Faces of the News: December 3, 2023
Luis Jalandoni
On Nov. 28, the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) expressed willingness to resume peace negotiations and hammer out a final agreement to end an armed conflict that had dragged on for more than half a century. At an online press conference, Luis Jalandoni, chair of the Netherlands-based National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), issued the Oslo Joint Statement signed on Nov. 23, with representatives of the Philippine government. Jalandoni said the document signified both parties would be resuming the on-and-off peace “for the interest and benefit of the people.” He added they would “actively remove impediments” that might stall the process, but emphasized the need to address the root cause of the insurgency. President Marcos said he hoped the discussions with the NDFP, the CPP’s political arm, would realize his vision—and campaign promise—of national reconciliation and unity by ending the Maoist rebellion that started 54 years ago during his late father’s regime. —Dexter Cabalza
Kevin Quiambao
After leading De La Salle University (DLSU) to its first UAAP Finals appearance since 2017, Kevin Quiambao, also last season’s Rookie of the Year, was hailed as Season 86 men’s basketball’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Quiambao led the statistical points race with 97.0 behind his two triple-doubles, one of which he produced in the Green Archers’ second encounter with National University, 88-78, on Oct. 28, where he finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. The DLSU cornerstone was also instrumental in extending the Green Archers’ dominance over the University of the East, 86-76, with 17 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists on Nov. 12. But the sophomore powerhouse has a bigger goal in mind even after bagging the highest individual honor of the tournament. “For me, I became more motivated after knowing that I am officially an MVP. [But my] main goal is the championship,” Quiambao told the Inquirer hours before DLSU lost its Game 1 clash against the University of the Philippines, a 97-67 rout, at SM Mall of Asia Arena on Nov. 29. —Angel B. Dukha III
‘KathNiel’
The news that actors and real-life couple Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo had broken up quickly spread after they announced their split on their respective social media accounts on Thursday night, Nov. 30. In her post, Bernardo said that what they had “was real” and “was never for show.” Padilla, in turn, thanked her for staying with him through his “highs and lows.” Both admitted that they had drifted apart after 11 years as “KathNiel,” the portmanteau for their hugely popular love team. Longtime fans expressed extreme sadness, as expected, while fellow actors offered their love and support. Bernardo captioned her Instagram post “Chapter closed,” adding that she wouldn’t be entertaining any other questions, and thanked followers for their understanding. Insiders noted that the former couple’s brief and respectful disclosures earned them even more admirers. As of Saturday, Dec. 2, Bernardo gained more than 800,000 new followers on Instagram, bringing her fan flock to 19.5 million. —Raoul J. Chee Kee
Vishwa Ma’ali
Manila Zoo caretakers and animal rights activists grieved the “sudden death” of the country’s only elephant. Vishwa Ma’ali, or simply Mali, died on Tuesday apparently due to congestive heart failure. The zoo’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Heinrich Patrick Peña-Domingo, said Mali showed no symptoms although a necropsy later revealed many complications, including cancer. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) strongly criticized both local government and zoo authorities for the “years of suffering” Mali had to endure. In 2013, the group led a campaign to transfer Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand. On Wednesday, Peta underscored the animal’s health problems and “loneliness“ that made her miss “any chance at happiness.” Domingo maintained that Mali’s “family” were the caretakers who watched over her since she arrived at 11-months-old in 1981. He noted that elephants like Mali, who died at 43, have a usual lifespan of 40 to 45 years. The city government wants another elephant from Sri Lanka, prompting Peta to immediately call on the South Asian country not to consign another animal to “decades of mental abuse.”—Gillian N. Villanueva
George Garcia
On Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolved en banc to ban the longtime automated systems provider Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from all future election-related public biddings. The seven-member body led by Chair George Garcia cited Smartmatic’s alleged involvement in the bribery charge filed by US authorities against a former Comelec chief, Andres Bautista. The Comelec, however, rejected the grounds earlier raised by the petitioners against Smartmatic, led by former information technology chief Eliseo Rio Jr. Rio, who claimed there were discrepancies in the transmission of the May 2022 poll results and that a meeting happened between Smartmatic and then presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. A hurting Smartmatic said Comelec used a “nonexistent” basis for the ban. “We are not facing any such formal charge in the United States,” the company insisted a day after the resolution came out. But Garcia invoked the Comelec’s plenary power, which he described as “very vast. The Supreme Court had agreed with that view, saying the Comelec’s hands “are not tied” to preclude making such decisions. —Kathleen de Villa
