Manila Standard - 2020 July 12 - Sunday

SUN-DRIED OCTOPUS. Residents of Purok Mangingisda in

Barangay Buenavista hang their catch to dry along the seashore. Lino Santos

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 138 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH: Virus can be airborne • Record-high recoveries at 807 • Audit of Bayanihan funds sought

By Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas

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EALTH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire raised a new alarm Saturday on the coronavirus pandemic, saying COVID-19 could be airborne under “specific settings.”

COVID-19 PH

During the Laging Handa public hearing, Vergeire cited the examples of hospitals, which have aerosol-producing equipment, and closed settings.

Her comments followed acknowledgment by the World Health Organization that “evidence (was) emerging” regarding the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus, after a group of scientists urged the organization to revise its earlier recommendations about COVID-19.

Vergeire’s comment came as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country surpassed 54,000 with 1,387 new infections, of which 918 were “fresh” or newly validated and 469 were late, bringing the nationwide tally to 54,222.

The Department of Health also announced that the total recoveries rose to 14,037 with a record high 807 new recoveries, while the death toll increased to

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 20)

54,222

1,387 NEW

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

918

1,372

12

14,037

807

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

FRESH

NEW

NEW

HK POLICE RAID POLLSTER’S OFFICE

Hong Kong police have raided the office of a prominent opinion pollster that was helping the city’s pro-democracy opposition to conduct a primary election, a director of the group said Saturday.

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1,372 with 12 new fatalities.

Among the fresh cases, 261 are from the National Capital Region, 62 are from Region VII, and 595 are from other areas across the country.

Among the late cases, 178 are from the National Capital Region, 15 are from Region VII, 276 are from other areas across the country.

Plasma sale Vergeire, meanwhile, warned against selling and buying plasma for COVID-19, citing the risk of transmitting other diseases via blood.

“We discourage the selling of blood, we need to screen the patient first before they can give blood,” Vergeire said, adding buying blood was “very risky” as the recipient could easily contract other diseases if the donor’s blood was infected.

“There are diseases that can be trans-

USE SCIENCE FOR ‘BETTER NORMAL’ Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said embracing science and technology is key to a better, more resilient normal.

mitted through the blood that are for sale. These are transmissible infections through the blood,” she said.

Vergeire asked the public to get proper advice from official blood centers about convalescent plasma transfusion.

Bayanihan funds Discrepancy in Palace and Department of Finance reports on COVID-19 expenses prompted a legislator on Saturday to seek an accounting of government Bayanihan Act spending as well as the foreign funds that the government acquired through loans and grants.

Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo of ACTCIS raised the call as Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the government had so far secured $5.8 billion for antiCovid-19 activities while the Department of Finance said $7.76 billion had come in from abroad.

“I ask the Commission on Audit to urgently conduct a special audit of all the Bayanihan Act spending and of COVID-19 foreign loans, grants, and bonds.

We want to be sure that all these funds were, are, and will be judiciously and properly spent for intended purposes,”

CANCER DETECTION FOR FUR BABIES Early cancer detection will allow us to seek and provide medical intervention immediately.

Through this, we can save our dog’s life, or buy more years for our fur baby.

STARGIRL RENEWED FOR SEASON 2 Pinoy DC fans are in for a treat as teen superhero drama Stargirl has been renewed for a second season.

ENTERTAINMENT / B3 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

PH REAL ESTATE IMPROVES RANK The Philippines has joined Southeast Asian countries Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia in the list of global top 10 improvers in JLL’s biennial Global Real Estate Transparency Index.

HOME/DESIGN / B2 facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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STORIES ON PAGE 2

CHR WARNS OF ‘CHILLING EFFECT’ LGBT COUPLES CAN BACKRIDE

PETS / B4

BUSINESS / A4

Tulfo, member for the majority bloc, said in a statement.

Quoting newspaper reports, Tulfo said the Finance department secured $7.76 billion in foreign funds and has disbursed $5.11 billion.

SAP beneficiaries Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista said Saturday 80 percent of the target cash aid beneficiaries for the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program would get their payout by the end of July.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Bautista said the money was already in the hands of the DSWD. But the process of double-checking the list of qualified beneficiaries had taken a lot of time.

He said the DSWD started the payout in some areas of the National Capital Region through online payment.

Testing machines Manila City Mayor Francisco ‘Isko ‘ Domagoso on Saturday announced the local government had purchased three COVID-19 testing machines capable of testing 16,800 residents a week.

APP SEEKS TO HELP VISUALLY-IMPAIRED

EMIRATES SLASH 9,000 JOBS PNPA RESPONDS TO CADET’S DEATH

Sohankumar Motwani, who was born premature and blind in his right eye, created an app with a wearable device for the visually impaired.

LIFE / B1

MISDECLARED US DOLLARS SEIZED

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‘LGBT couples allowed to do pillion riding’ COUPLES belonging to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community are among those allowed to motorcycle back-riding, a police official said Saturday.

“If we will look at it, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said this is for married couples and others who are livein partners so, in essence, people belonging to LGBT who are living in the same house and are live-in partners are included there,” Joint Task Force Covid Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said in a Laging Handa briefing.

He added that couples just need to present proof that they were living in the same residence.

“This time, we exercise common sense as well as consideration. We talked with (Interior) Secretary Eduardo Año and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya and they said LGBT couples are included in that provision,” he said.

This came as the government allowed motorcycle back-riding using a physical barrier only for couples beginning Friday.

Eleazar, however, said those who were not able to comply with the measure were just given warnings.

“Some who were not married couples or live-in partners were given citation tickets. So far, there were no reports of violations for not wearing helmets or face masks. We will continue to monitor this in the coming days,” he added.

Eleazar said the measure is part of the government’s efforts to normalize transportation in the country amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“It’s because this is gearing towards gradual easing of restrictions. Initially, we allowed partners and eventually, parents and their children and eventually, everyone,” he added.

He added the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) continued to assess policies and proposals on the measure subject to health and safety protocols.

“It will be studied, assessed by (IATF) and if there are changes, those would be given to the Joint Task Force Covid Shield for implementation,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar urged the public to cooperate with law enforcers by putting a physical barrier between the rider and the passenger and wearing a face mask and helmet.

Violators would face charges for violations of Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health. Events of Public Health Concern Act, particularly Section 9 (e) or non-cooperation of persons and entities affected by health events.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

The Philippine Red Cross and Unicef Philippines have set up two medical tents with a combined 20-bed capacity at the Ospital ng Maynila to be used as isolation wards for minor patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHR: Franchise denial has ’chilling effect’ on media T

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE Commission on Human Rights said Saturday the House of Representatives’ denial on Friday of ABSCBN’s franchise application “gives a chilling effect on the freedom of the press.”

“Unless Congress can disabuse the minds of the public that its decision was not based on a fair review and was devoid of any political consideration, the denial of the franchise gives a chilling effect on the freedom of the press,” the CHR said in a statement.

Members of the House franchise committee, after 12 lengthy joint hearings with the committee on good government, on Friday voted 70-11 to deny ABS-CBN’s

fresh franchise application, closing down the network’s broadcast business.

The CHR said the decision to deny the network a franchise would also deprive Filipinos access to information especially during this time of pandemic.

