World Bank hikes PH growth forecast

By Eireene Jairee Gomez

December 7, 2022 50

THE World Bank on Tuesday raised its 2022 Philippine growth forecast, citing a better-than-expected expansion over the first nine months of the year.

The Washington-based multilateral now expects the country to grow by 7.2 percent, up from 6.5 percent previously, after gross domestic product expanded by just over 7.7 percent as of the end of September.

"[S]trong domestic demand resulted in impressive growth in the Philippines, bringing renewed opportunities for income generation and improvements in the labor market outcomes," World Bank Country Director Ndiamé Diop said in a media briefing.

   

The expansion, however, was forecast to cool to 5.7 percent next year as high inflation and high interest rates are expected to temper household spending and investments.

"The bad news is that the high domestic inflation is threatening household consumption. The rising interest rates could temper investments and slow global growth could depress the export of demand sensitive products such as electronics going forward," Diop said.

"With all of that, economic growth in the Philippines is therefore expected to slow down next year."

Ralph van Doorn, World Bank senior economist, said the immediate challenge for the government was that of addressing inflation, which climbed to a 14-year high of 8.0 percent in November.

"Addressing inflationary pressure means deploying both monetary and non-monetary measures, for example, including free or importation lower tariffs to local areas to help augment domestic supplies as needed, support agricultural production for essential services, seeds, fertilizers and also to use... rate hikes to address second-round effects," he said.

Diop urged the government to boost initiatives aimed at sustaining investments, particularly in health and education, given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Certainly, the pandemic has already met with a worsening of child malnutrition and stunting as well as learning losses in the country," he said.

"So, the focus should be on programs that will impact people and improve their future productivity, earnings and capabilities, and capacity for innovation."

Finding ways to improve productivity in health and agriculture is also essential to reducing poverty and food insecurity, and to achieve the government's target of a single-digit poverty rate by 2023-2028, Diop added.

"It not just reduces poverty and food insecurity directly among farmers. It also reduces poverty and food insecurity in urban areas," he said.

"And finally, it enhances the competitiveness of all industries... makes food more affordable and it increases the purchasing power and well-being of everyone."

Consumers advised to conduct ‘price canvassing’ to find affordable ‘Noche Buena’ items amid price increase

Published December 7, 2022, 8:35 AM

by Franck Dick Rosete

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental has a piece of advice for consumers buying food items for their ‘Noche Buena.’

The DTI said it would be better if the consumers would do a sort of ‘price canvassing’ before buying the food items in the supermarkets and grocery stores that fit the budget. 

A personnel from the Cagayan de Oro City Price Coordinating Council (CDO-CPCC) conducts a price monitoring and Fair Trade Law (FTL) enforcement of Noche Buena products sold in the various supermarkets within the city on December 20, 2021. (Photo courtesy of CDO-CPCC)

Almer Masillones, provincial director of DTI Misamis Oriental, said during a media forum on Tuesday, Dec. 6, that there is a price increase on Noche Buena products nationwide based on the National Price Guide issued by the DTI central office.

“We check our budget and we should make a list of the products that we want to purchase based on our budget; and we canvass the price,” Masillones said.

“The product price may vary depending on the area, especially that we emphasize that these Noche Buena products are not basic necessities and prime commodities,” she added.

According to the DTI, there are only 12 considered Noche Buena items based on the national price guide this year, which is composed of 223 stock keeping units (SKUs)-different varieties and sizes.

The 12 considered Noche Buena products are ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, keso de bola, mayonnaise, sandwich spread, pasta, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce and cream.

Masillones did not specify the exact price increase in every product. However, she said out of the 223 SKUs, 193 have increased from one to 10 percent.

“The increase is due to the usual factors and especially, the imported and even the local raw materials that are necessary in the production,” she added.

The provincial director, however, reminded the public that the prices issued by the agency are just reference and not mandatory, as the Noche Buena products are not considered basic necessities and prime commodities.

