ABS-CBN leads nationwide; GMA7 takes Metro rating

ABS-CBN Corporation has claimed nationwide leadership once again with an average audience share of 46 percent (excluding Holy Week) against rival GMA Network’s 32 percent in March.


According to data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN also registered the highest viewership in all areas such as Metro Manila, where it scored an average audience share of 42 percent against GMA’s 27 percent and in Mega Manila, where it gained 37 percent against GMA’s 35 percent.


ABS-CBN also led other networks in Total Luzon where it got 42 percent against GMA’s 35 percent, in Total Visayas where it garnered 56 percent to GMA’s 25 percent, and in Total Mindanao where it hit 54 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent.


The list of the ten most watched programs in the country, which covers urban and rural homes, was also dominated by ABS-CBN in March.


Once again, ABS-CBN remained a league of its own in the primetime block (6 PM to 12 MN), where it hit an average audience share of 51 percent, or 21 points higher than GMA’s 30 percent.


The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively.


ABS-CBN also ruled in all time blocks, including the morning block (6 AM to 12 NN) where it gained 39 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent, in the noontime block (12 NN to 3 PM), where it scored 45 percent against GMA’s 35 percent, and in the afternoon block (3 PM to 6 PM), where it got 45 percent to GMA’s 36 percent.


The 41.3% average national television audience share of "Ang Probinsyano," which added a slew of new characters recently, proved to be the largest for the month. 


"Pilipinas Got Talent," which airs on weekends, was the second most popular. Last month saw some amazing acts during the show's audition rounds, and the start of its live semifinals. 


"La Luna Sangre" came in third, although it only tallied two episodes last month. The Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla-starrer concluded in thrilling fashion last March 2. 


For its debut month, "Bagani," an ambitious fantaserye that tells of five individuals who found themselves handed with superpowers, landed in fourth place. 


"The Good Son", an family drama that tells the murder mystery addresses issues affecting family relationships such as infidelity, mental illness, particularly Schizophrenia and Pathological lying, landed in fifth place.


Another new show, "The Blood Sisters," an afternoon drama starring Erich Gonzales, sneaked in the top 10 with 21.3%. 


Also followed by “TWBA,” “Bandila,” Asia’s longest-running drama anthology “MMK,” “TV Patrol,” “Wansapanataym,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “Rated K,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “It’s Showtime,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “Asintado” and “Hanggang Saan.”

GMA’s ratings dominance in full year 2017, it managed to sustain its nationwide TV ratings lead in the first quarter of 2018 based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
From January to March (with March 25-31 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 42.1 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent by 3.5 points. 

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day average people audience share of 47.4 percent as against ABS-CBN’s 32.4 percent. The Network likewise continued its strong performance in Mega Manila with an average people audience share of 50.3 percent versus its competition’s 28.5 percent from January to March 24, 2018.


GMA also won across all day parts in its bailiwicks, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country.

Award-winning news magazine program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)” remained the most watched GMA show nationwide in the first quarter and was followed by primetime drama series “Kambal, Karibal.”

Joining “KMJS” and “Kambal, Karibal” in the list of top-rating programs in NUTAM were “Magpakailanman,” “Super Ma’am,” “Pepito Manaloto,” “24 Oras,” “Sherlock Jr.,” “All Star Videoke,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,” “Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw,” “Contessa,” “Ika-6 na Utos,” “The Stepdaughters,” “Hindi Ko Kayang Iwanan Ka,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “The One That Got Away,” “Sirkus,” “My Korean Jagiya,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “Imbestigador,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Tadhana,” “Impostora,” “Sunday Pinasaya,” “Haplos” and “Wowowin.”

GMA also dominated the lists in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, claiming 21 and 24 spots out of the top 30 shows, respectively.

Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.

Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. First quarter ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 48.5 percent from January to March, winning over DZMM’s 36.2 percent and DZRH’s 23 percent.

From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.

Meanwhile, viewers can now enjoy a more colorful, more vibrant, and clearer viewing experience as GMA Network’s digital TV signal now covers all parts of Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. GMA-7 and GMA News TV’s digital broadcast can be accessed by simply rescanning the channels through their digital TV boxes.


The sub-channels are available soon: Dobol B sa TV (News and Information), GMA Playhouse (Anime and Cartoons) , KMF (Kapuso Movie Festival) and QTV (All about lifestyle and women channel). QTV is also under CityNet Marketing and Productions, Inc.

GMA Network declares P2.430-B cash dividends

GMA Network’s Board of Directors approved the declaration of cash dividends totaling P2.430 billion or P0.50 per share during a meeting held at the GMA Network Center on Thursday.

The Network has declared total dividend per share and total dividends amounting to P4.81 and P23.378 billion, respectively, from 2008 to 2018.

The payout date for the dividend will be on May 15, 2018 to shareholders of record as of April 23, 2018.

Since launching its IPO in 2007, GMA Network has been paying out cash dividends equivalent to almost 100 percent of the Company’s net income every year.

"We are the only company in the Philippine broadcast industry that has consistently declared cash dividends each year since becoming publicly listed," said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.

"We are proud to uphold our commitment to provide the best returns to our shareholders."

Following the Kapuso Network’s ratings dominance in full year 2017, it managed to sustain its nationwide TV ratings lead in the first quarter of 2018 based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

From January to March (with March 25-31 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 42.1 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent by 3.5 points. 

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day average people audience share of 47.4 percent as against ABS-CBN’s 32.4 percent. The Network likewise continued its strong performance in Mega Manila with an average people audience share of 50.3 percent versus its competition’s 28.5 percent from January to March 24, 2018.

GMA also won across all day parts in its bailiwicks, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country.

Award-winning news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remained the most watched GMA show nationwide in the first quarter and was followed by primetime drama series Kambal, Karibal.

Joining KMJS and Kambal, Karibal in the list of top-rating programs in NUTAM were Magpakailanman, Super Ma’am, Pepito Manaloto, 24 Oras, Sherlock Jr., All-Star Videoke, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Ika-6 na Utos, 24 Oras Weekend, The One That Got Away, Sirkus, My Korean Jagiya, Imbestigador, Eat Bulaga, and Tadhana.

GMA also dominated the lists in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, claiming 21 and 24 spots out of the top 30 shows, respectively.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

In 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.—KBK, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/649115/gma-network-declares-p2-430-b-cash-dividends/story/

Throwback: Six days at sea

The maiden voyage of Superstar Virgo from Manila to Kaohsiung to Hong Kong and back puts the Philippines on the luxury cruise map

By AA Patawaran

Video by JC Villanueva

MANILA ON THE CRUISE MAP Cultural dance performers greet Superstar Virgo as it homeports at the Manila South Harbour

Something inebriating about arriving at the harbor, in this case the Port of Manila, Pier 15, just behind the historic Manila Hotel, and looking up at a great big ship, 268 meters long, 32 meters wide, and 13 stories high, that would sail away across the high seas.



