Manila Standard - 2018 February 18 - Sunday

VOL. XXXII • NO. 7 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

MELANIA SILENT AS 2ND WOMAN CLAIMS TRUMP AFFAIR STORY ON A6

DU30 HITS ICC: WHY FOCUS ON PH DRUG WAR

By Vito Barcelo

FORCIBLE FIST. Delegates—by supporters’ estimate well beyond 20,000—gather Saturday at the Quezon Memorial Circle to push for a federal form of government, with Iconform-Federal Philippines and a coalition for multisectoral groups headed by Cagayan Export Zone Authority Secretary Raul Lambino, attended by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and other local government officials. Manny Palmero

FEDERAL SHIFT GETS BIG BOOST

By Maricel V. Cruz

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UPPORTERS of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed federalism form of government will actively campaign for the proposed Charter Change by holding city-wide rallies as an initial step to win over public support toward the shift to a federal form of government.

IConform Federal convenor lawyer Raul Lambino said they would soon hold rallies in different cities in Metro Manila to educate the people on what federalism was about.

“The shift to a federal form is about making the lives of millions of Filipinos better,” Lambino said as his group held a rally at Quezon Memorial Circle, in Quezon City and attended by what supporters called an estimated 25,000 crowd.

Lambino, a known ally of former President and Pampanga Rep.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and President Duterte’s appointee as administrator and chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, said “now is the time to push for a review of the 1987 Constitution and make way for a shift to a federal form of goverment...We can no longer delay its coming.”

He stressed the change in the present form of government would correct the “historical inequities and injustice that have been

perpetuated in a unitary and highly centralized government.”

“It is because our entire experience with a highly centralized system has created two nations in our country—a nation of the ‘haves,’ which is the super-rich tip of the economic pyramid, and a nation of the ‘have-nots,’ which is its impoverished base that has suffered from decades of government inaction and neglect,” said Lambino.

Lambino also commended efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to push for federalism.

Alvarez said the House would pass the proposed shift to a parliamentary form of government, along with the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law before the year ends.

Alvarez said the House would have to wait for the proposed amendments to be submitted by the 25-man Consultative Commis-

sion even as lawmakers will have to study it together with the proposed amendments crafted by the House committee on constitutional amendments.

“We will also wait for their [Consultative Commission] input so we will be able to cover all and consider all inputs,” said Alvarez.

Duterte has appointed former Chief Justice Reynato Puno as head of the consultative committee that will review the 1987 Constitution.

The President also appointed 18 members of the 25-man committee, including former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., retired Supreme Court justices Antonio Eduardo Nachura and Bienvenido Reyes, and former Kalinga Rep. Laurence Wacnang.

Alvarez said Duterte would still lead the government during the transition period since his term would end in 2022.

EXPERT WARNS AGAINST SOFT STANCE ON CHINA

By Sara Susanne Fabunan CHINA appears to be making some headway from the Philippines’ “soft” stance on the South China Sea disputes, Jay Batongbacal, seen as a maritime expert, said Saturday.

“The government seems to be trading away its advantages too soon, just too much too soon,” Batongbacal, director of University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, told a forum in Quezon City.

“We are trading away too much too soon, and increasing our weaknesses...

I don’t think it’s wise because China is gaining too much from our softness on these issues,” the maritime law expert emphasized.

In July 2016, the Philippines won a favorable ruling in the international ar-

bitration court that invalidated China’s historical claims on several islands in the West Philippine sea.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, said he was temporarily setting aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China, but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidency—a timeline that, in the view of his critics, was not clear.

Batongbacal said: “We might become too dependent on China’s generosity.

We will lose our energy security, our independence to explore and exploit our own resources.

Elsewhere, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano rejected the photos released this week showing China’s almost finished reclamation in the disputed sea, justfying that all claimant countries had in fact their own reclamation.

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ADOPTED SON. Members of 67 classes of Philippine Military Academy’s Homecoming event honor the institution’s guest of honor Enrique Razon, chairman of the board of the International Container Terminal Services Inc., with PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan and former Armed Forces chief of staff and now Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu at the 2018 annual homecoming parade at the PMA Borromeo Field in Baguio City. (Story on A2) Dave Leprozo

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte slammed the International Criminal Court for singling him out for the alleged human violations when atrocities against humanities were taking place anywhere such as the Ronghiyas.

In a speech in Cebu recently, Duterte said there were Rohingyas being slaughtered but the ICC continued to focus on thePhilippine government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign which he said was destroying the future generation of Filipinos.

While the President earlier challenged the ICC to come to the Philippines and see for themselves the alleged drug war, Duterte said he was willing to be shot if found guilty by the ICC. Duterte cited the Rohingya refugee crisis amid alleged drug-related killings in the Philippines. Turn to A2

RODY ACCUSER IN 'CONSTANT PARANOIA' LAWYER Jude Sabio felt it was his duty to bring President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs to the attention of international war crimes prosecutors, but now that a probe into the killings is under way, he fears he too has become a target.

Sabio, who wants Duterte arrested and describes himself as penniless and on the run, said he had received death threats from Duterte supporters on social media after filing a petition with the Haguebased International Criminal Court in April last year.

“I’m in a state of constant paranoia because I fear for my life,” Sabio, 51, told AFP in an interview. “It could be very possible that a bullet will hit me.”

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda launched a “preliminary examination” after receiving Sabio’s petition, which alleges around 8,000 extrajudicial killings, and this could lead to a full investigation by the Turn to A2 court.

KUWAIT MAID'S KIN DEMAND JUSTICE ILOILO—More than a hundred relatives and supporters of a Filipina maid whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait brandished banners demanding justice as her coffin was returned home on Saturday.

The family of Joanna Demafelis openly wept as the white casket was unloaded at an airport cargo terminal in the central city of Iloilo.

“Justice for Joanna D. Demafelis,” was emblazoned on banners and on T-shirts worn by the crowd which included a congressman and local officials expressing their anger over the death of the Filipina whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait earlier this month.

The incident worsened a diplomatic flap between the Philippines and Kuwait with President Rodrigo Duterte alleging that Arab employers routinely rape their Filipina workers, force them to work 21 hours a day and feed Turn to A2 them scraps.

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SOLGEN QUIZZES OMBUDSMAN'S EXCUSES

'SAVE BORACAY' MEET SLATED FOR MARCH 2

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan SOLICITOR General Jose Calida on Saturday slammed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for claiming that the termination of the case against President Rodrigo Duterte was due to the refusal of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to provide a report or confirmation on the requested vital data.

In a statement, Calida noted that last October, the Ombudsman publicly claimed the documents in their possession are from the AMLC. “Now, the Ombudsman claims that the termination of the case is due to the AMLC’s refusal to provide a report or confirmation. Which is which?” Calida asked.

He also belied the Ombudsman’s claim that the probe was confidential in nature.

According to the Solicitor General, the Ombudsman announced that a fact-finding probe was being conducted on the President last September.

“Now that the case is ‘closed and terminated’, the Ombudsman kept silent,” Calida said.

Granting that Morales inhibited during the fact-finding, Calida said the case was already shut.

“There’s nothing more to inhibit from,” he stressed, refuting the Ombudsman’s pronouncement that she only knew of the termination on Jan. 29 as she inhibited from the case.

He said the Ombudsman has the constitutional duty to publicize this matter, as it involves the President.

“It is only when the cat is out of the bag that the Ombudsman confirmed the termination. I thought it was confidential? Why the sudden change of heart?” he said.

LEGENDARY FOTOG IN SEX SCANDAL NEW YORK—The Boston Globe published a bombshell exposé on Friday (Saturday in Manila) accusing more than two dozen professionals in the fashion industry, among them legendary photographer Patrick Demarchelier, of sexual misconduct.

The paper’s Spotlight team, which in 2002 unveiled widespread sexual abuse

by Catholic priests in Boston, said more than 50 models had detailed alleged misconduct they had experienced, from touching to assault.

Collectively, they made credible claims against at least 25 photographers, agents, stylists, casting directors and other industry professionals, the Globe reported.

They include Demarchelier, fellow photographer Greg Kadel, who has worked for Victoria’s Secret and Vogue, and stylist Karl Templer, who has worked with Coach, Zara, and Tommy Hilfiger.

The Globe said all of those accused had denied the allegations against them.

Nevertheless, glossy magazine empire Conde Nast, whose company includes Vogue, had said it has stopped working for now with Demarchelier and Kadel.

The Globe said one of Demarchelier’s former assistants complained about relentless sexual demands, to which she eventually submitted, fearing that she would otherwise endanger her position.

Six other women accused the now 74-year-old Frenchman of unwanted advances, including thrusting a model’s hands onto her genitals and grabbing another model’s breasts, the Globe said.

Demarchelier did not immediately respond to an AFP request to comment.

He was quoted by the Globe as saying the complaints against him were untrue. AFP

PUMP PRICE CUTS BARED PETRON Corp., Pilipinas Shell and Phoenix Petroleum said they would roll back prices of petroleum products starting Sunday, Feb. 18.

Petron announced Saturday it will slash the price of its gasoline products Blaze 100 Euro 6 and Xtra Advance by P1.05 per liter, and its Turbo Diesel and Diesel Max by P1.25 per liter.

Its kerosene price will also be reduced

by P1.20 per liter. The adjustments will take effect 6 a.m. on Sunday, Petron said.

The firm said the price adjustments reflect movements in the international oil market.

Shell and Phoenix also slashed prices

by P1.15 per liter for gasoline and P1.30 per liter for diesel.

By Joel E. Zurbano

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OVERNMENT officials and all stakeholders of Boracay Island will meet in a hearing on March 2 to tackle the environmental problems besetting the world-famous island to comply with the six-month deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Cynthia Villar said on Saturday.

Local government officials, private stakeholders and operators of water facilities on the island were invited to attend the meeting spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said Villar.

The hearing aimed to address Boracay’s serious garbage and wastewater problem and prevent the possible closure of the island to tourists and new businesses.

Villar, who chairs Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, in an interview over DZBB, said: “It’s a mess. The DENR was instructed to do something because it will destroy the famous beach.”

“President Duterte wanted private [hotels] in Boracay to align their sewage with the Boracay sewer line.

It was a requirement to prevent all

waste from leaking into the seas,” she added.

The President recently threatened to file charges against Boracay officials for their alleged negligence. He is also considering shutting down the island, which draws at least two million visitors yearly as one of the best destinations in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism said only a few tourists canceled their bookings in Boracay resorts and hotels after the President’s ultimatum last week for a massive cleanup.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said of the 57 big hotels and resorts surveyed by DoT in Boracay, only eight guests canceled at Bamboo Beach Resort, while 22 rooms were canceled at the Blue Marlin Boracay.

Teo, in a press conference at Marco Polo Hotel in Davao on Friday, said this was based on a text message from the tourism director in Boracay.

“I think it’s limited,” she said when asked about the impact of Boracay’s ecological issue on the tourism industry there.

“The cancellations were attributed to the President’s declaration.

So, the effect is not really that big,” Teo said.

Senator Richard Gordon agreed with Duterte that Boracay needs to clean up. He said the threat to close Boracay may be necessary to rehabilitate the island known globally for its pristine white sands and crystalclear waters.

“Boracay is overloaded, it is beyond capacity,” he said.

“It’s time Boracay is reinvented. It’s time—since this is a national asset even if it’s under provincial control, that it is protected,” said Gordon.

Aside from its carrying capacity, Boracay’s law enforcement and compliance of establishments to the sewerage line is “haphazard” due to changing local leaders, the senator added.

Gordon, a former Tourism secretary, said Boracay should be strengthened to control “rapacious

developments” and that the DoT should prepare a plan and a timeline for Boracay’s rehabilitation.

Gordon also pointed to the need for a capacity survey on all beaches in the country, “so they won’t end up contaminated.”

The Tourism department reported that of the 150 Boracay establishments recently inspected by the government, only 25 were connected to the sewage line, and several businesses drained their sewage directly into the sea.

The Sewerage Line Phase 1 built by the Philippine Tourism Authority (now Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) was inaugurated 15 years ago, during Gordon’s term as tourism secretary, and was turned over to water concessionaire Maynilad in 2010.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu earlier reminded the municipal government of Malay in Aklan province of its responsibility to protect and preserve Boracay through a strict implementation of pertinent environmental laws and regulations.

Cimatu said the local government shares with the DENR the responsibility to enforce laws on environmental protection and conservation.

PMA ADOPTS RAZON AS HONORARY ALUMNUS FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City—Billionaire Enrique K. Razon Jr. on Saturday was adopted as an honorary alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy by the PMA Alumni Association Inc. for his philanthropic efforts.

Razon, chairman of the board of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Bloomberry Resorts Corp., operator of the Solaire Resort and Casino, spearheaded the donation of two new five-story cadet barracks (Enrile Hall and another one under construction) inside the PMA grounds here.

He likewise gave substantial aid to soldiers who fought in the siege of Marawi City last year, and the kin and wounded of the Mamasapano encounter that saw 44 elite police-

DU30...

From A1

“I was the first head of state who was indicted. There are Rohingyas who are being slaughtered but they only choose to indict me,” Duterte said during a meeting in Cebu last Tuesday.

The President also said he was “not scared” of facing trial for the drug war, adding he would even personally argue his case before the international court.

“You asked for it, let’s have a trial.

I will cross-examine you. When the trouble reaches them, they won’t be able to stand the cross-examination,” said Duterte, known for his tough stance while mayor of Davao City.

“I can convince you that the moon is black… I’m the only one whom they can’t fool. I’m not scared,” he added.

The ICC recently announced it was opening a preliminary examination into the alleged crimes committed in the Philippine government’s drug crackdown.

It would determine first if the crimes were under its jurisdiction before launching a full probe.

Meanwhile, the country’s top cop on Saturday said the police was willing to cooperate with the ICC investigation on the country’s anti-drug campaign while criticizing the inquiry as “politically motivated.”

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the police force was willing to provide the international court with data on the drug crackdown if it should make a request.

The PNP earlier reported that 3,987 drug suspects were killed between July 1, 2016 and Jan. 17, 2018.

men perish.

Razon was adopted into the PMA ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988 last year, while his adoption to the PMAAAI has been sponsored by the academy’s Classes of 1969, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

The PMAAAI is composed of more than 8,500 retired and active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a speech after accepting the adoption, Razon Jr. hoped there will be an end “to policies that has only became a vindictive exercise.”

“While the business community continues to contribute in nation-building in shaping the economy, much is still needed to be changed—especially with the way

RODY...

From A1

Duterte won a landslide victory in 2016 elections largely on a pledge to eradicate drugs.

He is accused of stoking the killings with inflammatory statements and repeated promises to pardon any police officer charged with murder.

Police say they have killed 4,021 drug suspects in self-defense, but rights groups claim police and shadowy vigilantes have actually killed more than 12,000 people.

Duterte maintains he is beyond the ICC’s jurisdiction and has threatened to withdraw his country from the treaty that created it if the tribunal pursues a formal investigation.

“The problem with me is when I see something wrong I fight,” said Sabio, who had a low-key legal practice for two decades and unsuccessfully ran for public office twice.

“Now to the question of how it feels to be standing against Goliath, to me the fact that he is president, I’m sorry to say this, doesn’t matter to me.”

‘Treacherous The unassuming lawyer—the son of public school teachers of modest means—lost the 2010 election for mayor of a southern town and was disqualified for being a “nuisance” senatorial candidate in 2016, officially ruled as lacking funds to run his campaign.

But his life started to change course when in October 2016 he agreed to represent Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin whose deposition forms part of the ICC case.

Matobato had confessed at a Senate public hearing a month earlier that he was a member of the “Davao Death Squad” that killed at least a thousand people on Duterte’s orders when the President was mayor of Davao City. AFP

the country’s leaders through times have done its politics,” he said.

“I can only hope that at some point, our politics will also mature, and our laws apply to all and not just used against political opponents by one administration after another,” the country’s third richest man said during the PMAAAI annual alumni homecoming.

Razon said he wished for the country’s “civil institutions” to be more like the military establishment—which has been the “rudder” that steered the country moving forward, “albeit on very rough seas.”

“At times we lost our way, but all throughout, it was the AFP and the military institution that was the rudder that always helped right the ship and steer us forward albeit on very

rough seas. I only wish I could say the same about some of our civilian institutions,” he said.

The country’s presidential elections, Razon noted, have become a “winner-takes-all” contest more than a democratic exercise.

“We experience our democracy one day every six years in what has seemingly become more and more a winner takes all contest,” he said, adding that the military establishment “remains a constant, providing comforting stability” amid the political noise around.

“We are still far from where we need to be, but I am confident that the growing strength and prestige of the AFP will guide us in what is hopefully a much straighter path ahead,” he added.