“And we are also unable to pursue formal charge in case in violation of the guide as they are not part of the basic necessities and prime commodities as enumerated under the Price Act,” stressed Masillones.

If the manufacturers provide a suggested retail price (SRP) on their Noche Buena products, they just have to notify the DTI at least one month before the effectiveness of the price, she added. 

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The said agency already distributed the price guides to all supermarkets and grocery stores across the province of Misamis Oriental, more so in Cagayan de Oro City which is the business center in the region.

Blvck Ace drops holiday song ‘Pasko Na Naman’

Published December 7, 2022, 9:43 AM

by Robert Requintina

Blvck Ace (Facebook)

New P-pop girl group Blvck Ace recorded a holiday track entitled “Pasko Na Naman” which premiered during a media conference held at BLVCK Creatives Studio in Quezon City recently.

The bouncy and feel-good Christmas tune is the group’s second single following their debut song “Pasahero.”

Engr. Grace Cristobal, talent manager of the group, said that Blvck Ace was formed through a series of auditions. The group is composed of Anasity, Ely, Jea, Rhen and Twinkle. 

These five girls have honed their musical talents through TV commercials, joining personality/talent competitions and attending personal workshops and camps. Also, the management trained them intensely in singing, dancing and acting for several months to be fully prepared to join the growing P-Pop group craze in the music industry. Until now, they are still being supervised closely so that they can continuously improve and develop their skills and talents.

Cristobal said that the group’s name Blvck Ace (Black Ace) comes from two words, first is “Black” which is the name of their talent management agency, Blvck Entertainment. The second word is “Ace” derived from the name of their manager, Engr. Grace Cristobal.

Engr. Grace Cristobal

Coincidentally, both words also have significant meaning. “Black” stands for power and “Ace” is the highest playing card. Combining these two words can connote to “high and powerful.” Blvck Ace is determined to be “high and powerful” in continuing to empower and promote OPM using the platforms that they now have. They are also referred to as the “alas” of Blvck Entertainment because they are the first P-Pop girl group formed by the agency.

Blvck Ace describes their music to be “positive,” giving good vibes to all those who listen to it. They want their music to be relatable to all. “Pasahero,” the group’s first single, is a tribute to our reliable taxi, jeepney, motorcycle and transport service drivers who are dedicated to bring us safely to our destination. 

In a deeper sense, the “driver” in the song can be attributed to a friend and the “pasahero” can be anyone who needs help in his or her own “journey” of challenges. A line from the chorus of the song goes “Ikaw ang aking pasahero. Ako ang s’yang magmamaneho. At ako ang ‘yong superhero. Na taga payo mo sa t’wing akala mo tinatalikuran ka na ng mundo.”

“Pasahero” is produced by Blvck Music, the music label of Blvck Entertainment, and is out on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Medianet, Boomplay, You Tube Music and other music streaming platforms. Follow Blvck Ace on their social media accounts: Facebook Blvck Ace, Twitter @blvckaceph, Instagram @blvckaceofficial, Youtube Blvck Ace and on Tiktok @blvckaceofficial.

Blvck Entertainment is a new talent management company owned by entrepreneurs and power couple, Engineers Louie and Grace Cristobal (0939-9278032). They are determined to further increase their pool of talents and help deserving “unsigned” artists to fulfill their dreams. They are also into music, live events, concert, film and various content production. The company started operating last June. Now the agency is gaining momentum as it prepares for bigger and exciting projects in 2023.

‘Kadiwa sa Pasko’ outlets support gov’t efforts to control high inflation

Published December 7, 2022, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

Editorial

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has stepped up his campaign to ensure stability of food prices by leading the Department of Agriculture’s program of establishing Kadiwa stores nationwide. He pointed out that Kadiwa outlets will continue to offer basic goods at lower prices beyond the Christmas season, and declared that this effort will be sustained until markets can finally match food prices at the Kadiwa outlets.