MANILA AS HOMEPORT

It was a movie moment. In the case of the Superstar Virgo, operated by Star Cruises under Genting Cruise Lines, it was a major first, a true inaugural for a well-known ship that’s been cruising mainly Southeast Asian waters since it first floated out of drydock in Papenburg, Germany to be delivered to Star Cruises in Singapore in 1999, where she soon entered service for the Asian cruise market she was specifically designed for.

I’d cruised the Straits of Malacca, Andaman Sea, and South China Sea on the Superstar Virgo that sailed from Singapore in the early 2000s, but I didn’t realize until I stepped into the Deck 7 lobby of the cruise ship that my voyage from Manila would be a homecoming of sorts.

All of a sudden, taking in the grand staircase and the soaring atrium of the lobby, I was in a familiar place, except that I was doing something for the first time: I was boarding the first ever international cruise line to sail from Manila not so much away to exotic destinations but toward our vision, in the words of Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo, “as a regional cruise center to serve as homeport and eventually as center for cruise crew training, maintenance services, and ship building.”

From Manila, the Superstar Virgo was to sail across the magical waters of Southeast Asia with ports of call in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong. That was six days and five nights at sea, minus the hours spent at the intermediate stops.

I joined a party of 70 organized by long-time Star Cruises PR consultant, party planner, and travel connoisseur Keren Pascual and, as with every trip he has ever arranged, ours was a carefully selected coterie of lifestyle editors, travelers, fashion designers, lifestyle influencers, as well as top models and beauty queens, including Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina and Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza, who, along with model L.A. Aguinaldo, was ambassador of Superstar Virgo. Quite a big party, but with everyone raring to have fun, it didn’t seem quite a challenge to organize us all. We hashtagged our group #AlwaysFamous.

ALWAYS FAMOUS

Every meal was a dress-up occasion, although we only dressed up formally on the eve of our return to Manila for the captain’s dinner at Genting Palace preceded by a fashion show featuring Rhett Eala’s “Queen” collection at the lobby’s grand staircase. The 20-minute show, directed by Robby Carmona and hosted by designer Rajo Laurel and supermodel Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, was a showcase of the graceful-as-liquid gowns that Rhett created in colors reminiscent of tropical waters for Maxine Medina for the Miss Universe pageant held in a Manila in February.

Other than this one strictly formal occasion, the dress code for the rest of our stay at sea was easy and, more than anything, fun. It was a nice touch to get all 70 of us together on the same page. Dinner soon after we left the Port of Manila on Day One had us dressed in “luxe pajamas” at the open-air Taverna Bar and, with fashion models in our squad, you could imagine how our little slumber party on the upper deck, only the starlit sky above us, might as well have been a night on the town, albeit in fluffy slippers instead of stilettos, eye pads for head bands, and some stuffed toy or, in the case of Tessa Prieto Valdez, a pillow in place of a purse.

Indeed, sleep was in no way in order, as the night was young. After dinner, we trooped to the Galaxy of the Stars, a concert lounge on Deck 12, where Filipino-Norwegian singer Markki Stroem performed a repertoire of jazz classics and jazzified pop songs like Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.”

The next day, we docked at the Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte and, although there were many points of interest nearby, like the sand dunes of La Paz, the beaches of Pagudpud, and the baroque St. Augustine Church, a Unesco World Heritage Site completed in 1710, in Paoay, our group ventured over one hour away by bus to Vigan, Ilocos Sur for a buffet of Ilokano specialties—the Vigan longganisa, bagnet, and empanada—at Hidden Garden and a leisurely walk down the cobblestones of Calle Crisologo, a relic of the Spanish times. Even here, as a group, we chose to be color-coded, in earth colors and solid pastels.

HIGH FASHION ON THE HIGH SEAS

Back on the ship at dusk, we had just enough time to shower and change for dinner at Genting Palace, a large dining hall type of establishment on Deck 7. The dress code this time was Grease, the 1978 iconic musical that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The girls came in either side of the Olivia Newton-John character Sandy Dee, the one in pig tails and rock and roll skirt with petticoat who said, “I don’t drink (no!). Or swear (no!). I don’t rat my hair (eew!). I get ill from one cigarette (cough, cough, cough)!” or the other, to whom she later transformed, having found the guts in a black off-shoulder top under a feisty leather jacket, to declare “You’re the one that I want (you are the one I want), oo, oo, ooh, honey.” It was here, over wine so perfectly French, that I met Tetta Agustin, who regaled me and the others at the table with her stories worthy of the attention of Diana Vreeland. She was a top model for Hubert de Givenchy and Yves Saint-Laurent. I mean she wore YSL’s “Le Smoking” on the Paris runway in 1975!

Dinner did not cap off our second night on board the Superstar Virgo because no sooner than I took the last spoonful of my ice cream dessert had I been dragged from aft to bow, from Deck 7 to the Deck 13, into a small club, in which, all drinks on the house, and tequila tray going around, we danced the night away to celebrate Markki Stroem’s birthday as well as Keren Pascual’s.

The next day, we woke up, just in time for a Bloody Mary under the blue skies and to watch Superstar Virgo slide into the Banana Pier in Kaohsiung, the largest port city in southern Taiwan, where a traditional dragon and lion dance welcomed us warmly, replete with authentic Taiwanese souvenirs and snacks with which we were showered. We spent a few hours in this little city, the “Miami of Taiwan,” where, with 300 sunny days a year, the sun always shone, and whose cuisine had been likened to a small China, as the city’s restaurant bustled with all the regional nuances of Chinese cuisine—Shanghainese, Cantonese, Sichuan… Too bad, we didn’t get to go binging on street food for which Taiwan is known, though walking down a quiet, almost desolate street, Tetta and I found bottarga or the roe pouch of a mullet or tuna dried and cured in natural sea salts and laid down in the sun on the street to dry. A delicacy in the Mediterranean, as well as many other countries like Lebanon and Senegal, it is considered the “caviar of the south,” best served as an hors d’oeuvre in olive oil and lemon juice with bread or a crostini or in a pasta dish and Tetta was so regretful she did not buy enough. She did consider going back to get more, but she would have been left behind by the ship.

JEWELS OF THE ORIENT

And yes, it would have been tragic had she decided to buy more bottarga. The Virgo left the pier as soon as we got back on board, leaving us with only half an hour to change for dinner at the Pavilion on Deck 6. Nevertheless, everybody showed up at dinner according to the requested attire, a throwback to the 2000 Hong Kong film by celebrated filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, In the Mood for Love, which starred Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung and the qipao (or cheongsam in Cantonese), and so the mood of the evening was romantically and decidedly oriental that even the men wore jackets with dragon embroidery or calligraphy or Mandarin collars. I should have worn a plain white shirt, a slim black tie, and a cigarette between my lips. That would have been so very Tony Leung. Another Markki Stroem concert and some drunken dancing followed at the Galaxy of the Stars.