KUWAIT...

From A1

He has also banned the deployment of new workers to Kuwait and ordered airlines to fly home any of the 252,000 Filipinos working there who wish to return.

Meanwhile, a panel in the House of Representatives has created a technical working group that will fine-tune House Bills 674 and 1983, both seeking to expedite the process of repatriation of Filipino migrant workers.

The House committee on overseas workers affairs backed the approval of bills that seek to amend Republic Act 8042 which provides repatriation remedy for OFWs but does not specify a definite period of time within which it must be completed.

Lawmakers said in most cases, the repatriation process could take months or even years, giving rise to situations where pleas by OFWs to return home

EXPERT...

From A1 Aside from defending China, Cayetano said the structures were built even before President Duterte assumed the office and that they should not be blamed for it.

“You tell us, how do we stop it? And it’s not only China that has built a runway. Other countries have built a runway also in the features that are held by them,” Cayetano told reporters.

In 2014, it was reported that China began massive dredging operations in seven reefs in the Spratly Islands—Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, Hughes Reef, and Johnson South Reef.

“When the admininistration [of

are lost due to bureaucratic red tape and procedural bottlenecks.

The bills aim to address the loopholes of existing regulations and other obstacles to immediate repatriation.

About 10 million Filipinos work abroad and the money they remit back is a lifeline of the Philippine economy.

Their treatment abroad is often a political issue at home.

Kuwait’s foreign minister previously condemned Manila’s “escalation,” of the issue but Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Friday the Kuwaiti ambassador had assured him his government was “outraged” over the killing and determined to find those responsible.

A distraught Eva Demafelis could only say “I am sad,” when asked by reporters about the death of her daughter.

“She does not deserve the manner in which she died. She was beaten up,” said an aunt, Rosela Demafelis Taunan, referring to local news reports about the 29-year-old maid’s death. AFP, Maricel V. Cruz Duterte] came in they were already reclaiming and building there...How can we stop it?” he said.

Cayetano reiterated the promise of China to Duterte that it would “no longer” build in the disputed areas.

“The way we’re approaching it, let’s stop it from getting worse...” Cayetano said.

But Batongbacal slammed Cayetano’s remarks, stressing the situation in the South China Sea “is already getting worse” because the Philippines was not joining other claimant countries to call on China to stop its steady and ongoing militarization of its artificial islands.

“Philippines is not supposed to stop China on its own, it only has to work with others to do it,” Batongbacal said.

Batongbacal also rejected Cayetano’s claim that all claimant countries had built their own runways.

News

MONREAL PLANS TO USE NAIA2 FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ONLY

By Joel E. Zurbano

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ANILA airport general manager Eddie Monreal is considering using Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 exclusively for domestic flights and Terminal 3 for international flights only to further ease problem on air traffic congestion and improve passenger convenience.

Under the present setup, Naia Terminal 2, which is currently being used by Philippine Airlines, operates for both domestic and international flight services. But according to Monreal, the said terminal was originally designed as a domestic terminal.

The Naia Terminal 3, on the other hand, was designed for international flights, but it is also being operated for both domestic and international flight services by several airlines.

Monreal said using these terminals for both domestic and international flights caused air traffic congestion and inconvenience for air travelers.

“I think the best way is to rationalize the airport and fully utilize Terminal 3 for international flights, and Terminal 2 for domestic flights,” said Monreal in a radio interview.

The Manila International Airport Authority, according to Monreal, has already mapped out plans to rationalize airport services, but airlines and other stakeholders had reservations on the move, citing possible disruption in their operations.

In August last year, legacy carrier Philippine Airlines offered to build a P20-billion (US$400-million) passenger terminal beside its current hub at Terminal 2 to expand capacity and for the convenience of the public.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the new terminal would be designed to handle 12 to 15 million passengers per year and would have aerobridges capable of serving 12 to 17 wide-bodied and single aisle jets.

BLEEDING HEARTS. Relatives of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings

join the ‘Valentine Gathering for EJK Widows and Orphans’ in Manila to mark Valentine’s Day in memory of their departed loved ones. Norman Cruz

ALVAREZ: BILL MILITARY TO CONTINUE OPERATION VS REDS—ROQUE ON DISSOLUTION

By Vito Barcelo DESPITE the Norwegian government’s earlier commitment to support peace negotiations with the communist rebels, the military will continue to launch anti-insurgency campaign to wipe them out for threatening to kill a soldier a day, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“While we all want peace, we cannot see the sincerity of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army of the Philippines [CCP-NPA] to have a genuine peace talks,’ Roque said over a radio interview.

“Ngayon po wala muna kasi nga po hindi naman titigil ang putukan.

Nakikipag-usap ng putukan, tina-target pa rin ang mga kasundaluhang mga Pilipino!”, (For now, there’s no peace talks as fighting continues. They (rebels) are talking with gun fires and targeting Filipinos”, Roque said.

‘So why would the government insist on the peace dialogue when the rebels don’t want peace,” he said, adding, “so war against the CPP-NPA will continue.”

Roque said CPP founder Jose Maria

“Joma” Sison has threatened the Duterte administration of killing a soldier every day.

But President Rodrigo Duterte answered back at the communist leader’s threat and said that he would order the military to kill five NPA rebels for every soldier killed by the rebels.

“The message is, ‘You don’t threaten us, Joma Sison. We are the state. If we haven’t eradicated you, it’s because we opted not to eradicate you as Filipinos.

But if you want war, we’re ready to go to war,’” Roque said.

In fact, Duterte has raised the P20,000 bounty to P25,000 for each communist rebel killed by government forces to save on anti-insurgency costs.

“You kill an NPA today and I’ll pay you P25,000,” Duterte said in a speech at an air base in Cebu City, referring to NPA guerrillas.

In November last year, Duterte issued a proclamation formally ending peace negotiations with communist rebels.

The President signed proclamation 360 declaring the termination of peace negotiations with the NDF-CPP-NPA. The President considered the communist group as terrorist.

‘NEW BBL VERSION GAINS HUGE SUPPORT’ THE Bangsamoro Transition Commission’s version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law has been gaining tremendous support with at least 90 percent of the people on the ground approving its passage, an official of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said.

“I will report that the reception on the ground is about 90 percent said yes for the BTC version of the BBL,” said OPAPP Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso in his talk during the culminating event of the DELACSE Bangsamoro project in Makati City on Feb. 16.

Hermoso said he based his

assessment from the consultations conducted by OPAPP and other non-government and civil society organizations alongside Congress in the Bangsamoro areas in Mindanao.

“We went out and the reception of the people on the ground, those will be affected by the new law, is tremendously supporting the BTC version of the BBL,” Hermoso, himself a native of Cotabato, said.

Hermoso said he was elated by the remarks of former Chief Justice Hilario David Jr. and Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna that “when they studied deeply the BTC version, they cannot find constitutional infirmities.”

“I’m one of the most affected. There is good in it. The political aspect is going smoothly. I hope there is no more Marawi or Mamasapano forthcoming. We are watching it closely,” he said.

He was referring to the fivemonth siege in Marawi City last year and the botched Mamasapano police operation designed to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in January 2015.

The Mamasapano incident, which left 57 people including 44 police elite forces dead, had hampered the passage of the proposed BBL bill. PNA

OF MARRIAGE A PRIORITY

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE bill seeking the dissolution of marriage is among the priority legislation of the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said.

In fact, Alvarez said the House is eyeing the passage of the bill in March or before Congress adjourns for the Lenten break.

“My commitment is to have the bill approved in March when Congress goes on break. We will have it approved on third reading by then, Alvarez said.

Alvarez authored House Bill 6027 or “An Act Providing for Grounds for the Dissolution of a Marriage.”

Alvarez said the House would come up with a “simpler and cheaper process for the dissolution of marriage.”

HB 6027 provides that a marriage may be dissolved based on irreconcilable differences or severe and chronic unhappiness of the spouses which caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage.

Alvarez said while he is uncertain if there is a counterpart measure on the dissolution of marriage in the Senate, he is confident that Senate President Aquilino Pimentel will support it.

The House committee on population and family relations chaired by Rep. Sol Aragones of Laguna earlier created a technical working group, headed by Lagman, whose task would be to consolidate all four bills on divorce namely, HBs 116, 1062, 2380, and Alvarez’s HB 6027.

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HOUSE OKS BILL ON ELECTRIC CO-OPS STANDBY FUND THE House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill 7054 or the proposed “Emergency and Resiliency Fund for Electric Cooperatives” which shall be used in disaster prevention, management, and mitigation measures of electric cooperatives and for rehabilitation of their infrastructures damaged by force majeure or fortuitous events.

The bill, with 205 lawmakers supporting the measure, seeks to mandate the government to support and assist all electric cooperatives affected by force majeure to immediately restore power. This will facilitate and assist efforts by LGUs in rendering aid, reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas.

One of the bill”s authors, PBA Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles, said the bill provides for orderly and continuing government financial assistance to ECs in the form of grants for disaster mitigation, preparedness, restoration and rehabilitation of damaged facilities.

In turn, he said ECs shall implement the rural electrification program nationwide under existing laws and ensure the protection, preparedness and mitigation of the adverse impact of any fortuitous event or force majeure on their infrastructure. They shall also ascertain the ability of their manpower to undertake emergency response for the immediate restoration or rehabilitation of their damaged infrastructure after a catastrophe. Maricel V. Cruz

MAYOR BINAY URGES YOUTH TO JOIN FIGHT VS ILLEGAL DRUGS MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Saturday urged young residents to participate in the city’s campaign to fight illegal drugs which remain to be a serious concern of the government under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The campaign dubbed as “Pag-asa sa Makati” has reached close to 6,000 participants, mostly students from the city’s public schools.

The program was launched in April last year through the joint efforts of the Makati Peace and Order Council and Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council to develop active youth advocates who will serve as the city’s partners in the promotion of a “drug-free Makati.”

“We are glad to note that the Pag-asa sa Makati campaign is fast gaining ground.

We encourage more young Makatizens to participate in various training and activities being conducted in our schools and communities,” said Binay.

She added “the entire program is aimed not only to cultivate the skills and talents of the youth, but also to empower them to be great leaders and role models for their peers.”

Binay pointed out that participating in the campaign as youth advocates of drug-free communities was a “much better and wiser option” than joining fraternities or gangs. She said she hoped the youth would be discouraged to do things like that following the death of a Makati high school student on Feb. 9, which was linked to rivalry among fraternity groups. Joel E. Zurbano

DU30 TAGGED MANALO AS OFW ENVOY BECAUSE OF INC ‘SYSTEM’

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

FARMER’S SON KILLED BY ‘PARANOID’ USER COTABATO CITY—A farmer in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao has reported that his son, a surrendered shabu user, was killed by his paranoid friend who feared the victim could be reporting to the police about their snipping of the illegal substance.

Samsudin Ali, a farmer and parttime carpenter, said he and his wife Khadiguia listened behind a wall when Jereck Abo Abdullah, 25, confessed to killing their son Mohammad 26.

Upon interrogation by barangay chairman Mel Sula of Rosary Heights V here, Abdullah said he killed Mohammad merely because of his “suspicion” that the victim was “reporting me” (Abdullah), after the latter had surrendered to authorities and gave up the vice.

The phenomenon is called “tamang hinala” (literally: correct suspicion) in the street parlance of local drug users.

Chief Inspector Efren Salazar, head

of the Police Precinct 2 here, said a murder case against Abdullah has been filed in court, which prompted the Regional Trial Court to commit Abdullah to Cotabato City Jail, following his arrest and inquest at the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The Ali couple said the case of their son Mohammad could probably be true in other cases of killings of drugs suspects elsewhere, but whose murders were generally blamed by the public on policemen.

Salazar said because of the incident, the public should give a second look at drugs-related killings that were indiscriminately blamed on PNP personnel as cases of extrajudicial killings. He added that the local fight against illegal drugs enjoyed full support from the local government unit under City Mayor Cynthia GuianiSayadi. Nash B. Maulana

PHOTO EXHIBIT. ‘Edsa 1986 before and beyond—FVR Legacy of Philippines 2000’ is the title of Sonny Camarillo’s photo exhibit in commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the 1986 Edsa Revolution.

Camarillo, a freelance photojournalist, will open his exhibit on Feb. 22, 2018 at the Ayala Malls TriNoma suported by the Ayala Land Inc., and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines under Acting Executive Director Ludovico Bayot, the Spirit of Edsa Foundation represented by Pastor ‘Boy’ Saycon.

Camarillo is thankful to Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, PCSO GM Alexander Balutan and PCSO Board Chairman Andrea Domingo and Director Gabby Claudio and the Pagcor Board, William Sia and Robenson Ong of the Camerahaus. The exhibit is also sponsored by JRS Express, CWC International Corp. and YKL Digital Imaging/ Wonder Photo Shop, DZRJ Radyo Bandido, DZRJ FM100.3 as official broadcaster, Rustan’s Coffee Corp., Osmundo Antiquez at Glorietta 4 and Balikbayan Handicrafts.

THE ‘systematic ’Iglesia ni Cristo in reaching out to its faithfuls around the world is the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte appointed its leader, Eduardo Manalo, as special envoy for overseas Filipino concerns, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

This despite the presence of the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs. Cayetano also admitted that his agency was the one that recommended Manalo to Duterte.

“One reason is that they have churches in several countries around the world, and Ka Eduardo is actually visiting many of them, and anyone of you here who have dealt with the Iglesia ni Cristo church in the localities, if you can see it, it’s very organized, whether it’s a member or non-member who will complain,” Cayetano, a bornagain Christian, explained.

The INC, which is led by Manalo, is known for its bloc voting during presidential or senatorial elections.

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Opinion

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

NEITHER CURSE NOR MIRACLE

T

PAWNS

“HIMALA” brings to mind a young Nora Aunor as Elsa, circa 1982. She is clad in white, speaking before multitudes who revere her as some kind of savior.

The film, written by Ricky Lee and directed by Ishmael Bernal, is counted among Filipino classics. Thirty-six years later, we see Barrio Cupang again—not in movie houses but at the Powermac Center at Circuit Makati.

Produced by The Sandbox Collective and 9 Works Theatrical, “Himala” The Musical runs until March 4.

Instead of space between the rows of viewers and a big screen, the stage is in the middle of the room—there is no front or back, left or right. Audience members take their place on all four sides, separated from the actors only by makeshift fences, plants, a bench here and there. On one corner is a hut where a house is supposed to be. On another, an elevated platform serves as the “burol” (hill). The wind howls ominously. Later, rain and the resulting slush show the extent of the mess of hysteria.

We behold Aicelle Santos as Elsa and Bituin Escalante as Aling Saling, the mother. These women give stunning performances—but then again, so do the rest of the cast. Without exception.

Because this generation’s “Himala” is a musical, the songs play a vital role in transmitting the story’s mood and the nuances of human nature. Vincent de Jesus wrote the music and collaborated with original “Himala” screenwriter Ricky Lee for the lyrics. Live piano is provided by Jed Balsamo—hidden in one corner of the room, but simply impossible to overlook.

The lyrics remind us how powerful the Filipino language is in portraying varied and conflicting emotions.

For example, Elsa is no saint. She looks innocent and well-meaning, but exactly why did she think she saw the Virgin Mary? When the people started coming to her, she allowed herself to be fawned over. Indeed she tells the filmmaker who comes to the town, in Gawin Mo Akong Sining: Kunan mo ako at gawin mo akong sining. Gawin mo ‘kong imortal. Ang pangalan ko ay ibubulong ng hangin. Mga kawayan ay yuyuko sa aking pagdaan. (Take my picture and make me into an art. Make me immortal. The winds will whisper my name. Bamboos will bow as I pass.)

Elsa’s followers form themselves into the Seven Apostles, collecting contributions and generating revenue from “blessed” water and other goods. They also become more selfrighteous, petitioning to close down a night club that had been opened by Nimia, a prostitute who used to be Elsa’s friend. In Wala Tayong Pinagkaiba (There is no difference between us), Nimia taunts Elsa: Elsa, sabihin mo sa akin ang ating pinagkaiba. May basbas ba ng langit ang iyong pagpuputa? Ang binebenta ko’y laman, kayo nama’y himala! Libo-libong kaluluwa’y nililinlang ninyo. Kayo’y nakikinabang sa kamangmangan ng tao. Pareho lang tayo, wala tayong pinagkaiba. (Elsa, tell me how we are different. Does your whoring have heaven’s blessing? What I sell is flesh, what you sell are miracles. You

HERE are twin tragedies in the death of Joanna Daniela Demafelis, the 29-year-old overseas Filipino worker who was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.

