Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.
China holds military drills in Taiwan Strait
CHINA launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday, in what it called a "stern warning" to the self-ruled island's government following a meeting between its leader and a ranking US official. Dubbed "United Sharp Sword," the three-day operation will run until Monday, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement. Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen immediately denounced the drills, pledging to work with "the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of "continued authoritarian expansionism." China's war games will send planes, ships and personnel into "the maritime areas and air space of the Taiwan Strait, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island's east," said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman. Exercises on Monday will include livefire drills off the coast of China's Fujian province, which faces Taiwan, the local maritime authority said.
PH assures control of bases under EDCA pact
THE Department of National Defense (DND) reiterated on Saturday that the Philippines retains its sovereignty and control over the facilities identified under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. The Defense department issued the statement after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Bayan Muna criticized certain provisions in the agreement that they claim allow the US military to have unlimited access to troops, bases, and other activities. ACT party-list Rep. France Castro said under Article 3, Paragraph 2 of EDCA, the Philippines cannot decline if the US requests access to use any public land and facilities in the country — including private property. Castro said the nine EDCA locations are bound to increase, turning the whole country into a US base. Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares questioned Article 12, Paragraph 4 of the agreement which states, EDCA shall "continue in force unless terminated."
Go Negosyo mentorship expanded to more provinces
THE mobile mentorship program of Go Negosyo will be expanded across the country to reach out to more active and aspiring entrepreneurs in the provinces, its founder Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd said on Saturday. Go Negosyo's 3M on Wheels will stage a program on April 15 at the Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga following the successful rollout in Baguio City on March 4. 3M on Wheels is expected to be held in other urban areas across the Philippines later this year, which will include Cavite, Cebu, Bulacan, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo. Concepcion said the expanded mentoring program reflects the wider scope of entrepreneurship mentoring it will now be offering to aspirants.
'3 of 4 Pinoys ready to travel'
THREE out of four Filipinos believe they are now ready to travel across the country as border restrictions have been fully loosened, according to a survey conducted by pollster PUBLiCUS Asia. In its first quarter Pahayag 2023 survey, 71 percent of those surveyed said they plan to travel between March and May this year. Of those with travel plans, 69 percent said they will travel locally, while 24 percent said they will travel both here and abroad. In a statement, PUBLiCUS Asia said the increase of those who want to travel proves that there is an increase in "revenge travel" during the summer. Meanwhile, 75 percent, or three out of four Filipinos, said that they felt safe traveling across the country, with the highest among those over the 50-59 year old age bracket.
Role of US dollar to diminish – economist
In business, the US dollar will play a much less dominant role than it is today within the next 10 years due to a smaller share of the US economy in the world, weaponization of the US dollar and the use of central bank digital currencies, said a renowned US economist on Friday. The share of the United States in the world economy will be less and the role of the US dollar will naturally diminish, because other currency settlements will take a hold, said Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University at the 15th Annual Columbia China Summit.
Gin Kings, Giga begin title showdown
Over to sports, Barangay Ginebra and TNT, two of the most dominant squads in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors' Cup, begin their highly anticipated Finals date when they collide in Game One of their best-of-seven title series on Easter Sunday, April 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNT reached the Finals after topping the eliminations with its near flawless 10-1 record, smothering eighth seed Phoenix in the quarterfinals before hammering sister team Meralco, 3-1, in their semifinal series duel. On the other hand, Ginebra entered the playoffs as the third seed after finishing the eliminations with an 8-3 record. And despite playing without injured big man Japeth Aguilar and guard LA Tenorio, who is battling with stage 3 colon cancer, Ginebra showed no signs of slowing down, blasting NLEX in the quarterfinals before blanking San Miguel Beer, 3-0, in the semis to reach the Finals. With only four wins needed to win the season-ending conference crown, only one team will emerge as the victor, a scenario that coaches Tim Cone and Jojo Lastimosa will try to accomplish.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he shares the country's version of Calvary.
Today's editorial believes the rivalry between the United States and China makes the balancing act challenging. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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