Our group had a Zumba session every morning on the helipad on Deck 13 or the Promenade on Deck 7. Sunrise is always a good idea, so is sticking to your fitness routine wherever you are, even in the middle of South China Sea, particularly the sometimes rough waters between the southern edge of Taiwan to the tip of southern Kowloon, otherwise known as Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong. But either the two single joined bed in my Oceanview Stateroom with balcony was a magnet or there was just nothing like sleeping in while adrift on the water, especially after a late night, and with the ship heaving, swaying, surging gently to cradle my dreams. I had a good night’s sleep every night on board the Superstar Virgo, and I would wake up refreshed and revitalized, too late for Zumba or the sunrise but early enough to catch the breakfast buffet at the Mediterranean or its terrace on Deck 12.

Hong Kong was the next stop. We docked right outside the complex of malls, from Gateway to Harbour City. While some of my friends hurried to cross the bay to catch the vernissage of Art Basel Hong Kong, I chose to stay in Kowloon, mainly to browse the bookstores. My agenda was to get back on the ship while everybody was out. Alas, I took such a long walk in Hong Kong that I had only enough time back on the ship to lay myself on the lounge chairs on the view deck that I had to myself, along with its breathtaking views of the Hong Kong Harbor, with my just-bought book How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton on my lap. Alain de Botton also wrote The Art of Travel, which I consider one of my best finds by a living, contemporary philosopher with whom I have had the rare privilege of corresponding on social media. Dinner that night was at leisure, but I had a nightcap with friends from another cruise group at the luxurious smoking lounge of Galaxy of the Stars while an all-girl band outside was performing a playlist full of Madonna songs that shut me up mid-sentence to exclaim, “I haven’t heard that one in a long time.”

ON THE HOME STRETCH

The next day was D-day, the one day in our six-day/five-night voyage that we were to spend entirely on the high seas and we started the day in the right spirit, inspired by this year’s Academy Awards favorite La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. It was a brunch party with everyone dancing on the bow of the ship, under a clear sky with clouds bright white and silvery and shaped like candy. Lunch followed at Genting Palace and we had the rest of the afternoon to rest and dress to the nines not only for the Captain’s Gala but also Rhett’s “high fashion on the high seas” before it. There were many shows featuring acrobats and contortionists lined up after dinner at the Lido Theater, but many of us ended up at the 24-hour dining outlet Blue Lagoon, ordering wine by the bottle or slurping Chinese noodles from oversized bowls.

Something very introspective about being on a ship sailing across the vastness, but ours was such a good company that I resisted the urge to spend interminable hours at my cabin balcony or to seek refuge at the Spa and Health Club, a pampering session at the hair salon, or a little alone time doing laps in the pool. I didn’t even find a minute to spend at the library and the writing room. I console myself that this trip, after all, was an inaugural, a milestone that put the Philippines on the cruise map, I was right to have spent it at five-day-long party.

Besides, as this circular voyage from Manila to Kaohsiung and Hong Kong and back and on again runs through the summer months, until the end of May, I am sure I will have many opportunities to go sailing again for the silence. www.starcruises.com

Today with K: #ThrowbackThursday

Me (right) with BENCH founder Ben Chan.

He disappointed that Enchong Dee, Robi Domingo, JC de Vera, Ejay Falcon, Xian Lim, Arron Villaflor, Zanjoe Marudo, Joseph Marco, David Chua, Miko Raval and Raphael Robes was not here at #BENCHUndertheStars denim and underwear show, in a press conference at Microtel Hotels & Resort Mall of Asia last November 19, 2017

Gone mainstream

Baby F. Go

BG Productions International’s latest offering “Almost A Love Story” is being released as a mainstream movie, the first for the film outfit known for its award-winning indie movies. But the indefatigable producer, Baby Go, said she will continue producing indie films. “Dito ako nakilala kaya ’di ko ito iiwanan,” she stressed. In fact, one of her next productions will be an entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

Derrick Monasterio and Barbie Forteza

Most of Go’s indie films have been screened in various international film festivals where they won major awards. “This is the first time that we are joining a local film festival like the Cinemalaya and it’s a big honor for us that Louie Ignacio’s film project has been accepted. We received the good news while we were filming in Italy,” Go shared.

The film she was referring to that was shot in Italy is “Almost A Love Story” which is slated to premiere on April 10 at Cinema 7 of SM Megamall. Distributed by Regal Films, regular run of the movie directed by Ignacio starts on April 11. “Maganda ang istorya, you won’t regret watching it,” he said. Barbie Forteza and Derrick  Monasterio also enjoin their fans not to miss this movie.

Filmed almost in its entirety in Italy in cooperation with Salento Cinema, “Almost A Love Story” marks the return of the tandem of Barbie and Derrick who has in the past worked together in such shows as “Tween Hearts,” “Luna Blanca” and “Half Sisters.” Their forthcoming soap opera is “Inday Will Always Love You.”

“Almost A Love Story,” which tackles long-distance relationship, also stars Lotlot de Leon and Ana Capri. Also featured of course is the producer, herself, who loves to appear in cameo roles in her movie productions.

• • •

Gabbi grateful

Gabbi Garcia

Viewers were saddened when Gabbi Garcia’s character Lily in “Sherlock Jr.” was terminated but the Kapuso teen star said she was grateful for the support of her co-stars on the series.

She said “I would like to thank the #SherlockJr team! Thank you for treating me like family…one of the best cast and productions I’ve ever worked with! Thanks for keeping things light and full of love! I’ll definitely miss taping. Thank you also to everyone who supports the show! To my gabbifieds and gabru’s, love you guys!!”

Meanwhile, Gabbi’s loveteam mate Ruru Madrid has this message for her. “Paalam Lily, kahit sa maikling panahon na pagsasama niyo ni Jack minahal ka niya at nagpapasalamat sya sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa kanya….”

The primetime series directed by Rechie Del Carmen airs weeknights after “24 Oras” on GMA Telebabad.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 5, go to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Gloria Diaz, Sheryl Cruz, Vic Valenciano, Vicki Lasandra, Elenita Nolasco, Baby Gloria, Gerry David, Aida Zuniga, Arnold Gatdula, Elenita Onrubia-Nolasco, Charley Barretto, Reizza Gapasin, Vicki Lisandra, Baby Gloria, Chona Espina, Gerry David, Corinne Javier, Jun Cabanizas, Aida Zuniga, Carlos Haudar, Romeo H. Ison, Dada Saavedra-Samson,wife of MB’s Ramon Samson, Nick Martinez, Jr., Joshua Lim, Charley Barreto, and Sharlene San Pedro… April 6: Sonny Casulla, former Caloocan Mayor Boy Asistio, Councilor Roderick Paulate, Vicky Hechanova, Gen. Guillermo Pecache, Col. Gerry Cunanan, Rosemarie de Vera, Emer Rojas, Marcuz Enrick Gajuda Belardo, Eva Hamaybay, Catherine Resumadero, Pauline Angela Domingo, Lollie Cruz, Chris Charles Baluyot who’s migrating to Canada soon with his father Cris, MB’s Regina Mae Parungao, Jimmy Regala, US-based Recelyn M. Delmonte, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, Maximo Abrenica, Rasheed Tan, Anya Lontoc, Dolores Tan Roca of Mayamot, Antipolo City, Abbygail Hermosilla, Cristina Mae Gamorot-Go, Gabriel Paolo Belcina, Joel Calamba, Andrea Franceska Ybanez, Angel Dick Cortes, Atty. Hugo Kudera, Marilyn Mara, Oscar Sabordo, Renante Labrica and Col. Gerry Cunanan…

Security and privacy

By Senator Manny Villar

The Philippine Senate approved last month the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act of 2018 which seeks to establish a national ID system. The House of Representatives had earlier passed a similar measure.