We know as much: That her body had shown stabs on the neck and evidence of torture, and that her former employers, the suspects in her killing, were a Lebanese national and his Syrian wife who had since fled. The Lebanese was wanted for falsifying checks.

Demafelis’ body arrived Friday morning as the Kuwaiti government promised it would do its best to find her ex-employers.

The first tragedy is of the personal kind. Demafelis was the sole breadwinner in her family after her husband had been unable to work. It is horrible to imagine that a young, hardworking, selfeffacing wife and mother would be subjected to such suffering and violence. These things should never happen.

The second is the repercussions of the death. President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait, not just because of Demafelis but of other cases of abuse and maltreatment.

Some would say this is throwing the baby with the bathwater, because violence among Kuwaiti employers are the exception and not the rule. Indeed, many

workers in Kuwait have given comfortable lives to their loved ones and built up their savings over the years. It is ridiculous to believe, too, that our workers can only be in danger if they work in Kuwait. The risks are everywhere, and evil deeds can be committed from anywhere.

Others say the ban is a necessary move to better protect OFWs. If the aim is to protect our workers, then there are numerous ways that the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, could ensure their safety. Embassy staff in other countries, for instance, should be reinforced and made aware of the impact of their action or inaction on the lives of our workers. What the employers do is, sadly, out of our control, but their governments should know at all times that we do not feed our citizens to wolves and will not just react when the harm has already been done.

In the very long term, the ultimate act of protection is to provide an economic environment where upward mobility and fulfillment are possible right within our shores.

And then, there would be no need to weigh financial gain against emotional and social cost. There would be no need to guard against known and unknown risks of working “out there.”

Turn to A5

BLACK PANTHER: A MUST-WATCH

I WAS told that it’s the best Marvel movie so far, and though I mistrusted the gushy review I was given, I decided to give it a chance—and discovered that it is all that it’s hyped up to be.

“Black Panther” was the first black superhero for mainstream comics, created by the legendary Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby. The character

debuted in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966), predating the October 1966 founding of the Black Panther Party, a self-defense group which grew out of the American Civil Rights Movement and fought against brutality against the black community in the US. The Black Panther is King T’Challa of Wakanda, a mysterious African nation whose wealth and technology are founded on the interstellar metal vibranium. A succession of Wakandan kings decide to keep the country a secret from the rest of the world so that their resources of the precious metal will not be exploited.

In the film, the story revolves around

how T’Challa comes to the throne and the challenges he faces to keep the country together and into a new direction.

Like most print-to-film adaptations, liberties have been taken with some characters and the story flows differently from that of the comics. For those coming fresh to the tale, or who set aside the comic book narrative to appreciate the film for itself, there is much to laud about it.

First, the fact that the movie has a nearly all-black cast and director. This is such a rarity in Hollywood that it is no exaggeration to say this film is a milestone in that regard. Representa-

tion is important for people of color to find their spaces in society and to be comfortable within them.

Having lived in the US for a while, I have had first-hand experience with issues related to race that we do not have to deal with in the Philippines.

Seeing people that look like yourself in media goes a long way toward validating your place and gradually dismantling the structures of white privilege and presence in the public discourse that have historically excluded or ignored POC. The film also decries colonialism, violence towards the black community, and negative stereotypes of black peo-

ple. Its costumes, settings, set design, and other visual factors present the richness of African history and culture.

A glorious past is shown in the references to the ancient empire of Benin.

The pre-colonial Benin Empire was located in what is now southern Nigeria (no relation to the present-day country of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey). Established around 1180, it flourished until its annexation by the British Empire in 1897. The Benin Empire, which had its own writing system, magnificent art, and unique architecture, is a source of pride for many AfriTurn to A5

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Opinion ‘DISCOVER YOUR INNER SPY’ AT NEW YORK’S LATEST MUSEUM NEW YORK—New York may already be crammed to breaking point with culture and tourist attractions, but on Friday the city added another feather to its cap: Spyscape—a new museum giving visitors a taste of life as a secret agent.

Part museum, part interactive installation, visitors can undergo a lie detector test, creep past laser beams and decode secret messages at a spanking new premises—four years in the making—close to Central Park.

A former British intelligence officer was recruited to help design the installation, says Spyscape chief of staff Shelby Prichard.

Rooms are devoted to major periods of espionage history, such as the British cracking of the Nazi Enigma code during World War II—and the museum displays an original model of the so-called “bombe” designed by Alan Turing to help do so.

It also features documents related to US double agent Robert Hanssen, who passed secrets to the Soviets from 1979 to 2001, and US-born Virginia Hall who supported the French resistance during World War II. The interactive exhibits give visitors the chance to test out their own espionage skills and pass through a series of challenges. “It’s also a personal journey to discover your own inner spy,” said Shelby Prichard.

He said the museum offers a more contemporary perspective than the International Spy Museum in Washington, with sections on hacking and cyber warfare.

“It’s optimized for teens and adults, but we think that smart kids are really going to enjoy it, too,” the chief of staff said. AFP

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UGLY MODELS: AN AGENCY OF EXTRAORDINARY ‘CHARACTERS’

By Edouard Guihaire LONDON—Long necks, large chins, flapping ears, crooked noses: welcome to Ugly Models, a London modelling agency of a different stripe, where imperfections are celebrated.

Fashion Week opens in the British capital Friday, and among the legions of models strutting down the catwalk, several will come from Ugly.

They make eye-catching additions to the perfectly honed or androgynous models that typically feature at fashion’s annual showcase in London.

“It’s celebrating diversity really and it’s bringing a bit more light to fashion instead of just using the bog-standard models,” agency owner Marc French told AFP. He describes it as a “character” model agency—”from fat, thin, to large to small: you name it, we’ve got it.”

Founded a half century ago, Ugly occupies trendy open-plan space in west London featuring a baroque sofa, brushed aluminium computers and walls studded with photos of models.

A portrait of late rock superstar David Bowie adorns the wall, alongside the quote “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius,” which reads like a company motto.

Like any such agency, it manages the careers of its models, putting them in touch with employers of all stripes, from Burberry to Mercedes to Jack Daniel’s.

On a recent weekday, Ugly was organizing a casting to complete its catalogue and those in atten-

A composite image shows potential models during a casting at the Ugly model agency in London on Jan. 25. AFP

dance were atypical models. Among them were some tough-looking guys.

Chris, for example, a former soldier with arms as thick as logs, posed shirtless with a 50-year-old brunette in a two-piece suit.

Kris Chesney, an ex-rugby player with Toulon and Saracens, is a man mountain at nearly two meters (over six feet) tall and weighing 135 kilograms (almost 300 pounds). With his

shaved head, tattooed arms, rugged face, and body bearing the marks of countless scrums, he is perhaps an unlikely male model.

“It’s a new journey, something interesting, like a challenge,” he said.

Others are on more of a personal mission. Sheerah Ravindren, a petite 22-year-old model just 1.61 meters tall, comes from Sri Lanka and proclaims herself a “militant immigrant model.”

Sporting a bare belly between baggy jeans and black top, she has a right nostril piercing and plenty of positive attitude. “I’m a woman of color. Growing up, I’ve never seen people that look like me in media, in fashion.”

Frances, a disabled model who gets around using a pair of eyecatchingly futuristic crutches, revealed proudly that her disability “didn’t stop me from doing what I want.”

For French, “what makes a good ugly models is someone who is comfortable in his own skin.”

“We don’t want retouching, we don’t want people to change the way they look. If someone comes to us a certain way, we’d never say it’d be better if he was smaller. It’s really important. There’s so much pressure on young kids,” he said.

The agency is also eager to counter any perception that it cynically exploits its models for their peculiarities.

“Sometimes we’ve had companies ring up and said: we want a small person that will kick themselves in the head. Woah... like no —that’s wrong,” said Lulu Palmer, a booker who is head of new faces. “We’re not here to exploit people, to take the mickey out of people.”

Always on the lookout for new talent, the team admitted the company name can elicit less than enthusiastic responses from would-be models.

But, said French, “the minute they understand what Ugly is all about, then they want to be a model.” AFP

From A4

cans and those of African descent.

I also love how the movie empowers women. Black Panther’s sister, Princess Shuri, is the country’s foremost scientist, and has a fully outfitted laboratory better than anything Tony Stark or Bruce Banner had, and creates fantastic gadgets that leave Q’s (of James Bond fame) in the shade.

The Queen Mother Ramonda is strong and wise and helps save T’challa’s life.

Wakanda’s “greatest warrior,” according to Shuri, is General Okoye, who leads the elite forces who guard the King, the “dora milaje” (adored ones), female warriors coming from the different Wakandan tribes.

Okoye is played by ZimbabweanAmerican actor and playwright Danai Gurira, who, with some of her castmates, see the movie as a movement.

“We’ve been a world where the thrust of what we see in terms of superheroes, or in terms of this type of epic imagery, comes from one perspective,” she said in an interview published on Aol.com. “I’ve talked to people of many ethnicities who feel the excitement and exuberance around it, and the expression it gives them about how they can celebrate themselves.”

Let’s also give a shout-out to the use of South Korea as one of the locations in the film. Seeing Asians in and having a Hollywood film shoot in Asia brings attention to a large part of the world population that massively consumes American culture but is seldom represented in it save as sidekicks, villains, or comic foils.

Speaking of representation, the film also presents a concept called “Afrofuturism.” Jamie Broadnax, writing for Huffington Post, says it is “the reimagining of a future filled with arts, science, and technology seen through a black lens.” The term was coined some 25 years ago by white author Mark Dery in his essay “Black to the Future,” which looks at speculative fiction within the African diaspora.

Broadnax adds that having “a black character in a futuristic world is not enough” for a narrative to be called Afrofuturistic— “it must be rooted in and unapologetically celebrate the uniqueness and innovation of black culture.”

Why is Afrofuturism important? Devindra Hardawar on engadget.com says that representation matters because “children will watch this movie and see possible futures where African influences are just as viable as those of the West and Asia.”

“Black Panther” is Africa and Africans coming into its own. It is POC reaching for their place in the sun. And the film’s message of acceptance, “doing right,” and working together for the greater good of humankind through science is timely and relevant in these troubled times.

Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communications consultant. Facebook: @DrJennyO, Twitter: @jennyortuoste

FROM MAOIST SYMBOL TO HIPSTER ACCESSORY: NEPALI SHOES GET REVAMP

By Annabel Symington KATHMANDU, Nepal—Long maligned as the footwear of choice for Nepal’s Maoist guerillas, Goldstar sneakers are undergoing a revival in the Himalayan nation—fast becoming a must-have hipster accessory.

The humble $8 trainers were worn by insurgents during Nepal’s decade-long civil war, when just being seen wearing a pair was enough to wind up in prison accused to being part of the rebel force.

Today that stigma is fading as fashion conscious Nepalis, proud to support locally made products, flock to the brand—Goldstars saw a 30 percent jump in sales in 2017 according to company figures.

“Wearing a Goldstar now is like being a part of a movement. And everybody seems keen on being a part of it,” says Kathmandu-based singer Samriddhi Rai, who regularly posts about her ever-growing collection to her large social media following.

Many of this new generation of consumers came of age after the conflict ended in 2006 with more than 17,000 dead and thousands more missing.

Then, Goldstars were best known for cladding the feet of Maoist militiamen who waged a brutal insurgency against the state from their rural strongholds.

NEITHER...

From A4

make fools out of thousands of souls and profit from people’s ignorance. We are the same.)

In “Himala,” we also see examples of pure love, notwithstanding the circumstances.

Aling Saling is her daughter’s first critic. She is the first to apologize when Elsa announced she had seen the Virgin during the eclipse. She also does not fully buy that her daughter has legitimate healing powers. But she is there, all the time, even when she neither understands nor agrees with what her daughter is doing.

In Uyayi ng Ina (A Mother’s Lullaby), Escalante as Saling takes one’s breath away: Di ako sang-ayon sa iniisip mo.

Tiwala ko’y wala sa iyong ginagawa.

Sa paniniwala tayo ay magkaiba. At kailanman hindi magtutugma. Ngunit hinding hindi kita iiwan...Ang pag-ibig ko ay walang hanggan, walang kulay o pangalan. At walang simula at walang katapusan. Sapagkat mahal kita, ang pag ibig ko ay walang sukatan. Walang hinihinging sagot, walang kapaguran. (I don’t agree with what you are thinking, or doing. I believe we are different. But I will never leave you. My love has no bounds, color or name. No beginning and end. Because I love you. My love

The rebels earned a reputation for nimbly evading government forces, darting around the hills in military fatigues—and their distinctive sneakers.

“Goldstar shoes, the shoes of combatants. Always one step ahead,” local punk band The Kathmandu Killers sing in a recently released track that taps into the enduring legacy of the brand from that era.

The army eventually changed tactics, opting to starve the rebels out by imposing a blockade that deprived Maoist strongholds of both food and footwear.

“They were trying to stop the lifeline, like food, but at the same time they were stopping the shoes as well,” Amir Rana, managing director of Goldstar’s parent company Universal Group, tells AFP. As the bitter conflict dragged on, the trainers became so synonymous with the Maoists that anyone wearing a pair was suspected to be a militant.

“The security forces profiled them. If a guy was wearing Goldstar shoes and had a backpack, he was Maoist,” Rana adds.

The war ended with a peace deal in 2006 that brought the rebels into the folds of government, with Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal becoming Nepal’s first post-war prime minister.

But the scars linger and two commissions set up to investigate abuses on both sides have failed

has no measure. It does not demand answers, it never tires.)

It is on the hill when the apparition is supposed to have happened, but it is on the hill, too where Elsa and Chayong are raped as they are praying. The violence is heartbreaking—and even more palpable as it takes place dangerously close to where the audience is seated. At no other point does spectatorship become intimate.

Chayong, the religious one, tries to find reason for the tragedy that befell her. She seeks comfort in her faith: Mahal na Birhen, kahit na ilang ulit mo nang narinig, sana’y pansinin ang tinig kong umawit ng kundiman, Ang puso kong sabik sa ‘yong kandungan.

Ako sana’y mahalin kahit nagkadungis.

(Beloved Virgin, please heed my voice that is singing. My heart longs for you.

Please love me still, even as I have been sullied.)

But Chayong finds no immediate relief—and takes her life.

Her lover Pilo becomes angry and demands answers from Elsa, who he now believes is a phony: Minsan kong nadama ang langit ng kanyang pagibig, na ngayo’y naglaho nang tuluyan.

Dahil sa isang propetang sing-kinang ng tanso. Singliwanag ng kadiliman.

Sino ka bang talaga? Ba’t hawak mo ang aming buhay? Alam ba ng langit itong impyerno na ginawa mo? (I once felt

to bring key perpetrators to account, with many still occupying top positions in the government and military.

But many buying Goldstars today do not attach these storied shoes to the horrors of the past. If anything, the brand, founded by Rana’s father in 1990, has benefited from its humble roots as a family business as national pride has surged in recent years.

Sandwiched between two Asian superpowers vying for economic and diplomatic influence, Nepal is flooded with products from both.

“Most of the goods that we get are either made in India or made in China,” muses Shreyans Tamang, a young Kathmandu resident who was sat on a sun-soaked step drinking tea with friends—a pair of Goldstars on his feet.

“I think that’s also why I like Goldstars because they are made in Nepal,” he adds.

A popular #MadeinNepal movement has also put a premium on homegrown products and helped local businesses reach young buyers through social media where their goods can acquire a new appeal.

Rai, the singer, said Goldstars meant much more than wearing “a funky pair of shoes.”

She says: “It was also about making a statement: that I support Nepali makes, the Nepali industry and that I embody the spirit of being a Nepali.” AFP

her love but now she is no more. Because of a prophet that is as glittery as bronze. As bright as darkness. Who are you, really? Why do you hold our lives in your hands? Do the heavens know the hell that you’ve created?)

But Elsa herself questions the heavens, in fact angrily confronts it for allowing her tragedy to happen. Here we see Santos the singer and actress, as she dares the Virgin to appear again: Tunay ba ang lahat ng himala?

O ako ba ay pinaglalaruan? Madaya ka, ako’y kausapin mo! Hindi mo ba nakita nakita na doon sa may burol winasak nila ako? Nasaan ka na? Andito ako ngayon, ang Elsa mo. Kailangan ko rin maghilom. Di mahimbing at di nananaginip. Binawian ng galak, ninakawan ng awit. Hapung-hapo, gulong-gulo, kumikirot ang isip. Magpakita kang muli, ako’y linisin mo! (Were the miracles true, or was it just a game? Talk to me! Didn’t you see they destroyed me on the hill? Where are you? I am here now, your Elsa. I need to heal, too.

I can’t sleep, but I can’t also dream.

Joy has left me; I have ben robbed of song. I am exhausted and confused, and my mind hurts. Show yourself to me again, and cleanse me!)

