Filipinos overseas take time to vote for new president

May 5, 2022 | 7:40 pm

By Patricia Mirasol, Reporter

GERVIL T. Dahay, a Filipino nurse based in Bayern, Germany took a leave from his job so he could come home in time for this year’s Philippine elections.

“I came home so I could vote while on vacation,” the 38-year-old migrant worker said in a Facebook Messenger chat in Filipino. “I didn’t want my vote to go to waste.”

About 10% or 170,000 of 1.7 million registered Filipino workers abroad had voted so far, the Commission on Elections said on April 28.

Under the law, Filipinos overseas may vote from April 10 to May 9 either manually or through an automated election system. They can either mail their ballots or physically vote at Philippine embassies and consulates overseas.

The top five vote-rich countries are the United Arab Emirates with 290,182 Filipino voters, Saudi Arabia (282,605), US (198,935), Hong Kong (93,886) and Canada (90,545), according to data from the Commission on Elections.

An information technology expert said the country’s voting system has been proven to work despite problems encountered by some migrant workers.

“Our current voting system was tested and vetted in other countries, so why fix a working clock?” Dax L. Labrador, an ethical hacker and founder of hacking conference Rootcon, said in an e-mail.

The actual voting experience varies per country. Forty-six of 92 overseas Philippine posts use the automated election system, the same number as those who use the manual one. Fifty-two, meanwhile, use the postal method.

Neil Fernandez, Jr., a graphic designer and co-creator of iVote.ph, said he and co-creator Rien Lewis Pecson had built the blockchain-based voting platform to demonstrate that new technologies could improve the voting experience.

“We know the hassle and risk of lining up just to get registered during the pandemic,” he said in a Messenger chat. “If we can offer a convenient process, perhaps more Filipinos can vote.”

There are 10.2 million Filipinos in more than 200 territories globally, according to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

Honey M. Lim, a 43-year-old physical therapist based in Queens, New York, said the postal voting method has proven to be straightforward.

“The ballot comes with a prepaid mail envelope,” Ms. Lim said. “I find voting easier here.”

Some Filipinos in Malaysia managed to vote after several trips to the embassy to get registered.

The actual voting process was smooth, according to Jing, a 41-year-old IT professional in Kuala Lumpur.

“I vote because I want changes in Philippine politics,” she said in a Messenger chat. “I feel sorry for my countrymen and for my family in the Philippines. That’s why I want to contribute and vote.”

Ms. Lim finds it “sad” that not all overseas Filipino workers vote.

“I am so tired of listening to them complain,” she said in a Viber message. “In my mind, they dare complain and say there’s no hope for the Philippines, when you and I have a chance to make changes.”

Among the 8 or so million migrants who choose not to vote is Marie, a 47-year-old nurse in Toronto.

“Some people no longer want to get involved with Philippine politics,” she said in a Messenger chat in Filipino.

Real Madrid fights back from the brink to shock Man City

May 5, 2022 | 7:22 pm

MADRID — Real Madrid fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time and 6-5 on aggregate in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semifinal on Wednesday.

City led 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes, but Real substitute Rodrygo equalized in the last minute of normal time and headed home one minute later to level the tie at 5-5.

Five minutes into extra time, Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him by Ruben Dias and Real, the record 13-times European champions, held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final.

Real will play Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv which the Spanish team won 3-1.

It was another superb rearguard action by Real who came from behind for the third consecutive time in this season Champions League knock-out stage to stay on course to win Europe’s most prestigious club competition for the fifth time in the last nine years.

After a breathtaking first leg packed with goals and individual brilliance from both sides, the return game was the complete opposite.

City worked tirelessly to subdue their hosts who failed to manage a shot on target on the first half.

With Real fast running out of ideas, Bernardo Silva broke through the middle of their defence and laid the ball off for Mahrez to finish and City looked certain to stay on course to win the trophy for the first time.

But as they did against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 and Chelsea in the quarterfinals, Real conjured up the magic they required.

Rodrygo slotted in from close range to give them a lifeline and the Brazilian headed home to send the Bernabeu crowd into raptures before Benzema completed the turnaround.

CAUTIOUS APPROACH
City had dominated the first leg and their coach Pep Guardiola was content to sit tight and adopt a similar cautious approach as they did in their quarterfinal second leg against Atletico Madrid.