This legislation had been proposed in the previous years. I remember having extensive discussions and debates about it when I was speaker and later Senate president. The debate was intense and complex but it can be simplified into a debate between national security and efficiency on one hand, and, the right to privacy on the other hand.

Those who oppose the bill cite possible violations to individual rights to privacy. They claim that the establishment of a national ID system places a lot of individual information in the hands of the state. Politically, critics argued, these information can be used by some unscrupulous government officials to target opposition forces or simply employ surveillance and profiling on its unsuspecting citizens.

I completely understand where this argument is coming from. The Constitution provides for the protection of citizens’ right to privacy. But such rights are limited. In addition, in the age of social media where people share with the public what they ate for lunch, where they are going for the Holy Week break, their relationship status, and, the new car or house they bought, I am really surprised about the claim to privacy which sounds weak, given how much privacy we are already ceding to social media platforms.

Google for instance tracks your location, it stores your email communications and has access to, and analyzes, your browsing behavior in the Internet. Facebook does the same thing. And people willingly share private data to FB and to netizens.

Do not get me wrong. I think everyone should demand their right to privacy. For this reason, I think it is important that the legislation placed the responsibility to collect and protect the data in the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA).

It also provided for funds to provide for data security and limits the ability of PSA to share collected data.

Besides, most of the data to be collected are no different from the data we have already shared with government when we acquired our tax identification number (TIN), passport, driver’s license, SSS or GSIS.

The only difference is that, under the approved measure, we will only have one ID and one number for life as opposed to 3 or 5 bulging in our wallets and bags. But more than this, the public will benefit tremendously from more efficient services from government. Transactions will require only one identification number, making it more convenient for citizens to seek government service.

Imagine the benefits a national ID would bring to health services, tax administration, social security, disaster response and management, and more importantly, to peace and order. I would imagine that most of those who would refuse to register with a national identification system have some serious reasons they do not want government to “recognize” them.

I will add that the national ID system will be of extreme help to our ability to fight terrorism. Terrorism nowadays have become borderless and almost anonymous, especially in social media. A national ID system will help in this regard as it provides valuable intelligence to counter-terrorism initiatives.

A national ID system will also help combat the rising phenomenon of identity theft which, coincidentally, is linked to terrorism. But the crime of identity fraud also has a negative impact on economic and business activities.

Weighing the pros and cons, I believe that it is time we adopted a national ID system. We are, after all, one of few countries which have yet to adopt one. The law has provided for safeguards and I urge agencies to ensure that in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), strict measures are put in place to protect our information from data breach and from state abuse.

NEDA body approves San Miguel's Bulacan airport, 8 other projects

These 9 infrastructure projects – cumulatively worth around P900 billion – are now tabled for final approval by the NEDA Board, which is headed by President Rodrigo Duterte

San Miguel Corporation's P700-billion proposal to build, operate, and maintain an airport in Bulacan – along with 8 other infrastructure projects – has been approved by a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) body.

Approved by the NEDA Investments Coordination Committee (ICC), among others, are the Bulacan airport, Subic-Clark Railway, bridges across the Pasig River, as well as the National Development Company (NDC) 25-hectare agro-industrial estate economic zone in Toril, Davao.

NEDA Undersecretary for Investment Planning Rolando Tungpalan told reporters on Tuesday, April 3, that these 9 infrastructure projects, cumulatively worth P900 billion, will now be tabled for final approval by the NEDA Board, which is headed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"You will see things more visible as we move on in the next couple of months. All told, there is a commitment to get these [projects] substantially completed," Tungpalan said on the sidelines of a briefing in Pasig City.

Once approved by the NEDA Board, these infrastructure projects can now be implemented by their respective agencies.

Unsolicited proposals, like the Bulacan airport, will undergo a Swiss challenge. This is when the government invites private groups to make competing offers, while giving the original proponent the right to match them.

Infrastructure projects

San Miguel's proposed new international "aerotropolis" will involve an airport covering 1,168 hectares and a city complex to be built at a 2,500-hectare area along Manila Bay in Bulacan, Bulacan.

The 50-year airport project will entail building 6 parallel runways and an initial annual capacity of 100 million passengers – over triple the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The P57.6-billion Subic-Clark Railway Project, meanwhile, will provide a rail connection between the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.

The railway project will link the Subic port to the Clark International Airport and other major economic hubs in Central Luzon.

NDC's Davao Food Exchange Plaza Project is the development of a 25-hectare property in Toril, Davao into an agro-industrial estate economic zone, with food processing centers, cold-storage/warehousing facilities, and trading posts, among others.

The Davao Food Exchange Plaza Project is intended to provide marketing support to small- and medium-farm vegetable and fruit growers in various barangays in Davao City and Davao del Sur.

National ID bill near passage into law

A bill seeking the establishment of a national identification system may soon be passed into law.

Congress will convene a Bicameral Conference Committee to reconcile the versions of the bill “after the resumption of our regular session on May 15,” said Lacson.

“Malacañang and the different agencies under the executive branch such as DBM (Department of Budget and Management), NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), DOF (Department of Finance), to name a few, are four-square behind the measure,” he said.

The proposed Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act will put in place a foundational ID system, which includes the PhilSys number (PSN), PhilID and PhilSys Registry.

The PhilSys number is a randomly generated identification number for each individual to be incorporated in all identification systems of government agencies.

The PhilID, on the other hand, is a nontransferable card with the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address, and fingerprints of the bearer.

In March Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said he believes President Rodrigo Duterte would sign the measure into law.

“In the last Cabinet meeting, there was an overwhelming consensus for the need for the national ID system,” he said. “And there’s already a budget allotted in the 2018 budget for the national ID.”

Lacson does not see any reason for the measure to not be passed soon.

“I will say with certainty that it will be enacted into law before the impeachment complaint is transmitted to the Senate, if it comes to that,” he said, referring to the impeachment complaint lodged against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno./PN

Lacson upbeat about enactment of national ID system

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Senator Panfilo Lacson is upbeat about the enactment of a national identification system once Congress resumes in May.

Lacson, sponsor of the proposed Philippine Identification System Act, said the bicameral conference committee will convene to reconcile differing provisions in the Senate and House versions when legislative session resumes on May 15.