Alongside these personal tragedies is the degeneration of Barrio Cupang.

Rain still not has come, making farming difficult. On the streets are heaps

of trash. Elsa has ceased to heal people and has withdrawn into a shell.

Ang nasa kapangyarihan ay walang pakialam. Itong abang buhay saan nababaling? Buong bayan, naghahari ang dilim.Nakalublob sa putik at lusak ay nakalibing....Kailan aagos muli mga ilog sa Cupang? Tuyong-tuyo na ang aming kaluluwa. (Those in power do not care. Where do we turn in this wretched life? Darkness reigns all over.

We are submerged in mud. When will the river flow again? Our souls are parched).

Finally, Elsa emerges from her hut and tells her believers she has something important to say: Kayraming sakit ang gumaling, kayraming tao ang bumuti. Sila ay nagkaroon ng pananampalataya. Ngunit tayo ri’y nakakita ng mga panloloko at mga pandaraya at mga kahalayan at ng kamatayan. Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao. Tayo ang gumagawa ng himala. Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa. (Many people were healed and made well. They found faith. But we also saw dishonesty and perversion and death. There is no miracle. It is us who make miracles. It is us who make curses).

Elsa is shot, chaos ensues, the curtain falls—and the audience is left in awe. adellechua@gmail.com

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Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

US INDICTS 13 RUSSIANS FOR POLL MESS WASHINGTON—The United States special prosecutor investigating Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election on Friday indicted 13 Russians for allegedly running a secret campaign to tilt the vote, prompting claims of vindication from President Donald Trump.

The indictment—which includes the first charges laid by special counsel Robert Mueller for election interference— detailed a stunning operation launched in 2014 in a bid to sow social division in the US and influence American politics “including the presidential election of 2016.”

Mueller alleges that by mid-2016, the campaign—under the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- became focused on boosting Trump and demeaning his rivals including Democrat Hillary Clinton.

It allegedly involved “hundreds” of people working in shifts and with a budget of millions of dollars. Three companies were also indicted.

Moscow dismissed the allegations as “absurd.”

According to the indictment, members of the group posed as US citizens on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, posting content that reached “significant numbers” of Americans. AFP

KOSOVO MARKS 10 YEARS SINCE SERBIA SPLIT PRISTINA, Kosovo—Kosovo on Saturday celebrates 10 years since it declared independence, a moment of pride for its ethnic Albanian majority, although sovereignty remains fiercely contested

by Serbia.

The capital Pristina is covered in the blue-and-yellow Kosovan flag for a weekend of festivities, with Kosovoborn British pop star Rita Ora due to headline a concert in the main square on Saturday night.

A decade after a war between Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian rebels and Serbian troops left 13,000 people dead—most of them Albanians—the Kosovan parliament declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008.

“It was the happiest moment for all of us as a people,” said President Hashim Thaci in a statement on Friday, as children in Kosovo’s Albanian schools began the day with lessons dedicated to the anniversary.

This was not the case in the completely separate schooling system of Kosovo’s Serb minority, which remains loyal to Belgrade. Children from the two ethnic communities rarely mix.

Although more than 110 countries have recognized Kosovo as a state in the past 10 years, Belgrade refuses to do so.

Sovereignty is also rejected by Russia, whose Security Council veto prevents Kosovo from joining the United Nations, and five EU countries including Spain and Greece. AFP

MEXICO MINISTER SURVIVES CHOPPER CRASH THAT KILLS 2 MEXICO CITY—A helicopter carrying the Mexican interior minister and a governor crashed near the epicenter of a powerful earthquake in the country’s south on Friday, killing two people who were on the ground, officials said.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete and Alejandro Murat, governor of the state of Oaxaca, were on their way to survey the scene of the destruction left by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake when the accident occurred, the interior ministry tweeted.

“Unfortunately, two people who were on the land lost their lives in this incident,” it added.

Navarrete told the Televisa network that a number of the helicopter’s passengers were also injured.

He said the pilot of the military helicopter, which had flown from Mexico City to Pinotepa de Don Luis, some 37 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the epicenter, lost control of the aircraft at a height of about 40 meters as it was coming in to land.

A Televisa reporter who was on board said the helicopter suddenly dropped after generating a large cloud of dust on its landing field.

TV images showed the downed chopper lying on its side surrounded by several cars. AFP

US President Donald Trump speaks with doctor Igor Nichiporenko (left) and First Lady Melania Trump while visiting first responders at Broward Health North hospital Pompano Beach, Florida on Friday. AFP

TRUMP IN FLORIDA; FBI ADMITS MISSED TIP

P

OMPANO BEACH, Florida — United States President Donald Trump on Friday visited a Florida hospital to offer comfort to those wounded in a mass school shooting, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it mishandled a tip about the troubled teen behind the massacre that left 17 dead.

The arrival of Trump and his wife Melania came at the end of a difficult day for the families of those killed in Wednesday’s rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida, who learned that the carnage could perhaps have been averted.

The FBI admitted it had received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said the 19-year-old gunman, Nikolas Cruz, could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents had failed to follow up.

At Broward Health North Hospital, where Trump met with survivors of the shooting, the president thanked the doctors, nurses and first responders for their “incredible” work and described the carnage as “very sad.”

He and his wife then headed to the Broward County sheriff ’s office, where they met with Florida Governor Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Sheriff Scott Israel and other law en-

forcement officers.

Trump told the group he had met with a female survivor who had been shot four times, including in the lung, adding that quick first responders had saved her life.

“Give them a raise,” he said.

He later tweeted several pictures of himself and Melania, visiting with a survivor and her family, as well as posing with hospital staff.

“We are committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools, and tackle the difficult issue of mental health,” Trump wrote in an Instagram post alongside the picture.

The president’s visit to the Parkland area north of Miami came amid growing anger among parents and students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School over America’s seeming unwillingness to toughen gun control laws.

“My princess wasn’t safe in that school,” said Andrew Pollack, speaking at the funeral of his 18-year-old daughter Meadow.

“Please pray that this horrific tragedy never happens to another family.”

At the evening briefing at the sheriff ’s department, Rubio said: “This is a community and a state that is in deep pain and they want action to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Trump replied: “You can count on it.”

The FBI made a stunning admission earlier in the day, saying a “person close to Nikolas Cruz” made a call to the agency’s public tip line on January 5 to “report concerns about him.”

“The caller provided information about Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting,” the FBI said in a statement.

The information from the caller “should have been assessed as a potential threat to life” and forwarded to the agency’s Miami field office, it said.

Instead, “no further investigation

was conducted.”

“We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation director Christopher Wray, who took up his post in August.

Wray said he was “committed to getting to the bottom of what happened,” and Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered an immediate review to ensure “effective response to indications of potential violence.”

But Scott, the state governor, nevertheless called for the FBI chief to step down, saying the failure to act was “unacceptable.”

“Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn’t going to cut it,” Scott said.

The January warning to the FBI was not the first it had received about Cruz, who used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that he legally purchased a year ago to spray classrooms with bullets.

In September, the FBI was alerted to a message posted on YouTube, in which a user named Nikolas Cruz vowed: “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.” AFP

MELANIA SILENT AS 2ND WOMAN CLAIMS TRUMP AFFAIR

STATE VISIT. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (left) waves to the media as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on before a meeting at Hyderabad house in New Delhi on Saturday. The Iranian President is on a three-day official visit to India. AFP

WASHINGTON—United States First Lady Melania Trump on Friday chose not to leave the White House with her husband as planned to catch a flight to Florida, after a second woman claimed she had an affair with the now president.

The 47-year-old Slovenian-born model skipped the helicopter ride from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, deciding instead to take the longer motorcade on her own to meet Donald for the flight to the Sunshine State for a long holiday weekend.

Reporters traveling with Trump were prevented from seeing the First Lady arrive on the plane, but she did exit the plane at West Palm Beach with Trump.

The pair walked down the stairs together, Melania in dark sunglasses, but she did not smile.

The flight came just hours after former Playboy model Karen McDougal claimed she and Trump had a sexual relationship in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth to the president’s youngest son Barron.

McDougal also described complex legal and financial agreements that were used in an alleged bid to cover it up.

The White House did not reply to a request for comment. But in a statement to The New Yorker, an unnamed spokesperson said the president had denied having a relationship with McDougal, calling the claims “fake news.”

And the first lady’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham tried to pour cold water on any speculation about the first couple’s relationship, saying: “With her schedule, it was easier to meet him on the plane.”

According to The New Yorker, the nine-month relationship between Trump and McDougal ended quietly, but years later—during the 2016 presidential campaign—she sold her story.

The New Yorker reported that on August 5, 2016, McDougal agreed to give the company which owns the National Inquirer tabloid exclusive rights over “any romantic, personal, or physical relationship she has ever had with any ‘then-married man.’”

The deal is alleged to have been worth $150,000, but the story never ran.

“I’m the one who took it, so it’s my fault, too. But I didn’t understand the full parameters of it,” McDougal told The New Yorker of the alleged payment.

The National Enquirer is owned by David Pecker, who has claimed to be a friend of Trump’s. The tabloid endorsed Trump’s bid for the presidency.

In a statement, the tabloid’s owner, AMI, said that the suggestion that it “engages in any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President of the United States is laughable.” AFP

Sports

A7

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 randyproject@yahoo.com

NARIS SINGWANCHA

THAI PHILANTHROPIST BLESSING TO PH BOXERS

By Lito Delos Reyes

T

HAI businessman Naris Singwancha is well loved by a lot of Filipino boxers, especially those who have no back-up from big-time managers.

He has a soft heart especially to

boxers who are immediately in need of assistance for various reasons.

In 2013, he shelled out P2 million to help Filipino boxers in the Visayas, who were affected by typhoon Yolanda.

“When I saw on TV what happened to Visayas, I immediately asked my friends in the Philippines if there are boxers who need help,” said Singwancha, who will reactivate his Singwancha Foundation in the Philippines.

“I want to help also Filipino boxers because most of them are poor,” said the 73-year old boxing philanthropist from Thailand.

Now he’s looking at former Filipino world champions who may be in need or those willing to give away his support to others.

That is why he is now giving a monthly allowance of P3,000 to 4,000 to former Filipino world boxing champions through his foundation.

“All those former world champions, who have been in-active already for at least one year are qualified. I want to help them because they gave honor to your country,” said Singwancha.

Among those included in the list are Rolando “Bad Boy from Dadiangas” Navarette, Morris East, Rene Barrientos, Rolando Bohol, Frank Cedeno, Luisito Espinosa, Joma Gamboa, Sonny Boy Jaro, and Eric Jamili.

He has been giving also the same support to the past world champions in Thailand from the four major boxing associations only—WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF. Singwancha, who is the president of the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand and the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF), was in Bacolod City for the unification championship fight of ABF light flyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo and OPBF light flyweight king Edward “El Heneral” Heno at the Gaisano City Mall on Saturday night.

Former International Boxing Organization lightflyweight champion Rey Loreto (left) did not receive his cash purse after successfully defending his title in South Africa. Singwancha came to his aid for the construction of his family’s house in Davao.

He also made an ocular inspection of the proposed boxing training center at the parking area located at the back of the building owned by former Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Ramon Guanzon.

“I want to help also these amateur boxers, who still do not earn money,” said Singwancha, who promised to help finance the construction of the project.

He also met the young amateur boxers of Bacolod who are being trained by Dan Nietes, brother of world champion Donnie Nietes.

Singwancha, who was given the honor as an adopted son of Bacolod City, has already been supporting 10 professional boxers and two trainers under Wacky Salud and Noli Flores in Cebu since last year.

Singwancha (center) with trainers and children who are seeking help to put up a more decent boxing gym in Bacolod City.

“I support them by giving a monthly allowance of US$1,200,” said Singwancha.

He financially and morally helped former IBO world light flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto (23W-14L-0D, 15 KOs) when the native of Davao City failed to receive his purse from successfully defending his title in South Africa.

The 26-year old Loreto had captured the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) World light flyweight crown by a 3rd round knockout win against South African Nkosinathi Joyi on Feb. 1, 2014 at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

In their rematch, Loreto again stopped Joyi by a first-round TKO in front of his challenger’s hometown crowd on March 22 at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Loreto, however, came home penniless after the South African promoters did not give his purse worth more than P2 million pesos. And until now, Loreto has not received any payment from the

Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) President Naris Singwancha (right) and referee Ferdinand Estrella (left) raising the hands of new ABF super flyweight champion Ryan Lumacad.

promoters despite the pending case filed against them.

“Loreto was really very disappointed and was already planning to quit boxing,” said manager Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Gym. But Singwancha helped Loreto by giving him US$4,000 for the construction of his house for his family in Davao.

He also supported Loreto and inspired him to continue boxing.

Loreto was able to fight for the world championship again in Bangkok last year. Loreto, however, dropped a unanimous decision to WBA World minimumweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong last July 15 in Chonburi, Thailand.

“Malaki talaga ang utang na loob ko sa kay Sir Naris. Dahil sa kanya bumalik yung kumpiyansa ko sa boxing,” said Loreto.

Naris says Filipino boxers have become close to his heart because they are humble. “I will continue to help in the best way I can.”

Mark Striegl says Fitstrong will make one thinner and healthier

STRIEGL, SANCTBAND UNVEIL 28 DAYS CHALLENGE MARK Streigl, MMA’s Superstar Under Armour Ph athlete and One of Kind Marketing exclusive distributor of Sanctband in Ph is taking fitness to the next level.

Sanctband Resistive Band is a natural latex resistive exerciser and resistance training device. It is suitable for all fitness levels and can be incorporated in many exercise regimes.

Sanctband Resistance Exercise Band is color-coded to indicate the resistance levels and strengths for physiotherapy, rehabilitation, sports therapy and training.

The resistive exercise band is an effective and integral part of the concept resistance training. Resistance Training is a concept adopted in areas of physiotherapy, rehabilitation, sports training, Yoga and Pilates. It is also an effective training method used in sports training and rehabilitative exercises programs.

Sanctband Powder Free and Reduced Protein Exercise Bands are developed to address the uncomfortable feeling of using powdered bands and concerns of latex allergy when using a latex band.

Also, Jeremy Ng the Master Trainer of Sanctband for Strength and Conditioning and Sports Recovery trained 35 coaches for an initial certification.

During the entire contest, a participant must perform the video tutorial, then post it on their social media accounts everyday with the use of a unique hashtag alongside major partners #SanctbandGlobal, #SanctbandPH. #UnderArmourSEA, and #UnderArmourPH. By the end of the challenge, the participant must also post their before and after photo. Winners will then be selected through the participant’s social media posts.

Striegl said he has already tested the 28-day fitness challenge to a close friend.

“He is my high school friend. He works in Taipei and he flew over to the Philippines and lived with me for five weeks. He wanted to have more energy, feel better, feel stronger, and be healthier. He was able to lose 30 pounds in four weeks. He feels much healthier. I’m very happy with his progress and I know he is happy too,” said Striegl.

The contest made possible by Under Armour Ph and Sanctband, aims to promote exercise and physical activity among Filipinos, which will allow them to achieve their dreams in their life with the help of a healthy lifestyle.

The 28 Days Fitstrong will be launched digitally on March 10 to April 6 and culmination event on April 7 and April 14 at BGC. The event was supported by Philippine Sports Institute headed by the National Director Mark Velasco.

SHIN FOILS TABUENA, NAILS TCC INVT‘L CROWN BY 1 STA. ROSA, Laguna—Micah Shin hit clutch birdies to build a three-shot cushion at the back then watched Miguel Tabuena bungle a playoff-clinching birdie putt on the 72nd hole to snare The Country Club Invitational crown on a closing one-under 71 at the TCC course here yesterday.

The final round lived up to the hype despite Shin’s early threat of a breakaway as Tabuena fought back from four down to threaten within one with seven holes to go before the lanky KoreanAmerican banged in back-to-back birdies from No. 13 then made gutsy pars in the next three to nail the victory on a five-under 283 total.

Not even a final-hole bogey off a pulled approach shot into the greenside bunker could stop Shin, 21, from becoming the first non-Filipino and youngest winner of the event put up by ICTSI president and chairman Ricky Razon in 2003 as Tabuena

missed forcing a playoff with a muffed birdie putt from a pin-length distance.

The win, worth P1.5 million, was Shin’s third in a flourishing career. The Davaobased shotmaker scored a breakthrough in the CAT Open at Luisita in 2016 then banked P9 million in a playoff victory in an Asian Tour event at Southwoods last year.

“I’m very happy. I thank God for giving me a chance to win this,” said Shin, who considered his third round 67 as the turning point then banked on his long game to neutralize Tabuena in the final round.

