Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, October 12, 2023.
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BANNER: 3 Pinoys dead in attack on Israel
TWO Filipinos have been confirmed killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Wednesday. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in Israel is verifying reports of the "likely death of a Filipino woman" earlier reported missing in the attack on a farm. The embassy said it would confirm through D.N.A. evidence if the woman is a Filipino. The embassy's labor attaché and welfare officer are "on the ground to assist the sister of the said Filipina in confirming this with the Israel Police," D.F.A. spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista has appointed Mercy Jane Paras Leynes as officer in charge of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, replacing Teofilo Guadiz 3rd, who was suspended as Board chairman by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday over allegations of corruption. The memorandum and special order dated October 10 declared Leynes as the head of L.T.F.R.B. from October 10 of this year until Oct. 9, 2024. Leynes served as chief transportation regulatory officer at the Land Transportation Office and then as a board member of the L.T.F.R.B.
'Times' gets NHCP marker on 125th anniversary
CELEBRATING 125 years in the service of delivering news to Filipinos, The Manila Times unveiled a historical marker installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on Wednesday. Established by Thomas Gowan on Oct. 11, 1898, The Manila Times was the first daily English-language broadsheet circulating in the country, which served as the bridge between Filipinos and the colonial government of America. While its first market was the American soldiers who were sent to Manila to fight in the Spanish-American war, it later became an instrument for Filipinos and other nationalities in expressing truth and perspectives. Carmina Arevalo, the officer in charge of the office of the executive director of the N.H.C.P., hailed The Manila Times, led by Chairman Emeritus Dante Arevalo Ang and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd. A historical marker is a plaque of recognition given to a property, institutions, sites, important events and persons, acknowledging their significant contributions to the country.
Obiena: I can beat Duplantis in Paris
ARMAND Duplantis is the only one standing between Filipino Ernest John "E.J." Obiena and the Olympic gold medal in Paris next year. Duplantis is the world's top pole vaulter, and Obiena is No. 2. The 23-year-old Swedish force of nature owns the world record at 6.23 meters, and the 27-year-old athlete from Tondo holds the Asian record at 6.0 meters flat, also his best jump. Obiena and Duplantis are good friends, and the former looks at the latter as inspiration and a challenge. Obiena defeated the reigning Olympic and World champion at the Wanda Diamond League in Brussels on Sept. 3, 2022, and the Filipino sports icon believes he can do it again in Paris.
SPORTS: Gilas Pilipinas gets well-deserved break after Asiad
Meanwhile, members of the victorious Gilas Pilipinas from the Asian Games men's basketball are assured of at least a 10-day break from their respective P.B.A. mother squads. Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua gave that assurance to players, so as to give them enough time to rest following their Asian Games grind that yielded the coveted gold medal after 61 years of futility. Chua assured the national players that they will get a 10-day break before they suit up for their respective ball clubs in the 48th season of the P.B.A. Gilas captured the Asiad basketball gold after subduing Jordan, 70-60, in the finals last week in Hangzhou, China. At least 11 players from the Gilas squad are expected to head to their much-deserved break, led by naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who, along with national coach Tim Cone, left for the United States on Monday.
BUSINESS: Remolona says fresh 25-bps hike possible
Over to business, monetary authorities are not done with tightening and will consider a 25-basis-point rate hike next month, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said on Wednesday. The Central Bank policy-making Monetary Board embarked on a tightening spree beginning May last year as inflation surged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Cumulative rate hikes totaling 425 basis points have pushed the central bank's key rate to a 16-year high of 6.25 percent. The higher cost of credit also cooled economic growth to a near 12-year low of 4.3 percent in the second quarter, well below the 6.0- to 7.0-percent target for 2023.
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras now notices cracks in the "UniTeam", while Makabenta looks into the Marcos administration's executive orders for policy review and coordination in presidential policymaking.
Today's editorial looks into another Chinese non-cooperation, this time in deporting 400 Philippine offshore gaming operators. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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