BACK A Guide to the Rich Batangas Province Take an hour’s drive from Manila and find yourself immersed in the coastal beauty of Batangas. Discover more than just great food and adventure here. BY ANGELICA MONTORO The allure of Batangas is not quite new to many. In fact, this rich province always tops travel guides when people want accessibility, beauty, and nature. It is home to one of the most majestic volcanoes in the Philippines, the Taal Volcano, and magnificent coral reefs located in Anilao, which continue to dazzle professional divers and amateurs alike. It is also known for its strong and aromatic barako coffee If you’re planning to have a quick getaway not far from Metro Manila, here’s our top picks of destinations in Batangas. WELLNESS: FARM AT SAN BENITO LIPA, BATANGAS An escape is what we’re all craving for, especially after these lockdowns. At The Farm at San Benito, get ready to be pampered while in the midst of nature. The Farm offers medically-supervised holistic programs grouped in the following: Health Optimization Programs, Executive Health Programs, Cellular Health Programs, Aesthetic Programs, and Special Treatments. These treatments allow visitors to recuperate and be re-energized to face another week of hustling in the city. DIVING: SALTITUDE RESORT MABINI, BATANGAS If you’re one for water adventures and thrilling experiences, then Saltitude Beach Resort is for you. Located along the coastal waters of Mabini, Batangas, the resort allows you to explore Batangas’ famous coral reefs. While here, try out the different water adventures - from diving, wind-surfing, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you’re up for a more leisure afternoon, boat rides can bring you to the beach’s most scenic spots.

< Back For the Better Resilience is a character trait we Filipinos are proud of, but we must not let our hopefulness and positivity be a poor subsitute for real action. Because when it comes to climate change and protecting our cities from natural calamities, we need plans and not mere prayers. BY RHODA OSALVO When typhoons come, and they come pretty often on our side, we put our faith in God and bear the brunt of nature. When it’s over, we smile in front of the cameras despite the devastation around us and carry on with life because we say, “The Filipino spirit is waterproof.” Engr. Noel Antonio Gaerlan, Climate Change commissioner, contests the Filipino people’s resiliency. He tells LEAGUE, “If we are truly resilient, why do disasters continue to harm us on an annual cycle?” RESILIENCE OR RESISTANCE? Resilience is a character trait we Filipinos are proud of, but we must not let our hopefulness and positivity be a poor subsitute for real action. Because when it comes to climate change and protecting our cities from natural calamities, we need plans and not mere prayers. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COMMISSIONS Climate change is an issue of major concern. “It is the change in the weather, global temperature, usual precipitation, wind patterns, and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer,” explains Commissioner Gaerlan. Climate Change Commission or CCC works hand-in-hand with the local officials and executives, capacitating them to address and adapt to climate change. CCC is only on its ninth year since the enactment of RA 9729 or the Climate Change Act creating the CCC. Comissioner Gaerlan is one of the three commissioners of the CCC, with President Duterte as its chairman. Prior to his appointment to CCC in 2016, Commissioner Gaerlan served as the Executive Director of the Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) and as the OIC Assistant Director of the DENRBiodiversity Management Bureau. Some of his previous experience include developing master plans of major river systems in the country and climate-tagging and proofing the same. CCC, or Komisyon sa Pagbabagong Klima in Filipino, is the lead climate policy-making RESILIENCE OR RESISTANCE? FEATURES ROUND UP government body mandated “to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change action in the national, local, and sectoral plans towards a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines.” “Mainstreaming means that climate change action is embedded deep into one’s consciousness such that it has become a way of life or built into one’s lifestyle. It starts with awareness of what climate change is and its effects,” Gaerlan clarifies.For example, global warming or the Earth’s rising temperature is an effect of climate change. According to “Climate Change and the Philippines,” an executive brief prepared by the CCC, “climate change has resulted in rising sea levels and extreme weather events such as super typhoons, more heavy rains, more intense heat and heat waves, and prolonged severe droughts, and consequently, enormous losses in lives, livelihoods, properties and the environment.” Haven’t we seen these effects and continue to experience them? For the past 20 years or so, environmentalists have been painting an ugly picture of things to come if the world doesn’t change its ways. The ugly picture has become our reality in recent years with devastating super typhoons like Yolanda (2013) and Ondoy (2009) that claimed thousands of lives and properties, to name a few. The need to alter our lifestyles has become more urgent. As CCC’s tagline aptly reads,“Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago.” Now more than ever, the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to build resilience are of vital importance.“While energy conservation is important, risk-based adaptation is a must for transformation. The former applies to all citizens, the latter to its leaders, particularly, the LGUs. Given the recent developments and our previous experiences during the typhoons and other disasters, we need to fasttrack and address climate change action,” says the commissioner. Climate change has resulted in rising sea levels and extreme weather events such as super typhoons, more heavy rains, more intense heat and heat waves, and prolonged severe droughts, and consequently, enormous losses in lives, livelihoods, properties and the environment.“ Click here to read full article for free