He hopes that President Duterte will sign the measure into law before the looming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, which is expected to take much of the Upper Chamber’s time.

“I don’t see any reason why it will not be passed soon. I will say with certainty that it will be enacted into law before the impeachment complaint is transmitted to the Senate, if it comes to that,” Lacson said in a text message today.

He said he is confident that it will not be stalled, especially with the backing of the Palace and the agencies in the executive branch.

The Senate, before going on recess late last month, passed on final reading the Senate Bill 1738, which seeks to harmonize, integrate, and interconnect multiple government IDs in a single ID system which shall be known as the Philippine Identification System or the PhilSys.

Under the PhilSys, an individual would be assigned with a permanent identification number. This would serve as a legal proof of identity in government offices.

It covers all Filipino citizens and foreigners residing in the country.

ABS-CBN dominates list of top 10 most-watched TV shows in March

The stars of 'Bagani,' which was the fourth most popular show last March. Photo credit: ABS-CBN Entertainment

ABS-CBN delivered all 10 of the top ten most-watched shows last March, led again by its unbeatable primetime block. 

The 41.3% average national television audience share of "Ang Probinsyano," which added a slew of new characters recently, proved to be the largest for the month, data from Kantar Media showed. 

"Pilipinas Got Talent," which airs on weekends, was the second most popular. Last month saw some amazing acts during the show's audition rounds, and the start of its live semifinals. 

"La Luna Sangre" came in third, although it only tallied two episodes last month. The Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla-starrer concluded in thrilling fashion last March 2. 

For its debut month, "Bagani," an ambitious fantaserye that tells of five individuals who found themselves handed with superpowers, landed in fourth place. 

"The Good Son", an family drama that tells the murder mystery addresses issues affecting family relationships such as infidelity, mental illness, particularly Schizophrenia and Pathological lying, landed in fifth place

Another new show, "The Blood Sisters," an afternoon drama starring Erich Gonzales, sneaked in the top 10 with 21.3%. 

Also followed by the Asia’s longest-running drama anthology “MMK,” “TV Patrol,” “Wansapanataym,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “Rated K,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “It’s Showtime,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “Asintado” and “Hanggang Saan.”

The impressive showing gave the Kapamilya network a total average nationwide television audience share of 46%. GMA, ABS-CBN's closest competitor, only managed 32%. 

The figure excluded ratings during Holy Week (March 28 to March 31), when networks pause their regular programming for movie reruns and religious shows. 

It was based on a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes, which Kantar Media uses to represent 100% of the country's total television viewing population.

RJ Agustin, Michelle Vito co-star in music video

RJ Agustin

RJ Agustin’s music video for his new single under Star Music “Seryoso Na Pala” features a “no label” love story between two friends. RJ co-stars in the video with Star Magic teen star, Michelle Vito.

Most, if not all love stories today, revolve around an uncertain loop of romance. It’s confusing to be in a relationship where you are too intimate but not quite sure to call it an official relationship.

In the music video, RJ and Michelle played these young people who started out as friends and eventually became too close to each other. They are seen together most of the time despite their respective relationships.

After starring in films such as “Kabisera” with Nora Aunor, “1st Ko Si 3rd” with Nova Villa, “Talamak” with Lovi Poe and Jaclyn Jose, and the epic movie “Heneral Luna,” RJ now focuses on his singing career.

The video is a collaboration between Star Music and Firestarters Productions and directed by award-winning filmmaker, Real S. Florido.

Filipino music lovers and hopeless romantics should watch out for more kilig moments with RJ as he is about to spread love with more music through his upcoming radio tours, mall tours, TV appearances and live performances in the next months.

• • •

Rotary Club of Manila presents ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’

For the first time in the Philippines and in Asia, the Rotary Club of Manila presents two shows of the Tony/Grammy/Drama Desk Award-winning “Monty Python’s Spamalot” play on April 21 from 3 to 8 p.m. at The Globe Auditorium at Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Taguig.

CAST OF ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ including Rachel Alejandro, Carla Guevara-Laforteza and Lorenz Martinez

The hilarious Broadway musical import, which got local audiences and critics alike rolling in laughter, is an adaptation of the 1975 film “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” one of the funniest movies of all time according to Total Film, ABC, Channel 4 UK, and many other sources.

The encore run of the show will bring back last year’s talented cast, which includes multi-awarded actor/singers Rachel Alejandro, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, and Lorenz Martinez. The musical will once again be directed by the duo of Joel Trinidad and Nicky Triviño, both of whom were nominated by Broadway World for Best Direction for last year’s production.

For tickets and inquiries, email to rotaryclubofmanila@gmail.com.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 3, go to Patty Leung, Rina Go-Thorpe, Gerard Ramirez, Babie Malulu, Atty. Mirma Saruca, Dr. Meliza Galang, Edwin Sallan, Gloria Desiderio, Nina Sales, Ana Maria Abano, Noel Namuco, Rey Pumaloy, Nico Ibaviosa, Clara Ann Maniquis, Tessa Jazmines, Arnold Lebaquin, Teresa Ocampo, Dom Jason Sauro, and Amay Bisaya… April 4: Snooky Serna, Bearwin Meily, Nelly Marshall, Josefina Guizon, Dr. Carlex Lasaga, Vicente Jimenez, Rosalyn Go, Ma. Theresa dela Paz, Irene Martel Francisco, Jemuel Salterio, Vidal de Guzman, Dr. Adolfo Ferrer, Oliver Gonzalez, Katherine Ann Bailey, Wilfredo Relador, Hesus Villafuerte, Cleo Dongga-as, April Enerio, Christine of Radiology department king abdulaziz university hospital, Engr. Amelito Ultra, Annalou Semilla, Aprilyn Rosani, Bebei Centillas, Bryan Luza, Lolita Amodia, Brenda Tiu-Ares, Emmanuel Felicio, Mary Claire Lazaga, Runel Linao, Bobby Ito, and director Louie Ignacio…You asked for it! Due to public demand, we're extending our Tuesday deal until April 24! Get fresh hand-breaded KFC goodness and save ₱91! Thank God It’s Tuesday at KFC! Promo extended until April 24, 2018. Per DTI-FTEB Permit No. 2250 Series of 2018.

Bandila (post-Oreña-Drilon era)

On December 21, 2017, Oreña-Drilon announced that she bid goodbye to Bandila.

On December 25, 2017, the current Bandila 2016 OBB was still used showing still the three remaining anchors prior to the exit of Drilon.

Days after, the current Bandila OBB was shortened as it excludes the part of Drilon.

The World Tonight replaces TWBA and Bandila with Davila, Tony Velasquez and Tina Monzon-Palma. Davila and Velasquez , which would serve as a mini-reunion on television after they did the ABS-CBN Headlines in 2001.

