaster (GM) title and help the Philippine team in the 45^th FIDE Chess Olympiad unfurling on Wednesday up to Sept. 22 in Budapest, Hungary.

Just 10 rating points shy of breaching the 2500-rating cut and claiming his dream GM status, the 20-year-old Mr. Quizon will have a chance to accomplish the feat as he will play the top board in the absence of Board One player GM Inno Sadorra, who will only arrive late Thursday due to previous commitments.

Mr. Quizon and the rest of the team will leave the country Monday alongside other team members GM John Paul Gomez and IMs Jem Garcia and Paolo Bersamina and coach GM Eugene Torre and head of delegation Atty Roel Canobas.

The women’s team — Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Ruelle Canino, Shania Mae Mendoza and Bernadette Galas — flies the same day alongside mentor GM Jayson Gonzales.

The team had a sendoff in Marikina City on Sunday that was attended by National Chess Federation of the Philippines officials including chairman/president Butch Pichay.

Both the squads are optimistic in eclipsing its 32^nd place finish in the men’s and 39^th place effort in the women’s in the last Olympiad in Chennai, India. — Joey Villar

San Sebastian rallies to stun Letran, 91-84

September 8, 2024 | 7:30 pm

Games on Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
11 a.m. – UPHSD vs JRU
2:30 p.m. – CSB vs San Beda

SAN SEBASTIAN College-Recoletos (SSC-R) never got a single mention when media men asked all participating coaches who they think are the team or teams to beat in NCAA Season 100 basketball during the press conference a few days before.

Rookie coach Arvin Bonleon and the ambitious Stags made sure they would not be left unnoticed again.

This after SSC-R clawed back from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit to stun a dazed San Juan de Letran University, 91-84, on Sunday that sent it into Final Four conversation at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Rafael Are presided over the fourth-period uprising by dropping 10 of his masterful 30-point performance in that critical stretch that saw the Stags fighting back from 12 points down and stealing the victory.

Mr. Are’s fourth-quarter brilliance completely owned the Knights, who shaved their nates bald hoping to replicate what their Squires counterparts have done when they claimed back-to-back NCAA crowns.

Intriguingly, Letran has brought into the seniors’ program the same coach that made its high school squad’s success possible — Allen Ricardo.

It worked for a while though as the energetic Knights just dominated the Stags the first three quarters when the former seized a 75-63 lead.

It proved to be Letran’s last as Mr. Are and the Stags went on a 28-9 rampage in the last canto to send SSC-R to its first win this season and straight to the top alongside opening day victors San Beda University — the reigning titlists — and College of St. Benilde.

Harold Ricio and Tristan Felebrico chipped in 14 points apiece for the Stags, who are hoping to improve their eight-place finish and 6-12 mark last year and make the Final Four this time.

Meanwhile, NCAA Management Committee Chair Herc Callanta of host Lyceum of the Philippines University on Sunday said they are investigating the mauling of a league referee right after the CSB-Mapua game inside the MOA Arena Saturday.

“As far as details are concerned, we don’t have details yet and we have to verify those,” said Mr. Callanta. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

SSC-R 91 – Are 30, Ricio 14, Felebrico 14, Escobido 13, Re. Gabat 8, Velasco 4, L. Gabat 4, Aguilar 2, Barroga 2, Maliwat 0, Suico 0, Lintol 0, Pascual 0

Letran 84 – Monje 16, Jumao-as 14, Estrada 14, Montecillo 9, Santos 7, Go 7, Dimaano 6, Cuajao 5, Galoy 4, Delfino 0, Nunag 0, Pradella 0, Baliling 0

Quarter scores: 24-30; 48-52; 63-75; 91-84

Dream carry momentum into ‘fight’ with Fever

September 8, 2024 | 7:29 pm

THE ATLANTA DREAM have shown a lot of fight while battling for a playoff spot, rallying from 16 down to beat Dallas in overtime on Friday night.

The Dream (12-22) look to carry that momentum into Sunday’s date with the Indiana Fever (18-17) in Indianapolis.

The Dream are tied with Chicago for the league’s eighth-best record, but the Sky hold the tiebreaker advantage for the final playoff spot. Atlanta does hold the tiebreakers over 10^th place Washington and 11^th place Dallas after its 107-96 comeback win against the Wings.

“That was a playoff game,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright said after the win. “We understand that every game from here on out is (going to) be like that for us. That type of fight and that type of energy is (going to) be needed as we continue to push to make the playoffs.”

Rhyne Howard led the way with 33 points as she continues to play a pivotal role in the push for the postseason. She’s averaging 17.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

The Fever will present a big challenge as one of the hottest teams in the league as of late. They have won seven of their last 10 but are coming off a 99-88 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night.

Rookie star Caitlin Clark turned in another stellar performance despite the defeat, scoring 25 points, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out eight assists.

Clark, averaging 19 points per game, made five 3-pointers in the loss and now holds the record for most triples (107) in a season in franchise history.

Clark said afterward that she felt like the Fever got away from playing the style of basketball that led to a halftime lead over the Lynx. It’s a lesson learned.

“I thought we kind of stopped playing in a way that made us successful in the first half,” Clark said. “So, it’s just a good learning opportunity for us.”

Indiana swept the first three meetings with Atlanta this season, including a 91-84 victory in Indianapolis on June 13. — Reuters

More to come

September 8, 2024 | 7:29 pm

Aryna Sabalenka was confident but cautious as she headed to her second straight United States Open women’s singles final. She had suffered a heartbreak last year, losing to the relatively inexperienced Coco Gauff despite having taken the first set, but it gave her the benefit of experience. And, of course, it helped that she was just three weeks removed from having taken the measure of fellow finalist Jessica Pegula at the Cincinnati Open. This time around, she felt, she would have the resolve to get her through in-match adversity.

Sabalenka was, to be sure, heavily favored in the final the other day. True, she missed Wimbledon and, by choice, the Paris Games following a shoulder injury. And, true, she had demons to conquer at Flushing Meadows, where all her proficiency in hard courts could hitherto muster was last year’s bridesmaid finish and two previous Round of Four appearances. On the other hand, she wasn’t World Number Two for nothing, and with Pegula having made short work of top seed Iga Swiatek on the quarterfinals, she had in her hands a grand opportunity to finish her campaign over the last fortnight in a blaze of glory.

When the battlesmoke cleared, Sabalenka did get to meet her date with destiny. She faced a heady challenge from Pegula, but she proved to be the more aggressive player under pressure. Unafraid to crowd the lines and go for high-risk shots, she found herself dictating tempo for the most part. And although the match featured plenty of give and take, she displayed enough steadiness to weather the storms that came her way. The result: a 7-5, 7-5 line that underscored her worth.

Interestingly, Sabalenka looked more overwhelmed in the aftermath. “Oh, my God. I’m speechless right now,” she said as she assessed her triumph. “So many times, I thought I was so close to get a US Open title. It’s been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot.” And, fittingly, she claimed her third Grand Slam championship on her 100^th career set-to. There will be more to come.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.