The plan worked well in the first half, but Real missed a good chance to take the lead after the interval when Vinicius, Jr. met a Dani Carvajal cross at the far post and sent his volley wide.

City continued to play their game of patience and earned the reward when Mahrez lashed home.

Phil Foden almost extended City’s lead with a counterattack led by Jack Grealish which Real defender Eder Militao kept out on the line but Real refused to lie down.

In the last minute of regulation time, substitute Eduardo Camavinga found Benzema at the far post and the French striker set up Rodrygo to score from close range.

One minute later, Rodrygo received a perfect cross from Dani Carvajal and got between three defenders to head the ball into the net.

With the Bernabeu turned into a cauldron, it was only a matter of time until Real delivered the killer blow which came when Benzema was fouled by Dias and the Frenchman sent a precise spot-kick into the corner of the net. — Reuters

PBA reffirmed its full commitment to Gilas Pilipinas

May 5, 2022 | 7:21 pm

EVEN with a full plate for its 47^th season, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has reaffirmed its full commitment to the Gilas Pilipinas program for various international tournaments.

“The calendar will be very tight because primarily the PBA board has committed its continued support to the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) on the formation of the national team,” PBA vice-chairman Bobby Rosales said.

“We’ll provide them with the players on their wish list and because of this, it will surely impact the calendar of the PBA, where we’re playing three conferences in the coming seaon,” he added.

The PBA’s new season begins on June 5 via the Philippine Cup with the Commissioner’s Cup eyed for an Oct. 2 tip-off and the Governors’ Cup targeted by Feb. 1, 2023.

Even before the season-opening All-Filipino fires off, pros are heavily involved in Gilas’ Southeast Asian Games title-retention bid this month. Ten PBA stalwarts, led by June Mar Fajardo, have been named to the 16-man pool by coach Chot Reyes, who is expected to soon cut the team to a final 12 to the May 16 to 22 tournament.

There’s also the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers window Gilas is slated to play on June 30 on the road against New Zealand and July 3 at home against India.

By the second conference, the PBA will send its Top 2 teams to the East Asia Super League opening games and Gilas will embark on its Asian Games mission.

“It’s going to be a very tight calendar but I think the PBA management led by commissioner Willie Marcial was able to find a way to squeeze everything in,” said Mr. Rosales.

Pros may be called up time and again as Gilas continues its continued buildup for the FIBA World Cup that the country is co-hosting next year.

“We are in constant dialogue and communication with the SBP on how to have a smooth relationship as far as the PBA providing players for Gilas to mitigate whatever impact it will have on the calendar of the PBA,” said the Terrafirma governor.

Suns cruise to 2-0 series lead over Mavericks

May 5, 2022 | 7:21 pm

DEVIN Booker scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half and the Phoenix Suns took a 2-0 series lead with a convincing 129-109 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Chris Paul tallied 14 of his 28 points in the final quarter and also contributed eight assists for the Suns, who knocked out the Mavericks with a 23-2 fourth-quarter surge to turn a close game into a 27-point margin.

Luka Dončić scored 35 points for the Mavericks, who led by two at halftime of the Western Conference semifinal contest before being outscored 71-49 in the second half. Dončić is averaging 40 points in the series.

Game 3 is Friday night in Dallas.

Jae Crowder recorded 15 points and seven rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 11 points and six assists for the Phoenix. The Suns shot a scorching 64.5% from the field and made 13 of 25 3-point attempts.

Reggie Bullock scored 16 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added 11 for the Mavericks.

Dallas connected on 45.6% of its attempts and was 17 of 41 from behind the arc.

Phoenix led 76-68 after Bridges’ basket with 5:22 left in the third quarter. Bullock then drained three 3-pointers in 73 seconds during a 10-2 burst in which Dallas knotted the score at 78.

The Suns rebounded by scoring 11 of the quarter’s last 16 points to take an 89-83 lead into the final stanza.

Phoenix continued to play well early in the fourth as Paul broke loose to score 14 points in the first 4:56 of the quarter. He had seven of the points during an 11-0 burst that saw the Suns boost their lead to 110-93 with 6:31 left in the contest.