Fourteen outlets – 11 in Metro Manila and in Tacloban City, Davao de Oro and Koronadal City in South Cotabato – were opened the other week. As reported by the Philippine News Agency: “At least 28 more Kadiwa stores will be opened next week as the government intensifies efforts to provide farmers and fisherfolk additional profits, and local consumers quality yet cheap basic commodities this holiday season.” 

Stemming the inflationary tide is the government’s primary concern especially that the country’s inflation rate remains elevated at 8.0 percent in November from 7.7 percent in October.

Most key consumer products registered faster inflation in November, particularly for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accelerated to 10 percent from 9.4 percent in the previous month.

Prices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses jumped 25.8 percent, the highest since January 1999’s 5.6 percent. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the substantial uptick was a result of lower production brought about by the onslaught of typhoons and higher cost of inputs. Similarly, sugar production was still reeling from the damage caused by recent typhoons, Balisacan added.

As reported by the PSA, inflation for food at the national level increased from 7.7 percent in September to 9.8 percent in October compared to 4.0 percent in October 2021. As the overall rate hovers into the double-digit zone, the inflation rate for specific food items has indeed become worrisome. 

Noteworthy is the relatively low inflation rate for rice at 2.5 percent. Recall that President Marcos has set his sights on a ₱20 per kilo price level for the Filipinos’ staple food. In contrast, corn price inflation is at a very high rate of 27.4 percent. Cagayan Valley, the leading corn producer in the country, has not yet fully recovered from the severe damage inflicted by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in late 2020 affecting 34,800 hectares of agriculture and aquatic area, resulting in losses estimated at more than ₱1 billion worth of rice, corn and other high-value crops submerged in flood and mud.

The 34.4 percent inflation in prices of sugar, confectionery and desserts is also concerning. Recall, too, that the need to augment local sugar supply was one of the first issues tackled by President Marcos after he took office last June.

Indeed, keeping food prices stable is a top-priority government concern. Enabling Filipinos to buy staple food items at reasonable and affordable prices is a most timely gift to them for this Christmas season.

Senate bill filed to lower age of senior citizens

By Javier Joe Ismael

December 6, 2022 420

SEN. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has filed a bill seeking to lower the qualifying age to be legally considered as a senior citizen in the country, from 60 years old down to 56.

Revilla said that the bill is part of his agenda in championing social justice legislation that would benefit many Filipinos, especially "the least, the lost and the last."

The lawmaker added that Filipinos in this age group have been working for the benefit of their families.

"They are the ones who have contributed to the improvement of our economy. Their contribution could not be quantified," Revilla said as he highlighted the invaluable contribution of the elderly.

Senate Bill (SB) 1573 aims to amend Republic Act (RA) 7432 that defines a senior citizen as any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old.

When enacted, all Filipino resident citizens at least 56 years old shall be considered as a senior citizen, thereby being entitled to the benefits that are due to be granted to them.

According to the data provided by the Department of Health in December 2022, 7.33 percent of Covid-19 cases among Filipino senior citizens resulted in death as compared to 0.76 percent mortality among those aged 18 to 59 years old.

4.5-magnitude quake hits Bukidnon province

Published December 6, 2022, 10:29 AM

by Mike Crismundo

BUTUAN CITY — A 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit the agricultural-rich province of Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao region on Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the earthquake was recorded at 7:54 a.m. The epicenter was plotted four kilometers away from northwest of Kalilangan town in Bukidnon, the state agency said.

The tremor had a shallow depth of only one km, Phivolcs said. In its instrumental intensities, the state agency said that intensity IV was recorded at the town proper of Kalilangan, intensity II at nearby Talakag town, and intensity I in the region’s capital city of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Malaybalay City. 

Earlier on the same day, a 4.4-magnitude tectonic earthquake also hit in the nearby town of Pangantucan, also of Bukidnon.

The two tremors were tectonic in origin.

The Bukidnon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported no damage or injury.

