Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Valentine's Day.
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READ: Pirma won't name Cha-cha ad donors
CITING security reasons, the People's Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (Pirma) has refused to identify those who funded the group's television advertisements to promote Charter change (Cha-cha). Sen. Maria Josefa Imelda "Imee" Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, on Tuesday pressed Pirma representatives into naming the ad donors during the continuation of the inquiry on the group's signature campaign or people's initiative to amend the Constitution. In a previous hearing of the committee, Pirma convenor Noel Oñate said the group spent 55 million pesos for the television ads, half of which came from his own pocket. Oñate said the donors do not want to reveal their names in public because of "privacy and security concerns."
READ: 'Youth bloc' asks Sara: Talk to your family
A NEW "youth bloc" in the House of Representatives urged Vice President Sara Duterte to persuade her family members to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration. The call comes as the rift between President Marcos and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president's father, deepens. Duterte has labeled Marcos as a "drug addict" while his son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, demanded Marcos' resignation. The President has countered by saying that Duterte's rants were the result of the painkiller fentanyl he is taking. The bloc, calling themselves the Young Guns, is composed of Representatives Jefferson Khonghun of Zambales, Francisco Paolo Ortega 5th of La Union, Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, and Faustino "Inno" Dy 5th of Isabela.
READ: Ash Wednesday ushers in Lent
THE Lenten season begins today, Ash Wednesday, a reminder of God's eternal love for his people and a reminder for the faithful to be Christ-like and to seek forgiveness for their sins. Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Committee on Public Affairs, said on Tuesday that Ash Wednesday "reminds us of the reality of our end. Our preparation for that is anchored on living the gospel messages."
READ: Marcos to DA: Ensure stable food supply
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Agriculture to ensure that supply and prices of basic commodities are stable in view of the effects of El Niño, which now affects 41 provinces, Malacañang said Tuesday. The President issued the directive during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang, where Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. gave updates on the supply of basic commodities.
BUSINESS: PH markets now in 'risk-on' mode
Topping business, risk appetites have risen as expected threats failed to materialize last year, the Financial Stability Coordination Council said, opening up opportunities not only for businesses but also regulators to prepare for and prevent future shocks. The council, which is comprised of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Finance, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., Insurance Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, first met in 2011 as part of a voluntary initiative to assess systemic risks and decide on policy interventions. Its activities, powers and responsibilities were formalized in 2021, and it now has the legal personality to set guidelines and regulations in line with the country's financial stability agenda.
SPORTS: Beermen gun for 29th PBA crown
Over to sports, San Miguel Beer goes for the kill against Magnolia as both teams collide in Game 6 of their P.B.A. Season 48 Commissioner's Cup title series on Valentine's Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with the Beermen shooting for their 29th league championship. SMB, owned by San Miguel Corp. C.E.O. and President Ramon S. Ang, will also be gunning for its 10th P.B.A. title since the 2014-15 season. San Miguel regained the series lead at 3-2 behind the worried three-point shooting of veteran guard Jericho Cruz, who went 8-of-14 from downtown en route to a playoff career-best 30 points in the team's 108-98 Game 5 victory last Sunday.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Fr. Aquino analyzes a reading from retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, while Tatad looks into the Mindanao secession issue.
Today's editorial believes that the biggest risk of climate change may be social unrest. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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