After Paul went on the bench, Booker buried three 3-pointers in a span of 62 seconds to increase Phoenix’s lead to 119-95 with 4:13 left. Ish Wainright knocked down another trey 24 seconds later to make it a 27-point margin and the Suns cruised to the finish.

Doncic scored 24 first-half points to help the Mavericks lead 60-58 at the break. Crowder tallied 15 in the half for the Suns.

Phoenix jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead before Dallas recovered to trail 32-28 at the end of the quarter. The Mavericks led by as many as five in the second quarter before settling for the two-point edge. — Reuters

Heat put away 76ers again, lead series 2-0

May 5, 2022 | 7:20 pm

BAM Adebayo scored 23 points and Jimmy Butler added 22 on Wednesday night as the top-seeded Miami Heat dumped the fourth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers 119-103 in Miami for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

Off the bench, Miami got 19 points from Victor Oladipo and 18 from Tyler Herro. They combined to sink 6 of 9 from 3-point range, including a game-sealing bomb from Oladipo with 1:39 left off Butler’s 11^th of his 12 assists that made it 114-101.

Tyrese Maxey pumped in 34 points for Philadelphia on 12 of 22 shooting, while James Harden finished with 20 points and nine assists. Tobias Harris chipped in 21 points for the 76ers, who hope to get National Basketball Association (NBA) scoring champion Joel Embiid (multiple injuries) back into the lineup for Game 3 on Friday night in Philadelphia.

But it will take more than Embiid’s 30.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game to get the 76ers back in this series. They’ll have to tighten up a defense that’s allowed 112.5 points per game in this series. The Heat dissected them for 51.3% shooting from the field on Wednesday, including 14 of 29 on 3-pointers.

Miami also dominated the boards 44-34 and stopped Harden in his tracks in the second half. Harden managed just four points after halftime.

Philadelphia led for most of the first quarter, but the Heat took command for good late in the period. Butler had a hand in the first seven points of a 9-2 burst with one assist to Herro and two to Dewayne Dedmon before Herro drove for a layup with 1.2 seconds left to make it 31-24.

Miami pushed the lead as high as 14 points in the second quarter before the 76ers made a late push. Harden drew a three-shot foul with 0.1 seconds remaining and drained all of the foul shots to pull Philadelphia within 60-52 at half time.

But the Heat steadily increased the lead in the third quarter, going up 76-61 on a 3-pointer by Max Strus and using Herro’s floater to take a 91-80 cushion to the fourth. — Reuters

Humdinger

May 5, 2022 | 7:20 pm

Ja Morant was beaming in the aftermath of the Grizzlies’ close win against the Warriors the other day, and with reason. He had just put the finishing touches on a 47-point masterpiece that ensured his place alongside all-time greats Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as the only players in National Basketball Association history with multiple 45-point outings in the postseason. Included in his opus were the last 15 points of the blue and gray, enabling them to hold court and head to the Chase Center this weekend with must-needed momentum.

To say Morant was walking wounded would be an embellishment given his lights-out effort. True, he was poked in the eye early in the second half, and he complained of blurred vision even after the buzzer. Then again, it didn’t seem to slow him down or impair his capacity to find the hoop from inside and out. And, make no mistake, the Warriors threw everything at him. He was simply too fast and too good — so good, in fact, that his 15-of-31 clip more than made up for the rest of the starters’ eight-of-28 atrocity.

How the Western Conference second-round set-to between the Warriors and Grizzlies would end up is anybody’s guess. From the outside looking in, it looks to be the type to go seven matches. Either could have gone two and zero, with the breaks deciding the outcome. And, yes, said breaks definitely had an effect in Game Two. Who knows if Morant could have exploded the way he did had Gary Payton II not been taken out by a flagrant 2 foul early in the contest? What would the final score have been if the newly minted Most Improved Player awardee been called for a palming violation halfway through the final minute of the encounter?

The NBA’s Last two Minute Report gave the Warriors no consolation. In hindsight, neither did the flagrant 2 foul meted on Dillon Brooks for leveling Payton three minutes in. And head coach Steve Kerr’s right; the dangerous hack “broke the code.” For the Grizzlies, it bore the added benefit of unleashing Morant on hapless defenders. With five-time All-Star Klay Thompson unfortunately a shell of his former self and still getting his sea legs under him post-injury, no one on the roster is as fleet of foot.