However, was first published in ABS-CBN's website that Tonight with Boy Abunda will be axed. Initially, the host denied these allegations. Boy meanwhile will be moving to afternoon after Magandang Tanghali, Bayan! (replacing It's Showtime) as SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon, as a entertainment news and talk program at 1:30 p.m.

TIMELINE: Marcos-Robredo election case

It's been a year since election day, and also a year since the country saw one of the most nail-biting vice presidential races to date.

Then-Camarines Sur 3rd District representative Leni Robredo, a reluctant politician thrust into the national limelight, went up against then-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son and namesake of the late strongman.

Robredo won by only a slim margin. On the eve of Robredo's oath-taking, Marcos filed an election protest, claiming there was massive cheating in the polls.

Aside from dealing with the election protest, Robredo has had other challenges in her first year as vice president – she resigned from the Duterte Cabinet, faced online attacks and rumors, and is now the subject of draft impeachment complaints.

Marcos, as he insists that the vice presidency was "stolen" from him, has been visiting loyalists around the country to thank them for their support during the elections. Even out of office, the former senator updates the public about his activities on social media.

With Robredo and Marcos' legal battle far from over, the two rivals continue to cross paths. Here are the key moments in their election case:

May 6, 2016 – Marcos first floated the idea of cheating in the elections during his miting de avance in Mandaluyong City, where he questioned Robredo's topping the ABS-CBN's survey conducted by Pulse Asia. Other polls at the time showed the two were in a statistical tie.


May 10 to 11, 2016 – At around 3:40 am of May 10, Robredo grabbed the top spot from Marcos in the partial and unofficial canvassing of votes. Shortly after, Marcos' representatives called for a news conference and insinuated that Robredo and the Liberal Party rigged the elections.

The Marcos camp sustained their allegations against Robredo, saying that the transparency server of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was tampered with, as proven by the change in the hash code. This opened debates on the infamous hash code issue and statistical explanations on Robredo's surge over Marcos.

Robredo, from the start, denied the cheating allegations. The Comelec also explained that the altered script was only due to a cosmetic change for names with "ñ" appearing with a "?".

May 20 to 24, 2016 – Marcos' representatives, former Abakada representative Jonathan dela Cruz and lawyer Amor Amorado, filed a series of complaints before the Comelec, seeking an explanation for the script change. They also filed a criminal case against Smartmatic and Comelec representatives before the Manila Prosecutor's Office for allegedly violating the cybercrime law.


May 27, 2016 – Robredo emerged winner in the official canvassing of votes, coincidentally on the birthday of her late husband, former interior secretary Jesse Robredo.

June 29, 2016 – Marcos filed an election protest versus Robredo before the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). He contested the results in 27 cities and provinces, covering 39,221 "clustered" precincts which are composed of 132,446 "established" precincts. He also sought the nullification of votes in Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur, where massive poll fraud allegedly occurred.

Robredo was sworn in a day after, on June 30, 2016.


July 12, 2016 – The PET ordered the Comelec to safeguard all poll materials in all 92,509 clustered precincts used in the May elections. It also directed Robredo to file her response to Marcos' election protest.

August 15, 2016 – Robredo filed her response and a counter-protest. In her response, the Vice President asked the SC to junk Marcos' protest since the change in the hash code did not affect the election results.

Her lawyers, Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo, also argued that Marcos' camp failed to specify how the alleged cheating happened and failed to show evidence of cheating in the Mindanao provinces where he wants votes nullified.

On the same day, the Marcos camp filed a manifestation on the Comelec's proposal to strip vote-counting machines (VCMs) and laptops of election data. The former senator's camp argued that this violated the PET order to preserve election paraphernalia.


September 28, 2016 – Manila City Prosecutor Edward Togonon junked the cybercrime complaint filed by the Marcos camp over the hash code controversy. The case was dismissed for lack of merit and insufficiency of evidence.

October to November 2016 – The Comelec began returning 1,356 leased VCMs to Smartmatic on October 27 despite Marcos' earlier manifestations before the PET, opposing the move. The Comelec had told the PET on October 22 that these were unused VCMs that were given to the poll body for contingency.

The Comelec also started data stripping in its warehouse in Sta Rosa, Laguna on October 26. Data were found in these supposedly unused SD cards, prompting Marcos to ask the PET to order the Comelec to bare the SD cards' contents.

January 20, 2017 – Marcos' lawyer urged the PET to move forward with the election protest by setting a preliminary conference where issues will be simplified.

February 16, 2017 – The PET declared Marcos' protest as sufficient in form and substance, and denied Robredo's appeal to junk Marcos' protest.

February 27, 2017 – Robredo filed a motion for reconsideration on her junked appeal.

March 6, 2017 – Marcos' camp accused Robredo's lawyers of delaying the proceedings. Macalintal has since denied this, saying that they are only correcting the irregularities in Marcos' protest.

April 10, 2017 – The PET ordered Marcos to pay P66 million and Robredo P15.43 million as service fees for the contested precincts. Both were given until April 17 to settle the first installment – P36 million for Marcos and P8 million for Robredo. The second tranche – P30 million for Marcos and P7.5 million for Robredo – is due on July 14.

April 12, 2017 – Robredo's camp filed a motion, asking the PET to defer their payment until an initial recount of votes has been done in 3 provinces to be identified by Marcos. They also argued that Marcos should pay for all the precincts since he is questioning the integrity of the whole automated elections system.

April 17, 2017 – Despite the Marcos camp's earlier pronouncement that they would file a motion for reconsideration on the amount required of them, Marcos paid the first half of the service fee. He said the money was pooled from resources of friends and supporters.

April 20, 2017 – Marcos asked the SC to junk Robredo's counter-protest over non-payment of her service fee.

April 25, 2017 – The PET ordered Robredo to pay the P8-million fee on May 2. It also set the preliminary conference for Marcos' protest on June 21.

May 2, 2017 – Robredo paid the first tranche. She said she used her own money and borrowed cash from relatives.

May 5, 2017 – Robredo asked the PET to remove from its records Marcos' motion to junk her counter-protest over the issue of non-payment.


June 1, 2017 – Marcos once again asks the PET to expedite the process of his election protest. He urges the court to order the decryption and printing of the ballot images from the SD cards used in the 36,465 clustered precincts.

This covers the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Bohol, Quezon, Batangas, Western Samar, Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, Palawan, Albay, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Pangasinan, and Isabela; plus Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Zamboanga City, and the 2nd District of Northern Samar.

June 6, 2017 – The PET postpones the June 21, 2017 preliminary conference and reset it to July 11, 2017.

On the same day, the PET orders the creation of a panel of commissioners to preside over matters concerning the election case. Retired Justice Jose Vitug was assigned chairperson of the panel with lawyers Angelito Imperio and Irene Ragodon-Guevarra as members.

June 20, 2017 – Robredo's lawyers filed a motion before the PET insisting that Marcos must shoulder the P2.08 billion that the Comelec has incurred because of his election protest.

June 27, 2017 – A group of the Vice President's supporters, named the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni movement, asked the PET to allow them to pay a portion of her P7-million balance for the election protest.

