Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.
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READ: Marcos to address DepEd budget cut
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave assurances he would address the reduction of the Department of Education's (DepEd) 2025 budget, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Sunday. Last week, the bicameral conference committee approved a budget of P737 billion for DepEd, lower by P12 billion than the P748 billion approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Angara said in a statement on Sunday that "sadly, Congress cut the president's proposed budget for the Department of Education, particularly P10 billion for computerization." But the president said he would try to remedy the situation, Angara said. Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of the party-list 1-Rider justified the P10-billion cut in the DepEd's computerization budget. Gutierrez said "the Commission on Audit's (COA) report found that in 2023, DepEd disbursed only P2.075 billion of its P11.36-billion budget for ICT equipment. Angara has underscored the need for more investments in the country's education sector. Speaking at the World Bank Philippines Economic Update Development Dialogue, Angara stressed an urgent need for increased investment in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to ensure a brighter future for Filipino children.
READ: Christmas dawn Masses begin
THE Christmas tradition of celebrating Simbang Gabi or Dawn Mass begins today, Dec. 16. Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said Simbang Gabi is a profound expression of faith and a time to "await in joyful hope the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus." He added that the nine days of dawn Masses are also an opportunity for spiritual renewal and strengthening relationships with God and the community. He said evening Masses will begin as early as 7 p.m. and dawn Masses as early as 4:30 a.m. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has left it to parishes to determine the number of evening or dawn Masses they would hold in a day. The CBCP also reminded churchgoers, particularly the youth, that Simbang Gabi is for worship, not for anything else, like courtship and other non-related activities. The Archdiocese of Manila has released a circular containing the guidelines for the diocese's dawn Masses. The archdiocese encompasses the cities of Manila, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Taguig (Embo barangay) and Quezon City (EDSA Shrine). Its cathedral is the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. The circular stressed that Masses held outside traditional parish venues, such as chapels or workplaces, require permission from the archbishop to preserve the solemnity of the celebration.
READ: Escaping abuse: The plight of survivors
The Philippine Statistics Authority's National Demographic and Health Survey released in 2024 said there were 19,228 incidents of violence against women (VAW) in 2022, including all forms of physical and sexual violence. Data from the Philippine National Police, on the other hand, shows that the number of violations of RA 9261 reached 7,161 in 2022 and rose to 7,764 in 2023. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) only served 883 of those who were physically, sexually and psychologically abused in 2022, but this declined to 217 in 2023. Read the first of a two-part special report of the Times on domestic violence against women in the Philippines.
READ: Filipinos overseas urged: Give back to the homeland
THE recipients of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (Pafioo) urged their countrymen living or working abroad to prioritize education, expand their skill sets and collaborate with like-minded individuals to achieve shared goals. During a roundtable discussion with The Manila Times, Dr. Melvin Senicas, Dr. Leo-Felix Jurado, Dr. Elvy Barroso and Dr. Janet Cuaycong discussed the importance of giving back to the homeland and local communities, serving as inspirations to the global Filipino diaspora.
Topping Business
READ: BSP expected to end year with 3rd rate cut
A THIRD-QUARTER economic slowdown and within-target inflation will likely prompt monetary authorities to cut key interest rates by another 25 basis points (bps) this Thursday, analysts said. All but one of nine economists polled by The Manila Times said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) policymaking Monetary Board would close out 2025 with a third rate cut. The BSP's benchmark rate currently stands at 6.0 percent following two 25-bps reductions in August and September. Policymakers will want to prop up the economy after gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed markedly to a below-target 5.2 percent in the third quarter from 6.4 percent in April-June, the analysts said. Stable consumer prices — inflation rose to 2.5 percent in November due to the impact of recent storms, but is still expected to end the year within the 2.0- to 4.0-percent target range — also points to another rate cut, they added. One factor weighing against further easing, however, is that a fresh rate cut could exacerbate the weak peso, which last month twice returned to a record low of P59 to the dollar and closed 23 centavos weaker on Friday at P58.47:$1
In Sports
READ: UP exacts revenge on La Salle, wrests UAAP crown
IN BREAKING NEWS: The University of the Philippines exacted revenge on last year's Finals tormentor De La Salle University to claim the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball title through a 66-62 Game 3 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Quentin Millora-Brown sank the insurance free throws in the last 11.3 seconds as the Fighting Maroons put an end to back-to-back runner-up finishes before a record crowd of 25,248 fans. Millora-Brown finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Francis Lopez backstopped him with 12 markers, 11 boards, and six assists against nine turnovers. Mike Phillips pumped 18 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Green Archers.
READ: Bucks down Hawks, reach NBA Cup finals
LOS ANGELES — A dominating performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) led the Milwaukee Bucks into the NBA Cup finals, where they will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the title. Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks, 110-102, while Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander netted a game-high 32 points to lead the Thunder over Houston 111-96 in the semifinals at Las Vegas. The Bucks and Thunder will meet for the crown on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
READ: NU reclaims UAAP women's crown
IN the middle of a University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses fightback, it looked like the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs were doomed to crumble and lose the UAAP women's basketball Finals decider to the same team just like last year. Not this time. The Lady Bulldogs found a way and held off a fourth quarter rally by the Growling Tigresses to avenge their last year's defeat through a 78-73 Game 3 escape and wrest the Season 87 finals title at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Rookie of the Year Cielo Pagdulangan displayed all-game brilliance of 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals, ultimately bagging the Finals MVP award. Surada racked up 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists Clarin added 14 markers, six boards, and three assists. Sierba paced UST with 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists as Tacatac pumped 14 points.
READ: Opinion
In today's editorial, the Times says China sells a new narrative to legitimize its claim on Bajo de Masinloc. Read the full version on print, digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are the featured columnists on the front page. Tiglao asks who is ignorant or confused about Scarborough Shoal – Permanent Representative to the United Nations Antonio Lagdameo or the Department of Foreign Affairs; Tatad, meanwhile, asks whether the Constitution has become a burden.
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