< Back Where Stars Are Made BY CAMILLE CABAL BEFORE WE MARVEL AT PAROLS FEATURED IN THE GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL, LET’S RETRACE THE STORY OF HOW SAN FERNANDO CITY BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH PAROL-MAKING. One thing that makes Filipino Christmas distinct is the parol ( Christmas lantern). A parol is a star-shaped lantern that represents the star that guided the Three Kings to Betlehem in the Catholic belief. Others believe that it was inspired by the Mexican piñata that was brought by the Spaniards to the Philippines when they introduced Christianity to Filipinos The City of San Fernando in Pampanga is the proud home to the makers of the country’s biggest lanterns, and is also the host of the most-anticipated Ligligan Parul (Giant Lantern Festival). According to records, the lantern tradition started in the municipality of Bacolor, Pampanga’s former capital, where people used a lantern to light their way as they held a procession to bring statues of saints to church during Lubenas (novena or nine-day prayer). It is said that when San Fernando became the capital, its residents adopted the tradition. However, there are accounts claiming that the parol industry in the city emerged when the first parol was made by Francisco Estanislao in 1908. Estanislao, a salt maker, was the first recorded parol maker in the country, creating a parol out of bamboo and coco fabric for Simbang Gabi (night mass). From lanterns made of simple materials lit with candles, San Fernandinos eventually added lights to parols when the city finally had access to electricity in 1931. One of the first celebrations of the Lantern Festival was during the time of President Manuel L. Quezon, who wanted to make Pampanga a model province. He even made the municipality of Arayat his vacation place and transformed it into a tourist resort. As a way of expressing their gratitude to the first family, the San Fernandinos held a Christmas lantern contest. Quezon sponsored the prizes that he personally awarded to the winners. Fast forward to the present, the City of San Fernando is celebrating its 115th Giant Lantern Festival this year where 10 barangays are expected to surpass the previous years’ entries. Each lantern has a standard measure of 20 feet in diameter and uses over 10,000 bulbs. This year’s biggest, brightest, and most colorful Christmas event in the country can be witnessed on December 16 at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga and will be aired live on CLTV 36. Dubbed as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, San Fernando was able to keep the joyous celebration that has also become a major tourist attraction. More than bestowing recognition to the barangay that crafts the best lantern, however, San Fernandino’s Giant Lantern Festival is a celebration of the city’s rich culture and the people’s unity in crafting the best representations of the star that illuminates every Filipino’s Christmas.

74874fec-fee1-4c6b-b4b2-23d0bb09bd61 < Back FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO HELPING OTHERS Drawing from her own experiences, Shantal Dimayuga wishes to help others escape poverty through her foundation Yakap Foundation. BY ELAINE ESTRADA-FELICITAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. It's innate for people to help others the best way they can. This is also true with Rossel “Shantal” Dimayuga, a thirty-two-year-old businesswoman taking the reins as chief executive officer and president of multiple business ventures. Her story is one of a modest lass in the province who pushed her way to the top through hard work and resilience. Her goal to help the underprivileged reflects on Yakap Kalinga, a foundation she started herself, which reaches out to the needy in the rural areas, even during the pandemic. The early years Dimayuga grew up in a low-income household in the province of Batangas with just enough to get by. Guided by her strict father and hard-working mother, she developed into a woman who values discipline and hard work. With her humble background, Dimayuga knew that she needed to do more to achieve the financial freedom she wanted to have in her life. After college, she landed a job at the Manila Ocean Park, an achievement on its own as not everyone in the province is privileged to work in Manila. On the side, she started her first business to augment her monthly salary. She sold cellphones online via Facebook. Her experiences helped expand her business and taught her lessons that became instrumental to her success as a businesswoman and as a philanthropist later on. The fruits of labor Dimayuga realized that not everything is rosy when it comes to creating and operating your own business. Her laundromat business didn’t turn out the way she expected it to. However, this did not stop her from going on other business “adventures,” turning her fair share of failures into life lessons. Just like her mother who doesn’t shy away from hard work, she was able to turn things around. Her discipline and resilience shone through and helped her achieve the financial freedom she dreamed of as a young girl. She’s now a proud owner of multiple businesses such as manpower and security agency; trading company; and textile and garments manufacturing company, just to name a few. She recently received recognition from the ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards for being an “outstanding woman of vision and inspiring business leader of the year.” That she achieved all of these at the age of 32 is a source of motivation especially for women and young individuals that anyone can do it with the right attitude. Advocacy to help others Helping others has been one of Dimayuga’s goals in life. She strives not only to provide resources to the underprivileged but also to impart her business knowledge to others. With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting people either physically or financially, she has observed that some of them would not have suffered much if they had a business of their own. Relying on financial assistance and jobs with uncertain tenure can put people in a quite unstable position during a pandemic and affect their ability to provide for their basic necessities. Understanding