The petitioners – all awardees of the Ten Outstanding Women Foundation – are former social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman, former human rights commissioner Paulynn Sicam, former Bases Conversion and Development Authority board director Zorayda Amelia Alonzo, award-winning singer Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo, Ateneo de Manila University Press director Karina Bolasco, and Museong Pambata founder Nina Lim-Yuson.

July 5, 2017 – Robredo's lawyers asked the PET to reconsider its earlier decision that the election protest of Marcos is sufficient in form and substance.

July 11, 2017 – Preliminary conference for the electoral protest is held. The PET gives Robredo more time to pay the second tranche of the protest fee required of her. But no new deadline was given yet.

Marcos says in a press conference after the preliminary conference that he is hoping the ballot recount will start by September. Former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza seeks to be a "collaborating counsel" for Marcos.

August 10, 2017 – The PET bars the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni movement from helping the Vice President pay for her remaining balance in the electoral protest.

August 18, 2017 – The PET grants the Vice President’s motion to defer the second installment of the P16-million fee for the counter-protest she filed against Marcos. The PET says it would direct Robredo to pay the second installment “only after substantial recovery in his (Marcos) designated 3 pilot provinces.”

The court also issues the guidelines in preparation for the ballot revision in the electoral protest.

The document contains the composition and hiring process for the members of the Revision Committee, the creation of an Exploratory Mission or Retrieval Team, and the compensation for individuals who will participate in the revision of the ballots.

August 23, 2017 – The Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni movement files a motion for reconsideration urging the PET to reconsider its decision prohibiting them from helping pay the Vice President's remaining balance.

September 5, 2017 – The PET rejects Marcos' first cause of action in the electoral protest and upholds the integrity of the 2016 elections.

On the same day, Robredo's lawyers files an urgent manifestation and motion calling on the PET to order Marcos to pay P2 billion for the Comelec's continued protection of all poll paraphernalia relevant to his election protest.

October 9, 2017 – Marcos submits 8,000 names in his list of proposed witnesses of alleged electoral fraud in the 3 ARMM provinces.

October 12, 2017 – The Robredo camp accuses Marcos of violating the PET's rules when he sought the technical and forensic examination of election data in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao.

October 23, 2017 – Comelec begins to decrypt and print the ballot images for Marcos' 3 pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

October 30, 2017 – The PET rules Comelec must pay for the storage fees of election materials kept in foreign posts, not Marcos.

November 7, 2017 – The PET defers action once again on whether or not to allow the forensic and technical examination of election data in the 3 ARMM provinces.

The court also allows Robredo to gain access to the soft copies of the ballot images decrypted from secured digital cards in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

November 21, 2017 – Macalintal accuses Marcos of "misleading" the PET by including names of unregistered voters in its list of proposed witnesses from the 3 ARMM provinces.

November 23, 2017 – Marcos' lawyers shot back that they put in names of members of the Board of Election Inspectors, who "were named as witnesses – and not as registered voters."

December 5, 2017 – The PET rules only municipal treasurers and election officials will deliver the election paraphernalia to the PET Retrieval Team, who will then bring the ballot boxes to the SC-Court of Appeals Gymnasium in Ermita, Manila for the recount.

January 4, 2018 – Robredo files a motion for clarification and asks the PET that both camps be allowed to send representatives during the ballot retrieval process in the 3 pilot provinces.

Will the case be resolved before the next elections in 2022? That's another nail-biting ending to watch out for.

January 10, 2018 – In a press conference, Marcos accuses the PET of giving him "unfair treatment." He also denies he will run for senator in 2019, arguing there is no need for it as he already won as Vice President.

January 29, 2018 – Marcos accused Robredo anew of colluding with Comelec and Smartmatic to steal the poll victory. He argued the square marks in the ballot images point to electoral fraud.

But the marks are merely among the new features of the ballot introduced in 2016.

Last week of January to first week of February – The Marcos and Robredo camps trades barbs on various media interviews, accusing each other of filing motions to allegedly delay the ballot recount process.

February 6, 2018 – Marcos signs a joint manifestation withdrawing any pending motions before the PET that may delay the ballot recount. He challenged Robredo to sign this document, but her camp refused to do so.

February 8, 2018 – The PET sets the final start of the ballot recount on March 19, 2018.

Robredo also files a motion telling the PET they are withdrawing any pending motions that may delay the ballot recount, if any.

February 22, 2018 – The High Court reminds both the Marcos and Robredo camps to observe the sub judice rule and stop making any comments on the pending case.

March 19, 2018 – The recount for Camarines Sur ballots begins

SNIPE SWIPES

My, that was a rather long break there. Here’s hoping all Christians truly had a blessed Holy Week.

PRO(9)-ZamPen turned over four brand new vehicles and equipment to four of its Regional Mobile Forces Battalions, in a move to enhance the anti-crime campaign in their respective areas of operations. Taking from P/Chief Sup Billy Beltran, his deputy, Edwin De Ocampo, headed the turnover rites, where 20 Global Positioning System (GPS) and 50 night vision goggles were also granted.

Although our city is not one of them, it is safe to surmise, our City Police have earlier had its fair share olf thr bargain. This is PRO-9’s homebase, if you please..

X x x x X

The day of reckoning to determine who actually won the 2016 Vice Presidential elections starts tomorrow, Monday, 2 April. The Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), is set to proceed with the recount of votes to resolve with finality, who between former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo truly won in the race.

The recount will cover 5,418 clustered precincts in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

The PET bared, media would not be allowed to cover the recount to be conducted daily from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Marcos filed the protest on June 29 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national polls.

Marcos contested the results in 132,446 precincts in clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities. He sought for a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental,. Where Robredo won overwhelmingly under  suspected mysterious circiumsatances..

Robredo, on the other hand also filed a counter-protest, questioning the results in more than 30,000 polling precincts in several provinces where Marcos won.

X x x x X

The Holy See strongly reacted to a reported interview between Pope Francis and an Italian journalist, who later claims the Pope denied the existence of hell, resolutely saying the narration should not be considered an accurate depiction of Francis’ words, but the author’s own “reconstruction.”

A recent meeting between Pope Francis and Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, 93, was a “private meeting on the occasion of Easter,” without “giving him any interview,” the Vatican statement, dated March 29, adamantly said.

Discounting his overly-advanced age, what else could we expect of the writer? He is a self-proclaimed atheist, founder and former editor of Italian leftist newspaper La Repubblica. In an article published on the site March 29, Scalfari claimed that Pope Francis told him, “hell doesn’t exist, the disappearance of the souls of sinners exists.”

In addition thereto, it was Scalfari’s fifth meeting with Pope Francis, and is not the first time he has been accused of misrepresenting the Pope’s words following a private audience.

In November 2013, following intense controversy over quotes the journalist had attributed to Francis, Scalfari admitted that at least some of the words he had published a month prior “were not shared by the Pope himself.”

