Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
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READ: DepEd sees poor PH scores in global exam
EDUCATION officials expect a "bleak" showing for the Philippines once the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test scores are released by the Organization for Educational Cooperation and Development (OECD). The test, which happens every three years, evaluates educational systems in both OECD member and non-member states through the scholastic performance of 15-year-old pupils in mathematics, science and reading. It will be the second time the country is participating in the global assessment. The first time was in 2018. The Department of Education (DepEd) said its participation in the PISA will, together with its own National Achievement Test, provide the necessary feedback for making policy decisions and reforms. It said the country's consistency in participation in assessment will allow for the continuity of data for monitoring improvements for identifying gaps and areas for growth in basic education. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said she expects the results of the PISA to be "not good." Anticipating poor PISA results, the DepEd has adopted several measures to help the education system reverse years of learning losses.
READ: Marcoses lead gift-giving at Palace
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos on Sunday distributed Christmas gifts in Malacañang to more than 1,700 children from youth shelters and orphanages. The event was simultaneously held with 300 satellite centers across the country and benefiting 17,000 children. The "Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya" gift-giving activity was in partnership between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the private support groups of the President that included Jollibee and San Miguel Corp. Around 1,120 children in the National Capital Region received the early Christmas gifts, while there were 449 in Cebu 600 in Davao, and over 14,867 children in other satellite centers across the country. Before wrapping up, the President thanked the guardians and the parents of the children who take care of them.
READ: Italian investors have eye on PH
AN executive of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc. said businesses in Italy are keenly interested in investing in the Philippines. Speaking in SMNI's weekly public affairs program "Business and Politics" hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, the group's executive director, Lorens Ziller, said Italian firms are looking at the Southeast Asian region as a potential market. He said the organization has Filipino member companies that have Italian products or use Italian machinery. He noted, however, that there are challenges in encouraging more Italian companies to invest in the Philippines because they prefer to bring their business to other countries that offer better benefits. Ziller also cited red tape and the high price of electricity as among the issues that have to be resolved.
READ: Hamas fighters to free more hostages
Hamas fighters were set Sunday to release a third group of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a day after freeing captives, including a young woman snatched from a desert rave. In a sign of the fragility of the exchanges, the latest swap Saturday was delayed for hours after Hamas accused Israel of breaching its side of the deal that led to a four-day ceasefire in the seven-week-old war. Despite the dispute, Hamas finally released 13 Israelis and four Thai hostages at night, officials said. Israel said that it, in turn, freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it had since received a list of hostages due to be released by Hamas on Sunday. The list was being checked by security officials, it said, and families of the hostages had been informed.
READ: No love lost between Megaworld and Datem
Columnist Mauro Gia Samonte writes a series on the conflict between the business conglomerate, Megaworld Corp., and Datem Inc., a giant firm in the construction industry.
Topping Business
READ: Fee hikes 'still in the pipeline'
PROPOSED adjustments to regulatory fees and charges will push through, but the timeline has yet to be finalized, a senior Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official said last Friday. EC Commissioner McJill Bryant Fernandez said this at the sidelines of a forum organized by the regulator and the Philippine Stock Exchange following the commission's roundtable discussion with representatives of some of the business groups that had filed a joint letter in October opposing the proposed fee increases.Fernandez said the commission and the business groups would soon release a joint statement regarding the matter. The SEC issued in August a proposal implementing a revised schedule of fees for registration, licensing, accreditation and other related transactions for registered corporations. Business groups objected, saying the agency's current collections "already far exceed the cost of its operations" and that higher fees would only serve as a "huge burden" to stakeholders.
In Sports
READ: Nonoy, Cansino brace for finals
ONCE teammates at UST, Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino now meet from the opposing sides in the first-ever La Salle-UP finals duel in UAAP men's basketball history. After competing for a championship together against Ateneo in Season 82 back in 2019, Nonoy battles with the Green Archers and Cansino with the Fighting Maroons this Season 86. Nonoy said he and Cansino remain friends after leaving UST in 2020 following the infamous "Sorsogon bubble" that set up their and a lot of their teammates' departure from the Growling Tigers lair. As their paths crossed as rivals this time, Nonoy said he and Cansino, both playing their respective final UAAP seasons, will give the fans a treat on the court.
READ: Sinner beats Djokovic twice in Davis Cup
A "proud" Jannik Sinner beat world number one Novak Djokovic twice in one day to send Italy into the Davis Cup final with a 2-1 win over Serbia on Saturday in Malaga. Italy, who won the trophy for the first and only time in 1976, will face 28-time winners Australia on Sunday. Sinner, who has now triumphed three times in four clashes across 11 days against the usually unstoppable Djokovic, crucially kept Italy in the tie by beating the 24-time Grand Slam winner 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the second singles rubber. Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then defeated Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive doubles to clinch victory, after Kecmanovic had dispatched Lorenzo Musetti 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-1 in the opener.
READ: Embiid leads Sixers to narrow win over Thunder
Joel Embiid scored 35 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists Saturday (Sunday in Manila) as the Philadelphia 76ers thwarted the Thunder's late rally to escape with a 127-123 NBA victory in Oklahoma City. In addition to a near triple-double, the Sixers' reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid delivered four blocked shots and a steal. He went 19 of 21 from the free throw line, making six free throws in the final 9.8 seconds to hold off a determined young Thunder side that saw their winning streak halted at six games.
READ: Opinion
Today's editorial is on making some headway in bringing peace to Myanmar. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Featured columnists on the front page are Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad. Tiglao says rejoining the ICC is so illogical; Aquino on philosophers and scientists; and Tatad on a dishonored institution.
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