these conditions, her aim is to improve Filipinos’ knowledge of business and educate them on the importance of small- and medium-scale enterprises. Through this, people will have an opportunity to start on their own even with their limited financial capacity and eventually worry less about finances especially during trying times. Aside from this, her experience living a modest lifestyle has led to her advocacy for the poor. She knows how it is to have just enough to live by. From there, she started a foundation called Yakap Kalinga to further support her goal to lend a helping hand to others. The start of Yakap Kalinga From its name, which means “embrace” and “support” or “refuge” in Filipino, Yakap Kalinga sounds like a place of giving and understanding. Founded in 2019, it aims to support underprivileged children by providing materials needed for their schooling. It also aims to provide food for the less fortunate, and to connect to as many people in the rural areas as possible to help them deal with poverty. Even as the foundation is yet to be registered and officially established—with this year as target—the people behind it have launched a number of projects and outreach activities. Restrictions brought about by the pandemic, however, have made their activities more challenging. For now, they are realigning their plans and recalibrating their goals regarding projects to be executed in the coming months. Embracing changes Dimayuga mentioned that she wants to reach out to more people through Yakap Kalinga. It may be in its early stages but her initial goal was to feed 300 underprivileged families for every quarter of the year. That’s around 1,200 individuals as the average Filipino family has four members. In two years’ time, Yakap Kalinga’s goal is to increase the number of beneficiary families to 1000, which is three times more than what they had initially planned. Aside from their feeding program, they are also aiming to help the homeless by building shelters. Yakap Kalinga wants a safe haven for people in need of food and a sturdy roof over their heads. It’s the foundation’s way of helping maintain the dignity of individuals, particularly those who are financially challenged. The pandemic may have delayed some of Dimayuga’s and Yakap Kalinga’s plans, but one thing is for sure: driven by a firm desire to achieve their goals, we’ll be seeing more of Yakap Kalinga and Shantal Dimayuga in the future. BACK

< Back Transformational Leadership with Compassion BY GODFREY T. DANCEL MORE THAN TRANSFORMING FORMER MILITARY BASES INTO CENTERS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BASES CONVERSION AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN HILARIO B. PAREDES IS TRANSFORMING THE CORPORATION’S APPROACH TO ACHIEVING ITS VISION. I want to get things done. I want them done the best way possible at the soonest possible time.” This, in a nutshell, is the approach that Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Atty. Hilario B. Paredes has used to turn things around at the development corporation tasked with converting former military bases into civilian use and promoting economic development. Paredes’ dynamic and visionary leadership style became apparent when he was appointed as BCDA chairman in October 2024, not long after he joined the board of directors. Making good use of nearly three decades of experience in law and business, Paredes—the youngest chairman of the BCDA in its 33-year history—has been instrumental in steering the Conversion Authority toward greater transparency, innovation, and sustainable development. A VISIONARY LEADER WITH A TRANSFORMATIONAL APPROACH Paredes' leadership is characterized by a transformational style that emphasizes strategic partnerships, institutional excellence, and long-term national development. His strong legal and business background has been instrumental in fostering public private partnerships and driving key infrastructure projects. With him at the helm, the country has seen BCDA strengthen its role in national development, aligning with the government's "Build Better More" infrastructure program. “As chairman, as head of the board of directors, my main job is to establish policy and oversee management. My biggest priority is to make sure that we follow our mandate under Republic Act 7227, which states that BCDA is to transform military bases into areas or centers of growth and economic development, at the same time protect the environment. So we want to make sure that this mandate is followed, that we build smart, sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities,” Paredes stresses. “I oversee everything, and the main focus of my chairmanship is to have transformational leadership with compassion. When we say transformational leadership with compassion, we combine a visionary and change-driven leadership with a deep sense of empathy and care for others. So while we lead the people to a bold vision, we also make sure not to lose sight of their welfare. Thus, we take care of them also,” he says. JOURNEY TO THE BCDA CHAIRMANSHIP Paredes' professional and personal background have prepared him well for the serious task of being BCDA chairman. From the fields of law and business to sports, his work and personal experiences have shaped him into a leader tailor-fit for his present job. The chairman earned his juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, f inishing as one of the topnotchers of his batch. A consistent academic achiever, he was a dean’s lister while taking his political science degree also at the Ateneo, and graduated at the top of his grade school and high school classes at the Divine Word College of Bangued in Abra. He also completed a course on public policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore in 2023. “For almost three decades, I have been navigating the world of law and business,” Paredes says. He established Paredes Law Group in 2006, specializing in banking and corporate f inance; infrastructure and telecommunications; and mergers and acquisitions. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to build a practice that tackled legal issues surrounding some of the country’s major infrastructure projects, making sure these are built right for the benefit of everyone. I’ve also represented and helped bring in the country’s third major telco, opening the industry to more competition,” he shares. “But law is not my only passion,” he adds. “I get to explore my entrepreneurial side through Paredes Holdings, which holds stakes in real estate, leisure, technology companies, and restaurants.” The company, he says, has given him “a whole different kind of adventure, learning about business and how it works.” “Beyond the courtroom and boardroom, I also established the Asian Center for Legal Excellence to provide continuing education for Filipino lawyers.” The Supreme Court-accredited provider of mandatory continuing legal education is dedicated to “ensuring that our legal professionals remain well-versed in the ever-evolving legal landscape.” Part of Paredes’ early exposure to the practice of law came in 1994, when he served as trainee at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96 under then Presiding Judge Lucas Bersamin. Bersamin went on to become Supreme Court chief justice, and is presently the country’s executive secretary. MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT Despite having been chairman for just half a year, Paredes has made a significant impact at BCDA. Serving as his major guide is the BCDA mandate of building great cities while helping strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Under his leadership, BCDA remains a major force in creating economic opportunities in the country through the establishment of integrated developments, dynamic business centers, and vibrant communities. The chairman mentions the successful recovery of Camp John Hay and accelerated efforts to bring in high-impact investments that will result in employment and economic opportunities for locals. He also mentions the continuing push for amendments to the BCDA Charter, meant to unlock the full potential of the country’s economic zones. BCDA has also secured approval of a number of important infrastructure projects expected to pave the way for the further development of our economic zones. These include the first phase of the New Clark City underground utility corridor, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas access road in New Clark City, the construction of a residential complex at Bonifacio Naval Station Lot 1, and the upgrading of UN Avenue at the Morong Discovery Park. Under his watch, BCDA will soon have its own headquarters building, as a contract has been awarded for the construction of its own building that will house its various offices. In addition, contracts have been signed regarding water services as well as housing facilities in New Clark City. On top of all these, and as proof of the chairman’s genuine concern for BCDA employees, they now receive increased compensation and benefits. Paredes is quick to deflect credit for the above accomplishments, however. “None of these would have happened at such an impressive pace without the hard work of the BCDA workforce, its management and board of directors, as well as its private partners. Their support has been instrumental in getting things done, and I’m grateful to be part of such a collaborative environment,” he says. DESPITE HAVING BEEN CHAIRMAN FOR JUST HALF A YEAR, PAREDES HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AT BCDA. SERVING AS HIS MAJOR GUIDE IS THE BCDA MANDATE OF BUILDING GREAT CITIES WHILE HELPING STRENGTHEN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES. LANDMARK LEGAL VICTORIES The past year has seen BCDA score important legal victories. Foremost among these are those dealing with the recovery of Camp John Hay and favorable rulings involving the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill. These developments have helped pave the way for BCDA to better pursue its mission and vision. In April 2024, the Supreme Court ended a protracted legal battle centering on the lease of Camp John Hay in Baguio to a private company. Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) took over the lease from another consortium in 1996, after which it built hotels, prime residences, and a golf course within the former American rest and recreation facility. A dispute arose in 2012 over the restructuring of the lease agreement, and such lease was rescinded by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center in 2015. CJHDevCo was ordered to return all properties to the government while the BCDA must reimburse expenditures to the company. CJHDevCo and its sublessees contested the decision, and the case reached the Court of Appeals, which amended the decision. However, the Supreme Court overruled the appellate court’s decision, paving the way for the government to take full control of the prime property. The takeover was peaceful and seamless. The chairman hailed the High Court’s decision, describing it as “a victory not just for the government, but for all Filipinos.” The ruling, he says, recognizes that all Filipinos, and not just one corporation or person, should gain economic and social opportunities from the development of Camp John Hay. “I am glad to share that since our successful recovery of Camp John Hay on January 6, we have brought in over Php 1.2 billion in investments from major industry players like Metro Pacific Investment Corporation's subsidiary Landco Pacific, and small and medium-scale enterprises like Duck World, GolfPlus Management Inc., Amare La Cucina, and Top Taste and Trading, Inc. ,” Paredes shares. “We have also secured over 100 residential lease agreements in just two months, representing nearly 100 percent of the total residential properties in Camp John Hay.” In line with Paredes’ compassionate leadership and respect for the rule of law, BCDA has assured hotel unit investors who lost their hard-earned money of needed assistance. This includes “temporary hotel accommodations, translation services for foreign nationals, and helping them explore legal remedies.” BCDA is “closely working with relevant government agencies for a just and fair resolution for all stakeholders.” Meanwhile, in February this year, the Court of Appeals nullified a Tarlac court’s order that previously prohibited the BCDA and Clark Development Corporation from