Likewise, in a meeting with the journalists of the Foreign Press Association of Rome in 2013, Scalfari maintained that all his interviews have been conducted without a recording device, nor taking notes while the person is speaking.

See, such accounts clearly absolve the Pontiff of any unchristian pronouncement.

The hell with him!

X x x x X

Russia, in venting its ire against the West in an escalating spy row, expelled diplomats from 23 countries in the biggest wave of tit-for-tat expulsions in recent memory.

The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned the heads of missions from the concerned 23 countries to tell them of their move.

Among the countries are France, Germany, Canada and Poland, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania and Norway were also told to pull their envoys.

The moves also came in retaliation for the coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomats by Britain and its allies over a nerve agent attack against former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury on March 4.

X x x x X

In another advanced move ahead of the trilateral summit among squabbling USA, South Korea and the North, the latter’s Kim Jong Un will meet South’s Pres. Moon Jae-in at a border village on April 27.  And this time the meet in not in secrecy as in the most recent North Korea-China powwow right in Beijing itself.

Pundits then deduced that the rare meeting could prove significant in global efforts to resolve the decades-long standoff over the North’s nuclear program.

And the announcement was jointly issued by officials of the two countries after they met at the border village of Panmunjom. (By Jimmy Cabato)

Marcos: Some ballots wet, audit logs missing in Robredo stronghold

Former senator Bongbong Marcos talks to the media in front of the Supreme Court during the recount of ballots for the previous vice presidential race in Manila on Monday. George Calvelo, ABS CBN News

Some ballots used in the 2016 elections in the home province of Vice President Leni Robredo were doused recently while several audit logs disappeared, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos said Monday.

Marcos made the statement as the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, began a manual recount of votes that he sought to contest his loss to Robredo in the vice presidential race.

The recount started with votes from Bato, Camarines Sur, where all ballots from 4 of the total 42 voting precincts were discovered to have gotten wet recently, making them "illegible", said Marcos.

"They've only been recently wet. If they were wet during election day, siguro natuyo na iyun -- hindi naman siguro 2 years na basa iyun. May nagbasa," Marcos told reporters.

(If they were wet during election day, they would have been dry by now -- they could not be damp for 2 years. Someone drenched them.)

Robredo was representative of Camarines Sur from 2013 to 2016.

Thirty-eight precincts in Bato town also had missing audit logs, which would have shown the time that the votes were transmitted, said Marcos.

"Clearly, somebody, binuksan ang ballot box, kinuha ang audit log bago ini-seal ulit," he alleged.

(Clearly, somebody opened the ballot box, took the audit log and re-sealed it.)

"We're going to have to find a way to recover those audit logs somehow... Baka naman (perhaps) it's possible that those audit logs are still in the database of some other computer," he added.

Marcos, 60, had claimed "massive cheating" caused him to lose to Robredo in the 2016 vice-presidential race by some 260,000 votes.

Victory in Marcos' poll protest would cement his family's remarkable political comeback, 31 years after a "People Power" revolution saw millions of people take to the streets to end his father's 20-year rule.

Presidential Electoral Tribunal begins recount of vice presidential votes

The vote recount for the 2016 vice presidential election began Monday.

Vice President Leni Robredo attended Mass on Monday ahead of the ballot recount by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

"The recount starts today. Yesterday was Easter, and the biggest lesson is, 'There is always hope in the midst of darkness,'" she said, speaking at St. Scholastica's College in Manila.

She is confident despite what she calls a difficult opponent and trying times.

"Sa dulo ng lahat, parating katotohanan ang mananaig... Wala tayong dapat ikatakot dahil katotohanan ang ating ipinaglalaban. This is the time of fear, pero manalig tayo," she said.

[Translation: In the end, truth will prevail. We shall not fear because we are fighting for the truth. This is the time of fear, but we shall keep our faith.]

The Marcos camp said they are also ready for the recount.

"We are very optimistic because we have waited for two years," Marcos' legal counsel Vic Rodriguez said.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te on Monday said the manual poll recount will "ascertain the number of votes received by both parties."

The recount begins two years after Marcos brought his electoral protest to the Supreme Court, sitting as the PET. He lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes.

The recount will happen at a gymnasium in the Supreme Court compound in Manila. This is the first time the PET will be doing a recount. The process is off-limits to media.

Rodriguez said Monday morning, the physical condition of ballot boxes and its locks will be checked. The manual recount will begin in the afternoon.

Te said the poll recount will be held Monday to Friday. The morning session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m, the afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Te said the recount will follow a "strict time limit."

Since the implementation of the automated elections in 2010, Robredo's legal counsel Romulo Macalintal said electoral protests had been dismissed because the results of the manual ballot count tallied exactly with that of the vote-counting machines (VCMs) and the consolidated canvassing system.

"Sa kasaysayan ng ating automated election system, wala pang nananalong protesta sa halalan mula pa noong 2010," Macalintal said.

[Translation: In the history of the automated election system since 2010, there has not been a successful election protest.]

Marcos' camp, meanwhile, took a swipe at Robredo for her alleged moves to delay the poll count.

"We have endured two years of waiting due to Robredo's habitual and intentional moves to delay the election protest and deliberate attempts to bury the truth," Marcos' spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said in a statement Sunday.

He also said the recount will once and for all dispel "all the uncertainty that beclouds the true choice of the electorate and prove that Mrs. Robredo cheated her way to the Vice Presidency."

In its grant of Marcos' plea, the PET decided upon Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental as the pilot provinces for the ballot recount.

Marcos identified the three provinces as "best exemplifying fraud or irregularities" in his protest brief.

Robredo also listed three provinces in her own counter-protest brief: Capiz, Sulu, and North Cotabato.

The recount in the three pilot provinces identified by Marcos will take up to six months.

Robredo said the protest of Marcos is based on general allegations and manufactured evidence designed to sway results in his favor.

Marcos had also questioned the appearance of "mysterious squares" on ballot images beside Robredo's name, saying it was a proof of fraud.

However, Robredo's camp had explained the squares are the vote-counting machines' way of recognizing a shade on the circle next to the candidate.

The PET has earlier required Marcos to pay P66 million and Robredo P15 million in two tranches to fund their protests and counter-protests. A petitioner needs to pay P500 per contested precinct.

Tedious process
The PET adhoc committee said it can set up only 40 committees on Monday. But they are hoping to open 10 more.

Each committee is composed of a head revisor — a PET employee — and one representative for each of the two candidates.

Head revisors are carefully picked as the revision committees face a huge task which would be performed within a given time frame.

They must process the results of over 5,000 clustered precincts from three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos.

In places where there are less than 300 ballots, they must finish the recount in five and a half hours. For 300 to 699 ballots, they only have a little more than eight hours. And for more than 700 ballots, they are given 11 hours.

Should there be objections or claims by either of the parties, the PET would have the last say.

The tribunal would only issue announcements should the need arise.

CNN Philippines digital producer Ver Marcelo contributed to this report.