CAAP: Airports ready for holiday surge

by Emmie V. Abadilla

All 42 commercial operating airports under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP) are now ready for the expected surge of passengers for the

Christmas and New Year holidays, the agency announced Monday, December 5. 

Due to travel bans imposed in the last two years brought by COVID-19, CAAP- operated airports are experiencing surges in passenger traffic this year due to pent-up demand for tourism. 

In 2019, CAAP airports welcomed a total 29,258,258 passengers from January to December 2019, with 2,537,774 passengers who travelled during the month of December.

In 2020, a significant decrease was seen, as only 6,659,113 passengers travelled from January to December 2020, with only 245,141 passengers travelled in December 2020.

Last year, passenger volume reached 1,007,842 in December, while 5,136,075 passengers were recorded from January to December 2021. 

So far, this year, around 16 million passengers traveled in CAAP airports from January to October alone, and more are expected to travel during the holiday rush.

Based on pre-pandemic historical data, CAAP estimates around 7-10 percent increase in the number of passengers annually.

At present, CAAP is coordinating with airline operators and concerned government agencies operating at the airports, including the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP).

The agency advises travelers not to bring prohibited items to the airport and to stow all belongings in their carry-on baggage for faster processing at the screening checkpoints.

On the matter of rest

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11,28-30)

Words of Christ that clearly tell us where we can find true rest, as well as the kind of things we need to do and bear if we want these things to be light and easy. These are words that are most relevant these days, since we are often confused and lost as to where we can find true rest and the kind of things that should properly engage us.

With how things are now in the world of rest, recreation and entertainment, there is a great need to develop in ourselves a sharp discerning sense of what is truly helpful and healthy.

Our need for rest just cannot and should not be met merely by earthly solutions. Our rest should involve our whole being that is not only material and natural, but also, and most especially, spiritual and supernatural. 

Unless our rest covers these latter dimensions, we can never find true rest. We may have some degree of physical relief which, if not related to the spiritual and the supernatural, can only poise us to greater dangers sooner or later.

To be sure, our true and proper rest can only be found in Christ. He gives us the rest that is not only physical. It is a rest that includes all the aspects of our life—emotional, psychological, mental, moral and spiritual. We need to broaden our understanding of rest to go beyond the physical dimension. 

Christ offers us the due rest for our soul that can be harassed by the problems of this world and the requirements of our lifelong pursuit for holiness and apostolate. (cfr. Mt 11,29) This is the real rest that is indeed meant for us. Short of this, our rest would be at best only apparent, and cannot cope with the over-all demands and pressures of our life.

For this he advises us to learn from him, particularly in his meekness and humility. I imagine that these virtues were highlighted because they are the ones that would open the gates of our soul to receive God’s grace, to be guided by faith rather than simply by our senses and emotions and even by our intellectual powers.

We have to see to it that our search for rest should not get stuck in the level of our physical, emotional and intellectual conditions. This is a crucial point because the entry point in our process of knowing is through our senses, instincts and emotions, before things get processed by our intellect, and later inspired by our faith. We should avoid letting our rest get trapped only in the world of the senses, instincts and emotions.

Our Christian faith has to enlighten us as to what kind of rest is proper to us. This faith is a God-given view of all the truths that we need to know. It is God revealing and sharing his knowledge of things with us. It is God sharing his powers with us. We just should not be guided by our own lights and faculties, but by the light God gives us through the gift of faith.

To be sure, our faith is not just an intellectual affair, limited to the world of ideas. It involves our whole person and requires that our correspondence to it should precisely involve our whole person. Our search for true rest should be guided by our Christian faith.  

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WHEN BOREDOM STRIKES

Surely, there can never be an instant cure for boredom unless you make an effort to beat it. Boredom strikes without a definite time at all, even if you think that sitting and watching could be relaxing, but a few minutes later you’ll start to think of other things to do. Beating boredom does not need to be too complicated, there are actually ways on how you can deal with it with or without spending too much. It’s just a matter of how it will make you feel satisfied to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling.