Shin celebrated his big triumph sans the traditional fist-pump but pointed to the hole after a tap-in bogey following Tabuena’s miss.

“Actually, I wasn’t putting that well today (yesterday). But I still kept on playing consistently with my driver. That was my plan – to hit my driver steady and keep the ball on the fairway,” added Shin, who

also thanked caddie-friend Owen Hong, whom he considers a brother.

Tabuena, who edged three-time champion Juvic Pagunsan also by one on a 13-over 301 total to claim his first TCC Invitational title last year, earlier flubbed a birdie bid from close range on No. 14 but moved within two with a birdie on the next. He, however, failed to add at least one in the last three, including that heartbreaker of a miss on the final hole.

He finished with a 70 and a 284 worth P700,000.

“I played well. I knew from the start that if there’s one competitor that would actually challenge me, it would be Micah. He’s a good player and has the experience because he won an Asian Tour event last year,” said Tabuena, who also rued his shaky putting, particularly his birdie putt on No. 14 that lipped out.

Despite wicked conditions at the

country’s toughest course where bogeys became a norm, Shin and Tabuena still turned in under-par rounds throughout the pressure-packed final 18 holes. While the rest succumbed in another windy day at the Tom Weiskoph-designed layout made more daunting by difficult pin placements, the duo slugged it out shotfor-shot and putt-for-putt and made the turn with even 36s.

But after he bogeyed the par-3 11th that enabled Tabuena to close in within one, Shin came through with a series of solid shots and produced decisive birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, which the Filipino ace had failed to match, including that big miss on the 14th.

Shin thus went 3-up with four holes to go and though Tabuena gunned down a birdie on No. 15, the latter failed to cash in on the former’s bunker-visit for bogey on the last hole with that missed putt.

Micah Shin holds his huge TCC Invitational trophy after nipping last year’s champion Miguel Tabuena by one.

A8

Sports

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Kai Sotto

All-time great three-division Muay Thai world champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao (left) kicks Italy’s Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri, a WBC Muay Thai world champion. The Thai earned the TKO victory in the second round. ONE Championship

ONE LAUNCHES TOURNEY OF STRIKERS

By Reuel Vidal

O

NE Championship breaks new ground as the world’s premiere combat sports company with a new global league especially for elite strikers.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained the details of the new tournament during the ONE Super Series Global Conference Call last February 15, 2018.

The most exciting aspect of ONE Super Series is that it not only features the world’s greatest strikers from Muay Thai, kickboxing, taekwondo, karate, kung fu, sanda, lethwei, silat, and more but will also welcome ONE Championship fighters who are known strikers like Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario.

The public gets its first taste of the tournament at ONE: Heroes of Honor in Manila on April 20 with bouts from various styles of martial arts. Legendary multiple-time world champion Giorgio Petroysan (85-2-2, 2 NC) will face Lion Fight world champion Jo Nattawut (60-11-2) under international kickboxing rules.

Also on the card are multiple-time Muay Thai world champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao (255-54-1) will compete against multiple-time Muay Thai world champion Fabio Pinca (99-23-4) under Muay Thai rules with ONE gloves.

In addition to those world-class talents, other elite strikers who have signed on to compete in the ONE Super Series include Muay Thai world champions Petchboonchu FA Group, Yodsaenklai Fairtex, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Singtongnoi Por Telakun, Kwankhao Mor. Rattanabandit, and

Yodcherry Sityodtong.

Also, some of ONE Championship’s most talented martial artists and Muay Thai world champions, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Sagetdao “Deadly Star” Petpayathai, and Alain “The Panther” Ngalani are slated to participate in the exciting new league.

“I’m thrilled to announce the ONE Super Series because it’s a massive, game-changing moment for the world

of martial arts. ONE Championship has been a celebration of Asia’s greatest cultural treasure – martial arts – and the values of integrity, honor, respect, humility, discipline, courage and compassion. From my perspective, creating a super league that invites the world’s greatest strikers from all arts of Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Lethwei, Silat, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Sambo, Kung Fu, Sanda, Wushu – the martial arts that come from Asia – I think it’s a huge moment in the history of martial arts,” said Sityodtong during the conference call.

In the same way that Starbucks offers many flavors of coffee and tea, ONE Championship offers all martial arts. ONE Championship is

Former ONE Championship world champions in Team Lakay fighters Eduard Folayang (left) and Honorio Banario spar.

Chatri Sityodtong

the home of martial arts.

“We have earned that reputation over the last couple of years, and so instead of mixed martial arts, as a fight fan and as a martial arts lover, you now get to see all forms of martial arts for the very first time in history. So you will see matches of, you know, Muay Thai versus Tae Kwon Do, or Tae Kwon Do versus Kung Fu, and the list goes on and on. This is a massive gamechanging moment, not just for ONE Championship but also for the world of martial arts,” said Sityodtong.

ONE Championship has already signed some of the world’s greatest martial artists. The list of competitors of ONE Super Series is already the greatest collection of strikers on the planet. No other league has this level of talent, this many world champions who have agreed to compete against each other according to Sityodtong.

ARELLANO LADY CHIEFS DRAW FIRST BLOOD IT took way longer than expected but the defending champion Arellano Lady Chiefs managed to draw first blood in the opener of the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball Finals Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Arellano beat the San Beda Lady Red Spikers in five sets, 25-15, 25-16, 15-25, 22-25, 15-6 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three championship series.

The Lady Chiefs are looking to win their third title in four years against a team which is in the finals for the first time.

The Lady Chiefs seemed on the way to an easy romp after winning the first two sets easily. But San Beda coach Nem-

esio Gavino adjusted by turning to a smaller but quicker lineup which rolled to victory in the next two sets sending the match to a deciding fifth set.

The two teams battled to a 6-6 stalemate in the fifth set.

The defending champions showed better composure as they rattled off a 9-0 run to win decisively.

In a long drawn out rally Arellano setter Sarah Verutiao sent the second ball over to a tired Lady Red Spikers side for the deciding point.

Arellano head coach Obet Javier said his team relaxed too early which allowed San Beda to catch up. They then displayed championship

poise to win the deciding fifth set.

Regine Arocha led Arellano with 14 points while Jovielyn Prado added 13 markers.

Cesca Raqraquin led San Beda with 21 points.

Arellano thus inched closer to the second of back-to-back NCAA titles.

Game Two is tomorrow Monday and coach Javier doesn’t want his team to make the same mistakes again. He said the close call should serve as a lesson to his team not to take San Beda lightly.

The Legarda-based squad is gunning for its third title in four years after winning in Season 90 and 92.

San Beda Lady Red Spikers middle blocker Satrriani Espiritu (10) smashes the volleyball past a pair of Arellano Lady Chiefs blockers. Sonny Espiritu

SOTTO IS FUTURE OF PH BASKETBALL

By Peter Atencio MEET the future of Philippine basketball. Seven foot one Ateneo high school standout Kai Sotto.

At age 2, he saw his father, 6’7” Ervin, run up and down the court while playing for his team in the PBA, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs.

Because Kai loved to have a basketball with him all the time while at home in Las Piñas, Ervin put up a little basketball backboard for him to shoot balls at during playtime.

“Malaking bata, palaging sumasama sa games,” said Ervin, who has since retired, and at 36, is now one of the assistant coaches of NLEX. Thirteen years later, Ervin signed a contract on Kai’s behalf at the ESPN 5 office, and his son became the latest brand ambassador of Chooks-toGo, which is the chief backer of Gilas Pilipinas.

The contract that Ervin signed for Kai with Ateneo team consultant Arben Santos will give the kid ample support when he is training overseas with the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team. Also at the signing ceremony was Chooks boss Ronald Mascarinas and Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

Two weeks ago, Kai started joining the regular scrimmages of the national squad.

Kai, who is the youngest member of Gilas, said that with this new development in his career, this gives him plenty of confidence in his coming undertakings.

Kai’s deal with his new supporter was sealed a day before the Blue Eaglets met their last opponent, the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups in their last game of the second round. They eventualy finished with 14-0 sweep of the eliminations of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

Ervin, who used to play together with Ranidel de Ocampo in college with the St. Francis of Assissi Doves won numerous titles in the NCRAA. He said that through the years, Kai has managed to copy his quickness on the court, grab rebounds and make short range shots.

“Ang nakikita kong nadala niya ay iyung tumatakbo ako palagi sa game at tumatakbo rin siya. At mahilig din ako tumira sa labas. So tinuro ka para may mid-range at long range siya,” said Ervin.

While Kai still has to develop his outside shooting, Reyes saw things that set him apart when he first joined the scrimmages.

On his first practice with Gilas, Kai was put on the same floor with senior players Jason Castro, Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood and Matthew Wright.

They went on a 5-and-O offensive running drill routine, and went up against two big imports to simulate the defense of an Australian squad that they’re scouting.

Reyes said he was impressed at how Kai held his ground.

“He handled himself well,” said Reyes.

Ervin explained since coming the Ateneo Blue Eaglets fold last year, Kai’s game has matured.

B1

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

JOLLIBEE CHAIR GETS UST’S DOCTORATE DEGREE

The staff of Clara Skin & Body International Philippines

A

BEAUTY CLINIC WINS CLIENTS EVEN WITHOUT BILLBOARDS

beauty clinic in Quezon City wins the loyalty of its customers, including millennials, even without spending for giant billboards along Edsa and other major roads.

“We don’t have a billboard along Edsa. So how do we compete? It is through referrals or word of mouth,” says Anne Lorraine Sia, the chief executive of Clara Skin & Body International Philippines which has a 198-square-meter clinic at the second floor of Sunshine Boulevard Plaza on Quezon Ave. corner Scout Santiago and another 60-squaremeter facility in Greenhills, San Juan.

Sia’s group holds the master franchise in the Philippines of Clara International Beauty Group, a 41-year-old Malaysian company which was the first in the world to formulate herbal skin care for different climates. The Malaysian company which started as a beauty salon in 1977 and established by Dr. Clara Chee, grew to become one of Malaysia’s largest face and body centers.

Clara International has 50 beauty centers, research and development centers and beauty academies in Malaysia. It has manufacturing plants in Malaysia and China and is also present in many countries in the Asia Pacific region.

A client of the beauty clinic where Sia used to work attended one of the exhibits in Malaysia where Clara products were on display. “That client became our boss when she brought Clara to the Philippines and we became industrial partners,” says Sia. Clara Philippines combines Clara International’s Asian care expertise and European technology to provide holistic treatment, according to Sia, a 37-year-old mother of two.

“We have a good advocacy which is to use natural products that have no side effects. If you use the correct products and the correct machines, there will be no side effects,” says Sia, who helped establish Clara Philippines in 2003 when she was only 23.

“I worked for another beauty clinic before I started with Clara. Although I graduated from college with a Marketing degree, my first job was in a skin care center and I was trained as a skin consultant,” says Sia who recalls growing up with pimples as an adolescent.

She says when she helped establish Clara’s Philippine unit, she began personally using Clara’s natural products which eventually cleared the pimples on her face and made her skin glow.

Clara Skin & Body International Philippines CEO Anne Lorraine Sia

“My friends noticed it and I recommended Clara,” she says.

Sia says while herbal products are slightly pricier than other beauty products, the benefits are much more extensive. “All of our products are from plant extracts,” she says.

Services offered by Clara Philippines include facial treatment, skin whitening (Luminous White 4D from Slovenia), skin rejuvenation, warts removal, tattoo removal, cavitation treatment, needle-less mesobheraphy, buttocks firming, abs tightening, hair removal and eyebrow natural look. It also offers solutions for melasma, age spots/sun spots and freckles.

“We are backed up by science, especially nanotechnology,”says Sia. She says that in Malaysia, Clara has developed customized formulations of Halal-certified herbal cosmeceutical skin care.

She says Clara’s five main treasures include gentle face wash, cleansing fluid, special blue lotion, hydratant concentrate and LD clear cream.

Sia says while the price point of Clara is a bit higher than other clinics, Clara offers more intensive treatment. “Our facial treatment costs P1,800, but it takes two and a half hours. We don’t do short cuts,” she says.

“But to provide more accessible services, we offer face and neck diamond peel for P700. We also offer whole face warts removal for P750, regardless of the number of warts,” she says.

“We have 100 plus products at Clara. We have different products for different needs—for oily matured, or dry matured, or young skin range.

We are honest,” says Sia. “We treat ugly marks, redness, sensitive skin or aging skin. At Clara Philippines, we also invest in new technology such as non-surgical facelift,” says Sia. Sia says while Clara Philippines has only two branches, they are in talks with potential partners to put up branches in Binondo and Fort Bonifacio.

“The plans are still on hold because we don’t want to sacrifice quality. What is important is quality, more than the commercialized thing. We want to see the heart of our partners,” she says.

Sia says aside from effective herbal products, Clara Philippines also invests in high-end, stateof-the-art machines. Its Quezon City clinic has two dermatologists, six nurses and a physical therapist who attend to the needs of about 15 patients a day on average. “We have clients from as far as Rizal or Bulacan. Some of our clients have been with us for more than 10 years. When some of them leave to try other harsh products with instant effect, they eventually come back to us when they realize that their skin is healthier with us. We make skin glow and healthy because of our herbal formulations,” she says.

“At Clara, you can achieve healthy skin, with

THE University of Santo Tomas honored its alumnus, Jollibee Foods Corp. founder and chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, by conferring on him the degree Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa, at a ceremony on Feb. 15, 2018 at the University of Santo Tomas Medicine Auditorium, Manila.

The University of Santo Tomas confers doctorate degree, honoris causa, on illustrious individuals and alumni who have manifested outstanding contribution in the field where he/she is being recognized.

In the history of the 407 yearold university, only 77 individuals from diverse fields from all over the world have received the honorary doctorate degree. Among them are President Manuel Quezon, President of the UN Assembly and Filipino diplomat Carlos Romulo, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon of Spain, President Corazon Aquino, SGV founder Washington SyCip, Focolare founder Chiara Lubich, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Lebedev and Jaime Cardinal Sin. The most recent awardees were Mercury Drug founder Mariano Que and UnionBank president Justo Ortiz, who received the awards in 2015.

Tan Caktiong becomes the 78th awardee of a doctorate degree, honoris causa.

Citing his achievements in the food industry that has spanned 40 years, Tan Caktiong’s visionary leadership has not only placed Jollibee as the first food service company in the Philippines to be publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. I t has also acquired business interests in various food brands in Asia and the United States.

Aside from being at the helm of Jollibee, Tan Caktiong is also the cochair of Double Dragon Properties Corp. and director of First Gen Corp. and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, all of which are listed in PSE. In addition to his chemical engineering education from the University of Santo Tomas, Tan Caktiong went to the Asian Institute of Management and the Harvard University for further studies.

Tan Caktiong, the first Philippine winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2003, also won the World Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2004 in a ceremony held in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

He is listed in Forbes’ list of richest Filipinos where he ranked eighth in 2017.

Turn to B2

LIGHTING COMPANY AIMS TO BRIGHTEN PH

By Othel V. Campos GLOBAL lighting company Feilo Sylvania has recently launched its latest lighting solutions in the Philippines.

Feilo Sylvania country manager Vincent Adorable says the lighting technology has evolved. “We have the major brand that are capable to provide the proper solutions for every lighting requirement. We are committed to bring the green technology in lighting to the Philippines. This is how our lifestyle should be - low carbon footprint, energy efficient,” he says.

Felio Sylvania is actively tracking opportunities to provide lighting solutions to construction companies, high-rise buildings, malls and residential units. It also offers street lamps to local government units.

Adorable says consumer awareness at the LGU level is a strong factor to keeping energy usage at bay. He says by switching to light emitting diodes or LED lamps from the traditional incandescent or

fluorescent lighting, consumers and the economy are saving precious energy.

“We are tapping the LGUs to shift to a more efficient lighting solution for the street lamps. This will help the government save on energy cost. What is really good about the LED technology is that it can surpass the lifespan of a ordinary incandescent bulb by three to four times or up to 20 years of usage,” Adorable says.

In 2017, the company submitted an unsolicited proposal to the local government of Cebu with the guarantee that no initial investment is required.

An expert in industrial lighting solutions in architecture and building lighting designs, Feilo Sylvania also wants to be known also as a leader in retail.

“The solution is actually right here – accessible, affordable. It is a notch pricey than the customary lighting solution but the additional cost is worth the technology,” Adorable says.

He says the company is riding on the growth of the

construction and infrastructure sectors on top of the consistent growth of the Philippine economy, thus the need to upgrade lighting awareness in the Philippines.

Feilo Sylvania chairman Senan Zhuang says the Philippines is a growth market opportunity that the company cannot simply pass.

“We chose Philippines as one of our business center in Southeast Asia due to the fastest growing economy.