“CHR continues to stress the importance of timely, credible information in pushing everyone towards the correct direction in responding especially to a pandemic. The loss of a major network has

inevitably left millions of Filipinos in the dark, especially those in far-flung areas with no access to the internet as an alternative,” it said.

Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said members of the House of Representatives should have used their powers more responsibly.

In a statement, the former chief of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said: “The President’s threats to close the station are a matter of public record. Now that the matter of the franchise has been dealt a final blow by the Lower House, can our people be blamed for the perception that Congress, supposedly a fiercely independent body of the people’s representatives, has bent over in subservience to the President?”

IN BRIEF CebuPac resumes Dubai flights

CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) has announced the resumption of its flight operations to and from Dubai beginning today (Sunda).

CEB’s flight 5J18 (Manila-Dubai) is scheduled to leave Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:55 p.m. while the returning flight from Dubai 5J19 to Manila is at 3:30 a.m. Monday.

The CEB management reminded air travelers going to Dubai that they are required to obtain travel and health insurance coverage before arrival in compliance with the policy of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

Meanwhile, domestic flight operations of CEB, its sister airline CebGo, and other local carriers will remain limited. Joel E. Zurbano

Deportation sought for unruly Chinese THE Bureau of Immigration filed a deportation case against a Chinese woman who attacked a biker and traffic enforcers in Makati City.

BI acting spokesman Melvin Mabulac said the agency’s intelligence division has recommended the filing of deportation charges against 27-year old Dong Li. The BI said Li’s tourist visa has already expired and she has not complied with the requirements to update her status. Vito Barcelo

HELPING HAND. Members of the Philippine Fujian General Youth Association Inc. recently met with Senator Cynthia Villar for the turnover of protective materials and food supply to support relief operations in Cebu province.

PNPA halts activities after cadet’s death PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Saturday ordered the temporary suspension of all activities for new cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy after a female cadet died of electrolyte imbalance or hypokalemia (low potassium intake).

In a media statement, PNP spokes-

person Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said based on Cadet Fourth Class Jiary Jasen Papa’s logbook, she asked permission to go to the comfort room at 2:30 a.m. Friday and later went back to sleep.

After an hour, she woke up to prepare for early morning activity but suddenly collapsed beside her bunks.

EMIRATES airline has cut a tenth of its workforce during the novel coronavirus pandemic in layoffs that could rise to 15 percent, or 9,000 jobs, its president said, according to a report on Saturday.

The Middle East’s largest carrier, which operates a fleet of 270 widebodied aircraft, halted operations in late March as part of global shutdowns to stem the spread of the virus.

It resumed two weeks later on a limited network and plans to fly to 58 cities by mid-August, down from about 157 before the crisis.

However, its president Tim Clark has said previously that it could take up to four years for operations to return to “some degree of normality,” and the airline has been staging rounds of layoffs, as recently as last week, without disclosing numbers.

Before the crisis hit, Emirates employed some 60,000 staff, including 4,300 pilots and nearly 22,000 cabin crew, according to its annual report.

Clark said in an interview with the BBC that the airline had already cut a tenth of its staff and that Emirates “will probably have to let go of a few more, probably up to 15 percent.”

WHO calls for more aggressive response The World Health Organization has urged countries grappling with coronavirus to step up control measures, saying it is still possible to rein it in, as some nations clamp fresh restrictions on citizens.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to adopt an aggressive approach, highlighting Italy, Spain, South Korea and India’s biggest slum to show it was possible to stop the spread, no matter how bad the outbreak.

The health agency’s comments came as US President Donald Trump was forced to cancel an election rally in New Hampshire, citing an approaching storm.

Trump has pushed to hold large gatherings against health advice as epidemiologists warn of the dangers posed by the virus moving through the air in crowded and confined spaces.

High blood sugar levels linked to virus deaths Patients with abnormally high blood sugar levels are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19, researchers in China said Saturday.

It is the first time scientists have been able to confirm that patients with hyperglycemia, but not diagnosed with diabetes, are at higher risk of death from COVID-19, they wrote in the journal Diabetologia. AFP

Misdeclared US dollars seized

By Joel E. Zurbano

Cops probe missing 400-yr-old Sto. Niño MANILA Police District investigators are now investigating if the 400-yearold image of the Sto. Niño at the Santo Niño de Pandacan Parish in Pandacan, Manila was stolen or consumed by the fire that gutted the church Friday afternoon.

The Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Authorities said it may have started due to a faulty electrical wiring.

Willie Casas

Papa was immediately brought to the Academy Health Service by duty cadets for first aid.

She was eventually rushed to Qualimed Hospital in Sta. Rosa, Laguna by the AHS staff for full medical attention but was later declared dead by the attending physician at around 4:34 a.m.

Emirates cuts 9,000 jobs; Step up virus action—WHO

DOG WHISPERER. A man, together with his assistant, takes an early morning stroll with his dogs in Dasmariñas, Cavite on July 11, 2020. Jr. Josue

GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted a package containing US dollars equivalent to almost P800,000 smuggled via air cargo.

The package, shipped through FedEx from Durham, USA with some $15,700, was misdeclared as “personal documents” to mislead the subject currency from Customs scrutiny. It arrived at the FedEx Warehouse in Pasay City last Friday.

Authorities said the money was discovered when it passed the Xray machine and through the vigilance of Customs frontliners assigned at the warehouse situated

near the air port.

They, however, did not identify the sender and the recipient of the package.

Customs agents intercepted illegal foreign currency using the same scheme in August last year.

The seized package, with some $12,000 came from Arkansas, was wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a mobile phone box that arrived at the same warehouse.

NAIA-Customs district collector Carmelita Talusan said the foreign currencies would be seized in favor of the government pursuant to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to the New Central Bank Act and BSP Foreign Exchange Transaction Manual.

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HK police raid pollster ahead of opposition vote H ONG Kong police have raided the office of a prominent opinion pollster that was helping the city’s pro-democracy opposition to conduct a primary election, a director of the group said Saturday.

A voter scans a QR code at a polling station for New Territory East candidates during a primary election in Hong Kong on July 11, 2020. Voters were casting their ballots Saturday in the primary to select the pro-democracy opposition candidates for election to the city’s legislative council in September. AFP

The overnight move came days after China imposed a sweeping new national security law on the financial hub after months of civil unrest last year.

Robert Chung, president of Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI), an independent pollster that regularly conducts surveys on public opinion, said officers copied files from computers, monitored by PORI’s attorney, but did not remove the machines.

Police claimed they were responding to a report that PORI computers had been hacked, resulting in an unlawful leak of personal information.

Trump says he will create path to citizenship for ‘Dreamers’

Sports Illustrated uses transgender model in swimsuit issue for first time SPORTS Illustrated is featuring a transgender model for the first time ever in its swimsuit issue this year, the US magazine said Friday.

Valentina Sampaio, from Brazil, will appear in the 2020 edition of the supplement that has included famous models such as Heidi Klum and Ashley Graham.

Sampaio, 23, said in a statement that she was “excited and honored” to appear in the issue, which is released on July 21.

Vir She was photographed for the shoot in Scrub Island, in the British Virgin Islands, Sports Illustrated said.

Sampaio is from a fishing village in Ceara, a poor state in the northeast of Brazil.

She said trans people face insults and attacks in her home country.

“I recognize that I am one of the fortunate ones, and my intention is to honor that as best I can,” she said.