recovering the 100-hectare Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac. “This brings us closer toward pursuing a waste-to-energy technology which is a more sustainable alternative to landfills,” Paredes stresses. “With New Clark City being the country’s model for sustainable cities, we have to align our plans and programs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and maintaining a landfill in the heart of the New Clark City isn’t the way to go. With smart cities Singapore and Taipei as pegs, BCDA is currently conducting a study for a proposed waste-to-energy facility in an optimal location in Tarlac. The planned facility will boost power supply and satisfy the energy requirements of locators and investors in New Clark City. The cherry on top was when BCDA was recognized as one of the top-performing government-owned and-controlled corporations for 2023, achieving a remakable milestone as one of the top state firms for nine straight years. LEADING BCDA’S TRANSFORMATION Transformation is a key concept in Paredes’ programs toward achieving BCDA’s vision. A major ingredient in the transformation process is capacity building. “Our biggest asset is our employees. And we are now moving toward building the skills of our people. We're looking at partnering with educational institutions so that we will have better, well equipped people to handle the major projects that we are going to start,” he states. Digressing from the previous approach of mostly disposing of assets and letting the private sector develop such, BCDA now takes a much more active role in the development of former bases and military facilities. This means a bigger income in the long run, rather than a one-time income from the assets’ sale. The above, Paredes says, is part of their “vision to set an example for everyone, for all local government units, national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations, that an entity like BCDA can help lead the way for economic development through transformation and with compassion for our people. We will be generating a lot of employment, a lot of investments; and BCDA will be a major force in economic development. So our vision is to be the role model, to be the example of all government agencies in the Philippines for economic development.” Paredes’ brand of transformational leadership has played and will continue to play a major role in the BCDA’s transformation. “We have a transformational leadership that has compassion for its people, for the Filipino people, and for a stronger, more resilient and more economically sound and strong republic, which will take care of its people,” he says. STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH TRANSPARENCY As BCDA’s programs and projects involve large sums of money, transparency and accountability are expected of its leadership and people at all times. “BCDA, in partnership with the public and private sectors, is guided by global best practices and lessons learned from the past,” Paredes stresses. “From Bonifacio Global City to the growing Clark metropolis, our work is generating high-impact investments and bringing in job and economic opportunities to various communities.” “We do all these through collaborative stakeholder discussions, identifying and implementing solutions that effectively address challenges and ultimately create more beneficial outcomes for all. We hold regular dialogues with affected communities and related government agencies to ensure that everyone is part of the development benefitting them with employment opportunities and improved access and connectivity for their livelihood,” he adds. “Building smart and liveable cities enables us to continue fulfilling our commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Since the BCDA’s creation, our cumulative contributions to the AFP has reached Php59.71 billion. This represents the biggest chunk of the total asset disposition proceeds from 1993 to 2023,” Paredes reveals. The chairman stresses that all of BCDA’s transactions are done in accordance with law and set procedures. “We remit the proceeds from our disposition program annually to the Bureau of Treasury. Afterwards, it is the Department of Budget and Management that releases the shares to the beneficiary agencies based on budget guidelines and the approved fiscal program of the government,” he clarifies. “And with respect to transparency, our activities and programs are public and our books are open. We have several ways of communicating and sharing information with the general public through traditional media, social media, etc.” With some of BCDA’s programs and projects being received negatively by some quarters, Paredes declares that they welcome everybody’s opinions and suggestions. “It's understandable that people, especially from the affected communities, would express concerns or questions—even opposition—to our projects because we're handling impactful projects, projects of huge magnitude that's going to affect their lives. We value the voice of everyone, their comments, their suggestions and we take these into consideration in our decision-making process,” Paredes explains. “What we do is we engage them in meaningful discussions. We continue to explain what the policies are, what our projects are for.” LOOKING BEYOND MERE AWARENESS Indeed, Paredes’ transformational leadership has significantly advanced BCDA's mission of converting former military bases into catalysts for national development. His strategic vision, commitment to good governance, and innovative initiatives have positioned BCDA as a model agency, contributing to the Philippines' sustainable and inclusive growth. Paredes recognizes the fact that not many Filipinos are aware of the BCDA’s existence and its mission and vision, admitting that before he was appointed as director, he himself did not know much about it. Raising public awareness, he says, “is a work in progress” and will soon be a matter of course. “What we want is to live up to our mandate of transformation and implement our programs to benefit the Filipino people. We would want to be known for our achievements toward positive change while creating a culture within where people feel inspired and valued,” he ends.