1. Spend time cleaning

Too bored that you don’t know what to do at all? Cleaning can be a good start in that case. Whether you clean or reinvent your room, organizing some stuff can be one of the best ways to kill time.

2. Reading books

Time flies very fast when you read, this is something that I do when I get tired with my usual routine. This is best when you are reading an interesting book because you would love to stick and finish it in no time.

3. Marathon movies

Some may think that doing some movie marathon is too boring, but still, it can be one of the cheapest and convenient ways to kill time. You watch movies that you like or missed for quite some time and just when you feel that you’ve had enough. It’s simple and you have nothing to worry about since you can do it at home.

4. Doodle away your boredom

If you possess that creative side, and even if you don’t, doodling can be the best way to release some stress. This is most especially when you are at work or at home and you are tired of doing the usual stuff. I have to admit that I want to try to doodle, but I’m afraid to do so. I am always amazed whenever I see the doodles that were done by my friend out of boredom. I have to say that I am a frustrated artist, but still I want to give it a try.

5. Work Out For a Few Minutes

One of the effective and healthy ways to beat the weariness that anyone can feel. Working out does not need to be too complicated as it can be done even for a few minutes until you can say that you are fine.

6. Quick Getaway

The best getaway can be more fun if you do it without making some plans beforehand. You can escape for a moment when you feel like you need it the most. With or without a company. The important thing is you go home feeling content.

7. Be Resourceful Through Baking/Cooking

Just two of the simple things that can be done at home and will surely make you satisfied. It might look difficult for some who haven’t tried it, but believe me you will surely enjoy it.

8. Eat and Eat and Eat

There is no room for a diet when you are too bored. Most of the time dealing with food can have that exceptional and unique way to make you feel better at all times.

9. Take a Nap

Probably the easiest and simplest thing you can do is to just sleep it off. And when you’re still bored after a 5-hour nap, then you can try the other things on this list.

Tick tock tick tock, time seems so slow when we are doing nothing or even waiting for someone or something. Looking back and forth at your clock or watch, one minute feels like forever and it feels like time is not running that really makes us frustrated. Especially when you have finished a movie or series or even when waiting for a new series or episode to be available on our screens. Boredom always comes in our way.

 When you are done with your school work or finished a task, you are probably thinking of what you should do next. Now that we are spending most of our time at home, we tend to find something fun to brighten up our mood. Being in this kind of setting, almost everything eventually leads to boredom since we are in a limited space and area to be at. It is disappointing to notice that the fun-o-meter gradually decreases as the time passes by.

 Being bored always kills our vibe, especially on a good day. Also, we tend to overthink things that make us feel anxious. Now that we are experiencing the summer season in the Philippines, the hot blow coming out of our electric fans and restrictions causes uneasy feelings. Restrictions bring limitless ideas to spend free time in a limited area.

Get up and it is time to turn your frown upside down. We can beat the heavy feeling brought by boredom, by doing something fun and entertaining. We can always kill dull moments by doing these enjoyable activities at home and take note that these things only require imagination and creativity: Listen to music on the radio, your phone or maybe on an instrument.

 With the right playlist and music, this will hype us up to become productive. Listening to music improves our mood from a very low energy to surprisingly high energy. We are now singing and dancing as if we have a mini concert at our house. Also, music relieves stress in our body and lessens anxiety.

Organizing will lead to finding things that we do not use anymore and find it hard to put it in the trash because for some reason, there are some attached memories with it. Now you realize that you are not just organizing, but you are also going on a trip to memory lane.

 What is stopping you from calling or sending a message to someone? It is not bad to catch up with a friend, best friend, family, or a special someone. There are many online platforms to connect with them virtually and recreate again those good old days. You can still get that tea even if you are in a different hometown.

Many people are now hopping into this trend to share their insights and experiences. In this way, not only you are able to share knowledge but also a way of documenting and telling your story online so that in the future, you can rewatch your videos and reminisce happy memories you made through time.