For years, Sports Illustrated was focused on young, white models but has diversified.

In 1997, Tyra Banks became the first black woman to appear on its cover.

In 2017, Sampaio became the first transgender model to feature on a Vogue cover, when she appeared on the front of the French edition. AFP

PRESIDENT Donald Trump said he would soon issue an executive order on immigration that includes a path to citizenship for people brought to America illegally as children.

But the White House quickly seemed to walk back the idea, saying hours later this was just a possibility in talks with Congress on immigration reform.

“I’m going to do a big executive order. I have the power to do it as president and I’m going to make DACA a part of it,” Trump said in an interview with Telemundo Noticias.

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

It began in 2012 under then-president Barack Obama and has allowed some 700,000 people brought without papers to the United States as children to live, work and study without danger of being deported. Most of them are Latin American.

In 2017, Trump tried to cancel the program but the Supreme Court ruled last week that the administration had acted with weak legal justification and it let DACA stand for now. AFP

French bus driver dies after attack over mask rule A FRENCH bus driver who was badly beaten by passengers after asking them to wear face masks in line with coronavirus rules has died, his family said, sparking tributes from political leaders who condemned his “cowardly” attackers.

Philippe Monguillot, 59, was left brain dead by the attack in the southwestern town of Bayonne last weekend and died in hospital on Friday, his daughter Marie said, after his family decided to switch off his life-support system.

“We decided to let him go. The doctors were in favour and we were as well,” she told AFP. Two men have been charged with attempted murder over the attack and prosecutor Jerome Bourrier told AFP that he would ask for the charges to be upgraded following Monguillot’s death. AFP

Chung said he got a “verbal promise” from the police that they would not use information unrelated to the suspected leak.

PORI has helped the pro-democracy camp to design a voting system for its primary over the weekend to select candidates to run in the city’s legislative council election in September.

Chung said the primary voting system was safe and its operation was legal and transparent.

“The primary election is a peaceful, rational and non-violent approach to express public opinion,” Chung said.

Former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin, who was helping to organise the weekend vote, said he believed police were attempting to interfere with the workings of the opposition.

“The incident is very likely related to the primaries and meant to create a deterrent effect,” he said in a statement.

Voters could cast their ballots from noon Saturday across the city. Long queues were seen in multiple districts outside polling stations.

The independent pollster regularly conducts surveys gauging public opinion on the popularity of the government, top officials and police.

Public trust in both has plummeted since the months of occasionally violent political protests that rocked Hong Kong last year, prompted by a now-shelved bill that would have allowed extraditions to authoritarian mainland China. AFP

Panama hospitals on verge of collapse as virus cases surge Transgender model Valentina Sampaio is featured in the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated.

SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day says Sampaio, the first transgender to be featured by the US magazine, was chosen because “besides her obvious beauty, she is an impassioned activist, a true pioneer for the LGBT+ community and just simply embodies the well-rounded woman we are proud to have represent SI Swimsuit across our platforms.”

US welcomes WHO inquiry into virus origins in China THE US welcomes the World Health Organization’s probe into the origins of the novel coronavirus in China, its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said.

“We welcome the WHO’s investigation. We view the scientific investiga-

tion as a necessary step to having a complete and transparent understanding of how this virus has spread throughout the world,” ambassador Andrew Bremberg told reporters Friday.

It was an unexpected endorsement, given that the WHO has faced fierce US

criticism over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Earlier, an epidemiologist and an animal health specialist from the WHO left for China to try and identify the animal source of the new coronavirus pandemic.AFP

HOSPITALS in Panama are on the brink of collapse as coronavirus cases spike in the Central American country worst hit by the pandemic, where doctors are already exhausted.

With a population of four million, Panama has gone from 200 cases a day to 1,100 over the last few weeks.

“Our daily number of infected patients has been increasing in a sustained way to the point of passing 1,000 cases,” David Villalobos, head of the intensive care unit at the Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital in Panama City, told AFP. “There are no hospitals that could sustain such a number,” he said.

The sharp increase has forced authorities to adapt existing hospitals and look for new spaces, like convention centers, to boost a health system with a range of problems including long waiting lists.

“The fear of the collapse of the public system in our country is evident if the number of cases remains the same,” Domingo Moreno, coordinator of a coalition of healthcare workers’ unions, told AFP. “In the next two weeks we probably won’t have anywhere to put beds.”

With 42,000 cases and 839 deaths, Panama has the worst official tally of coronavirus infections in the region.

AFP

Rights lawyer files torture charges against Chinese officials FREED Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang has filed a rare complaint seeking charges against two officials, accusing them of torturing him during his secret detention, according to documents seen by AFP. Detained in 2015 as part of a sweeping crackdown on hundreds of lawyers and rights activists, Wang was released in April after four-and-a-half years behind bars in a case that drew international attention.

This week is also the fifth anniversary of the mass arrest campaign, known as the “709 crackdown.”

In the years since, China’s crackdown on activists and rights lawyers has not subsided.

In the complaint filed to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Tianjin People’s Procuratorate on Monday, Wang accused two Tianjin Public Secu-

rity Bureau interrogators, Guo Aiqiang and Fu Rui, of torture to extract a confession, defamation and humiliation.

“On 3 August 2015, the complainant was secretly detained on charges of picking quarrels and stirring trouble, incitement to subvert state power, and subversion of state power,” the lawsuit said.

“The complainant was verbally insulted, spat on, slapped, denied toilet access for lengthy periods, prevented from turning over while sleeping, and subjected to various methods to coerce a confession for 15 hours a day for a total of almost a month by Guo Aiqiang and Fu Rui.” Wang was placed in a form of secret extrajudicial detention typically used against dissidents, known as “residential surveillance in a designated location” (RSDL) for six months. AFP

SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF LIFE. Rescue workers hold up a blue sheet as they recover a victim’s body during a search operation for missing people in Fukuhama, Kumamoto prefecture on July 11, 2020, after heavy rains and flooding devastated the region. AFP

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Business

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

Ayala chairman embraces science for ‘better normal’

Fuel marking program raises more funds for gov’t

By Julito G. Rada

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ROUND 9.30 billion liters of fuel were marked by the government from September 2019 to July 2, 2020 under the Fuel Marking Program, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Dominguez expects the program to shore up revenues needed by the government to implement measures to combat the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a message to reporters covering the Finance beat, Dominguez said the pace of the program was unaffected by the onslaught of the pandemic.

“We continued with the Fuel Marking Program despite the contagion and will proceed as in the past,” Dominguez said.

Data showed that of the total volume of fuel marked, Petron Corp. accounted for the bulk or 2.250 billion liters for a 24.18-percent share.

It was followed by Shell with 1.90 billion liters for a 20.41-percent share, and Unioil with 1.026 billion for 11.03 percent.

Others include Chevron, with 821.6 million liters; Seaoil, 778.63 million; Phoenix, 741.40 million; Insular Oil, 550.597 million; Total/Filoil, 266.702 million; Jetti, 262.132 million; PTT, 146.271 million; Marubeni, 118.01 million; Micro Dragon, 96.438 million; Filoil, 68.185 million; Warbucks, 59.607 million; SL Harbor, 51.059 million; Goldenshare, 49.586 million; High Glory Subic, 49.067 million; Era1,

41.193 million; SL Gas, 18.365 million; and Jadelink, 11.940 million liters.