Bottom line, the Warriors and Grizzlies are headed for a humdinger.

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.

Workers’ party-list cites BPO employees as it backs calls for May 9 holiday declaration

May 5, 2022 | 7:14 pm

ballots-PHILSTAR-RUSSELL-PALMA — PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

A PARTY-LIST group that represents workers in various sectors backed calls to proclaim May 9, election day, as a regular holiday to avoid disenfranchisement among employees who may not be allowed to take a leave or who could not afford to miss a day’s wage.

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Industry Employees Network had said that some workers’ leave applications for May 9 were denied by employers.

“This is what we are referring to as their economic situation is in conflict with their democratic right to vote,” Anakpawis National Vice President Lana Linaban said in Filipino in a statement.

“Worst of all, (President Rodrigo R.) Duterte himself has not yet issued a proclamation to make May 9 a holiday, so it seems that BPO workers are chained to their jobs.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) last week asked Mr. Duterte to declare May 9 as a special non-working holiday to ensure full participation in this year’s national and local elections.

“Our call is to proclaim it as a paid or regular holiday so that workers do not regret the lost wages, and they will be free to vote,” Ms. Linaban said.

“We also urge employers to allow their workers’ leave applications so that they can exercise their democratic rights to vote,” she added.

In 2016, then President Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III declared election day a special public non-working holiday.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Meanwhile, Comelec has tapped the Philippines’ official organization of lawyers and an election watchdog to provide free legal assistance and for monitoring during the May 9 elections.

Comelec signed a deal on Thursday with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for free legal services to voters and members of the electoral board, and with the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) for election day monitoring.

“Their objective is to educate the public about the common election offenses, monitor the general conduct of the elections, and provide legal assistance to the public and the electoral board members who encounter problems or irregularities during and after election day,” Comelec said in a statement.

Also on Thursday, election watchdog Kontra Daya urged the election body to investigate a barangay captain in Samar who prevented the entry of a presidential candidate’s poll watcher trainers for an activity in the community.

Videos and photos of the local official using aggressive language to drive away the volunteers of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo went viral on social media.

“This is unacceptable behavior as local officials should not have authoritarian tendencies,” the election watchdog said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and John Victor D. Ordoñez

PHL, Korea partner for climate change solutions and smart agriculture

May 5, 2022 | 7:13 pm

TWO projects aimed at enhancing climate change solutions and smart agriculture in the Philippines will be undertaken jointly by the government in partnership with Korea, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.

The joint projects, which were agreed upon during the Joint Science and Technology Consultation (JSTC) meeting last week, are expected to commence in September with both parties providing funds totaling about P5 million over a three-year period.

The meeting was led by Philippine Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation of the Department of Science and Technology Leah J. Buendia and Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT Director-General of International Cooperation Kim Seong-gyu.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said the convening of the first JSTC is another milestone in the bilateral ties of both nations.

The next JSTC shall be conducted in mid-2024 to be hosted by the Philippines. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

CALAX operator prepares for traffic surge until May 9 elections

May 5, 2022 | 7:12 pm

MPCALA Holdings, Inc., the concessionaire for the Cavite-Laguna expressway (CALAX), announced on Thursday that lane closures will be suspended starting May 6 until election day, May 9, in anticipation of more road users.

Lane closures, unless for safety repairs or emergency, will be suspended during the period to ensure smooth flow of traffic, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

At the same time, it said that traffic marshals, security teams, and toll plaza personnel will be deployed to assist the motorists.

Cavite and Laguna rank 2^nd and 4^th, respectively, among provinces with the biggest number of registered voters in the country. The entire Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (Calabarzon) region and its neighboring National Capital Region have the two highest with about 16.5 million voters combined.

The company reminded motorists to use RFID “to keep away from the long lines at cash lanes.”

“Those who have no RFID yet may have it installed for free in any of the Easytrip stations just by paying the initial load of P200,” it added.

MPCALA Holdings is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Batanes gets ICU beds from US Embassy

May 5, 2022 | 7:11 pm

THE UNITED States Embassy Civil Affairs Team has donated five intensive care unit beds to Batanes, the northernmost islands in the Philippines, in support of the provincial government’s coronavirus and disaster response efforts.