< Back 2022 IN NUMBERS League Magazine selected some of the most remarkable figures to remember the year 2022 by and highlight a fascinating year. Buy magazine here

< Back AN EMPLOYER’S GUIDE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON By Atty. Joey Ramos, Atty. Herbert Hernane, and Atty. Mao Santos ILLUSTRATION BY MICO FELICITAS Learn about the benefits you should receive as employees during the holiday season. The holidays have always been a time of merriment and joy for the working Filipino. The Christmas parties, eventful family gatherings, and batch reunions have been a source of fun and laughter in these times. Equally joyous is opening your payslip and seeing that bonus you have long waited for. Here are the benefits typically received by employees during the holiday season. 𝟏𝟑𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐀𝐘 The 13th month pay is a monetary benefit equivalent to at least 1/12 of the total basic salary earned by an employee in a calendar year. Basic salary, for purposes of computing 13th month pay, shall include all remunerations or earnings paid by the employer to the employee for services rendered. As a general rule, other benefits such as unused leave credits, overtime premium, night shift differential, holiday pay, and cost of living allowances are not part of the basic salary for purposes of computing the 13th month pay. 1 An exemption to this rule is when these benefits are included in the computation for 13th month pay under company policy, collective bargaining agreement, or have ripened into company practice. 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄 Employers are mandated to give the 13th month pay to rank-and-file employees who have already worked for at least one month during a calendar year; employees who are paid on a piece-work basis; and employees who are paid a fixed or guaranteed wage plus commission. 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐒 The following employers are not required to pay 13th month pay: The government and any of its political subdivisions, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), except those corporations operating essentially as private subsidiaries of the government; employers who are already paying their employees 13th month pay or more in a calendar year or its equivalent at the time of the issuance of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 851; persons in the personal service of another in relation to such workers; and employers of those who are paid on purely commission, boundary, or task basis, and those who are paid a fixed amount for performing specific work, irrespective of the time consumed in the performance thereof (except those workers who are paid on a piece-rate basis, in which case their employer shall grant them 13th month pay). 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝟏𝟑𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐀𝐘 The 13th month pay shall be paid not later than December 24 of every year. The employer may, at his discretion, release one-half of the 13th month pay at an earlier date. 𝟏𝟑𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐄𝐒 An employee who has resigned or whose services are terminated at any time before the time of payment of the 13th month pay is entitled to this monetary benefit in proportion to the length of time he or she started working during the calendar year up to the time of his or her resignation or termination from the service. For example, if an employee worked from January to July, his proportionate 13th month pay should be equal to 1/12th of the total basic salary earned during that period. 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 Employers should distinguish between the 13th month pay and their annual Christmas bonus. The former is a mandated benefit under the law, while the latter is an optional benefit given by the employer as an incentive to the employees. The amount of the 13th month pay is dependent upon the total basic salary, while the amount of the Christmas bonus depends on the discretion of the employer. 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐏𝐀𝐘 Aside from the Christmas season, we also encounter various working and non-working holidays throughout the year wherein employees are not mandated to work. If they do report for work, they are entitled to holiday pay. Holiday pay refers to the payment of the regular daily wage for any unworked regular holiday, which includes the following: New Year’s Day (January 1), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), Eid’l Fitr, Eid’l Adha, National Heroes Day (August 29), Bonifacio Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), and Rizal Day (December 30). Article 94 of the Labor Code, as amended, provides that employers may require their employees to work during the holidays provided they shall be paid compensation equal to twice their regular rate (200 percent of the daily rate). Employees who do not work on regular holidays are still entitled to 100 percent of their daily rate. However, if the employee is absent without official leave on the day which immediately preceded the regular holiday, he is not entitled to any holiday pay, unless he works on that day. 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐏𝐀𝐘 Premium pay refers to additional compensation for work performed within eight hours on non-workdays, such as rest days and special holidays. Special non-working holidays include the following: Chinese New Year, EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary, Black Saturday, Ninoy Aquino Day, All Saints’ Day, and Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary. Unlike regular holidays, the “no work, no pay” principle applies to those who are not required to work during special non-working holidays. Those that are required to work during these days are entitled to additional compensation of at least 30 percent of their basic wage. Employers should also note special working days which include: All Souls Day, Christmas Eve, and the last day of the year. For work rendered on special working days, an employee is not entitled to any additional compensation except for his daily wage. 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 The general rule is that normal working hours shall not exceed eight hours a day. Any work rendered beyond eight hours is subject to payment of an overtime premium of at least 25 percent of the hourly rate. The same rules apply to overtime work rendered during holidays, whether regular or special non-working holidays, with the sole difference being the overtime premium paid which is 30 percent of the hourly rate. 𝟏𝟒𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐀𝐘? House Bill No. 520, filed by Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo last June 30, 2022, seeks to mandate employers in the private sector to provide 14th month pay, which shall also be equivalent to the employee’s monthly basic salary. Under its explanatory note, it was stated that despite companies granting 13th month pay, many Filipino families still struggle to make ends meet due to meager salaries and the growing cost of living. In this regard, the proposed 14th month pay aims to provide additional relief to most Filipino families, especially during the holidays. It should be noted that similar bills have been filed in previous years, but were not enacted into law by Congress. Buy magazine here

< Back Promoting and Championing Public Service In the southwest corner of Metro Manila, the highly urbanized city of Muntinlupa stands tall. It is regarded as the gateway to one of the country’s important economic zones, and home to the busiest commercial establishments and most expensive residential communities. BY JOYCE REYES-AGUILA PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROMEO PERALTA JR. Envisioned as a city soaring into progress through public service, Manuel Amorsolo, son of national artist Fernando Amorsolo, was commissioned to create the then municipality’s seal, which features a Philippine Eagle. The strongest and the highest-flying bird of the Philippine Republic symbolizes the citizenry’s aspiration to make Muntinlupa one of the leading investment hubs in the country, and inspires its current leadership to deliver excellent public service. “The City of Muntinlupa has realized unprecedented development and changes over the years,” Mayor Jaime “Jimmy” Fresnedi tells LEAGUE. “Our current projects on education to empower our youth and infrastructure projects to catalyze economic and social growth, are all part of our roadmap to actualizing the vision of making Muntinlupa one of the leading investment hubs in the country with educated, healthy, and God-loving people.” The lawyer has been at the city’s helm for three consecutive terms and has pillared his plans on his Eight Point Program of Governance that is focused on education, health, peace and order, social welfare and housing, local governance, economic development, clean and green environment, and urban housing. Mayor Fresnedi considers his multisectoral involvement as one of his biggest achievements. His approach includes establishing relationships and connections with sister cities, local and abroad, where he and partners facilitate linkages to open up opportunities. The Fresnedi government reports an estimated and astounding 2.3% growth in business over the past five years with an estimated growth of capitalization of new businesses at 250% from 2014 to 2017. It attributes its progress to the “booming landscape” of dealers, retailers, and serviceoriented establishments. The city government says it complements the trust business groups place in the city by being a growth driver for business thereby encouraging more investments and increasing employment opportunities. This local economic development is sustained through participatory governance – that is working with other local government units (LGUs) to “open productive avenues for tackling common concerns” so it can “advance local economic development” to its stakeholders. Click here to read full article for free

< Back Chef RV: UNIQUELY BIÑAN BY CAMILLE CABAL NO LONGER HIDDEN IN BIÑAN IS THE FAMOUS CAFÉ OF CHEF RV, WHO SHARES HOW IT ALL STARTED AND WHY IT IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE IN THE CITY. You must have heard of or watched Chef RV already. After all, he is one of the country’s famous food content creators. He generously shares his recipes through his YouTube channel ‘Chef RV Manabat’ because even if people sell products using his recipe, he believes that if the success is for you, it will be given to you. As famous as he is, his café is only available in the city of Biñan. Chef RV stands along Mariano Manabat Street in Biñan, Laguna. You’ll instantly see the cute red logo of the café with an elephant on it. As you enter, beautiful, colorful cakes of different flavors line the counter as if enticing you to try them all. On the other side of the glass wall are their freshly-baked bestseller bibingka (rice cake) and other pasalubongs (souvenirs) in a jar. 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒? Aside from desserts, Manabat’s collection of elephants behind the counter is also noticeable. A seemingly happy elephant stands out in their logo, luring in the curious even further. The chef shares that it all started with a vendor who would sell him random things. When the vendor was about to retire from selling, she gifted Manabat with a small porcelain figure of an elephant, which he displayed on his sink. The collection started to grow when people who came to visit him would gift him similar elephant items. Eventually, Manabat decided to use it as a symbol of their café because it symbolizes the connection of the people to him and his pastries. “Because through these elephants, they remember me,” he explains. From the singular porcelain elephant, the collection grew to a massive collection of roughly 500 pieces, majority of which were gifts. 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 Manabat discovered his skills for baking at the age of nine. He shares that her mother also loves cooking, but she never baked. So, his exposure in the kitchen sparked his curiosity about baking. This is where he started experimenting with the ingredients. He adds that his favorite pastry to bake is brownies because it was his first product when he started baking. He shares that the first brownies he ever baked turned out so dry that no one can eat them. But it is part of the ‘magical’ journey of his baking career as his brownies have improved through the years. While some find baking tedious because it requires perfection in measurements, Manabat finds it magical instead. It amazes him how simple ingredients like flour, sugar, and eggs can transform into a delectable cake. Moreover, he considers pastries as results of hard work because the process of baking requires discipline and precision. “It’s magical [because] it gives you a sense of fulfilment dun pa lang sa produkto tapos ‘pag kinain nung customer mo o ng kapamilya mo o bisita mo, mas malaki din ‘yung fulfilment (on the product alone, and when your customer, relative, or visitor tastes it, it gives you even more fulfilment),” the chef shares. 𝐁𝐈Ñ𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 Manabat started his career by selling blueberry cheesecakes back in 2011. He reveals that one of his first customers is the Alonte family and Mr. Sherwin Mendiola, DESCO, Inc. president.Through their trust, Chef RV’s bestseller Queso de Bola Cake was born. He recalls that in January 2013, his first customers ordered yema cake. Unfortunately, he ran out of cheese so he used the leftover queso de bola from the past Christmas as a replacement. His customers were surprised and liked the cake so much and that was how it all started. When 2014 came, Manabat started organizing baking classes for housewives and enthusiasts as his weekend sideline. He has taught thousands of students who used to pay him Php2,500 to Php5,000 per day, including the ingredients. Eventually, his students looked for a place to hang out after every baking class so they suggested that their teacher should establish his café. And so he did. In 2018, it became a full-blown restaurant that also offered hot meals. This encouraged Manabat to open the garden area for dining customers. However, dining in the restaurant has been closed to the public since the pandemic. He hopes that the restaurant and dine-in option will resume this year. Chef RV Café is turning six this year. Queso de Bola cake, which is available per slice or as a whole, remains their best seller but Manabat claims that the introduction of bibingka in the menu in 2019 has beaten Queso de Bola on the top list. Their bibingka can stay for as long as three days when not chilled and up to two weeks when refrigerated. But Manabat recommends consuming it within 24 hours. It is available per piece, in a box of four, six, and eight, and available in regular, ube, and chocnut flavors. If you prefer to add cakes in your purchase, you may try their cake sampler which is composed of slices of 10 different flavors. This includes the famous Queso de Bola, Real Ube Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cake, Carrot Walnut Cheesecake, Belgian Chocolate Cake, Wild Blueberry Cheesecake, Oreo Cheesecake, Brownie Cheesecake, and Choco Blackout. What makes their pastries uniquely Biñan is its taste that is not too sweet and not too overwhelming, perfect for the palate of Biñanenses. According to Manabat, this is the result of numerous consultations of the elders of Biñan and his openness to criticisms and suggestions. “So I can proudly say that our products are timplang Biñan (created according to the taste of the people of Biñan),” he stresses. Manabat is open about not wanting to branch out the café to places other than Biñan. He wants it to be part of the city’s identity like how other pasalubongs are unique to some provinces in the country. “You can’t say that you have been to Biñan if you have not dropped by here [in Chef RV Café] and we want to keep it that way that we only stay here because that is our brand. You can see it in our logo, we did not remove it anymore,” Manabat proudly says.

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