Luzon accounted for about 75 percent of the fuel marked, followed by Mindanao with 20 percent and the Visayas with 5 percent.

For the period September 2019 to June 2020 alone, about 9.141 billion liters were marked with a value of P503.578 billion. Of this volume, the Bureau of Customs reported 6.101 billion liters with a value of P336.074 billion. The BIR had 3.040 billion liters marked valued at P167.503 billion.

Fuel marking is mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act as a measure against smuggling of petroleum products.

Fuel marking is done after the taxes are paid on refined and imported gasoline, diesel and kerosene. To date, all import terminals and refineries of various oil companies nationwide comply with the marking requirement of the program.

“Definitely, the fuel marking program, as part of our tax reform is having a positive effect on our revenues and therefore on our ability to withstand the ill effects of the contagion,” Dominguez said in an earlier statement.

However, Dominguez said the disruption in supply and demand caused by the contagion made it more difficult to estimate the impact of fuel marking on reducing oil smuggling.

Dominguez said last year that the implementation of the fuel marking program would help address the expected rise in fuel smuggling in the wake of the increase in fuel taxes under TRAIN law that took effect in January 2018.

He said the government anticipated the potential increase in smug-

gling and therefore initiated the fuel marking program which was designed to address the issue.

Dominguez said in February 2020 the government was expecting P20 billion in additional revenue from the fuel marking program.

“With the full implementation of this program, we expect smuggling and misdeclaration of petroleum products to be greatly reduced, if not totally eradicated, and revenue collections to dramatically increase,” Dominguez said during the anniversary of the Bureau of Customs.

“This program is projected to generate an additional P20 billion in revenues,” he said. The program was fully rolled out in February.

Estimates by the Finance Department show that fuel smuggling costs the government P20 billion to P40 billion in foregone revenues annually.

According to a report presented by the Department of Finance during a recent meeting of the Cabinet’s Economic Development Cluster, 20 mobile analyzers will be deployed across the country to facilitate the random field testing on stored and transported fuel and those sold in 11,464 gas stations nationwide.

Data showed that in 2016, lost revenues from excise taxes and value-added tax due to oil smuggling and misdeclaration reached P26.9 billion, more than half of the actual P52.6 billion collected by the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue for that year.

The Asian Development Bank had a higher estimate of P37.5 billion in lost annual tax revenues because of oil smuggling. A study commissioned by local oil industry players estimated that revenue losses to oil smuggling reached as high as P43.8 billion annually.

Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (left) with president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala (center) and Globe Telecom president Ernest Cu. From Facebook page of Zobel de Ayala

AYALA Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said embracing science and technology is key to a better, more resilient normal.

In his keynote address delivered at the 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Zobel emphasized the importance of data and insights in understanding and developing solutions to the long-standing societal problems the country faces today.

Zobel said the Ayala group regularly gathers data from across its different business units to better understand evolving consumer behaviors and needs, thus allowing it to provide improved services and relevant products.

For instance, with the rising demand for digital platforms for the delivery of basic goods and services, Ayala’s AC Healthcare Holdings penetrated the telemedicine space through HealthNow, an all-in-one digital platform developed in partnership with Globe 917 Ventures.

This digital platform serves as an alternative channel for patients to access primary healthcare without leaving the safety of their homes. During its April to June pilot run alone, the platform had over 11,000 patient consultation requests with the top specialization requests covering family medicine; dermatology; obstetrics and gynecology; and ear, nose and throat concerns.

Zobel also noted that the community quarantine brought on a significant increase in consumer engagement on digital financial apps, such as Globe’s GCash and BPI’s mobile banking app. From March to June, GCash experienced a 138-percent increase in daily active users and 157-percent jump in daily active transactions.

Transactions on the BPI mobile banking app, on the other hand, accounted for 90 percent of all bank transactions as of mid-April comparing to only 70 percent prior to the quarantine.

The digitalization of its financial services has been the main driver of Ayala’s efforts to promote financial inclusion across a broader demographic particularly the unserved and underserved segments of the population.

On education, Ayala believes that the current shift to distance learning may become an integral part of the Philippine education system given its many benefits for both students and teachers. Ayala Corp. itself has also explored online learning platforms, such as Coursera and Degreed, to maintain a high level of productivity and engagement within its workforce a significant number of whom continue to work from home.

Zobel emphasized the importance of strengthening the ties among science, industry, and government in finding long-term solutions to address the country’s most pressing challenges.

He cited Task Force T3 (Test, Trace & Treat), which aims to expand the country’s RT-PCR testing capacity, as an example of a highly successful public–private partnership model which may be applied in other areas.

Ayala’s contribution to the Task Force T3 includes the conversion of the World Trade Center into a 502-bed quarantine facility and donation of swabbing booths for all 4 Mega Swabbing Centers. In addition, together with other private companies, Ayala has built and capacitated 7 Biosafety Level 2 Laboratories across the country to augment the national testing capacity which has now reached almost 75,000 tests per day.

“I am a firm believer in the power of co-creation and collaboration. Let’s reimagine the world we live in and the way things are using this crisis as a way of refashioning the way we live. I believe that the sciences and the science-based approach has a lot to teach us in that regard,” Zobel said in closing.

BPO group names 25 digital cities in ‘new normal’

Leechiu Property Consultants CEO David Leechiu

By Othel V. Campos THE Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines is searching for new areas where the industry is expected to thrive in the age of the “new normal”.

In cooperation with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and Leechiu Property Consultants, ITBPAP has finalized the Digital Cities 2025.

The initiative continues the legacy of Next Wave Cities as it aims to drive inclusive growth in the countryside by selecting high-potential areas throughout

the country and transforming them into bustling IT-business process management hubs within five years.

“The launch of Digital Cities 2025 is a testament to the IT-BPM industry’s resilience and enduring role as a major growth driver of the Philippine economy,” said IBPAP president and CEO Rey Untal.

“The countryside remains full of untapped potential and harnessing this can lead to countless more opportunities for continued expansion and sustained growth for the sector,” he said.

Based on the initiative’s mid-term development plan, the industry will endeavor to make each city one a top-ofmind destination for global investments.

The 25 cities under the program were chosen using a scorecard developed by DICT and IBPAP with insights provided

by Leechiu Property based on a set of parameters reflecting priority areas for investors and locators—talent availability, infrastructure, cost and business environment.

Chosen as Digital Cities 2025 were Balanga City, Batangas City, Cabanatuan City, Dagupan City, General Santos City, Iligan City, Iriga City, Laguna Cluster (San Pablo, Calamba, and Los Baños), Laoag

City, Legazpi City, Malolos City, Metro Cavite (Bacoor City, Imus, and General Trias), Metro Rizal (Taytay, Cainta, and Antipolo City), Olongapo City, Puerto Princesa City, Roxas City, San Fernando City, La Union, San Fernando City, San Jose Del Monte City, Tacloban City, Tagbilaran City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao City, Urdaneta City and Zamboanga City.

These cities, the focus of economic development in the next three years, will be developed into ICT hubs and will serve as business and innovation centers to sustain the rapid growth of the IT-BPM sector.

The 25 new destinations are also expected to draw in investments that would create more jobs and other economic opportunities in areas outside Metro Manila.

It is seen to motivate existing players to expand beyond the National Capital Region, encourage new ones to set up shop in the Philippines and ultimately generate more opportunities for Filipinos.

Digital Cities 2025 aims to build the resiliency of the IT-BPM sector as an engine of growth for the Philippine economy. It also aims to bridge industry progress in the countryside to strengthen local economies.

The 25 new locations, alongside the Centers of Excellence and established Next

Wave Cities, are projected to bring the country a step closer towards becoming a more digitally-enabled nation—one that continues to be globally competitive and relevant as a prime investment destination.

“By working together with other executive agencies, local government units, industry leaders and academic institutions, we will enable each location to grow into Centers of Excellence that spur the development of other business sectors, de-risk Metro Manila concentration, create jobs, and boost the local economy,” Untal said.

Some points of action are institutional development, talent attraction and development, infrastructure development and marketing and promotion. These will involve the strengthening of ICT councils, sharing of best practices, launching awareness campaigns and facilitating infrastructure initiatives.

While the pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine affected business operations across industries, Leechiu Property CEO David Leechiu expects a surge in IT-BPM demand once the country and the rest of the world settle into the “new normal”.

“The Philippine IT-BPM will be

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines president and CEO Rey Untal

instrumental in the country’s recovery from this health crisis so we need to be ready for the demand to start gaining momentum. This will be critical in how the world views us as a longterm investment versus our ASEAN neighbors,” Leechui said.

The digitalcitiesPH portal will help translate potential into progress in the countryside by providing investors and locators with essential information on cities and municipalities all over the Philippines. This will help them better assess each location’s potential as a global business center.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

OVERCOMING THE ODDS

A visionary

for the visually impaired

S

‘‘

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

If I did not learn to accept it, then I would not have been able to look for ways to move forward.

OHANKUMAR Motwani left eye started to blur. “The doctor said thing that I have learnt all throughout knows how it’s like to live it was all because I was born prema- my journey was acceptance.” ture,” he recalled.

“Naturally, there were a number with impaired vision.

Sohan, with the support of his Pakistani of unanswered questions that greatly

He was born premature and blind on his right eye.

Despite his decreased ability to see, he developed an interest in technology when he first held a computer in second grade at Don Bosco Makati.

“What caught my attention back then was the fact that it wasn’t just about playing games. Computers allowed you do so much more—learn, customize, and create,” said Sohan.

By this time, his dream was to pursue a Computer Science degree in college.

However, at age 15, the vision on his

family who settled in the Philippines 40 years ago, underwent a total of five surgeries: three in the Philippines and two in India. He had to temporarily quit school.

“The attending doctors stated they had done everything they could. We even tried to seek further treatment in China, but we were advised there were no other possible solutions available,” he shared.

“My parents warned me that I would not be able to live as normally as I was used to.”

Then came years of depression.

“It was like the end of the world for me,” related Sohan. “But the greatest

bothered me. But I needed to move on.

If I did not learn to accept it, then I would not have been able to look for ways to move forward.”

After a two-year medical break, Sohan decided to finish high school. Don Bosco Makati willingly welcomed him back.

Trying to pick up from where he left off was not easy. “It was a change in lifestyle,” he admitted. “I used to work as I saw things, but now I have to work as I hear them.”

Sohan was able to overcome this great challenge with the assistance of Sohan (right) with his teammates and friends Mark Christian Yu and Anna Alexandra Nery—together they created SOHAN, a smart navigation app designed for the visually impaired.

Things you can do on Twitter instead of engaging with trolls SOCIAL media networks can be such a toxic place. But one argues of the positive impact they play in connecting people from all walks of life.

Twitter is a platform that allows people to spark conversations, interact with one another, and discover #WhatsHappening around the world.

Discover real-time information from verified news outlets and government agencies.

Stay updated with the latest news daily

Find help or ways to help online.

Through Twitter, people can easily discover real-time information about a topic, and even discover which topics are Get help or extend a helping hand online trending among users. Verified journalists and news outfits Twitter is also taking actions to make the platform a better are using the platform and are tweeting real-time to share space for its users. To combat misinformation being spread news through threads for developing news. during the early stages of the pandemic, it launched a dedicated search prompt so that users can easily find reliable and authoritative information on COVID-19.

Twitter also partnered with the Philippine Commission On Women (@PCWgovph) and Women’s Care Center to launch a dedicated gender-based violence service where people can find hotlines to report such incidents.

Explore new hobbies and meet people with the help of hashtags.

Find and join active communities

From sports and arts to cooking and gaming, users can find and interact with people sharing their same interests on Twitter.

For example, people can search #artph to see a community of talented Filipino artists. People are also tweeting about their cooking recipes or newfound hobbies using the hashtags #QuarantineCooking and #Quaranthings. There are also a lot of fandoms on Twitter users can follow that share hashtags or updates about their favorite artists.

Bookmark lets users save tweets they want to read later.

Explore and save something new everyday

Tips for work, online classes, and other useful Tweets can be found on the platform’s Explore tab that conveniently houses trends on various topics.

Twitter also lets users easily save and revisit a Tweet using its Bookmark feature. For example, users can save videos to watch, threads to read later, or simply bookmark an insightful Tweet that might come in handy next time.

THE ONLY WAY IS FORWARD. Despite his impaired vision Sohankumar Motwani graduated Magna Cum Laude from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as well as created an app with a wearable device for the visually impaired. non-government organization Resources for the Blind, which provided technology that converted all his textbooks to soft copies to be read aloud by textto-speech functions.

He graduated from Don Bosco Makati with the St. Dominic Savio Award in recognition for his dedication in completing and acing his secondary education.

When it was time to decide for further studies, the Resources for the Blind recommended De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde for its inclusive approach.

With additional encouragement from family and close friends, Sohan found his calling in the college’s Information Systems Program. “I realized that it was actually more than what I was looking for,” he beamed.

When he first entered Benilde, his friends brought him around the campus.

He familiarized himself despite his limited perception.

Shortly thereafter, he completely lost his eyesight, but he can already navigate around the vicinity with his cane.

Sohan believes that he was able to chase his dream with the backing from his family, friends, and professors who always ensured he was never behind in the lessons. “I even had a mentor who personally met me once to twice a week to check how I was doing in class,” he shared.

“Fully losing my eyesight was a really big adjustment from my end, but Benilde attuned quite well with me. The atmosphere was very warm and I was reminded

once again that inclusion is in the college’s DNA because I really felt it firsthand.”

In his second year, Sohan started to work as the web developer for the Student Publication Office, which automatically granted him 50 percent scholarship plus an opportunity to enhance his skills in the field.

Sohan and friends Mark Christian Yu and Anna Alexandra Nery then conceptualized and created SOHAN, a smart navigation app designed to assist the visually impaired.

SOHAN is composed of three platforms: a mobile app that sets and reads the destination, a wearable device that follows unique patterns of vibrations for instructions, and a web app that allows the guardians to check the current location.

It features chat messaging and emergency alerts for easier connectivity. The team has completed the prototype and is currently working on the official release to ensure the safety of the probable users.

His devotion and passion led him to be a consistent Dean’s Lister. He graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Sohan currently works as the Software Engineer of homegrown food mobile app Booky. He is involved in their family business and is experimenting on a finance-related project with a friend as well.

Today, Sohan can no longer see the colors. He cannot even decipher whether it is day or night. But there is no stopping someone fueled with a desire to learn, explore, and create.

Viber cuts business ties with Facebook

Viber chief executive officer Djamel Agaoua (inset) announces that the messaging app is cutting all business ties with Facebook over the latter's data privacy violations and failure to combat hate speech.

MESSAGING app Rakuten Viber has removed all Facebook touchpoints and ceased all ad spending on the social networking platform over the latter’s data privacy violations and failure to combat hate speech.

On top of numerous instances of data misconduct, including the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal in which the political consulting firm improperly harvested data of up to 87 million Facebook users, Viber sees Facebook’s hate-speech stumble as the last straw.

As such, the messaging app is taking the #StopHateForProfit movement a step further, cutting all business ties

with Facebook.

“Facebook continues to demonstrate poor judgment in understanding its role in today’s world,” said Viber chief executive officer Djamel Agaoua.

Agaoua continued, “From the company’s mishandling of data and lack of privacy in its apps, to its outrageous stand of avoiding the steps necessary to protect the public from violent and dangerous rhetoric, Facebook has gone too far.”

“We are not the arbiters of truth, but the truth is some people are suffering from the proliferation of violent content and companies must take a clear stand,” asserted Agaoua.

HEY, YOUTH!

SHARE your unpublished essays with the readers of Manila Standard. Chosen essays will be published in the Young Life corner that comes out every Sunday.

This space is open for young writers, aged 13-29 years old.

Send your essay (maximum of 800 words) with photo/s, if available, to manilastandardlife@gmail.com with the subject: “Young Life - (title of your essay)” along with a brief description of yourself.

B2

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Home/Design

Hope springs eternal for ALI amid pandemic Banks on Cavite’s growth, big infra projects to reap returns

P

ROPERTY remains a viable investment amid the global pandemic, according to Ayala Land Inc. (ALI).

The developer behind several mixeduse estates, sees the current milieu as an opportunity for investors to establish a richer property portfolio. According to Cris Zuluaga, AVP of Ayala Land Estates, Inc., the uncertainty should not deter those with capital especially when attractive returns can be expected in the future.

Recovery from downturn, inevitable “We have seen in past crises how the property sector has constantly been able to recover after a downturn with values appreciating over time,” said Zuluaga.

“Given our country’s stable economy, it remains one of the best options for investment today,” Historically, ALI has proven the sustainability of its projects as it saw tremendous growth in the land value of its developments in strategic growth centers. Reflecting the recent growth of

the industry, based on the land values reported by Colliers in September 2018 and December 2019, both Alabang and Makati grew about 12% annually in the past 10 years.

Taking financial risks during a pandemic may seem unwise to some, but Zuluaga argued on taking advantage of the potential returns of an intelligent, calculated risk.

Growth for Vermosa Ayala Land’s Vermosa estate in Cavite presents an investment opportunity for homebuyers, industries and businesses who are banking on reaping returns post pandemic.

Vermosa has reached an 82% growth on its commercial properties since its introduction in 2015, with a compounded annual growth rate of 14%. Upon full build out, Vermosa is expected to house around 30,000 people across several of its residential

developments and generate about 500,000 jobs.

ALI banks on the continued growth potential of the province of Cavite as it goes full-swing with the development. The estate is seen to gain improved access through several major infrastructure projects that establish

Cavite as a booming growth center such as the Aguinaldo and Molino flyovers, Skyway extension and the CaviteLaguna Expressway (CALAX).

Zuluaga said Vermosa has the trademark qualities of an Ayala Land estate—integrated, pedestrian-friendly, inclusive, and conducive for building an

ideal, community-grounded lifestyle.

Apart from residential investments in its estates, Ayala Land commercial lots are likewise on offer for investment consideration, particularly at Vermosa, Nuvali (Laguna), Arca South (Taguig), Alviera (Pampanga) and Altaraza Town Center (Bulacan).

PH in top improvers list, global real estate index THE Philippines recently joined Southeast Asian countries Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia in the list of global top 10 improvers in JLL’s biennial Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI).

Asia Pacific’s emerging markets have made the most significant gains in improving real estate transparency, led by a greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility and wider adoption of new technologies.

The 2020 Index was launched at a time of massive economic disruption where the need for transparent processes, accurate and timely data and high ethical standards are in closer focus.

The backdrop of COVID-19 has ensured that transparency within Asia Pacific’s real estate legal and regulatory systems, is more important than ever to global investors, as they look to deploy approximately $40 billion in capital into the region.

According to JLL, pressure exists from investors, businesses and consumers to further improve real estate transparency.

“While investment into commercial real estate has inevitably paused during the pandemic, the overarching trend toward rising allocations to this asset class will continue,” said Regina Lim, head of capital markets research, Asia Pacific, JLL.

CAVITE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK SHIFTS TO ‘NEW NORMAL’. The Cavite Light Industrial Park (CLIP) in Silang, Cavite is preparing to absorb the expected spike in demand for logistics, industrial and suburban residential spaces in the Covid-19 era brought about by the shift in preference for safe and accessible integrated communities. Cathay Land Inc. President Jeffrey Ng said the industrial component of CLIP, is taking in new locators that will set up the most modern, safe and highly competitive manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, cold-storage and commissary operations. Meanwhile, CLIP’s residential project —the Mallorca Villas—awaits professionals, businessmen, and expats who would opt for bigger houses that will allow them to conveniently work from home. “The industrial and commercial components of CLIP are ready for locators who are now shifting to the new normal of doing business,” said Ng.

I-LAND PARTNERS WITH SIGNET PROPERTIES CONDO PROJECT. I-Land Inc., the real estate division of ISOC Holdings, has tapped Signet Properties, a real estate lead generation provider, to market a LEED-certified mid-rise condo project, I-Land Residences Sucat. Signet Properties is known for its technology innovations such as 360-degree aerial views of neighborhoods, 3D model unit showings, and commute map integrations. I-Land Residences-Sucat is a 2-hectare masterplanned, residential community composed of six mid-rise buildings. It is one of the first mid-rise developments in the country to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status. LEED is the most prestigious and widely used green building rating system in the world. At the contract signing were (from left) Meryll C. Yan, VP for marketing, ISOC Holdings, Inc.; Marian A. Roxas, AVP for sales and marketing; Andre Mercado, CEO, Signet Properties; May V. Lopez, vice president; Erika Lim, senior manager for marketing.

Philippines remains in “semi-transparent” tier Ranked at 45th spot in the 2018 edition of GRETI, the Philippines climbed one spot to 44 out of the 99 countries and 163 city regions included in the study, making it one of the top 10 global improvers (vs 2018).

“Sustainability, including a rise in the number of green-certified buildings, contributed to the Philippines’ improvement,” said P. Ryan Isip, JLL Philippines’ head of capital markets.

“The Philippines has also undertaken an initiative to digitize the land registry, leading to better quality records and easier access,” Isip said.

Rise of proptech platforms Another key driver of transparency is the volume of real estate market data now available due to the growing adoption of proptech platforms, digital tools and “big data” techniques.

Although real estate markets have historically faced challenges when implementing new technology, the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to an acceleration in new types of non-standard and high-frequency data – especially relating to health, mobility and space usage – being collected and disseminated in near-real-time.

“As the adoption of proptech and sustainability commitments continue to garner steam, greater transparency gains will be driven by both an evolving regulatory landscape and the collective actions by national real estate industries,” said Chris Fossick, CEO, JLL Southeast Asia.

“With the outbreak of COVID-19, it will become even more crucial for the real estate industry to work collaboratively with local governments to achieve greater transparency and meet the changing expectations of investors as their appetites shift in accordance to the investment outlook over the next 12 to 18 months,” he averred.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020

B3

Nickie Wang, Editor; E-mail: nickie.standard@ gmail.com

Struggles of lovers amid lockdown shown in new digital short film THE struggles of an engaged couple whose journey to forever is put on hold due to the lockdown will tug at the heartstrings of viewersPILIkula brings its newest offering Wedding Dress: For Sale, premiering tomorrow.

Get to know Lalaine and Paul, lovers who face an unfortunate predicament after their wedding is postponed caused by the quarantine restrictions. Spending almost all of their savings for their halted big day, Lalaine decides to sell her wedding dress so they can regain a portion of the money they spent on the wedding.

However, Paul strongly disagrees with

her plan and says they should save the dress once they finally push through with their wedding, which they do no longer have enough funds for.

Their opposing perspectives will test them and will give rise to more issues and drama, ultimately pushing them to question their love and contemplate their relationship.

Wedding Dress: For Sale features Kapamilya stars Diana Mackey, Brian Gocheco, AC Sangab, Reign Parani, and Camille Sandel.

For those who want to have a first peek at PILIkula’s new digital short film, tickets are available on ktx.ph priced at

P1,000 (SVIP) and P700 (VIP). Apart from having the chance to watch the first three episodes and being included in a Zoom party with the cast, the SVIP ticket holders will also get the opportunity to have a one-on-one chat with their favorite cast of the short film.

Meanwhile, fans have the freedom to choose if Lalaine and Paul’s wedding will end up with an “I do” or an “I don’t” by voting for the short film’s next scenes using special stickers on the KUMU app (kumu.ph/starhunt).

The completed short film will then be uploaded on ABS CBN Entertainment and oks.abs-cbn.com.

‘Wedding Dress: For Sale’ is a short film produced by PILIkula, which is part of the growing list of digital content of OKS (Online Kapamilya Shows).

Musical variety show

goes all out this Sunday

Julie Anne San Jose

Alden Richards

By Nickie Wang

A

CCORDING To All-Out Sundays cast members Ken Chan, Rita Daniela, Rayver Cruz, and Boobay, returning live on television is as exciting as doing their show’s pilot episode.

In an interview with Manila Standard on Friday, the cast of the musical variety program admitted that they terribly miss doing live shows but given the current situation, they have to be extra creative in mounting their so-called “Sunday party.”

“It’s like doing our pilot again, but this time we have to explore more ways in doing the show. We are live in our respective homes. As much as we would like to do it in our studio, it’s the management’s decision to do it this way because they are more concerned about the safety and health of the cast and crew of the show,” Raver shared.

“The audience can expect an entirely different show but still very familiar. We will feature some of the things that went viral online these past few months. Of course, we still have our regular segments but everybody can expect a really different show like 90 percent of the show is brand new,” Ken said.

For Rita, fun and all-out entertainment continue in All-Out Sundays: The Stay Home Party as it airs simultaneously on television and online via GMA Network’s official social media pages.

Rayver Cruz

“We are offering exciting entertainment, and most of all we are doing it for the viewers. Not everyone has access to the internet, and they only rely on TV for their entertainment. I must say, since we are using a different platform to mount the show, everyone exerts extra effort,” the actress and singer said.

Joining Rayver, Rita, Ken, and Boobay are mainstays Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Mark Bautista, and Gabbi Garcia. Also part of the cast are Miguel Tanfelix, Golden Canedo Ruru Madrid, Kyline Alcantara, Jak Roberto, Mavy Legaspi, Golden Ken Chan Canedo, Jeremiah and Rita Tiangco, Garrett Daniela Bolden, Thea Astley, Kim de Leon, Shayne Sava, and Lexi Gonzales.

In “Four The Win” segment, singers Aicelle, Thea, Golden, and Julie showcase their vocal prowess as they belt out the hits of OPM band Side A. Meanwhile, guest Bianca Umali launches her debut single “Kahit Kailan” in the show with Mikee and Rodjun.

Groove to the rhythm of the most iconic ‘90s hit songs as the AOS barkada gather for a fun game dubbed as “Mass Dancing.”

Laugh the boredom away and witness Pekto, John Feir, and E.A Guzman in the hilarious segment “Walang Talent Show” as they vie for the title of “Walang Talent” with judges AiAi delas Alas and host Paolo Contis.

Exciting surprises also await loyal audiences of AllOut Sundays as lucky TV viewers will get the chance to win amazing prizes.

Airing with a new time slot at 12:45 p.m., viewers can spice up their weekend with song and dance performances from. Viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

‘Stargirl’ renewed for season 2 PINOY DC fans are in for a treat as teen superhero drama Stargirl has been renewed for a second season.

Starring Brec Bassinger, the series follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore (Bassinger) as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines Stargirl and the very first superhero team, The Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series.

The series focuses on the character that started creator Geoff Johns’ career as a comic book writer when he created her in 1999, lovingly inspired by his late sister who was killed in a 1996 plane crash.

Geoff Johns (Arrow, Batwoman, The Flash, Titans) executive produces DC’S Stargirl with Melissa Carter (Queen Sugar), who serves as co-showrunner, as well as Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Greg Beeman.

Stargirl is among the three DC shows currently available on WarnerMedia platforms. New episodes of Pennyworth Season 1 debut exclusively on Warner TV every Monday at 9:00 p.m., while the HBO Max Original series Doom Patrol is available exclusively on HBO Go. A new episode from Season 2 is released every Friday on HBO Go as well.

STARGIRL. American actress Brec Bassinger plays her first titular role in the series ‘Stargirl’ from DC Universe.

Pets Early detection of cancer can save a dog’s life B4

PET TALES

A

BY DESIREE CARLOS

LL pet owners dread the big C in their dogs.

We always hope and pray our pets will never develop cancer, and we never want to discuss this at all.

But we have to be aware if our dog has it as early as possible. Early detection will allow us to seek and provide medical intervention immediately. Through this, we can save our dog’s life, or buy more years for our baby.

“Cancer is a topic that no pet parent wants to think about. But the fact is that one in three dogs will eventually develop some form of cancer during their lifetime,” said veterinarian Natalie Stilwell in 10 Signs of Cancer in Dogs in Petmd.com.

The good news is “If caught early, roughly half of all canine cancers are treatable,” Stilwell said.

This is why pet owners should know the most common signs of cancer in dogs.

“Just remember that many conditions, not just cancer, can cause similar clinical signs, and that the signs may vary depending on the type of cancer,” Stilwell clarified.

After identifying the symptoms, the next step is to visit your veterinarian to make the correct diagnosis.

The common signs

1. Unexplained lumps and bumps Several kinds of cancer can cause lumps or bumps on a dog’s body, including a mammary gland tumor.

Mammary gland tumors in dogs primarily develop in female dogs who are not spayed or those spayed after two years of age. But it is also possible for a male dog to develop mammary tumors, Stilwell said.

Certain breeds have an increased risk. These are Poodles and various spaniel dog breeds.

Most times, one can see and feel one or more nodules in the nipple area. They may be inflamed and swollen.

“Malignant mammary tumors tend to spread to nearby lymph nodes and mammary glands if left untreated,” Stilwell said.

But not all noticeable tumors are malignant. Stillwell said these can be lipomas which are benign fatty tumors that grow in the layer just beneath the skin.

You can see or feel the lipomas in the trunk, armpit and groin areas.

But other lipomas can grow internally.

“It is not uncommon for elderly dogs to develop multiple lipomas, which feel like soft, moveable lumps under the skin,” Stilwell said.

Bring your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis. All lumps should be assessed by the vet.

“While lipomas are not life-threatening, they can interfere with movement if they become large enough, and internal lipomas may compress internal organs,” Stilwell stressed.

2. Lameness The most common bone cancer in dogs is osteosarcoma. While the tumors usually develop in the long bones of the limbs, osteosarcoma can affect any bone, Stilwell said.

“This bone cancer grows very quickly and frequently spreads to other areas of

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Cole, also a Save ALL rescue, has a lump on his chest area. He was brought to the vet and fortunately, we were told it is just a fatty, benign lump. It is important to bring our pets to the vet for proper assessment when we see signs of dis-ease in them. In this way, we can provide medical intervention if needed.

Mango, a rescued dog of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), loved to eat. One day, he did not touch his food. He also did not touch his next meal We touched him from the face to his neck first to see if there are lumps. We felt one in the neck area, below the left jaw. We brought him to the cliic and we decided to have it removed.

Unfortunately, the lump returned and grew bigger. Mango stayed for two more months and crossed the rainbow bridge on Nov. 30, 2019. That was a very sad day for all Save ALL admins as we lost a a loving dog who brought so much happiness and fun in our six years with him.

the body, especially lymph nodes, lungs and other bones. Because of its aggressive nature, osteosarcoma is usually detected after the cancer has already spread,” she said.

Dogs suffering from this kind of cancer coma may appear to be in pain and walk with a limp. The affected limb may also be swollen.

“Large and giant dog breeds have the highest risk of developing osteosarcoma,” Stilwell said.

3. Pigmented Sores Another kind of cancer in dogs is melanoma, a cancer of the pigment-producing cells.

There are darkly colored sores in dogs with this kind of cancer.

“Melanomas in dogs tend to affect the mouth and lips, and they can also be found on their nail beds, footpads and eyes,” Stilwell said.

Specific signs include a swollen paw, eye discharge or sores in the mouth.

Dogs with darkly pigmented oral tissues, like the Chow Chow, have an increased risk of developing melanoma.

“Surgical removal can be difficult, as malignant melanoma tends to be locally invasive and spreads to deeper tissues and bone,” Stilwell said.

“Lymphoma is a common malignant cancer that accounts for up to 20% of all canine tumor cases. This cancer affects the lymphocyte , a type of white blood cell that plays an important role in immune function. While most lymphoma cases begin in the lymph nodes, lymphoid tissues in the visceral organs, skin and bone marrow can also be affected,” Sitlwell explained.

Lymphoma can affect any kind of dog and dogs of all ages. But Golden Retrievers and Boxers are more prone to this type of cancer.

The first thing the humans notice is the swollen lymph node in the neck, knee or armpit regions.

Melanoma, osteosarcoma and mammary gland tumors can also spread locally to nearby lymph nodes, Stilwell said.

5. Wounds that won’t heal Mast cell tumor is an aggressive form of cancer which is associated with a skin lesion that won’t heal.

“This cancer affects mast cells, which are immune cells involved in allergic and inflammatory reactions. These cells are located throughout the body, but tumors tend to concentrate in the vessels and nerves near the skin, mouth and nose,” Stilwell said.

“Less commonly, the gastrointesti4. Swollen Lymph Nodes nal, respiratory and urinary systems Some kinds of cancer can cause may be targeted,” Stilwell added. lymph nodes to feel more prominent.

The abnormal growth of these cells

leads to an uncontrolled release of histamine, irritating the area surrounding the tumor.

This kind of cancer is most common in older, purebred dogs, including the Boxer, Boston Terrier, Bulldog and Schnauzer.

of the most common initial signs of hemangiosarcoma. This is due to massive internal bleeding, usually because of a ruptured spleen.

8. Labored breathing Most types of cancer can spread to 6. Gastrointestinal Problems the lungs and cause respiratory distress.

The massive release of histamine can “Melanoma, hemangiosarcoma, mast also lead to problems with the gastroin- cell tumor and osteosarcoma can all testinal system, which may in turn cause cause labored breathing and coughing stomach ulcers, vomiting and diarrhea. with metastasis,” Stilwell said.

“Less dramatic signs of GI upset, such as decreased appetite, may occur 9. Unexplained weight loss from several other forms of cancer, inIf your dog is losing weight for no cluding osteosarcoma and lymphoma,” apparent cause, it may be a side effect Stilwell said. of cancer, particularly with hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and osteosarcoma.

7. Sudden weakness or collapse “Weight loss typically occurs because Although weakness can be caused of the metabolic demands of the tumor, by a lot of factors, Stilwell said sudden or because your dog is in pain and discollapse is “an alarming but common comfort, resulting in anorexia and desymptom of hemangiosarcoma, a can- creased activity,” Stilwell said. cer of the cells lining the blood vessels.”

Dogs with oral melanoma will have “Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly difficulty eating and swallowing. This spreading form of malignant cancer that will result in weight loss. most frequently targets the heart, skin, spleen and liver,” Stilwell said.

10. Lethargy This is most common in the German Cancer causes increased sleep and a Shepherd, Golden Retriever and other dog’s reluctance to exercise and play. large breeds.

Lethargy has been observed in dogs “Since dogs usually show only mild with lymphoma and osteosarcoma. warning signs, cases of hemangiosarcoma Once you see one or two of these may not be detected until the cancer has signs, please bring your dog to the vet reached an advanced stage,” Stilwell said. for tests and diagnosis.

Unfortunately, sudden collapse is one You may just save your pet’s life.

#ADOPTDONTSHOP

Borhap and Gali

Mia

THERE are so many rescued kittens who need a loving home, and an adopter who will love them and take good care of them for a lifetime, and not just when they are cute.

Animal welfare groups and animal welfare advocates rescue pups and kittens, and dogs and cats from the streets and the pounds, and from abusive owners.

After having the dogs and cats treated, they are put up for adoption.

Please adopt a pup, kitten, dog or cat, instead of buying a pet. In this way, you can help a rescued pet and also help rescuers rescue more animals in need.

In the photos are cats Borhap, Gali and Mia .

They were left beside the busy Commonwealth avenue a few meters away from the public market.

Their chance of surviving was almost zero as they were only about three days old then. They needed their mother’s milk but the human who abandoned them obviously brought the kittens to a place where the mother could no longer “smell” them. Their two siblings died.

Today, these three beautiful cats are ready to be part of a loving family.

They have been dewormed, vaccinated and spayed/ neutered.

They are looking for a human family who will treat them as their baby.

Please message Is La or Maricel Mondejar in Facebook if you can adopt one of them.