The Philippines has one of the highest GDP growth in Asia. We see a strong potential to further expand and enhance our presence here,” he says.

The company sees potential in the dynamic construction industry, the Philippines’ positive demographics with a population of over 100 million and the increase in government spending.

“With the new business center in the Philippines, the company will invest aggressively in market development, provide financial models to fund projects and support Turn to B2

Feilo Sylvania country manager Vincent Adorable

Business

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BEAUTY...

From B1

no shortcuts. You achieve healthy skin in conjunction with anti-aging. We will exceed what you expect. If your problem is wrinkles around the eyes, we will also make your skin glow. At Clara, you can age gracefully,” says Sia. Sia says beauty centers have become an essential part of modern society.

“People have become more open to it.

It is no longer considered a luxury. It is a necessity,” she says.

Sia says among Clara’s clients are males and millennials. “Our male patients represent about 20 percent to 30 percent.

They used to accompany their wives, but when they saw our services, they also became our regular clients and some of them returned to the clinic even without their wives,” she says.

She says millennials who are aware of the benefits of organic products also come to Clara’s two clinics. “They used to come to the clinic as children accompanying their parents. When they grew up and got employed, they now come on their own. We are surprised they are spending thousands.

Millennials are the next generation clients of Clara,” says Sia. On what sustained the business of Clara Philippines, Sia says it is more about passion and the desire to help. “I have faith in what I do. We started slow and I thought we were gonna close in 2009.

But we could not disappoint our clients who believe in our high-quality products.

We invest in the best machines to earn the trust of people. That is what sustained the business,” she says.

Sia says it is important that she loves what she does. “Our heart is to help, solve thousands of problems as much as we can,” she says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

LIGHTING...

From B1

the country’s aggressive infrastructure development with China’s Belt and Road Initiative that was spearheaded

by Chinese president Xin Jin Ping,” says Zhuang.

Felio Sylvania is a world leader in lighting solutions with its global headquarters based in Budapest, Hungary and manufacturing hubs in China, the US, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The company is 80-percent owned

by Shanghai Feilo Acoustics. The Sylvania Company founded in Boston, USA in 1901 is now one of he world’s largest light source manufacturers.

Great moments are relished at Sycamore Heights’ Infinity Pool, one of the leisure amenities designed for tranquil or active pursuits.

SYCAMORE BRINGING NATURE TO DOORSTEP

A COMMUNITY allows residents to wake up every day to witness breathtaking views of nature: lush mountains in the distance, the serene Taal Lake with the Taal Volcano in its midst and the Tagaytay Midlands fairways.

The breathtaking scene unfolds at Sycamore Heights, a residential community nestled in one of the most sought-after locations within Tagaytay Highlands.

Sycamore Heights is masterplanned to give its homeowners breathtaking views of the panoramic vistas around them.

Residents in Sycamore live in total harmony with nature. Sycamore Heights offers lots ranging from 250 to 959 square meters; its homes designed with a fine blend of contemporary influences and traditional Asian elements. Earth tones like brown, beige, and white— plus natural stone and wood—are widely utilized to complement the nature-driven setting.

It provides the utmost safety and comfor ts in a gated community equipped with 24-hour security and emergency power systems.

Residents are granted exclusive access to the world-class amenities of Tagaytay Highlands Country Club.

It is a part of Tagaytay Highlands, the premier mountain resort development of the SM Group in Tagaytay.

MILLENNIAL EXECUTIVE TRANSFORMS HR WORK

Sprout Solutions co-founder and CEO Patrick Gentry

A

33-year-old American executive is changing the way companies manage payroll in the Philippines.

Patrick Gentry, who grew up in a farm with no TV set in Oregon, is the co-founder and chief executive of Sprout Solutions, a two-year-old Philippines-based company that automates administrative tasks around human resources and payroll.

“From having just two employees [including me] when we started in 2015, we are now a team of 95 and growing,” says Gentry, who is married to Alex Gentry, Sprout’s co-founder and chief product officer. The couple has two children.

The company transferred to a bigger office at Cyber Sigma in McKinley West, Taguig in January this year to accommodate more employees. It has recently closed a seed funding round involving $1.6 million from Kickstart, Beenext, Wavemaker and Bridge Sea. “Our growth has been overwhelming the past two years. Since we just closed our funding round, our plan is to build out the solution and the team as we continue our expansion in the enterprise space in the Philippines. There is a huge opportunity here in enterprise and it’s exciting to have the funds to tackle it,” Gentry says in an emailed interview.

Gentry graduated in 2007 with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of British Columbia. He started in the software industry as a project manager for a startup in Silicon Valley called Toolwire in 2008.

“In 2009, I became a founding shareholder of KMC Solutions with my friend, Mike McCollough,” he says. KMC Solutions is an office and staff leasing company with a headcount of around 800.

Gentry is also the founder of The Unconventional Farmer – an alternative gardening for those interested in zero-input farming. “This is a passion project outside of normal work,” he says.

Gentry says the business idea for Sprout “was born out of a pain point that I have observed while I was with KMC Solutions. Our goal is really to ease doing business in the Philippines.”

“Payroll calculations were tedious and errorprone, with a simple oversight potentially costing the company a significant amount of money, and the paperwork for keeping track of employees was getting overwhelming. HR software was already available then, but none of them was tailor-fitted to the Philippines so I figured, why not build an HR and payroll solution that would not only streamline processes but also empower local businesses?” he says.

“So in 2009, Sprout got started with KMC using its flagship software, Payroll Pie, internally. Payroll Pie eventually gained enough traction to step out and become an independent product offered to many businesses. In 2015, Sprout Solutions was

incorporated,” says Gentry.

Gentry says while the original target market of Sprout was the local BPO industry, the company has eventually gained clients from various industries including tech, media, food and hospitality.

“From Payroll Pie [which is now called Sprout Payroll], we have expanded our product and service offerings. Now, we offer Sprout Payroll, Sprout HR; and the recently launched Sprout Insight and Sprout Recruit,” he says.

Gentry is optimistic about the future, as the company keeps “growing and exploring new paradigm-shifting technologies that will help business of all sizes in the Philippines.”

“I’m happy that more people here in the Philippines are becoming open to new technologies that will help improve their businesses. I believe that the key for this country to keep growing is for everyone to learn how to adapt to technology and use it to be better at what we do,” he says.

Gentry believes that analytics will be a huge thing in HR management in the coming years. “This is the reason why we built Sprout Insight, our new module. We want to help HR produce valuable data that will be very helpful for a company’s decision making process,” he says.

On other millennials who aim to become top executives one days, Gentry’s advice is to “look for what’s painful.”

“That’s how to start a good business. What

sucks? What needs fixing? If you look at all of the successful companies, that’s how they did it. Back in the early days, you had to take classes just to do internet searches. It was terrible. People complained about it. A couple of guys decided to fix it, and they came up with a new way of searching. They called it Google. Imagine, that’s the story behind a ton of successful companies. You need to solve a pain,” says Gentry.

Gentry also advises millennials to choose the challenging path to success. “Starting with a cool idea is tempting, though. These days in the startup world, there are so many solutions looking for problems. So many people are developing things that are amazing and wonderful, and maybe you’d use them, just because they’re cool. But most of these are going to fail because they’re not solving a problem,” he says.

“So choose the challenging path. You become successful by working on a problem nobody else can figure out. You’ll make everyone else happier, too. It’s easy to think of solutions, but it’s hard to solve problems,” says Gentry.

Gentry won as Founder of the Year at the Philippine Rice Bowl Awards in October 2017.

The Philippines Rice Bowl Awards is a circuit of the larger Asean Rice Bowl Award that celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

YOUNG FILIPINO COUPLE BUILDS FIVE ONLINE SHOPS STARTING a business is not an easy decision to make but 26-year-old entrepreneur Gian Drilon took his two cents worth and explored ways on how to start a business of his own. He researched and read articles on online selling until he stumbled upon Lazada’s selling platform.

In May 2016, he opened his first shop, Asenso Shop, where he sold products such as toys, games and items for mothers and babies. The first few days were smooth and easily handled, but as months went by, it came to a point where he would get hundreds of orders a day.

His girlfriend of nine years, Reg Onglao, started helping out when she had free time off work. She did special projects for Gian, among which was to help automate processes in the business. With her help, handling the business became easier for Gian.

“Back when we started, I used to be the only full-time employee of the business handling everything—from product selection to packing.

Within a few months, the orders quickly grew and became too much for me to handle alone, but like what others would say two is really better than one,” says Gian.

Gian and Reg, with the help of their five employees, now handle four shops aside from Asenso Shop. These are Watch Me!, their main shop where they sell fashion accessories; Asenso Healthcare, which contains health and beauty products; Gold Panda, a shop under a special partnership with Lazada where they sell gold bars; and ZG Designs, where they offer graphic T-shirt printing.

“I have very big dreams for our Lazada stores, and I always want to keep on improving.

Every month, I keep on adding more and more assortment and I also venture on new product categories. Just like my life together with Reg, our love steadily grows each day with more and more varying experiences. I dream of starting a family with her, having kids, and buying a house,” says Gian.

By working together, their relationship and business grew together determining their mutual career plans. During Lazada’s Online Revolution Sale in 2017, the couple received 7,000 orders in one day and this made Gian decide to take their relationship to the next level.

Gian proposed to Reg in December when he asked her to help him reboot his broken computer.

When she opened it, she was surprised to see photos popping out with the question, “Will you marry me?” to which Reg replied with a sweet Yes. Through Lazada, Gian made his dream a reality.

Not only does he get to spend his future with Reg, but he also is able to reach a nationwide pool of customers.

Juggling personal and business relationships altogether is no joke. “I remind myself that Reg and I are in a committed relationship—where two different people choose to become one, working together towards a common goal, and where each person complements and helps the other one grow,” says Gian.

Gian and Reg plan to expand their business in the coming months.

Lazada Philippines’ selling platform offers a straightforward start-up process for merchants who want to start their own online selling business.

Young couple Gian Drilon (right) and Reg Onglao

Tech & Gadgets

LAMUDI PARTNERS WITH HLURB

SAMSUNG UNVEILS NEW SOUNDBAR PRODUCTS R

OME, Italy—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. unveiled the company’s new line-up of premium lifestyle soundbar products—the NW700 Sound+ and the Soundbar N650—at the 2018 Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania Forum in Rome, Italy.

The wall-mountable NW700 Sound+ soundbar succeeds the award-winning MS650 Sound+ model and incorporates sound-enhancing features, such as distortion-cancelling, wide-range tweeters and multi-speaker control, while the Soundbar N650 features the patented “Samsung Acoustic Beam” technology to deliver a panoramic sound experience.

Slim & Seamless design, wall-mountable NW700 Sound+ soundbar The NW700 Sound+ soundbar features a slim and sleek external design optimised for wall mounting underneath Samsung’s super-thin televisions. The 53.5mm-width soundbar, which seamlessly works with a wall-mount TV, is 41% narrower than the previous soundbar model, allowing users to achieve a harmonious interior. The monolithic soundbar adopts three channels and includes sound technology to deliver dynamic and targeted sound for an immersive listening experience. The body of the soundbar also has a built-in subwoofer, contributing to a clean, slender design for the home entertainment space.

The technology found in the NW700 Sound+ and its previous iterations has been routinely praised for helping the soundbars achieve powerful bass, cohesive soundstage and impressive clarity.

The multi-speaker control technology has also been recognized for effectively syncing the drivers in the soundbar to produce a clear and powerful sound. Additionally, the distortion cancelling technology works by predicting distortion at the end of the speaker movement and making the necessary adjustments before the distortion is heard. This

By Angelica Villanueva

The NW700 Sound+ soundbar is wall-mountable and packed with enhanced audio features including a built-in subwoofer developed at the Samsung Audio Lab; Soundbar N650 features “Samsung Acoustic Beam” to deliver panoramic home theatre sound

results in smooth, distortion-free bass tones.

As one of Samsung’s newest lifestyle products, the NW700 Sound+ soundbar is well-suited to be seamlessly integrated into most home décor and home theatre system.

Panoramic sound experience for movie lovers and gamers Featuring the patented “Samsung Acoustic Beam” technology, the Soundbar N650 is designed specifically to provide a virtual surround sound effect. With dynamic sound rendering, users can enjoy a panoramic sound experience. The technology makes use of two pipes at the back of the soundbar, each with one tweeter at the end.

Sound flows through the pipe and is distributed to each hole, thereby making each hole act as

an individual speaker and creating the overall surrounding effects.

In addition to delivering quality sound for movie lovers, the Soundbar N650 includes “Game Mode”, allowing gamers to immerse themselves in the scene with a dedicated setting with optimised sounds specifically for gaming. The Soundbar N650 automatically converts to Game EQ when the gaming device is connected to the Samsung TV1.

The Soundbar N650 also includes seamless connectivity with Bluetooth® for easy music streaming, as well as easy, intuitive wired and wireless connection to Samsung TVs. It supports One Remote Control so users can also easily control the Soundbar N650 with their Samsung TV remote.

STARMOBILE RELEASES DURABLE, SELFIE-CENTRIC PHONES

UNO B310

STARMOBILE starts off 2018 with the launch of its sturdy classic phone, the UNO B310, and a fun selfie feature phone, the UNO B311.

Feature phones have always been known for their strong build, but the slim and sleek UNO B310 takes it a notch higher with its metal fabrication that helps it withstand accidental drops or pressure. The device also features a high capacity storage that allows users to store more SMS and contacts and an AllConnect Quad Band GSM that supports wider coverage and better service quality.

With the UNO B311, you can have a fun selfie phone without spending a lot. Enjoy posing in front of its EasySelfie front camera, then view your shots using its clear definition screen. Pictures can be uploaded online through mobile internet and files can also be transferred to other devices via Bluetooth connection.

UNO’s latest models

are built with rear flash camera, BriteLite Torch, and batteries that last up to 16 hours of standby time. Both phones are priced at P949.

Learn more about Starmobile devices by visiting facebook.com/starmobilephones, instagram.com/happymanph, twitter.com/happymanph, and www.starmobile.com.ph.

Established in 2011, Starmobile is the mobile devices division of Star Telecom Alliance Resources, Inc. It is founded by telco industry experts with extensive experience in retail and product development.

Since it first offered Android devices, Starmobile has officially become the winningest Philippine smartphone brand with a slew of innovation awards from reputable media outfits. The company’s flagship KNIGHT series, has won top awards since 2013—a feat that has not been replicated by any local device company.

Learn more about Starmobile and its line of smartphones and tablets by visiting www.starmobile.com.ph or log on to facebook.com/starmobilephones.

UNO B311

LA-FETE: ACER CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP MARKING its 15th anniversary in the country, Acer Philippines recognized its key business partners at its annual ePinnacle Awards.

“This celebration coincides with Acer’s ninth year as the country’s number one PC vendor and 12th year as number one notebook vendor. We wouldn’t be enjoying this success and the trust of Filipinos without the support of our partners and distributors,” said Manuel Wong, Managing Director of Acer Philippines Inc. Wong also underlined how in the past years from 2003 to 2017, their partners have helped them grow as a company, with their revenue sky-rocketing to 50 times what they had made in their early operational years.

“The support of our friends has added to our passion and empowered our strong resolve to open up new possibilities for our consumers and business partners alike through a synthesis of our hardware, software, and services,” said Wong. “Our partnership has allowed us to mutually prosper so much that it has given us the wonderful opportunity of giving back.”

As part of the celebration, the tech giant also acknowledged their partner in Corporate Social Responsibility, GreenEarth Foundation.

Since 2011, Acer has been sowing to

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

the GreenEarth Foundation, a non-government organization that aims to restore and preserve the forestry at the foothills of Sierra Madre while helping the communities residing in the area. In six years, the partnership has flourished and restored the region with 8,000 trees.

Likening their development as a company to how trees grow, Wong proudly announced how their efforts with GreenEarth has borne fruit. Romnick Blanco, a farmer’s son and one of the many beneficiaries of the organization, has recently accepted a full scholarship from Harvard College. As a gift, Acer also provided him with his own notebook PC to aid him in his studies abroad.

“Romnick is only the first fruit of this special tie-up. We continue to pursue our commitment as a company until more young people like him have great opportunities opened to them. And with partners like you, we are confident this is a reality we will be witnessing in the many years to come,” said Wong.

With the send-off, the ePinnacle awards night drew to a close. A total of 46 partners were awarded that evening in the following categories: Acer Provider Awards, Marketing Awards, Associate Partner Awards, Commercial Partner Awards, Consumer Partner Awards, Acer

Shown during the event are (from left) Jason Chen, Chairman and CEO, Acer Inc.; Romnick Blanco, GreenEarth Heritage Foundation Scholar and Incoming Student, Harvard University; Dra. Mylene V. Matti, Founder and Executive Director, GreenEarth Heritage Foundation, Inc. and Manuel Wong, Managing Director, Acer Philippines Inc.

Distributor Awards, and Partner of the Year Awards.

The prestigious awards ceremony was held at Cove Manila with over 500 partners in attendance. Ending the evening on a high note were balladeer Ogie Alcasid and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid serenading their guests.

“Through tonight’s celebration we

opened the year strong,” said Wong.

“Together with our partners, Acer Philippines will continue its legacy of providing the best quality tools and break the barriers between people and technology.

Filipinos should get ready to see and experience the exciting things we have in store for them because the best is yet to come.”

GET ready to see transparency beyond the real estate industry and to witness improved and enhanced practices this year as the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and online real estate marketplace Lamudi Philippines announced their partnership recently.

A ceremonial signing was held in Makati on Jan. 24, attended by HLURB Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner Atty. Lloyd Christopher A. Lao, HLURB Commissioner Atty. Melzar P. Galicia, Lamudi Philippines Managing Director and CEO Bhavna Suresh and Lamudi Philippines Director for Brand and Communication Ken Lerona.

Transparency with the HLURB Get to see and learn more topics about the rights of real estate, to the verification of brokers, projects, and developers in Lamudi: Real Estate Magazine, where Atty. Lao shares his thought leaderships pieces to the readers.

HLURB will also use the Lamudi platform to address frequently asked questions, including those about options for financing, procedures and remedies afforded to aggrieved buyers and developers, and even who to approach or look for when paying a visit to their office.

Consistent with its aim to increase transparency in the industry, HLURB also has revamped and upgraded its website, which now comes with a user-friendly online inquiry feature. This shall be integrated in the Lamudi website which receives around 1.5M visits per month, so property seekers will find it easy and hassle-free to search for registered brokers, as well as projects that have been issued License to Sell numbers.

What the HLURB want is to deliver transparency to the public and serve them better through embracing digital practices.

Visibility through technology In the 2016 Global Real Estate Transparency Index by JLL, a leading real estate and investment management firm, the Philippines ranked 46th out of 109 countries and fell under the semi-transparent market. This tier, according to JLL, is where the most rapid progress in real estate transparency can be found.

Rising expectations from citizens as well as technological advancements serve as drivers for improving real estate transparency. Innovations in the proptech industry, JLL says, “offer the opportunity for a quantum leap in data access to support a rising culture of ‘open data.’”

Aside from high-quality accessible market data, ingredients of a transparent real estate market include: strong corporate governance, stringent regulatory enforcement, high ethical standards, and international best practice.

Atty. Lao also ensures that even the HULRB is a regulatory body, the agency is ready and willing to lend their hand to those under their jurisdiction.

He also believes that the key to the sustainability of the housing sector is having responsible real estate practice.

Ms. Suresh, for her part, shared that Lamudi is one with HLURB in its aim to push for transparency as this shall open many doors in the future. As seen in JLL’s 2016 GRETI, higher real estate transparency is linked to new business and investment, and even plays a role in community well-being and inclusiveness.

She also said that Lamudi is thrilled to be partnered with HLURB in achieving transparency and assured that they will always support the agency’s mission. “ We are here to support HLURB, and look forward to more partnerships like this one,” she added.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

TECH & Gadgets

CRACKING DISCOVERY

JAPAN SCIENTIST USES EGG WHITE FOR CLEAN ENERGY T

OKYO—A Japanese scientist said Thursday his team has cracked open a method to improve the production of carbon-free energy—by using proteins taken from egg white.

Yusuke Yamada, a professor at Osaka City University, said his team has managed to use protein from egg white as a “tool” for producing hydrogen, a powerful source of clean electricity.

The new method “ brings us closer to our ultimate goal of producing hydrogen from water,” Yamada told AFP. “This lays the groundwork for the clean production of hydrogen in the future,” added the scientist.

When it reacts with oxygen, hydrogen produces electricity, releasing only water and heat in the process.

But hydrogen is currently massproduced using natural gas or fossil fuels, which themselves result in harmful emissions.

It can be produced in labs without fossil fuels and scientists have traditionally done this by creating a special interaction of the molecules in liquid, explained Yamada.

But free-moving and randomly located molecules and particles in the fluid can interfere with the process of producing hydrogen and scientists have long searched for a way to immobilise them.

Yamada’s team used a protein

When protein from egg reacts with oxygen, hydrogen produces electricity, releasing only water and heat in the process.

found in egg to build crystals with lots of tiny holes to trap these particles.

The change brought a sense of traffic control to the molecular interactions and improved the efficiency of clean, hydrogen production, Yamada said.

“If you use hydrogen as an energy source, it only releases water in the environment. It is extremely environmentally friendly,” he told AFP. “We found protein was a useful tool” to generate hydrogen in a lab without using a fossil fuel, the professor said.The world’s leading com-

panies see hydrogen as the ultimate clean energy to power everything from cars to office buildings in the future, and ditch fossil fuels that cause global warming.

Yamada’s method was published in the February edition of the scientific journal “Applied Catalysis B”. AFP

EXPERIENCE THE NOKIA PERFECT PAIRS PROMO HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, gives you more reasons to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Enjoy bonding moments and share special music with loved ones with the perfect accessory match for your Nokia Android smartphone! From 1 February to 31 March 2018, get a pair of JBL T450BT Wireless On-ear Headphones worth P3,000 for every purchase of the Nokia 81 or a JBL GO Bluetooth Speaker worth P1,599 for every purchase of the Nokia 32.

The Nokia 8, a high-performance and beautifully crafted flagship smartphone, marks three world-firsts: collaboration with ZEISS optics, Dual-Sight technology and OZO spatial 360° audio.

The phone’s 13MP front and back cameras featuring ZEISS optics and Dual-Sight mode capture both sides of every story, a feature that does not only brings out the user’s creativity but also

allows you share special memories.

Featuring front and back 8MP autofocus cameras, the Nokia 3 can capture precious moments wherever you are. Its precision-machined aluminum frame that exudes durability also means the Nokia 3 is up for any spontaneous adventures.

Android OS—Android 8.1 Oreo—is already available for upgrade on the Nokia 8 while the Nokia 3 is powered

by Android 7.1 Nougat.

Immerse in a whole new level of entertainment experience and share your favorite song with your Nokia 3, blasting every rhythm and sound through the JBL GO Bluetooth Speaker. Likewise, dance and move freely to the beat of the Nokia 8’s OZO spatial 360° audio with JBL Wireless On-ear Headphones.

The promo is available in Authorized Nokia dealers nationwide. JBL items may be claimed until 15 April 2018 from Normally priced at P29,990, you’ll the dealers where the smartphone was love the Nokia 8 at the special promo purchased as long as the official receipt price of P24,990 from February 15 date is within the promo period.

With the extended tie-up with Home to February 283, whilst the Nokia 3 is priced at P6,990. The Nokia 8 and Credit4, the Nokia 8 may be availed at 0% Nokia 3 offer a pure Android experi- interest for 12 months and the Nokia 3 at ence with premium security. The latest 0% interest for 6 months.

LENOVO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT YOUTH GROUPS LENOVO, one of the world’s biggest technology companies, is once again the official technology partner of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards Foundation Inc., the country’s premier awardgiving body that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations in the country.

“Being one of the most innovative global tech companies, Lenovo’s thrust in championing exceptional projects by the youth stands parallel with what the TAYO Awards Foundation believes in. Their unwavering support helps us empower youth groups and organizations in the Philippines to innovate and actively contribute to our society. Together, TAYO Awards Foundation and Lenovo Philippines acknowledge and aid their outstanding efforts,”

said Patricia Matute, Executive Director of TAYO Awards Foundation Inc..

Now on its 15th year, the TAYO Awards is an annual search for exceptional organizations of young Filipinos that have made notable contributions to the progress and betterment of their communities or schools through innovative and valuable projects.

“Our ‘Different is Better’ philosophy is built around a fundamental belief that innovation is the best way to address challenges and embrace progress. We are pleased to once again partner with TAYO Awards Foundation. This partnership gives us the perfect opportunity to recognize our hardworking youth who are relentless in making the world a better place through technology,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager of

Lenovo Philippines.

As technology partner, Lenovo will be providing the laptops and tablets that will be used throughout the screening and awarding process for the TAYO 15 Awards. Lenovo will also be awarding all 10 winners Lenovo devices.

Further, Lenovo will be awarding a special citation to one carefully selected organization. Called ‘Lenovo Outstanding Tech Visionary, the award is given to the organization that “embodies the ‘Different is Better’mindset by being unafraid to stand out and be different, and leverages technology to affect positive change in society.”

Last year, Davao-based social enterprise GO2 Virtualahan was conferred said award.

Lenovo has been the exclusive technology partner of the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc. for the TAYO Awards since 2012.

Lenovo Philippines and TAYO Awards Foundation renew partnership for TAYO 15. Shown here after inking their partnership are (from left) Anna Abola, Marketing Communications Manager, Lenovo Philippines; Michael Ngan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Philippines; Mr. Rollie Fabie, Co-Chairman of TAYO Awards Foundation; and Patricia Matute, Executive Director of TAYO Awards Foundation.

Participants of the Sony Science Program

SONY INSPIRES FUTURE INNOVATORS SONY continues to push the boundaries by coming out with products that lead its class in sound and image quality.

With over seven decades of experience and expertise, the brand now shares its curiosity for innovation by inspiring kids through workshops under the Sony Science Program.

Done in partnership with Save the Children, Sony Philippines recently had students from Fourth Estate Elementary School and Paranaque Elementary School participate in an experiential workshop. The kids learned about the technology behind headphones and were tasked to make their own using recycled plastic bottles and milk cartons.

In line with Sony’s global CSR campaign, the workshops aim to give kids hands-on experience and teach them about the power of science. The goal is to spark their curiosity and shape their minds to become future innovators.

The Sony Science Program is also hinged on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Through its educational workshops, the brand is also helping teach kids more about sustainable production and climate change—things that will greatly affect their future.

“Sony has always believed that early science education is crucial for children to develop innovative thinking that they will need as the future leaders of our society,”says Nobuyoshi Otake, Managing Director of Sony Philippines. “Through our partnership with Save the Children and our workshops, we wish to share our knowledge and expertise to the next generation and inspire them to be the innovators of tomorrow.

Sony Philippines is planning to have more workshops like these in the future.

Upcoming sessions will also be using Sony developed educational tools like MESH, which has app-based modules for prototyping things and building projects for the Internet of Things and KOOV, an all-in-one kit used to teach coding, robotics, and design.

GOOGLE STARTS BLOCKING ADS ON BROWSER WASHINGTON —Google has begun a new effort to block annoying ads on its Chrome browser, as part of an initiative aimed at improving the online advertising ecosystem that provides the bulk of its revenues.

The new ad filtering system rolled out this week aims to eliminate the most irritating marketing messages such as pop-ups, auto-play video ads and“sticky” boxes which cannot be removed.

The system was implemented by Google in partnership with the Coalition for Better Ads, an association which includes the internet giant and a number of media and advertising partners.

“While most advertising on the web is respectful of user experience, over the years we’ve increasingly heard from our users that some advertising can be particularly intrusive,” Google engineering manager Chris Bentzel said in a blog post ahead of the rollout Thursday.

“Chrome will tackle this issue by removing ads from sites that do not follow the Better Ads Standards.”

While Google’s effort is expected to block only a small percentage of ads, it aims to counter a growing movement to install third-party ad blockers which filter all such advertisements and could be a threat to firms relying on online revenues.

According to a study last year by the research firm PageFair, about 11 percent of the global internet population uses ad-blocking software, affecting 380 million mobile devices and 236 million desktop PCs. AFP

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Young Life sunday, february 18, 2018

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Jollibee mAkes us believe

in tHe poweR of love (AgAin) D

AYS before Valentine’s Day, three short videos telling different stories of love had circulated on Facebook. The shorts had been watched and liked and shared by netizens who “felt” the relatable messages they conveyed.

Following the success of “Vow,” “Date,” and “Crush” in February last year, leading fast food chain Jollibee presented “homecoming,” Signs,” and “Status” for its #KwentongJollibee2018 Valentine Series.

Directed once again by Joel Ruiz, it follows the couple on the night of their college reunion as they reminisce about how love blossomed between them through sweet gestures and kilig love notes on their favorite

LOVE IS SWEETER THE SECOND TIME AROUND. The team of last year’s Kwentong Jollibee 'Crush' is back with another heart-warming story to show true love never gives up with 'homecoming.'

while the signs have been wrong, true love eventually found her in the person of her friend Joms.

Jollibee was successful to make people believe in love proven by a comment from the “Signs” episode that said “Ang galing naman! Ang tagal ko nang hindi kinikilig ah, ngayon na lang ulit. Relate much ako dun sa mga signs. Kudos, Jollibee!”

Director Ianco dela Cruz also returns with an inspiring tale that shows how love is always present with people who truly care for you.

“Status” follows Kat and her journey to realization that the true love she was looking for has been with her family all along. The heartfelt video has been viewed 9.8 million times, as of this writing.

“This kind of love is the purest of all. Kaya ‘di natin kailangan maghanap ng true love. It will come at the right time, in the right place, unexpectedly” said a netizen.

Go to Jollibee’s Facebook page to watch the three #KwentongJollibee2018 shorts.

IT'S A SIGN. Kyle Anda, Alexa Miro, Bryce Dyler, and director Ted Boborol of the viral hit 'Signs.'

The three new Kwentong Jollibee episodes aim to impart valuable love lessons through beautifully told stories anchored on powerful truths on love. “every Valentine’s Day, the brand wants everyone to embrace and feel love with real-life stories from #KwentongJollibee,” shares Jollibee Global Brand chief marketing officer and Ph Marketing head Francis Flores.

“This year, the Valentine series returns with episodes that celebrate the power of love in different ways.”

Following last year’s favorite “Crush,” “homecoming,” which currently has 9.4 million views on Facebook, tells the story of Gilbert and Ruth, and proves how never giving up can lead to a lifetime of bliss and love.

Jollibee Cheesy Yumburger.

Netizens immediately took to Facebook and Twitter to express their strong feelings on the stories. one user said of “homecoming,” “Do not settle for someone because of his physical attributes or his financial status. Fall for someone who never gets tired of saving you from your own chaos.”

The viral “Signs” follows the life of Star, a hopeless romantic who believes that signs will help her find her true love.

The Ted Boborol-directed video, which has 17 million views, as of this writing, takes viewers to a romantic journey as the universe seemed to align and point to Star’s classmate, Mark. Until it unravels to a pleasantly romantic twist as Star realizes that

FAMILY LOVE. The stars of Kwentong Jollibee 'Status' share their insights on the importance of love.

An HR’s tips

on tHRiving betteR in tHe woRkplAce SoMeTIMeS life at work could be challenging—you don’t fit in, your skills aren’t up to par, you feel like you’re stagnant and your efforts not enough. It’s natural, especially if you are new to the world of professionals, and it happens even to the best worker.

Rachel Majito-Cacabelos, vice president of human Resources at Teleperformance Philippines advises young professionals to take some active steps to take control of their career path and claim life’s rewards this year.

“At Teleperformance, we continuously support our employees with learning and development opportunities, so we can help them grow in their careers,” shares Cacabelos.

The human resource expert shares these five tips that could help young professionals thrive better in the workplace.

Leave behind your old problems. For you to take on new rewards this year, you have to leave behind the things that held you back in 2017. Learn to let go of your past mistakes, instead of lingering on them, just learn from them and move forward.

Be part of an awesome group.

Whether it’s yoga class or a cooking club, take proactive steps in improving your social life. Not only does it give you joy in pursuing your hobbies and interests, it also provides you a warm loving set of friends you can depend on.

Train yourself with new set of skills. have you ever pondered on improving your communication skills or perhaps learn graphic design or master the art of sales and marketing? There are a lot of online courses you can take to expand your knowledge and skill sets. You can also check on the trainings being offered by Turn to C2

Tribe SM Youth Ambassadors

What’s your tribe?

The SM Store celebrates different personalities and how strong individuality can form a tribe in its #JoinMyTribe campaign.

The campaign encourages everyone to get a role (express your personality), switch roles (mix and match styles), and keep the spirit (continue the fun) with your friends. It celebrates style, individuality, and friendship. #JoinMyTribe brings together different personalities, each known on their own fields, to form the newest tribes from music, fashion, and style at The SM Store.