The hospital beds, amounting to about P589,000, follows the provision of personal protective equipment in November last year.

“The ICU beds we received from the US Embassy CAT will surely be of great help to our continued COVID-19 (and disaster) response,” said Governor Marilou H. Cayco in a statement on Thursday.

“It is my fervent hope that this undertaking will open more windows of opportunity between the people of Batanes and the US Embassy,” she added.

Batanes, given its remote location, was among the last areas in the country to record coronavirus cases. It is frequently hit by typhoons and occasional earthquakes.

In September last year, the province saw a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmissions after super typhoon Kiko, with international name Chanthu, struck.

Provincial Health Office Director Allan M. Sande said the US assistance remains timely and relevant.

“We have been truly impressed by the compassion and resiliency of the Ivatan people. On behalf of the US Embassy, we look forward to our continued collaboration and partnership,” said US Army Capt. Arthur Kim, leader of the Civil Affairs Team. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Gov Pineda issues order to shut down e-sabong operations in Pampanga

May 5, 2022 | 7:10 pm

Pineda-Dennis-PAMPANGA-PIO — PAMPANGA PIO

PAMPANGA Governor Dennis G. Pineda has issued a directive to stop all online cockfighting in the province as he emphasized that he was among those who appealed to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to end the gaming operations.

Pampanga-based firm Belvedere Vista Corp. is one of the biggest operators of e-sabong, the local name for online cockfighting, with a license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

“I myself appealed to our President to stop online sabong that is why I expect our mayors, barangay officials, police and other law enforcement agencies to implement the order of President Duterte,” Mr. Pineda said in Filipino in a statement released on Wednesday by the provincial information office.

The statement included a copy of the governor’s Executive Order No. 16 dated May 4, which directs “all e-sabong operators, their agents and any and all persons acting on their behalf” to immediately stop all related activities.

The order covers “all gaming websites and cease gaming operations, including all accredited auxillary operations and off-cockpit betting stations.”

Mr. Pineda warned that those who violate the order will face criminal charges.

The President announced on Monday his order to terminate all online cockfighting, citing the recommendation of Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año based on a survey indicating that the social costs far outweigh the generated income from these gambling operations. — MSJ

Jailed Pharmally officials’ appeal for release denied

May 5, 2022 | 7:09 pm

Pharmally-exec-OngLinconn-@SENATEPH — @SENATEPH

SENATOR Richard J. Gordon, Sr. has denied the renewed appeal for release by two detained officials of a controversial company that allegedly sold overpriced medical supplies to the government.

“They have no one but themselves to blame for their continuing detention in the same manner that only their action, their compliance with just directives can pave the way for their release,” Mr. Gordon said in a statement on Thursday

The senator explained the clear violations made by Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. Director Linconn Ong and Corporate Secretary Mohit Dargani that serve as grounds for their detention.

“Only clear violators of the rules are subject to contempt: lying before the Committee, refusing to answer a valid question asked of the witnesses, and refusal to bring to the Committee documents required to be submitted, among others,” he said, adding that the Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, only “sparingly and rarely” uses its powers to declare others in contempt.

During a hearing last year, the two officials were given the opportunity by the Senate body to locate and submit documents regarding Pharmally’s dealings with the budget department’s procurement service. However, on the set date of submission, they took back their claims by saying the documents did not exist.

In a written letter to Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Mr. Ong and Mr. Dargani noted their suffering in Pasay City jail as they pleaded for release. They accused Mr. Gordon of using their detention to further his “political ambitions.”

“There is no bigger lie,” the senator, who is running for reelection, said.

“On the contrary, I was aware from the start that the hearings on Pharmally could hit many personalities and thus could animate those adversely mentioned into campaigning against me.”

“And, that is exactly what happened. I have suffered from negative campaigning, especially in social media, where trolls were organized against my candidacy. Powerful men have publicly issued statements urging our constituents not to vote for me,” he added.

The two said that Mr. Gordon had stolen their lives by bending the truth in the Pharmally case. They noted their respect for Mr. Sotto’s “fair judgement” on the issue.

“I haven’t read the letter yet,” Mr. Sotto told reporters on Wednesday. “What I read was the report in the newspaper that they were suing me at the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) as the role of the SP (Senate President) is ministerial when a Committee has an approved motion.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan