Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is perhaps Microsoft’s best next-gen showcase yet. All aspects of its presentation are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with today’s hardware. Its visual and audio flourishes bring to life an incredibly immersive and cinematic adventure that’s unlike anything out right now – an adventure that also tackles themes of mental health in a unique way.

However, as I see it, the game – a sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – might not be to everyone’s taste.

Apart from a few off-the-beaten-path collectibles, your adventure as the returning protagonist Senua is entirely linear. Much of it plays more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, where you could just be walking for an extended period listening to dialogue – which can then be interrupted by a scripted set piece moment. At times, the pace can also feel slow, especially during chapters where there’s not a lot of combat.

Then again, these are evidently intentional creative decisions to bring the narrative into focus and realize how harrowing Senua’s new quest for vengeance is. These same decisions also evoke a grounded realism in the narrative despite the incorporation of supernatural elements from Norse and Celtic mythology.

Linear gameplay

So far, I’m about four hours into Hellblade 2, which is said to be around seven to eight hours long. That puts me in the halfway mark, and from where I currently am in the game – which likely applies to the rest of the game – the gameplay only consists of two parts: combat and puzzles.

The game’s combat system is fairly straightforward. As Senua, you have four basic abilities: a fast attack, a heavy attack, a parry, and an evade. The key is to parry or evade your enemies’ attacks, and then punish them with your own attacks once their guard is down. All combat encounters boil down to this back-and-forth sequence which involves learning your enemies’ attack patterns and capitalizing on brief openings.

Defense is just as important as offense as most enemies can simply block your attacks if you’re not patient enough to wait for an opening. Senua’s movement and sword swings carry a lot of weight to them, so you always have to be deliberate with your inputs. You do acquire an ability early-on in the game that lets you temporarily slow your enemies and make them vulnerable to a flurry of attacks.

Combat encounters play out as a gauntlet of one-of-one duels in small enclosed areas. Enemies could be lingering somewhere off-screen, but you’ll never be facing more than one at a time. But that doesn’t mean combat is ever easy. I’d say it’s just about challenging enough to keep you on your toes and your reflexes in check.

Combat, from what I can tell, is just a small part of the game as you’ll spend more time solving environmental puzzles between encounters. I do appreciate that new enemy types with different attack patterns are introduced on a regular basis, keeping those encounters fresh.

The game’s puzzles come in different forms, though if you played the original, most should probably be rather familiar. Visual puzzles, for example, are the most common early on in the game. These involve finding objects in the environment that are shaped like runes and focusing on them from a certain vantage point, say, atop a hill, to unlock a door that’s blocking your way. Later on, you’ll have to solve more intricate and involved puzzles to progress. In general, the difficulty of puzzles, for me, is just right. They’re not too easy that you don’t have to think, but they’re also not brain-racking enough that they’d eventually make you want to give up and consult a guide.

Unreal presentation

Presentation, as previously mentioned, is where Hellblade 2 truly shines.

Visually, the game is absolutely stunning with some truly realistic-looking character models and environments. Senua in some scenes look so lifelike that she had me doing double-takes to make sure I was still playing a game instead of watching a live action movie. The terrific use of lighting also adds to the realism and helps set the atmosphere of scenes.

Meanwhile, the facial animations are some of the best I’ve ever seen in games, with subtle movements of the face and eyes rendered in such realistic detail. They do such a good job of further selling the already stellar performances of the actors, so much so that with Senua, you can almost feel her pain whenever you see her contort her face and grit her teeth as she grimaces.

All these visual feats were made possible thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the latest iteration of Epic Games’ graphics engine. What’s perhaps most impressive to me about the game and the engine it was built on is how well it runs. I played the game on an aging gaming laptop, and I was surprised at how good it looked and how smoothly it ran.

Also, the overall sound design does a tremendous job in heightening your sense of immersion to the game – or rather to Senua’s inner psyche.

Senua suffers from a certain kind of psychosis that causes her to hear disembodied voices in her head – voices who talk to her and have conversations with each other. The game uses binaural audio to put you, as the player, in Senua’s head, letting you hear the voices the way she hears it, granted that you’re using headphones. The way it works is that you hear different voices from each earphone, giving the impression that they’re there in your head and are moving through your surroundings. This is done through binaural audio, a recording method that lets you hear sound in a 3D space when wearing headphones.

It’s such a great feature because it enhances both the narrative and your immersion. So if you’re planning to play Hellblade 2, be sure to play it with your best headphones.

There’s quite a number of things that make Hellblade 2 somewhat hard to recommend, much of it has to do with how unconventional it is compared to other high profile exclusives. In a way, it plays like an indie but has the visual and audio flourishes of a big blockbuster. But I’d be remiss if I said that it’s not worth experiencing – at least even once. Keyword here is experience. Because to me, Hellblade 2 is more of a game you experience, rather than you play – if that makes any sense.

Hellblade 2 is out on May 21 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, Cloud, as well as Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. – Rappler.com

BACOLOD, Philippines – Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas apologized for his outburst after reporters raised questions about the demolition of an 86-year-old art deco façade at the Iloilo City Public Market, during a news conference on Monday, May 20.

During the press conference, Treñas blew his top and lost his composure as he threatened to sue those who would report about the contentious demolition of the old market façade.

Treñas’ outburst, directed at reporters questioning the demolition, was widely criticized on social media, with many describing his reaction as unprofessional and arrogant. 

Hours later, on Monday night, city hall’s public information office released a statement from Treñas about the incident.

“I would like to apologize for my outburst this morning. This was uncalled for,” read his statement.

The mayor’s outburst stemmed from the demolition of the art deco façade of the 112-year-old Iloilo City Public Market, a project which is part of a P3-billion market rehabilitation plan involving a public-private partnership with SM Prime Holdings Incorporated (SMPHI). 

Based on an April 18, 2024 report of the Iloilo-based Daily Guardian, the façade was demolished to facilitate the market’s redevelopment.

On May 18, the same newspaper reported again that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA), and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) would look into the controversial demolition.

Treñas has maintained that the demolition was legally justified, with documents to support the local government’s actions. 

He said preserving the façade was initially planned, but it was found structurally unsafe. The first option, he said, was to retrofit but such would distort the original design, so the decision was made to reconstruct.

Constructed on January 15, 1912, with the art deco façade added in 1938, the Iloilo City Public Market has been a historical landmark. 

“I’ve never seen Mayor Jerry Treñas this mad, publicly berating and threatening to file cases against members of the press asking questions [regarding] the Central Market historical faĉade during his presscon. To the more discerning, they might perceive this as misplaced arrogance,” said Lemuel Fernandez, publisher of the Daily Guardian and a former president of the Iloilo Press Club (IPC).

Treñas admitted that his frustration was partly fueled by frequent criticisms of the project on Facebook by Nereo Lujan, a former journalist and local historian who now serves as an information officer for the Iloilo provincial government. 

Lujan did not name Treñas in his posts, which criticized the demolition for lacking a “letter of no objection” from the NHCP. 

Treñas, who felt alluded to, has announced plans to file a libel complaint against Lujan.

Lujan declined on Tuesday, May 21, to respond to Treñas’ threat. –Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh off their rendition of Harold Pinter’s critically acclaimed play Betrayal, Repertory Philippines (REP) is back with I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, their second installment for the busy 2024 season. 

With book and lyrics written by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, the musical made its Off-Broadway debut in 1996.

Twelve years and 5,003 performances later, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change became the second longest-running Off-Broadway production. REP’s local take on the musical marks the second time the material has been staged before a Filipino audience since 2006, with theater veteran Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo set to direct.

With an impressive cast, an amusing title, and relevant subject matter, here’s what audiences can expect from REP’s upcoming musical revue.

Vignettes of modern relationships

Through a string of standalone scenes and songs, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is “a series of hilarious yet achingly familiar vignettes on connection and intimacy, commitment and loneliness.” The musical tackles the reality behind the many faces, ages, and settings linked to modern relationships through mere glimpses into the lives of a whopping 40 individuals.

Admittedly much has changed in theater and the dating scene since the musical’s Off-Broadway run and its Philippine premiere. To accommodate these shifts, REP will be staging the revised 2018 version of the musical, which holds a few lyric rewrites and song changes that help make the story more contemporary. 

In the show’s media launch on Thursday, May 16, Lauchengco-Yulo shared that the creative team challenged themselves to depart from their comfort zones by making the story “more current” and “geared for the audiences of today” but without altering the original material. This means making the show more purposive in its storytelling and “visually interesting.”

“My opening is completely different from how it was staged in the past. Hope it works,” she said. 

While previous iterations tend to rely on stereotypes, caricatures, and comic relief to drive their narratives home, Lauchengco-Yulo said that it took them “lots of experimenting” to arrive at a healthy middle ground between truth and theatrics.

“What’s important is you have to come out of a scene and say, ‘Oh my god, I felt that, I know that feeling,’ rather than just laughing for the sake of laughing.”

Musical director Ejay Yatco also explained that the 2018 version opted to swap violins, bass, and pianos for more modern-sounding electric guitars, electric bass, and drums.

However, the show ultimately tests the acting chops of principal cast members Krystal Kane, Marvin Ong, Gabby Padilla, and Gian Magdangal, who will be stepping into the shoes of multiple characters. Davy Narciso and Barbara Jance will also be joining the four as swings. 

From mastering the music to timing to quick changes, Kane spoke about the process behind assuming their roles.

“It’s very challenging to play so many different characters, especially with the age range [in mind]. To play the characters, but at the same time, play them truthfully,” Kane said. “So how do you find the truth in it, without overplaying it?”

For Narciso, the swing tasked to learn both Ong and Magdangal’s tracks, the challenge veers more to the technical than artistic aspect. “You have to know what you’re going to say before you say it, not just how to say it or how to play it,” he explained.

“At the end of the day, I always tell them, ‘These are real people,’ no matter how absurd some of them are,” Lauchencgo-Yulo also shared. 

Highly-awaited comebacks

Most of the show’s cast members will be making an overdue comeback to the stage. For actor and history teacher Marvin Ong, the project marks his first theater role in 10 years. 

“I felt the tug was very strong. Not just because I want to do theater again, but [it’s] also the material that’s very intriguing,” Ong said, sharing that it was also the ease he felt with his cast mates that made him say “yes” to the musical. 

Reeling from the success and anticipation of projects like Gitling, Secret Ingredient, and Kono Basho, long-time REPper Gabby Padilla returns to her theater roots in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. “Like Marvin, it was also Tita Menchu who got me to say yes. We all want to work with her.”

For Lauchengco-Yulo, who was trained under REP since 1998, rekindling ties with the company was a no-brainer. Her last directorial work with REP was in 2013 – she has since worked mostly at Newport World Resorts’ Full House Theater Company as its co-artistic director.

”It’s really like you go off to college and you come back and you’re home. It’s that sort of feeling. And nothing changes, it really doesn’t,” she shared.

Alongside Lauchengco-Yulo and Yatco, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change boasts equally exceptional names in its creative team, like assistant director Cara Barredo, set and costume designer Joey Mendoza, projector graphics and video designer GA Fallarme, lighting designer Meliton Roxas, choreographer Stephen Viñas, and sounds designer Aji Manalo.

Love in all of its mess and beauty

Amid a chaotic and trying era of situationships, dating apps, and ghosting, REP says I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change couldn’t be any more relatable and timely today.

When asked what audiences who grew accustomed to such a dating scene can expect from the musical, Padilla told Rappler, “What this story tells you, I think in every scenario, in all the love troubles you may have, no matter how strange, different, how unconventional you may believe yourself to be, you will find a person and you will connect with them, and love is universal in that way.”

For Ong, it’s that no love is perfect, yet it is a “primordial human feeling” one can’t help but come back to. “There’s always going to be adjustments on both ends, compromise on both ends.”

“If Gen Z watches the shows, they’re going to find some moments in the show they could relate to, but you could also have an old couple come to the show and relate to some scenes,” said Kane. “I think that’s what makes this show so beautiful and at the same time, kind of timeless, because love is timeless.”

Magdangal, for her part, said: “I guess that’s what love is, it’s a lot of finding and discovering yourself, and in effect, each other.”

“Who knows, you might find that person when you watch this,” she added, teasing that watching the show could also make for a good date idea.

Apart from I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Lauchengco-Yulo also revealed that REP’s offerings for the latter half of the season will highlight Filipino storytelling through new children’s musical Jepoy and The Magic Circle, which will launch the company’s new home in Eastwood City, and Going Home to Christmas, their first original Filipino musical featuring the festive catalog of Jose Mari Chan. 

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will run from June 14 to July 6 at the RCBC Plaza’s  Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in Makati City. Tickets are available at Ticket2Me and official showbuyers. – Rappler.com

Who will be the Philippines’ next representative in the Miss Universe pageant? 

The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant sees 53 women competing in the hopes of succeeding Michelle Dee, who concluded her journey in the Miss Universe 2023 Top 10.

The 2024 competition is looking to be an interesting edition as it marks several firsts in the pageant’s history: delegates for this year were chosen through the Accredited Partners Program, the roster also includes candidates representing overseas Filipino communities, and there are no age restrictions for the candidates. 

There will also be four more crowns up for grabs, giving the candidates more opportunities to represent the Philippines in international pageants.

Coronation night is happening on Wednesday, May 22, 8pm at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Bookmark this page for updates!

BACOLOD, Philippines – Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas filed a complaint for cyber libel on Tuesday afternoon, May 21, against the provincial government’s information officer, a move which resulted from criticisms directed at the city hall’s decision to demolish the 86-year-old art deco façade of the Iloilo City Public Market (ICPM) to make way for its redevelopment.

Treñas lodged the complaint against Nereo Lujan, also a local historian, for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act before the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office, a day after the mayor threatened to sue media workers who report allegations of wrongdoing against him in connection with the controversial façade demolition.

Lujan has alleged in his Facebook posts that the demolition was done despite the absence of no-objection certificates from concerned government agencies. He said the nearly century-old façade had historical and cultural heritage significance in Iloilo City.

Must Read

Iloilo mayor apologizes for outburst over old market façade demolition queries

Although Lujan did not name Treñas in his post, the mayor said he felt alluded to.

Treñas maintained that the demolition had to be done, and the move was legal and based on the findings of experts on structural integrity.

Lujan declined to comment, but pointed to a message he posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, May 22.

“Onion-skinned politicians are characterized by their hypersensitivity to criticism and dissent,” read part of Lujan’s FB post. “Politicians who react aggressively to criticism, whether through public outbursts, legal threats, or actual lawsuits, exhibit a profound misunderstanding of their role as public servants.”

Treñas made good on his threat to file a complaint against Lujan, a day after the mayor publicly apologized for his outburst during a press conference on Monday, May 20. He admitted that his reaction was uncalled for.

Francis Allan Angelo, editor-in-chief of the Iloilo-based Daily Guardian, said one of their reporters, Joey Marzan, was “still reeling from the chilling effect” of the mayor’s outburst.

Angelo said Marzan, who reported on the controversial demolition, “was the target of the mayor’s burning gaze and scathing words.”

During the controversial press conference at city hall, Treñas spewed invectives while he threatened to sue them for reporting that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Philippine commission was investigating the demolition.

Treñas said the secretary general of the UNESCO-National Commission of the Philippines, Dr. Ivan Anthony Henares, has denied the Daily Guardian report on May 18. Henares also serves as a National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)  commissioner.

Meanwhile, the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in Western Visayas criticized Treñas for threatening the local media.

“Mayor Treñas’ reaction, including his threats to sue journalists, is not only unfortunate but also chilling. It is unbecoming of a public official who claims to champion freedom. While the mayor has apologized, his denial of the threats, despite evidence, casts doubt on the sincerity of his apology,” read part of the CEGP-Western Visayas statement. –Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – If Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan ends up battling former teammate Maxine Esteban in the Paris Olympics, then so be it.

Catantan braces for any possible matchup as she and Esteban – who now represents African nation Ivory Coast – compete in the same women’s foil division when they make their Olympic debuts in the capital of France.

“It’s an external factor that we don’t have any control of,” Catantan said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, May 21.

Catantan, the first female fencer from the Philippines to qualify for the Games after ruling the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in April, faces a tall order in Paris.

She will see action in the direct elimination round of 64, and if she advances, she will likely face the top-ranked fencer in the round of 32.

USA’s Lee Kiefer, who won the women’s foil gold in the Tokyo Games, sits atop the world rankings.

“No matter where we land, we’ll be going up against someone strong,” said Amat Canlas, who coaches Catantan in the national team.

If Canlas would have his way, he said he would not want Catantan to tangle with Esteban.

“We like it better if we face a different country. Sam and Maxine were teammates for a long time. But of course, if that is what the bracket indicates, then we’ll prepare for it, said Canlas.

Now fully recovered from a knee injury that kept her out of action for months, the Penn State University standout ramps up her Olympic preparations by spending the next couple of weeks practicing with the Philippine team.

She will then take part in a training camp in Venice, Italy, that will run from June 12 to 29 alongside her Italian coach at Penn State.

After that, Catantan and Canlas are off to France, with the Philippines’ entire Olympic team holding a month-long training camp in Metz.

While the odds are stacked against her, Catantan has embraced a level-headed approach.

“Nothing is impossible,” said Catantan.

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– Rappler.com

LONDON, United Kingdom – Ireland will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Wednesday, May 22, adding he expected other countries to follow in the coming weeks after talking to world leaders.

“Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine,” Harris said at a press conference.

“In the lead up to today’s announcement, I’ve spoken with a number of other leaders and counterparts and I’m confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks,” he added.

He said a two-state solution was the only credible path to peace and security for Israel, Palestine and their peoples.

The recognition of statehood has particular resonance in Ireland given its history, Harris said.

“Taking our place on the world stage and being recognized by others as having the right to be there was a matter of the highest importance for the founders of our state,” he said.

He added that Ireland was unequivocal in fully recognizing Israel and its right to exist “securely and in peace with its neighbors”, and he called for all hostages in Gaza to be immediately returned.

Ireland’s recognition of Palestine will be formally enacted on May 28, foreign minister Micheal Martin said on X. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The US and Japan will help the Philippines link the ports in Subic, Manila, and Batangas and build an industrial area free of slow traffic and powered by renewable energy, positioned to rival the capital in economic output.

The steering committee tasked to build the Luzon Economic Corridor met in Manila on Monday, May 22, in the inaugural Indo-Pacific Business Forum. 

The committee is comprised  of: 

• Frederick Go, Philippine Senior Advisor for Investment and Economic Affairs 
• Amos Hochstein, US Senior Advisor to the President for Energy and Investment 
• Helaina Matza, US Acting Special Coordinator for Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment 
• Ishizuki Hideo, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for International Cooperation 

The Luzon Economic Corridor is a pet project of the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), which is a collaborative effort of G7-member nations to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. The Luzon Economic Corridor is the first in the Indo-Pacific region.

Details of what projects will comprise the corridor are still under discussion, but the Philippines has already pitched the freight railway that will link Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Recall that China was supposed to fund the P51-billion Subic railway, but it was scrapped amid political tensions between the Philippines and Beijing. 

What’s an ‘economic corridor’ anyway?

Economic corridors are more than infrastructure.

Hochstein explained that economic corridor projects of the US involve coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, as well as incentives for the private sector.

“The idea is not to invest in a narrow fashion, but to grow the aperture, expand it, looking at how you get investment into multi-sectors,” Hochstein said.

The US’ first corridor project was Lobito, Africa, which connected Angola to Congo and Zambia. Its goal was to unlock the natural resources and investments in landlocked countries to the global economy by going to a coastal country.

“The role of government is not to make the investment, that’s not what we wanna do. You have to look at how you spend government dollars in the most efficient way possible to spur growth in investment in sectors we believe are the most attractive,” he added.

The Philippines has proposed the Subic-Clark railway, as well as the expansion of the Clark International Airport, and the Clark National Food Hub for the said corridor.

Hideo said the economic corridor aims to reduce costs of goods and services through efficient transport infrastructure.

Why Luzon?

Go said Luzon was chosen as the area for the economic corridor as it houses the most active ports in the Philippines. The ports of Clark, Manila, and Batangas already comprise 80% of all port traffic nationwide.

Subic, a former military base, is also where a shipyard, formerly controlled by Korean firm Hanjin before it declared bankruptcy, is also located.

American investment firm Cerberus Capital Management was its white knight, renaming it to Agila Subic shipyard. Just recently, its subsidiary inked a deal with global shipbuilder HD Hyundai for a lease agreement.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopes the deal will “restore the glory days of shipbuilding” in the country. Go said the area will be the “largest single dry dock space in the world.”

Clark is also home to many semiconductor companies, as well as those involved in making aircraft and automotive parts, IT services, and cold storage facilities. Go hopes to entice pharmaceutical companies to locate there through the planned infrastructure projects.

Go emphasized that Clark Global City is also located there. With around 10,000 hectares of land, it aims to be the new business center and could be the better choice other than Metro Manila.

The Clark Freeport Zone also has 18 hotels, making it an enticing tourist destination and convention site.

Who’s funding what?

Funding details are still under wraps, but Philippine Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said that the US Trade and Development Agency could provide grants to the Philippines for the feasibility study. 

Meanwhile, Hochstein declined to give specific figures, but noted that other multilateral agencies can support studies on a “piece by piece” basis.

The Philippine government earlier said it expects to generate as much as $100 billion in investments from the project from Japan and the US over the next decade.

The US-China angle

Talks of creating the Luzon Economic Corridor comes amid escalated tensions over the West Philippine Sea.

The US-China trade wars have also continued to escalate amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as tensions between Beijing and Taiwan.

US President Joe Biden has been making sweeping efforts to slow down China’s technological capabilities.

The US Commerce Department issued a broad set of prohibitions on exports to China of semiconductors and other tech amid military tensions and the boom of artificial intelligence.

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This export ban, alongside incentives for US chip makers to relocate to countries that it deemed friendlier, has been viewed as Biden’s clear strategy of capping China’s potential in various technological developments, including surveillance and military capabilities.

The Philippines is one of seven countries that the US has identified as partners to diversify its semiconductor supply chain amid these sanctions against China.

The corridor also has geopolitical and security aspects. The shipyard’s takeover by an American firm, for instance, was once described by former finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III as an “ideal harbor for [the Philippine Navy’s] rapidly expanding fleet facing the West Philippine Sea.”

“The Philippines is a fast-growing economy, a very capable country with a workforce that is dynamic and capable and educated, and has a history with the United States of both on the security side and the economic side.  We have multiple American companies that are already here. So we wanted to invest in the Philippines because it’s a friend and a partner and an ally,” Hochstein said. – Rappler.com

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – Authorities arrested a young man from Iligan City and seized more than P1 million worth of suspected shabu (meth) from him during an operation in Pagadian City on Tuesday afternoon, May 21.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilzen Niño Manese, Pagadian City police chief, identified the suspect as 19-year-old Benhalid Ampuan of Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City, in Northern Mindanao.

Manese said on Wednesday, May 22, that Ampuan was arrested by policemen during a buy- bust operation at Purok Malipayon, Barangay Dao, Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur at around 2:32 pm on Tuesday. 

The suspect allegedly yielded some 160 grams of suspected shabu packed in eight plastic sachets.

Authorities said the suspected illegal drugs were estimated to be worth P1.108 million.

Police confiscated Ampuan’s mobile phone, the marked money given to him by an agent who posed as a buyer, and several other items.

Manese said Ampuan was placed under the custody of Pagadian City police, while a complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was being prepared against him.

Brigadier General Bowenn Joey Masauding, police director in the Zamboanga Peninsula region, said the arrest was made as a result of the collaboration of the Pagadian police and the Philippine National Police’s Regional Intelligence Division. –Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Although under a new name, the newly christened Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team is set to go through the same baptismal by fire as its 2024 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup journey kicks off against Australia on Thursday, May 23, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The lowest-ranked team in the five-country Pool A, Alas is out to prove it is better than its record with a new, star-studded core featuring a healthy mix of veterans and MVP-caliber young guns.

Led by captain Jia de Guzman, PVL MVP Sisi Rondina, and multi-awarded libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig, the Philippines is also set to parade an exciting lineup of prospects like UAAP MVP Angel Canino, star spiker Eya Laure, and former La Salle blocker teammates Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma.

The star power is there, but the chemistry is not quite so, as the team was formed mere days before the week-long tournament due to other club and school team commitments.

Can Alas ace its first assignment to set the tone or will Australia quickly send the Philippines down under the standings?

First serve is around 7 pm, depending on the finish of the other matches. – Rappler.com

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Bookmark this page and watch the interview on Wednesday, May 22, at 6 pm

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is actively pursuing plans to attract renewable energy companies, with a particular focus on developing its offshore wind potential.

The Marcos administration has allowed foreigners to fully own renewable energy companies, making the country more enticing for investors.

In 2022, the Philippine Department of Energy, in collaboration with the World Bank, launched the Offshore Wind Roadmap, which outlined the potential for offshore wind development and identified over 178 gigawatts of technical potential for offshore wind energy.

In this episode of Business Sense, BlueFloat Energy chief executive officer Carlos Martin talks about the company’s planned investments in the Philippines.

Martin also discusses the various obstacles, as well as opportunities, in building offshore wind projects. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s newly-created “super body” will not succeed in addressing the human rights issues in the country because it will be composed of agencies that contributed to the problem. 

In a joint statement on Tuesday, May 21, civil society organizations said that “the most fundamental defect of the [Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination] is its composition.”

“[These] agencies not only failed to address the many human rights issues relating to the brutal ‘war on drugs’ and suppression of freedoms and dissent but are, in fact, part of the problem,” the groups said. 

“Another layer of bureaucracy with a questionable mandate and composed of agencies with questionable human rights records will be useless,” they added. 

The statement was signed by 11 organizations based in the Philippines and abroad, including the following: 

• Aktionsbundnis Menschenrechte – Philippinen 
• Amnesty Philippines
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
• Council for People’s Development and Governance
• Franciscans International 
• IBON Foundation
• In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement 
• Karapatan
• Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
• National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
• World Organisation Against Torture

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Marcos’ ‘toothless’ human rights body: Questionable composition, for political gain?

Marcos signed Administrative Order 22 on May 8, creating the body that aims to “further champion human rights protection” in the Philippines that will be under the presidential committee on human rights (PHRC). It is expected to sustain the activities implemented under the United Nations Joint Human Rights Program, which is seen by stakeholders as lacking response to the violence under Duterte.

The new body is led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin with Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla as co-chair. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) sit as members. 

The PHRC, according to the groups, has no credibility to discuss human rights as it “functions mainly as an apologist and propagandist of the government as it tries to parry allegations of state abuses.” 

They also hit the “lackluster record” of the Department of Justice in investigating the high number of drug war killings and DILG’s inaction against erring policemen. 

At least 6,252 individuals were killed in police anti-illegal drug operations under Rodrigo Duterte, while human rights groups estimate the number to reach almost 30,000 to include those killed vigilante-style. Only a handful of these cases led to police convictions. 

Meanwhile, there have been at least 661 drug-related killings across the country under Marcos as of May 18, 2024, according to monitoring conducted by the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.

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Instead of hiding behind the super body, the civil society organizations urged the Marcos administration to be more intentional and do concrete actions against impunity.

These include cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), categorically ending the drug war by revoking official issuances made by Duterte, and stopping red-tagging as state policy.

These actions “will be far more effective in ending impunity and securing accountability for serious rights abuses.”

“The thousands of victims of human rights abuses in the Philippines at present and even during the dictatorship of the president’s father deserve better,” the groups said. “They deserve accountability, they deserve justice, they deserve closure.” – Rappler.com

Like a raging thunderbolt, a letter from the archbishop struck parishes in Pangasinan. 

“THIS MUST STOP,” wrote Archbishop Socrates Villegas in all caps – a line he repeated six times in a three-page circular issued on Pentecost Sunday, May 19. 

Villegas, 63, admonished priests and parish staff of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan against the practice of charging minimum “donations” in exchange for sacraments. This is “a matter of grave concern,” he said in Circular 2024-13, and having to bring it up “brings me much sadness.”

He emphasized in all caps, “SADNESS INDEED!” 

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan had abolished fix rates for sacraments as early as 2013, a consensus that was reaffirmed in 2017. Villegas, who has led the archdiocese since 2009, said God’s graces and the priesthood “are free and beyond payment.”

Villegas noted that in his archdiocese, majority of parishes already observe pananabangan, their system of church support based on voluntary offerings of money or services, not fixed rates. In a few parishes, however, old ways “are slowly creeping back.” He said they should nip them in the bud. 

Villegas made a litany of practices that he said “must stop”:

• “If the parish secretary or catechist is asked about rates for baptism, confirmation, or wedding, they indicate or imply a minimum rate of ‘donation’ from each of the sponsors. THIS MUST STOP.”
  
• “If the parish secretary or staff is asked about the ‘cost’ of a Mass intention, a minimum amount is said or insinuated. THIS MUST STOP.”
  
• “If a couple preparing for matrimony asking about the ‘donation’ they must make for their wedding gets a reply from the parish staff about a minimum amount or makes the number of sponsors as the basis for the ‘donation,’ sometimes even in the thousands of pesos, this is grossly wrong. THIS MUST STOP.”
  
• “Even worse, insinuating extra pay for the rolling out of the wedding carpet, the added wedding floral arrangements, or the wider opening of the church doors for the wedding entourage smacks of commercialism. THIS MUST STOP.”
  
• “It is inconsiderate for the parish staff to collect from the bereaved families fixed offerings for the funeral Masses or votive Masses for the souls of the faithful departed. THIS MUST STOP.”
  
• “Inasmuch as the Catholic faithful are free to choose the church venue to celebrate their wedding and baptism, it leaves an ugly taste to collect fines from couples or parents who will have their weddings or baptisms celebrated elsewhere. THIS MUST STOP.”

‘Fear of lacking money’

Parish priests, he added, should not only warn their secretaries and cashiers “against declaring or insinuating fixed rates for the sacraments and sacramentals.” It is also crucial for priests “to monitor them randomly and ask parishioners how the parish secretaries conduct their tasks.”

Villegas warned that “the fear of lacking money has destroyed many brother-priests.”

“The parish does not derive its stability from money,” he said, adding that money can even “numb us against the poverty in the barangays” or “make us feel that we have the right to the privileges of the wealthy.”

“If we give the people Christ, they will repay us with loving support abundantly materially, spiritually, and even emotionally,” said Villegas.

“The problem is not money. The problem is faith and faithfulness,” the archbishop added.

Villegas, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, is the shepherd of around 1.19 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, and his circular only applies to them.

His archdiocese covers the capital of Pangasinan as well as two cities and 15 municipalities in the central part of the province.

Other dioceses, such as the Archdiocese of Manila, the Diocese of Balanga, and the Diocese of Talibon, have also abolished fixed rates for sacraments.

That’s great news for the Philippines, a former Spanish colony where 300 years of abuses by Catholic friars have left an indelible mark. 

But then, a bishop’s order is one thing, a transaction at the parish office is another. – Rappler.com

BUTUAN, Philippines – The Butuan city government declared a state of calamity on Tuesday, May 21, in response to a water shortage affecting the entire city.

The city council approved Resolution No. 238-2024 during a regular session, allowing the city and impacted barangays to utilize their respective 30% Quick Response Fund. The funds will be used to implement projects, programs, and activities aimed at mitigating the ongoing water crisis.

The declaration followed a recommendation from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Butuan Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada after an executive committee meeting earlier in the day.

“More than fifteen percent (15%) of Butuan City’s population and over thirty percent (30%) of the agricultural, business, and industrial sectors are affected by the water supply shortage, urgently requiring emergency assistance,” the resolution stated.

According to the Butuan City Water District (BCWD) advisory on May 21, the total bulk water supply from its main supplier, Taguibo Aquatech Solutions Corporation (TASC), has dropped critically to 30 million liters per day (MLD), well below the normal operating level of 56.6 MLD.

TASC sources water from the Taguibo River at Sitio Iyao in Barangay Anticala within the Taguibo River Watershed Forest Reserve, which has now dried up due to below-normal rainfall for the past three months. The situation was blamed on the El Niño phenomenon, as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

BCWD reported that with water availability at only 30 MLD, 15 barangays would have no water for 24 hours, while 29 other barangays would receive water on a rotational basis.

“As the water service provider of Butuan City, we are currently facing a significant challenge due to the prolonged drought affecting our water supply. This situation has resulted in a low service level, making it essential for us to undertake measures to address the issue and ensure the continuity of our services,” BCWD stated.

BCWD said they have deployed six tankers to supply water to the affected barangays.

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The Butuan City Public Information Office (PIO) announced on its Facebook page that the local government was conducting an inventory of water sources for rationing and water tanks in the barangays.

“A water crisis management team will be established to focus on the water supply problem,” the PIO added.

BCWD has faced criticisms due to the water shortage, with complaints about the inconsistent rationing schedules and rotational supply even before the crisis.

Cynth Zephanee Nietes, a resident of Barangay Libertad, told Rappler that the water supply in her community was already problematic even before the shortage, and the situation worsened now with the El Niño phenomenon.

“We don’t have a deep well or a tank. We wait until midnight or early morning to store water. Sometimes, we go to neighboring towns to fetch water or buy mineral water,” Nietes said.

“It’s very inconvenient, from washing clothes to dishes and even personal hygiene. It’s stressful to wait for water to flow. You can’t sleep properly because you’re always waiting for water,” Nietes added.

On May 18, BCWD appealed to its concessionaires and the general public to refrain from harassing their field personnel.

“To sustain our operations and continue delivering essential services, we must collect payments from our concessionaires… We urge you to support us by cooperating with our personnel during their fieldwork and by ensuring timely payment of your water bills. Your contributions are vital in overcoming the drought’s challenges and continuing to serve you to the best of our abilities,” BCWD stated. –Rappler.com

BALAYAN, Batangas— The Boston Celtics secured their first series win, 1-0, in the Eastern Conference finals after going up against the Indiana Pacers, 133-128, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 22 (PHT).  

Jayson Tatum led the game for the Celtics after finishing with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. He scored 10 of them during overtime after Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left in the game. Boston made a timely comeback that resulted in a victory over the Pacers.   

Along with Tatum, Jrue Holiday added a season-high 28 points, seven rebounds, and 8 assists, and Brown finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and five assists.  

The Celtics became the first team in the history of NBA Playoffs that there were three players totaling 25+ points and three steals in a game. This is the ninth time that this has happened in a Conference Finals game ever.  

Although the Celtics struggled for most of the game with shooting in the 3-point range, they still ended the match with 15 of 45 being knocked down from beyond the arc.  

“Welcome to the NBA playoffs. You’ve just got to manage your emotions. Anything can happen. It’s not over until the final buzzer sounds. It’s not over until it’s over. We found a way to win the game at the very end,” Jaylen Brown said.  

For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton led the team with 25 points and 10 assists. Pascal Siakam also finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Lastly, Myles Turner with 23 points and 10 rebounds.  

Haliburton shot 13 of his 3-pointers and scored 56 points in the paint against the Celtics.  

But Boston leveled up their defense. They finished with 11 steals, three of which were done by Brown, Tatum, and Holiday.   

The Pacers took the lead at 123-121 after Haliburton made all three free throws after being fouled with 1:46 left. T.J. McConnell fouled Tatum after powering through for a layup. He completed the three-point play to secure the Celtics lead for the rest of the game.  

The Pacers had a turnover again, this time by Haliburton. The ball ended up in Tatum’s hand at the top of the key. He pumped, sidestepped a defender, and nailed a 3-pointer that made the score 127-123 with 43 seconds remaining.  

White and Siakam exchanged layups. After Holiday was fouled, he made two free throws which gave the Celtics a lead, 131-125.  

“It’s unfortunate we did so many good things in this game that it came down to a couple of mistakes at the end, but it’s the NBA playoffs. We’ve got to learn from it, and we’ve got to bounce back,” Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle said.  

The Celtics and Pacers will face each other again at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on May 23, 8 AM (PHT). 

MANILA, Philippines – A resident of Dinagat Islands joined plaintiffs from Pakistan, Zimbabwe, France, Belgium, Greece, Australia, and three non-government organizations from France and Mexico in a criminal case filed against French oil giant TotalEnergies on Tuesday, May 21.

Frank Nicol Melgar Marba, 29, is the sole Filipino plaintiff in the transnational climate litigation. Marba and other individual plaintiffs were victims of climate-related disasters.

In 2021, Typhoon Odette destroyed parts of the country, damaging half a million houses, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Marba’s house was among them.

“We demand TotalEnergies to pay not just for the destruction of our properties, but more importantly for the loss of our livelihood and the trauma that we are still dealing with up to now,” Marba said in a statement.

“Our livelihoods never really fully recovered and whenever there’s news of a typhoon coming our way, my grandmother still shakes in fear being reminded of our ordeal from Typhoon Odette.”

The case was filed at the Paris Criminal Court.

The non-government organizations part of the litigation said they hoped that “this trial will establish TotalEnergies’ directors and shareholders’ criminal liability for their contribution to the impacts of climate change” and set a legal precedent where “opening new fossil fuel projects would be considered criminal.”

Filipinos would be more familiar with the big oil company through the gas station Total. The company had recently rebranded to TotalEnergies to signal its energy transition.

First criminal climate litigation

In the past, climate litigation has largely been civil actions based on tort, or the legal principle that an omission whether intentional or accidental amounts to an injury payable by damages.

In this context, the omissions of private companies or governments amount to an injury payable to the victims of adverse effects of climate change.

The groups said this is the first time that a climate action will be a criminal one.

While the framing of the offense is still the same– one that is based on the accusation that omissions led to injuries– a criminal action like this compliments a bigger campaign to environmental destructors as criminals.

There’s been a push for the International Criminal Court, for example, to add ‘ecocide’ as a fifth international crime to criminalize serious forms of environmental destruction.

According to the lawyers, they filed the criminal action in Paris based on the jurisdictional principle that the “crime” happened in Paris where the company was based. It’s where they made boardroom decisions that supposedly impacted the victims from other jurisdictions.

Climate change litigation, increasing as it is, is still marked by frustrations due to the difficulty of enforcing the orders, especially when the order is issued by an international court.

International court orders are difficult to enforce locally, as nations invoke sovereignty. The last climate action win was in April when the European Court of Human Rights decided in favor of elderly Swiss women, and declared that their government’s climate inaction was a violation of the European convention of human rights.

The defendant

TotalEnergies is one of the top oil and gas companies in the world, among ExxonMobil, Shell, and Chevron.

These companies are collectively known as “Big Oil,” responsible for much of the carbon emissions that exacerbate climate change impacts especially in vulnerable nations.

A 2023 report from the French daily Le Monde said the company was linked to at least 23 oil and gas extraction sites, also called “carbon bombs.” The report said these extraction sites could produce more than 60 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

TotalEnergies is already facing at least eight climate lawsuits. In 2024, it received a complaint from Yemenites suing them for oil exploitation in their country.

The firm targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect) emissions from operations by -40% by 2030. It reported a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from operated assets in 2023, 24% lower than their emissions in 2015.

Claire Nouvian, director of Paris-based environmental organization BLOOM, said that TotalEnergies’ board of directors and main shareholders “have proven that those who have a financial interest in the destruction of the world are not apt to take responsible decisions.”

“Letting them do so would equate to giving them a right to globocide,” Nouvian said. “It would be irresponsible of us. We are determined to do everything it takes to stop climate criminals.”

A total of 29 other organizations, not part of the legal case, support the litigation, including Greenpeace Philippines.

“Oil and gas companies like TotalEnergies must pay for losses and damages for climate impacts,” said Greenpeace campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin.

“We should not make communities who bear the brunt of the disasters shoulder the cost.”

Benosa-Lorin urged the Philippine government to demand payment for recovery and rehabilitation.

So far, the Philippine government had been proactive in this regard. It had secured a seat in the inaugural board of the fund that seeks to cover for loss and damages incurred by developing countries.

The Philippine government has also stood with Pacific island nations in their bid at the International Court of Justice to make the world’s polluters pay.

As the world feels the impact of climate change, individuals, organizations, and states have been resorting to international law in recent years to make polluters pay. Is the current framework of international law enough to obligate countries to cooperate and drastically cut emissions?

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– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Justice prosecutors have recommended the filing of drug possession and other charges against Canadian Thomas Gordon O’Quinn who was arrested in Tagaytay City on May 16, the DOJ said on Wednesday, May 22.

“Finding that the evidence of the complainant sufficient and that respondent was validly arrested, criminal informations for two counts of violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of RA (Republic Act) No. 9165 and for the crime of use of fictitious names will be filed against respondent in the appropriate courts,” the DOJ said.

The justice department said O’Quinn – who was also tagged in the P9-billion shabu haul in Alitagtag, Batangas, in April – was found to have used false names and documents through the verification of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Bureau of Immigration.

He is also on the list of Interpol’s Red Notice and has a pending warrant of arrest in the United States for alleged violation of anti-drug laws.

On Friday, May 17, the National Capital Region Police Office announced the arrest of O’Quinn, who used the alias “James Toby Martin.” He was arrested during the May 16 operation at Nurture Spa and Wellness in Tagaytay City. He underwent inquest proceedings on Friday before DOJ prosecutors.

Police seized the following evidence during the operation against O’Quinn: multiple types of illegal drugs, electronic devices, and several identification documents bearing various aliases.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Monday, May 21, that O’Quinn was allegedly implicated in the Batangas shabu haul. However, the cases that will be filed by the prosecutors stemmed from O’Quinn’s arrest in Tagaytay last week, and not yet in relation to the Batangas operation.

Authorities identified O’Quinnn as one of the possible cohorts of Michael Zarate Ajalon, who was arrested in the Batangas shabu haul on April 15. Police seized 1.4 tons of shabu, with an estimated value of P9.8 billion, after the Alitagtag police conducted a checkpoint operation based on intelligence that led to the illegal drugs’ seizure.

The Philippine National Police said that the suspected shabu tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride during an initial screening conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

At first, the authorities said the illegal drugs was around 1.8 tons, with an estimated value of P13.3 billion. But in less than a week, authorities retracted their count of the seized drugs, raising questions about the integrity of the operation. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – On May 20, Juan Miguel Zubiri was ousted as Senate president by members of the administration supermajority that he himself belongs to. He was replaced by another member of that majority, Senator, now Senate President, Francis Escudero.

Did infighting or jockeying within the ruling coalition cost Zubiri his position? Or was it instead a proxy fight, pitting Marcos allies against Duterte supporters?

In this episode of In The Public Square, Rappler columnist and editorial consultant John Nery is joined by longtime political reporter and editor Inday Espina Varona, and Jean Encinas Franco, who worked in the Senate for 15 years and is a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.

Watch the episode here on Wednesday, May 22, at 8 pm. – Rappler.com 

China is willing to work with the Vatican to improve ties, a Chinese foreign ministry official said on Wednesday, May 22, following remarks from the Holy See’s top diplomat that it wanted to open an office in Beijing.

Relations between the Vatican and China’s Communist Party leadership have historically been fraught and it does not have diplomatic relations with Beijing, only Taiwan. Indeed, it is one of only a dozen countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, which has watched nervously as Pope Francis seeks to improve ties with China.

The Vatican would like to establish a permanent office in China, its top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on Tuesday, in what would be a significant upgrade of relations.

“We are willing to work together with the Vatican to promote the continuous improvement of China-Vatican relations,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.

He added that the two sides have maintained “deep communication on bilateral relations and international hot issues.”

Vatican officials have mentioned the need for an office before but Parolin’s remarks suggest a new impetus, with the envoy saying new ways could be found to make it happen.

The Vatican maintains a discreet unofficial office in Hong Kong but its two representatives perform no representative functions or duties and do not meet with officials.

Taiwan is paying close attention to interactions between the Vatican and China, the island’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

It added that China had “repeatedly violated” a 2018 agreement with the Vatican that allows for the appointment of bishops. The issue of appointments is a longstanding source of tension between the Vatican and the Communist Party leadership, which is officially atheist.

The precise contents of the interim deal, which is due to be extended later this year, remain secret.

Responding to Parolin’s comments, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it continued to promote cooperation with the Vatican and the Catholic Church in fields such as humanitarian assistance and jointly defending the core values of religious freedom.

“We understand that the Holy See hopes to promote the freedom of belief and rights of Chinese Catholics, and has publicly expressed its desire to send representatives to China many times,” it said in a statement.

In the 100 years since the first Chinese synod was held in 1924, China has “clamped down on religious freedom”, the ministry added.

The ministry called on all nations to work together to urge China to stop its “violations of religious freedom and basic human rights”.

Taiwan’s deputy environment minister Shih Wen-chen led a delegation to a Vatican seminar on climate change this month, which met with Pope Francis, demonstrating the deep friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican, it added.

It also said the Vatican sent an envoy, its ambassador to the Philippines, Charles John Brown, to Monday’s inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

“Hopefully we will be getting your continued support,” outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen told Brown during a meeting in the presidential office shortly before the event.

“The Holy Father sends his warm greetings to you,” Brown replied, in comments carried on live television.

China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties, a position the government in Taipei rejects. – Rappler.com

To many, the hustle, bustle, chaos, and color of Quiapo is the quintessence of Manila, the Philippine capital.

You may know it as the crazy market district, home to historic Quinta Market and a plethora of stalls selling everything from cheap wedding decor, to medicinal herbs, to anting-anting (amulet or charm). It encompasses the route of the famous Black Nazarene procession, but also has a thriving Muslim community surrounding the Golden Mosque, the largest Philippine mosque outside of Mindanao.

F.R. Hidalgo Street, known to photography enthusiasts for its many camera shops, was once called the most beautiful street in Manila because of the stately arcades of homes that lined it.

Given all of Quiapo’s unique attributes, many have pushed for protection and conservation of the area. In recent months, progress has been made, with the House of Representatives passing House Bill No. 8664, a bill that seeks to declare Quiapo a heritage zone. It is authored by the representative of the district that covers Quiapo, Joel Chua.

In the Senate, a similar bill, No. 2324, authored by Senator Loren Legarda, is still being discussed at the committee level. But on April 30, Legarda called for a hearing with Chua, heard from heritage advocates, conservation experts, and Quiapo property owners, and agreed to create a technical working group to work on the bills.

Legarda and Chua spoke about their bills and the obstacles that line the path to their passage into law during a Be The Good episode last May 10.

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Some major thorny points are the need to balance conservation of historic structures with economic development, and the geographic extent of the heritage zone declaration.

Here’s what you need to know.

Geographic coverage

The two bills still differ in geographic coverage. The House Bill covers “the immediate environs of Quiapo Church, Plaza Miranda, San Sebastian Church, Plaza del Carmen, Quezon Bridge, the Life Theatre or Old Villongco Building, and other built heritage with notable historical and cultural significance.”

The Senate bill, in its filed version, declares the broader “Quiapo district” as a heritage zone, but also lists down specific historic structures needing protection.

The bill applies to “all cultural properties,” including historical shrines and monuments, archaeological and traditional ethnographical materials, works of national heroes, structures and archival materials “dating at least 50 years old” within Quiapo district.

According to Chua, a broader heritage zone declaration would have implications on Manila’s real property tax collection. Because in the House version, owners of buildings declared as historically significant would be exempted from real property tax collection. These tax perks have been cited by heritage advocates and property owners as a key incentive that ensures historic structures in private hands will be conserved and maintained.

“The question is, if we’re going to, let’s say, declare certain streets in Quiapo: four or five streets, like the Bilibid Viejo, the Arlegui, the De Guzman [streets], so will all the property owners in these streets avail of the tax incentives?” asked Representative Chua, whose district, full of historic places like Binondo and Escolta, contributes “more than half” of Manila’s income.

Zones within the zone

The House bill makes use of the concept of “core zones” and “buffer zones” within the Quiapo heritage zone. This was also pushed by heritage advocates during the April 30 hearing.

The distinction could address concerns about how heritage zone declaration could take away a big chunk of tax collection or would hinder development in the area. This is because strict regulations on building height, facade design, and provision of tax perks would be limited only to the core zones, while there would be more flexibility, both for private property owners and City Hall, in the buffer zones.

Manila to manage

Both the House and Senate bills will give Manila the role of managing the heritage zone. This is different from, for example, how Intramuros is managed by the Intramuros Administration, the national government agency under the tourism department.

This is why both bills require that the Manila City Council pass an ordinance operationalizing the heritage zone declaration. Both bills also state that Manila, in coordination with national agencies, craft a “heritage zone development plan” (Senate bill) and “conservation management plan” (House bill).

The House version asks the Manila City government to choose a site manager who, with assistance from the National Historical Commission, will conduct a cultural mapping of Quiapo and take charge of developing the site.

Enhancements of sidewalks, roads, signs

One way national government agencies will pitch in is by allocating some of their funds to infrastructure and facilities development inside the Quiapo heritage zone. 

In both bills, the Department of Tourism is told to accord “priority development” to the district. It should be aided by the public works and highways department, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. To ensure that enhancements will abide by regulations and standards of conservation and heritage preservation, the National Historical Commission and National Commission for Culture and the Arts must also help, say the bills.

The Senate version is explicit in stating that the city government and national government must ensure there is proper sewerage and waste disposal in Quiapo.

“Just as basic as cleaning the streets to make sure the esteros are clean, to ensure that garbage is collected in accordance with [the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act]…. Second, just lighting the streets, not with gaudy lamplights which some LGUs purchase, but something that is in accordance with the heritage of the place,” said Legarda during the Be The Good episode.

Other enhancements could be better street signs, better sidewalks, and the like.

Perks for property owners

One provision the House bill has that the current Senate bill does not have is a section stating that private properties declared as “Important Cultural Property” or “National Cultural Treasure” by the national government will be exempt from real property tax. If the property owner damages or changes the structure so much so that it destroys its heritage significance, they would be fined with back taxes.

Building owners and heritage advocates have long said tax perks like this are key to motivating the owners to maintain and preserve their buildings. Without such an incentive, it would be much easier for the owner to not petition for the designation of their building as historic and just demolish the building to make way for a more profitable structure.

This has led to the wipe out of many heritage buildings even before their full historic significance could be identified. 

Robby Sylianteng, who belongs to a family who partly owns the historic First United Building in Escolta, said the tax perks are a big help. His family was able to use P2.5 million that would have otherwise gone to real property tax to pay for fiber internet for the entire building, he said during the Be The Good episode.

Tax perks could keep historic buildings alive, which would preserve the unique character of the district.

Legarda, however, said the impact on Manila’s tax collection means the provision would have to go through the Senate’s ways and means committee. This is one of the issues that will be hashed out by the technical working group.

A living zone

The tricky thing with heritage zone declarations is, if regulations go overboard, they could shut certain communities out and turn the area into a “museum” or “theme park.” In other words, efforts to preserve the historical character of a place could “freeze” the area in time, make it too expensive to live in, and bring it closer to another kind of death.

For instance, we asked Representative Chua how the bills would address the street vendors in Quiapo. Undoubtedly, the vendors must be regulated, given their impact on waste disposal, orderliness, and the movement of people and vehicles. But they are also part of what makes Quiapo vibrant and authentic. Shutting them out would be unjust and contrary to the essence of Quiapo as a melting pot. 

Chua said he has incorporated the vendors in the overall design of the area. He mentioned the provision of a specific design of their carts and even uniforms for vendors that would be in keeping with Quiapo’s historical significance. He gave assurances that communities were consulted on this.

Still, it’s not clear what the fate of the Quiapo vendors would be under a heritage zone declaration. At the very least, both Senate and House bills state that communities and stakeholders are supposed to be consulted in the crafting of plans for Quiapo. 

Heritage conservation can contribute to economic growth

Regulations that would naturally result from a heritage zone declaration may put a damper on some plans of real estate developers. Guidelines in Quiapo’s “core zone” would limit what property developers can do with historic buildings.

But Stephen Pamorada, a Manila heritage advocate and founder of The Heritage Collective, said the heritage zone declaration, if done right, will attract the right investors.

The trick, he said, is to see the declaration in terms of its potential to bring in economic growth.

“The prerequisite for stakeholders and developers in these places is, will you also be taking part in the journey to make sure we keep the character and historical significance of the place? Because if not, maybe go somewhere else?” said Pamorada during the Be The Good episode.

Chua cited the example of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, a heritage zone managed by the local government which has reaped much income for residents and communities as a top tourism destination.

A World Heritage site since 1999, it has been recognized for its “successful and sustainable management” achieved despite “relatively limited resources,” according to the United Nations.

Quiapo, with its dozens of built heritage, important religious landmarks, shopping areas, cultural traditions, and foodie attractions, has the potential to rival or even surpass Vigan.

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Quiapo is just the start. Manila’s third district is also home to Binondo and Escolta, Santa Cruz, and San Nicolas. Chua hopes to declare these as heritage zones as well.

But the key is to do the Quiapo proposal well, and make sure communities are consulted every step of the way.

“Once an area has been declared and they see how beautiful and how sustainable and economically feasible it has been, the others would want to be declared eventually,” said Legarda. – Rappler.com

Balancing heritage conservation and economic development is one way groups say we can #MakeManilaLiveable. Rappler has a dedicated space for stories about improving quality of life in Metro Manila, and beyond. To learn more about the movement and take part in it, click here.