While being a columnist of "Tinig ng Bayan" (published in Abra) during the 1980s, I remember our Taiwanese coordinator Cristina Lising-Geronga, who expressed herself in innumerable write ups about the topic loneliness. Sure, "Tinig ng Bayan" has been a publication for Filipinos abroad. Loneliness, borne by Filipinos living abroad while missing their families in the Philippines, became a very "normal" expression.

During that time, my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin, started together with me publishing "Ang Mabuhay". Believe me, "loneliness" became a main topic in many write-ups.

Nowadays, loneliness and boredom seem to be the splitting image of each other - so to speak, being as like two peas in a pod. While browsing in social networks like Facebook, one can find more and more comments as in "When Boredom Strikes" or so. Boredom, ending up in loneliness - or vice versus?

How comes that loneliness and/or boredom are still a general topic in our society today's society? 

Loneliness has been called one of the main diseases even during the last century. It really doesn't strike not only the Filipinos abroad and their loved ones back home. Too often loneliness is being followed by alcoholism, drug abuse and even suicide. Yes, loneliness becomes a modern day plague.  I observed several people trying to surround themselves with so-called "friends" only to find that such relationships are often shallow and unsatisfying.

Loneliness can be painful but being lonely or alone at that is not always a bad thing. Ask yourself, how do  you use your time, if you are really alone? Do you simply let the time pass without doing anything  at all? Why not use such time productively? There are many worthwhile activities to engage in, even if you are alone, such as reading, writing, listening to good (light) music, playing an (forgotten?) instrument, gardening... .

Reading the bible can be also very particularly beneficial.  The Word of God is "alive and exerts power" and can take our minds off ourselves. 

To break the cycle of loneliness, one must be a giver. Let's keep an eye, not only and always on our personal interests but also on the interests of others. Look around and watch out who needs help, or who needs a real friend or good listener. Once you have spotted such a person, act! Thus, in order to have friends, you must act like a friend. Luke 6:38 says, "Give to others, and God will give to you!" Besides, "There is more happiness (and less loneliness) in giving than receiving", says Acts 20:35.

Feast of Santa Claus on Dec. 6

by Christina Hermoso, MB

Roman Catholics will celebrate on Tuesday, Dec. 6, the feast day of one of the primary figures of Christmas –Saint Nicholas – more popularly known worldwide as Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas (Catholic Online)

Also known as Father Christmas, the fat, jolly, bearded old man in a red suit, St. Nicholas remains venerated to this day in many parts of the world as the patron protector of children, sailors, bakers, pawnbrokers, and voyagers. 

Born during the Third Century (March 15, 270) in Patara, Lycia (Turkey), St. Nicholas served as bishop of Myra, now Demre, on the coast of modern-day Turkey, where he was loved and admired for his extraordinary piety, zeal, generosity, and genuine concern for the poor.

St. Nicholas dedicated his life to serving God and doing charity work. He was also known as a wonder worker because of the many miracles that he performed in his lifetime and even after his death in the year 343.

Remembered and honored for many ages, St. Nicholas is one of only a few Catholic saints who became a prominent part of Christmas. As the generous gift-giver, children eagerly await his arrival at midnight on Christmas Eve every year.

The Roman Catholic Church also considers him an Advent saint since his feast day falls during the Advent Season. 

“As a faithful follower of Christ, St. Nicholas’ life clearly reflected the way each one of us is called to show God’s enormous love for others, especially to those in need. St. Nicholas helps us remember that Christmas is a feast of love, hope, sharing, giving, kindness, and generosity,” Church officials said.

Every year, on his feast day, pilgrims traditionally gather at his major shrine, at the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy where his sacred relics are kept, as well as in numerous churches dedicated in his memory in many parts of the world. The number of altars and churches are testimonials of his popularity and holiness.

In many European nations, as well as in Canada and the United States, gift-giving traditionally starts on Dec. 6, inspired by the generous and thoughtful nature of Santa Claus.