The Tribe SM Youth Ambassadors, composed of Tommy esguerra, erika Kristensen, Richard Juan, Kyle Perry, and Kaila estrada represent how to switch roles and have fun with style. The Tribe Model Circle composed of PMAP models hannah Locsin, Jullian Culas, Jach Manere, Lou Young, and Kenn Bosch show how to wear style like no other.

Turn to C2

Tribe Model Circle

young Life

C2

sunday, february 18, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

an hr's...

From C1

searChing For love

your company. Invest in gaining new capabilities if you really want to level up in your profession.

on google

T

Hanks to Google we now know “How to move on,” “How to write a Valentine’s Card,” and how to write a “Letter to my best friend that will make her cry.”

Be coachable. yes, just like the dog, sometimes we have to learn from our masters—in our world, that would be our parents, teachers and even bosses. These are our life-long mentors who will teach us the lessons we need to learn so that we can be effective and productive individuals and leaders in the future.

yes, those are just some of the most popular Google searches of online filipinos during the Valentines season, according to Google Philippines. In fact, in a year’s span, millions of filipinos have consulted the Internet on matters of the heart, leading up to Valentine’s day.

“There is an air of romance online,” said Google Philippines industry head Gara santos-Ontiveros. “during these times, both Google and youTube function like friends with whom people can confide to and direct all their love questions and worries.” from these queries, Google gets a pulse of what filipinos are feeling on hearts day.

Expressions of love

searches on youTube show that videos with do-it-yourself (dIy) expressions of love are hitting it off with Pinoys, with more people looking to get personal and creative with their surprises. On the other hand, Google search Trends indicate that filipinos are keeping to the classic expressions of love with quotes, greetings, and celebration ideas topping the search on Valentine’s.

The most popular searches

Get ample rest. Take time to rest.

Take a vacation or staycation where you can relax, read a book, and eat breakfast in bed. In this busy world, it is important to maintain optimum physical and mental health to recharge one’s battery and reinvigorate creativity.

on expressing love

Heartbroken no more

Valentine’s day is definitely not just for those who have coupled up. This is according to Pinoys who are single or heartbroken and are actively searching for ways to spend the occasion.

Taking care of their hearts seems to be a priority for online users this time of the year. searches related to these experiences grew by 465 percent from the year before.

The most popular Google searches on moving on “How to move on”

“How to heal a broken heart”

“How to move on from a

“How to move on from your ex”

breakup”

“How to let go of someone you love”

“How to get your ex back”

“How to move on with your crush”

“Hugot para sa Valentines”

“What to do on Valentine’s Day”

what's...

From C1

“Funny Valentine’s Day Messages for Him”

Tribe Party Gurus

“Things to do on Valentine’s day”

Meanwhile the Tribe Party Gurus erik Cua, Tim yap, Cat arambulo, GP reyes, and Mars Miranda are the perfect example of fun having no age. finally, reese Lansangan, bP Valenzuela, and Moira dela Torre of the Tribe Team OPM are the people who know how to do it, own it and make it. now, The sM store would like to know what’s your tribe?

“Valentine’s letter to a girlfriend”

Tribe Team OPM

“Where to celebrate Valentine’s day in Manila” “How to write a Valentine’s Card”

“dIy gifts that say I love you”

Love for all

another emerging theme for Pinoy Valentine’s search trends is the LGbTQ love. More are typing in keywords for gay dating sites and apps. It is truly that time of the year when people online take initiative to find that special someone.

In love with best friend

surrounded by love, filipinos online are confronting their feelings and preparing for their next move. falling in love with a best friend appears to be a common conundrum. The topic rose by 254 percent on youTube and Google search among Pinoys, compared to the previous year. based on the searches, people are planning to share their affection with a timeless gesture—by writing a love letter.

Key phrases of Filipinos who fell in love with their

best friend

“I fell in love with my best friend”

“I’m in love with my best friend” “story of best friends falling in love”

“Letter to my best friend that will make her cry”

“story of best friends falling in love”

“Best friend love story”

True sTories of Tears and Triumphs GLen Hare is not your typical millennial who lives by the #yolo mantra. even without outstanding health issues, she had the foresight to buy a health plan for herself. a few months later, she noticed a swelling on her jaw, which subsequent tests revealed was a type of rare disease called ameloblastoma.

Glen Hare

“It was during our office Christmas party when I noticed my jaw was swelling,” related Hare.

Call it providential, but had the condition not been caught early, the infection would have spread to her brain. because of her aXa Global Health access plan, she was able to get the needed treatment immediately.

“I was so relieved that I had the health plan which covered all of my hospital expenses. I didn’t need to unnecessarily burden my parents with the costs. They didn’t need to worry.”

Glen is now back to pursuing her passion in the visual arts and attending to her budding career.

“Painting helps me realize that all the little decisions I make help determine the big picture, and being healthy, being whole again, makes me feel complete.” being prepared also helped nette Gemora. after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, Gemora persuaded her husband to buy a health plan. she spoke to her financial partner from aXa and took a Health Max plan for herself and her husband.

Three months later she had to face her life’s greatest challenge. Gemora was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and needed immediate surgery and chemotherapy to manage the spread of the cancer cells.

“It was a huge shock for us. My kids were really affected. My husband felt

nette Gemora helpless. but I promised them I will give it a good fight.”

Gemora fought and won her bout with cancer. she received the full coverage of her health plan within a week of submitting her claims forms. upon getting a clean bill of health from her doctor, she excitedly told her children to pack their bags as she planned a family trip to singapore. since then, she and her family have traveled to different places, and even to the us for the Christmas holidays.

The survivor shared, “I am glad that I was able to overcome my sickness, I know that not many people can say the same. I am now looking forward to more trips with my family.”

These are some of the true stories of people whom insurance company aXa have helped through the years. dubbed aXa True stories, this latest engagement showcases stories from real customers, each one an inspiring story of triumph over adversity and of commitments fulfilled.

Showbiz

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

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Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

BOLDER, SEXIER ERICH

CHARMS TV AUDIENCES NATIONWIDE GMA Network airs 'R.30,' a concert that highlights the career of the country's most successful chanteuse, Regine VelasquezAlcasid

REGINE’S ‘R3.0’ CONCERT ON SNBO Erich Gonzales shows off her daring and sexier side in the new early primetime series, 'The Blood Sisters.' (Photo from Tanduay calendar)

V

IEWERS across the country watched Erich Gonzales’ return to primetime TV as the pilot episode of her new series The Blood Sisters rated high nationwide.

The program, where Erich plays triplets, recorded a national TV rating of 25.2 percent versus its direct rival Wowowin, which recorded 16.9 percent, according to the viewership data from Kantar Media.

The action and mystery began in Davao, where Erika worked different jobs, including dancing in a club, in order to support his son and pay for his medical bills.

But her life suddenly changed for the worse when she witnessed the death of a man in the club. The men involved with the crime sought her down in order to silence her – an unfortunate incident that forced her to leave her son and seek refuge in Manila.

In the city, Erika soon crosses paths with her twin, Carrie, whom the criminals mistake as her. With Carrie gone, Erika assumes the identity of her sister, gets to experience a life of luxury, and is thrust into a world of secrets and surprises.

“It’s the most challenging, the most daring, and the hardest of all TV soaps I’ve done. It’s really hard because imagine in one day, you

need to change characters immediately. In one scene, the three of them are together, change makeup, different clothes, everything, and more than that, you need to know by heart all the characters,” Erich told the press during the series’ media launch.

Meanwhile, Erich’s TV comeback also caused a stir online as the show’s hashtag #TBSSimula topped the list of trending topics on Twitter.

With its impressive performance on its pilot week, people are now curious on how long

Erika would be able to keep up her façade as Carrie and what Erika will discover about her identity.

Watch the story unfolds as the dramaaction-suspense series continues to charm viewers with its interesting plot. The Blood Sisters airs Monday to Friday nights on ABSCBN Primetime Bida.

For more information, go to fb.com/ dreamscapeph and follow @dreamscapeph on Twitter and Instagram.

GMA Network brings the biggest and much talked about R3.0 concert of Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid on Night Box Office (SNBO) tonight.

Watch the Songbird fly high with her career-defining hits, new songs, intimate duets and show-stopping group numbers as she celebrates her 30 years in the industry.

Feel the nostalgia as Regine, Donna Cruz-Larazzabal, and Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski recreate the 90’s iconic popculture moment from the movie Do Re Mi, with the special participation of Regine’s son Nate Alcasid.

The Songbird and her singersongwriter husband Ogie Alcasid bring new flavor to their greatest OPM hits in a heartwarming number, while Regine gets to sing her most-loved duet songs with Jed Madela, Erik Santos and Mark Bautista.

All that and more on the 1st part of Regine’s R3.0 Concert only on GMA-7’s SNBO tonight after Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho.

‘YOUR NAME’ DEBUTS ON PH TV

In 'The Blood Sisters,' Erich plays a challenging triplets role.

BINIBINI

HOPEFULS TOUR ARANETA CENTER

Binibining Pilipinas frontrunners Catriona Gray (left) and Michele Gumabao join other candidates in a recent tour at the Araneta Center.

FORTY lovely candidates of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas search brought smiles to Filipinos who got a close encounter with them during their recent store tour of Araneta Center food establishments Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen at Ali Mall and Taco Bell at Cyber Parl beside Novotel in Quezon City.

Binibini top contenders had to set aside their diet to enjoy the food served in the aforementioned establishments.

Among the Binibini candidates that participated in this activity were Miss World Philippines 2016 Catriona Gray, volleyball star Michelle Gumabao, Mutya ng Pilipinas AsiaPacific International 2014 Eva Patalinjug, Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Mar Artajos, Mutya ng Pilipinas International 2011 Vickie Rushton, Bb. Pilipinas 2016 runner-up Jehza Huelar, Miss Philippines-Earth beauties Muriel Orais, Miss World Philippines 2016 Runner-up Sandra Lemonon, and Aya Abesamis, daughter of Miss Universe 2014 3rd runner-up Desiree Verdadero.

The store tour is one of Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) annual activities for the candidates prior to the grand coronation finals which along with much-anticipated Parade of Beauties and the Talent Competition, serves as an opportune time for the candidates to mingle and meet with their supporters and members of the press.

The Bb. Pilipinas 2018 Grand Coronation Night will be held on March 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Miss Universe 2017 Top 10 Rachel Peters relinquishing her crown. Eton Concepcion

ABS-CBN finally premieres Japan’s highest grossing anime movie of all time, Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa), today at 10:15 a.m. on “KB Family Weekend.”

Follow the story of high schoolers, Mitsuha and Taki, two complete strangers living their separate lives who suddenly wakes up to each other’s bodies after a meteor shower.

The odd occurrence continues to happen randomly and they start to get the hang of living each other’s lives. Their desire to know who actually owns the bodies they inhabit also grows through time so they start to communicate with each other by leaving notes and messages.

Comets continue to light the night sky and their longing to finally meet becomes stronger.

Something more daunting than distance, however, prevents them from doing so.

Your Name grossed a total of USD 190 million and won several awards from the Tokyo International Film Festival, Newtype Anime Awards, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, Asian Film Awards and Anime Festival.

'Your Name' is a blockbuster and a multi-awarded anime movie.

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sunday, february 18, 2018 Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

ADOPt

‘CAuse yOu DON’t Buy LOVe

Bella playing with new 'siblings' Charlie and Milo on the beach.

pet tales

By desiree carlos

A

dog saved the children of his family from being ran over.

A dog rescued nine humans from a house on fire.

A dog comforted his dying owner in the hospital .

A dog made sure her owner won’t bump her head or hurt herself during a seizure.

A dog warned his owner of an impending panic attack.

These are just a few of the stories about how dogs help humans.

The internet has been churning out numerous stories on how dogs changed or change the lives of humans, and how they enrich the lives of their owners.

These stories gladden our hearts.

But there have also been numerous stories about dogs being killed in pounds through lethal injection, or dying slowly and painfully in pounds due to illnesses that are not treated.

We also read online about how dogs are hurt by cruel humans, or killed for their meat.

And these stories sadden dog lovers deeply.

For animal lovers know dogs need not die in pounds or on the streets. dogs do feel and deserve to be loved and be treated with kindness. it is not so difficult to care for a dog who will be loyal to us for the rest of his/her life. All he/she needs is nutritious food, clean water, a roof over his/her head, a time to roam or walk, yearly vaccination and preventive meds. it is always better to prevent sickness than to cure it as we have often been told.

But there seems to be more irresponsible pet owners in this world.

Many dogs are surrendered by owners to the pound, saying that the dog became aggressive, or they are leaving for the province or transferring to a new place where dogs are not allowed.

Many are also reported in Facebook needing rescue: a dog with transmissible venereal tumor (cancer), a dog with an advanced stage of distemper or mange (galis), a dog who was hit by a car and left by the driver to die on the street.

Aggression. Change of location. diseases. Accidents.

All these could have been prevented or the owner could have found a better solution than abandoning a dog on the street or surrendering the dog to a pound, knowing the dog will end up dead sooner or later.

Folks, if you can not take care of a dog for life, please do not get one.

And if you decide to keep a dog for life, please have the dog spayed (have the cervix removed at the right age) or neutered (have the balls removed at the right age). in this way, you can help lessen the number of unwanted dogs who will end up as strays or abandoned on the streets or surrendered to pounds.

Also, please be a responsible pet owner.

A loving owner feeds his dog the appropriate food, not food scraps which will eventually lead either to a mange flare-up, or damage to some organs, specifically the liver and/or kidneys.

A loving owner also has his dog vaccinated against canine diseases. on the first year, a series of three shots (minimum, some vets give four) at P350 to P500 each and an anti-rabies shot worth P150 are given. in the succeeding years, only one vaccination is needed along with the anti-rabies shot.

While irresponsible pet owners irk rescuers and animal welfare advocates, there is a group of humans we love so much.

Lucky Bella was rescued from the pound and adopted by Ailene B. Valdemoro-Castro.

Ailene was looking for a dog for her daughter but when she saw Bella, she decided to take the poor pup herself. “i couldn’t bear to let her go knowing she had nowhere to go so i decided to take her for myself, “ Ailene said. she adds, ”Bella is the funniest, goofiest dog. she likes cuddles and to play. i have two other dogs, but Bella always seems to be the happiest to see me when i come home."

Ailene strongly urges animal lovers to adopt, and not buy dogs.

"There are too many unwanted, abandoned, uncared for dogs in the world, " she says.

But whether adopted or rescued or bought, Ailene urges new owners to take him/her to the vet for a check-up before bringing him home, to see if the dog is not infected with any illness.

Ailene gave this tip to new adopters: “For the first few weeks, i would treat her extra special so she would feel at home.”

Today, Ailene says she is happy Bella gets along well with Charlie and Milo.

Ailene is very grateful to danilo for informing her about Bella’s condition in the pound. “Without him (danilo), Bella and i would not have found each other. “

Bella is now safe and happy with 'siblings' Charlie and Milo in Mommy Ailene's home.

They are the AdoPTERs. We love them more when they adopt REsCUEd dogs. one such wonderful being is Ailene B. Valdemoro- Castro. she adopted Bella, a seven-month-old aspin or asong Pinoy, who was about to be surrendered by the barangay to the pound where she will be put to sleep after a few days.

Luck was on Bella’s side, thanks to danilo Tulaylay who informed Ailene about Bella.

My Furry Bestie

This corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals.

For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

Meet ZoEY, a two-year old beagle, who loves playing and coming up with hilarious antics. her mommy, denise Concepcion, shares: “she'd sometimes look like she came from the rice fields or joined the Ati-Atihan just before a scheduled bath. she can fix her own bed but a real joy for her is having younger puppies to play with. “

This is KETChUP, a kitten rescued by Eleanor Agulto.

Eleanor says: ”i got him as a tiny kitten in our village's tricycle stop. i figured his nine lives won't go very far there, so i scooped him up and brought him home. Ketchup is a playful dynamo and only keeps still when he's sleeping.”

* * * I do hope more and more compassionate humans will adopt rescued dogs and cats, instead of buying pets. Let us help control animal population in the country, and help lessen the number of dogs who will end up neglected, abandoned, or who will become strays.

Dogs and cats will not be bred if you do not buy a pet. For every dog you buy, believe me, the person who got your P6,000 or P18,000 for that huggable puppy or cute kitten will breed another dog or cat to get more money.

Sadly, a number of these mama dogs and cats have been bred more times than they should have been bred in their lifetime.

Would you want your wife or daughter to be bred for money?

Think about it ,please, the next time you see a cute pup in the pet store’s window. Adopt, cause you don’t buy love.

Namaste!

TRiXiE is Elsa Manio’s bundle of joy.

“Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Trixie is a six-year old shih tzu who just recently learned to listen to commands and interact with other dogs. she used to not have any drive to play but now she can run and make you laugh when she tries to get your attention,” Elsa shares.